On Sunday, a hiker died while hiking the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona while traversing a popular trail. According to the Grand Canyon National Park’s office of communications, a 50-year-old man from San Angelo, Texas, died on his trek back to the rim following an overnight stay at Havasupai Gardens. Several other fatalities have occurred in the park in recent weeks.
A press release from the national park read, “On July 7 at approximately 2 p.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of an unresponsive hiker on the Bright Angel Trail, approximately 100 feet below the Bright Angel Trailhead.” The statement noted that all attempts at resuscitating the hiker were unsuccessful.
“Bystanders initiated CPR as Xanterra Fire and Security and National Park Service (NPS) medical personnel responded from the rim. All attempts by bystanders, Xanterra and NPS personnel to resuscitate the individual were unsuccessful. The hiker was a 50-year-old-male from San Angelo Texas who was attempting to reach the rim from an overnight stay at Havasupai Gardens,” the national park explained.
“An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the NPS in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner. No additional information is available at this time,” the message concluded. The recent death is the second time in two weeks that a hiker from Texas has perished at the park. It also marks the third fatality in three weeks.
On June 29, Austin, Texas native Scott Simms was found semi-conscious on the River trail, halfway between the Silver Bridge and Black Bridge near Phantom Ranch. Reportedly, he attempted to reach Phantom Ranch for an overnight stay via the South Kaibab Trail. Shortly after being discovered by bystanders, the 69-year-old hiker became unresponsive, and attempts by National Park Service (NPS) paramedics to resuscitate Simms were unsuccessful.
“The hiker became unresponsive shortly thereafter, and bystanders initiated CPR as three National Park Service (NPS) paramedics responded from Phantom Ranch. All attempts by bystanders and NPS personnel to resuscitate the individual were unsuccessful. The hiker has been identified as Scott Sims, 69, of Austin, Texas, who was attempting to reach Phantom Ranch for an overnight stay via the South Kaibab Trail,” the national park stated.
During the summer months, conditions at the Grand Canyon National Park can quickly become dangerous in the heat of the day. Unprepared hikers can find themselves in a perilous predicament when subjected to the intense temperatures in the desert environment. Furthermore, resources are strained during the summer, making rescue attempts more difficult.
“In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120°F (49 °C) in the shade. Park rangers strongly advise not hiking in the inner canyon during the heat of the day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed during the summer months due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat or inclement weather,” the July 1 press release warned.
Featured image credit: Tuxyso / Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Canyon_Hopi_Point_with_rainbow_2013.jpg
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