On May 15, at approximately 4:45 p.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of an unresponsive hiker on the North Kaibab Trail, approximately half a mile below the North Kaibab Trailhead.
Despite efforts by bystanders and National Park Service (NPS) personnel to resuscitate the individual, the hiker, identified as Dr. Dennis Smith, 74, of Olympia, Washington, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dr. Smith was attempting a Rim-to-Rim hike from the South Rim to the North Rim. Known as an avid and experienced hiker, Smith’s cause of death is under investigation by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The NPS urges all visitors to Grand Canyon National Park, particularly those planning to hike or backpack in the inner canyon, to prepare for extreme heat in the coming days. Temperatures in the inner canyon are expected to reach 100°F (38°C) by the end of this week, making it critical for hikers to take proper precautions.