The National Park Service is urging hikers to prepare both physically and mentally before heading into the Grand Canyon — following the death of a 74-year-old man last week on a rim-to-rim trek.
Dennis Smith was an avid canyon hiker with years of experience. But last weekend, he died while hiking the Kaibab Trail — a more than 20-mile journey through some of the canyon’s most grueling terrain.
Joelle Baird, a park spokesperson, said they still don’t know what caused his death.
“The strenuous nature of this activity and just the amount of physical excretion required, it is taxing to the body," she said.
Baird says weather wasn’t likely a factor. Temperatures were relatively cool in the inner canyon at the time. But she adds that conditions in the Grand Canyon can challenge even the most fit hikers.
“Avoid hiking, ideally, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. — that will minimize exposure to heat," she said. "Rest if you’re feeling fatigued; making sure that you’re drinking enough water but also balancing that with enough food intake, especially salty snacks.”
The Park Service recommends visiting their website for full safety guidelines before attempting the 20-plus mile hike across the canyon.
