At 7,000 feet, a number of Grand Canyon trailheads might seem to offer perfect hiking weather. But temperatures below the rim can be a lot warmer. The heat has likely led to a hiker fatality on the North Rim.
Park rangers strongly discourage hikers from attempting to hike to the Colorado River and back in a single day, especially in the summer, when exposed parts of the trail can reach more than 120 degrees.
On Saturday, search and rescue teams received a call about a hiker in distress about a mile south of Cottonwood Campground.
Attempts to resuscitate him failed. Park officials said the 55-year-old Virginia man was trying to hike from the South Rim to the North Rim.
