Teen hiker dies in Grand Canyon National Park amid extreme heat

TOAn 18-year-old hiker died after a heat-related emergency in Grand Canyon National Park, according to the National Park Service (NPS).

The incident occurred on Wednesday, June 3, when park rangers received reports of a young man experiencing symptoms of heat illness on Bright Angel Trail. Upon arriving at the scene, rangers located the teen approximately 30 feet below the trail near Garden Creek. Despite immediate life-saving efforts and emergency extraction by helicopter, the hiker could not be saved.

The NPS and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office are conducting an investigation into the death.

The Grand Canyon: the deadliest national park in the United States

Since the first river exploration of the Grand Canyon in 1869, more than 900 unnatural deaths have been recorded in the Grand Canyon.

This is likely due to a combination of tricky terrain and extreme environmental conditions, which visitors are not always prepared for. Hikers often underestimate the physical toll they will experience, especially since the most strenuous part of a hike (the ascent) occurs after a long descent when energy levels are already depleted.

In an area where summer temperatures within the canyon can frequently reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, this frequently leads to heat stroke.

Photo via katie jackson

Walk from edge to river

Authorities noted that the teen had been attempting to hike from the South Rim to the Colorado River and back in a single day, which is incredibly strenuous and exposed to the sun.

The NPS warns that the return trip is much more strenuous than the descent, with an elevation change of about 5,000 feet each way. They urge hikers to avoid hiking trails between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., the peak hours of extreme heat, and advise planning twice as much time on the ascent than on the descent.

Photo via katie jackson

“Day hikes to destinations below Havasupai Gardens are not recommended due to the long distance, extreme temperature changes and…elevation change,” the agency stated. Hikers are strongly advised to check with park rangers before attempting longer distance hikes to the river.

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