LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A 67-year-old Texas man died Tuesday at the Grand Canyon after abandoning an attempt to hike down to the Colorado River. He turned around and began ascending toward the rim before he was found, according to the National Park Service (NPS).
Emergency responders were dispatched after a call at about 11:50 a.m. reporting an unresponsive hiker on the South Kaibab Trail.
Medical personnel went to the site on foot, where they found bystanders had already attempted to resuscitate the man. Further efforts were unsuccessful.
NPS said the man, from Alvarado, Texas, was originally aiming to spend the night at Phantom Ranch, a lodging area for hikers and mule riders “at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.” A release from NPS did not indicate why he may have turned around.
In the news release, however, NPS warned of heat dangers which currently pose a risk to visitors of the park.
“In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can exceed 120°F (49°C) in the shade, creating extremely hazardous conditions for hikers,” reads the release. “In addition to the heat, pre-existing medical conditions can compound physical stress, making summer hiking particularly risky, especially during the peak heat hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.”
The temperature at the rim of the Grand Canyon reached 94 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday. The temperature at the bottom of the canyon was around 20 degrees hotter.
NPS, in its release, also suggested visitors check its Key Hiking Messages webpage to learn about trail and weather conditions before embarking on any hikes.
