Tragic Hiker Fatality in the Grand Canyon
Last week, a hiker was discovered deceased along a trail in the Grand Canyon, marking the second fatality of its kind in two months at the renowned national park. The hiker has been identified as James Handschy, a 65-year-old man from Oracle, Arizona, which is located near Tucson.
On Thursday, rescuers and park rangers from the Grand Canyon found Handschy unresponsive after receiving an alert from a personal locator beacon. This device allows hikers to transmit individual distress signals from remote areas. The alert was received from Bright Angel Trail, according to the National Park Service.
Bright Angel Trail is one of several backcountry trails within the Grand Canyon that have gained popularity among visitors. This particular trail starts at a trailhead along the South Rim and leads hikers down to the Colorado River, which flows through the bottom of the canyon. The trail covers a distance of approximately eight miles and involves an elevation change of about 4,460 feet. Along the way, hikers pass through Havasupai Gardens, a rest area located less than five miles from the start of the trail.
Tragedy Strikes at Grand Canyon National Park
October 14, 2021
Grand Canyon National Park experienced another unfortunate incident when a distress signal was received on Thursday. The signal came from a location on Bright Angel Trail, approximately 1 1/2 miles ahead of Havasupai Gardens. The park service immediately dispatched a rescuer on foot from the campground, while another search and rescue crew responded in a helicopter. Sadly, the individual, identified as Handschy, was pronounced deceased upon arrival at the scene.
An investigation into Handschy's death is currently underway by the National Park Service in collaboration with the Coconino County Medical Examiner. At this time, no further details about the incident have been released.
Tragically, this is the second death at Grand Canyon National Park within a span of two months. In September, a 55-year-old man from Virginia lost his life while attempting to hike 21 miles through the Grand Canyon in a single day. The hiker was found dead along a trail that stretches from the South Rim to the North Rim, a location that typically takes 12 to 15 hours to reach from the trailhead.
Tragic Hiking Incidents in the Grand Canyon
In recent months, there have been several unfortunate incidents involving hikers in the Grand Canyon.
One such incident occurred in September, when a 36-year-old woman from Indiana lost her life while attempting to complete a challenging hike. According to officials, she was found unresponsive near the Three-Mile Resthouse on Bright Angel Trail. The exact cause of her death is still under investigation.
Another tragic incident took place in July, when a 57-year-old woman passed away while trying to complete an eight-mile hike in scorching temperatures. The Grand Canyon experienced triple-digit temperatures at the time, which likely contributed to the unfortunate outcome.
