The body of a 60-year-old man from North Carolina, who was reported missing on Tuesday, has been found in Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park. The man, whose identity and hometown have not been disclosed by the National Park Service, was discovered on Wednesday morning near the Thunder River Trail.
The man had embarked on a solo, multi-day backpacking journey from Thunder River to Deer Creek. This trail is known as one of the park’s most challenging backcountry routes. The exact date when the man began his 30-mile hike has not been specified by the park service.
Family members reported the man missing when he failed to communicate with them as expected. The cause and manner of his death are still under investigation.
This incident marks the 14th death in the park this year. The Grand Canyon National Park, which attracts over 4.7 million visitors annually, typically records between 10 to 15 deaths each year. In 2023, the park reported 11 fatalities.
Just last weekend, the body of an Arizona woman was found in the park following her disappearance during a flash flood. Chenoa Nickerson, 33, a resident of the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, was discovered by a group rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.