Death in the Grand Canyon

2009 saw a total of 12 tourists die as a result of visits to the Grand Canyon. However, to put this in perspective, about 4.5 million tourists visit the Canyon every year. Last year's victims included 10 visitors who died from accidents within the canyon, four on backcountry trails and one death from suicide and another from a heart attack. Observing the footwear and physical condition of a lot of the visitors, it is a miracle that more people don't die. I have seen people hiking down the train into the Canyon in flip-flops and even high heels. Most of the viewpoints on the Rim of the Canyon have extreme exposure, but I have seen tourists literally dancing on the edge of the cliffs, apparently unaware of the extreme heights.

One particularly tragic death came from heat exhaustion to a 20-year-old characterized as an "Eagle Scout." He was apparently on his way to find the famous Thunder River on the Canyon's North Rim. He died in mid-July when temperatures in the depths of the Canyon can exceed 100 degrees.

This year, July is also generating news articles about deaths in the Canyon. On July 8, 2010 Park Rangers recovered the body of a female hiker in the same general area where the man died last year, the Toroweap Valley. It is likely that these hikers vastly underestimate the distances, elevation changes and heat in the Canyon.

On one hike into the Canyon, we left the North Rim at 27 degrees and by the time we reached the Colorado River the temperature was 97 degrees. It is very difficult to drink enough water hiking in almost 100 degree temperatures to keep hydrated and maintain life. Many hiker try to avoid the heat by hiking at night or during the early morning hours.

Other deaths in the Canyon are more likely the result of the number of people visiting the Canyon. With such a large number of people, statistically, somebody is going to die from a heart attack or commit suicide. In May, June and July of 2010 there have been apparent suicides at the Canyon.