Overdue Canyon backpackers [ Bryce Gillies ]

[hikeaz]

Grand Canyon, Ariz. – At approximately 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report that at least one young man, and possibly as many as three, were overdue from a backpacking trip at Grand Canyon National Park.

The young men are reported to have left on a trip to the Deer Creek/Thunder River area on Saturday after reading about the trip in a magazine. According to the reporting party, the father of one of the young men, his son had stated that he would be back on Monday, but did not return. Further investigation revealed that there were as many as four young men in the hiking party. All are in their early 20s, and all are believed to be students at Northern Arizona University. It was also determined that this group did not have a backcountry permit.

Today at approximately 7:30 a.m., rangers found the group's car parked at the Bill Hall Trailhead which is located about half way between the North Rim developed area and Tuweep. A containment area was established at the exit points the young men might have used in the area, and an initial ground search was conducted at the Indian Hollow and Bill Hall Trailheads. A helicopter with three spotters also conducted an initial aerial search of the Tapeats and Deer Creek drainages as well as all trails in the area, but did not locate the young men. Additionally, all groups currently on the river were notified about the search and groups who have disembarked, but were on the river between Saturday and Tuesday, are being contacted to determine if the young men were seen in the vicinity of the river. Thus far, no one contacted on the trail or on the river has reported seeing the missing hikers.

[azbackpackr]

I once heard that the Bill Hall Trail and several other North Rim trails are closed in summer due to the extreme exposure to heat? Is that true? Or do they severely limit permits to people with a lot of experience?? Or am I just wrong about that?

I hope the kids didn't fall off the cliffs along Deer Creek or become sick with dehydration. And if they chose Tapeats, then from the trailhead to Thunder falls is a pretty long hike with a south-facing exposure--VERY hot.

[PaleoRob]

One of my coworkers at the Peregrine Fund, who worked full-time down at the canyon, once had to be airlifted out of Deer Creek. Experienced backpacker/Grand Canyon guy, but he ended up out of water in the fall. Rough area out there.

[hikeaz]

Deer Creek is perennial, as is Tapeats - so hopefully the 3-4 guys have made it to one of those two creeks. Both also allow egress to the River, their easiest-available means of help.

[Jeffshadows]

They read the May 2009 edition of Backpacker

[hikeaz]

On Wednesday, Park Rangers found the car of Bryce Gillies, a student at Northern Arizona University (NAU), parked at the Bill Hall Trailhead which is located about half way between Tuweep and the developed area on the North Rim of the park.
Initial investigations included aerial passes over the trails and major drainages in the area, contacting river trips and other backpackers on the trail, and contacting Mr. Gillies friends and acquaintances to gather more information. Based on the information initially received during these investigations, concerns grew that there might be as many as four individuals in the party of missing men. However, investigators have now contacted most of the friends it was feared might be with him, and have concluded that Bryce Gillies most likely came to the park alone.

Bryce is 20 years old and is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall and 130 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He left for his trip into the canyon on Saturday, July 18, and left word that he would return on Monday, July 20. On Tuesday, July 21, when Mr. Gillies still had not returned, he was reported overdue.

Search and rescue efforts are now focused on locating a lone male backpacker in the Deer Creek/Thunder River area. One ground search team was inserted yesterday evening to begin a more thorough search of the area and two additional ground search teams are being inserted today. In addition, a helicopter will once again be searching aerially as weather permits. Additional rangers from Zion National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area are being brought in to assist with search efforts.

[JimmyLyding]

That's a rough area. The trail between Thunder River and Deer Creek is pretty solid, but that's a great place to suffer hyperthermia. I'm even more worried now that I've read he's from Flagstaff because he may not be used to heat like that. Think 110+ with the only shade between Deer Creek and Thunder River being a big rock that's @ the top of the switchbacks above Thunder River.

[writelots]

Yeah, I wouldn't want to be hiking those trails in the summer at all. Any water is a long ways from the rim there - if you don't cache it on the Esplenade on the way in, you've got to be looking at carrying a lot of water up those hot slopes. I hope for the best.

[azdesertfather]

Looks like it's just one dude...

Search in Canyon focuses on 1 man
by Rosha Safarmehdi - Jul. 23, 2009 03:45 PM
The Arizona Republic
One man -- not four, as initially believed -- is missing in the Grand Canyon National Park and rangers on Thursday have expanded the search for him, authorities said. Park officials concluded that Bryce Gillies, 20, a Northern Arizona University student, left for the park on his own this past weekend, not with three other friends as he apparently had relayed to his father.

Gillies' father contacted authorities Tuesday night after his son failed to return home Monday. Gillies told his father he and three friends, also believed to be students at Northern Arizona University, were doing a backpacking trip to the Deer Creek/Thunder River area on Saturday, according to the elder Gillies' account to Grand Canyon National Park officials.

About 7:30 a.m. Wedneday, park rangers found Gillies’ car parked at the Bill Hall Trailhead, which is halfway between the North Rim and Tuweep, according to the statement.

Helicopter crews searched over the trails and drainages, and rangers spoke with other backpackers on the trail. Officials managed to reach the three friends of Gillies, concluding that he went to the park alone.

Gillies was described as being 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes.

A ground search team was sent out Wednesday evening to do a more thorough search. Officials were sending out two more search teams Thursday, along with another helicopter unit, according to the statement.

Rangers from Zion National Park and Glen Canon National Recreation Area were also asked to assist with search efforts. Officials asked anyone who believes they may have seen Gillies since Saturday to please call the National Park Service at (928) 638-7805.

[azdesertfather]

Here's the latest from the NPS...

Bryce Gillies, overdue from backpacking trip in Grand Canyon National Park

Date: July 23, 2009
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park search and rescue personnel are intensifying their search efforts as they re-asses who they are looking for.

On the evening of Tuesday, July 21, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report that at least one, and possibly as many as three young men were overdue from a backpacking trip to the Deer Creek/Thunder River area of Grand Canyon National Park.  On Wednesday, Park Rangers found the car of Bryce Gillies, a student at Northern Arizona University (NAU), parked at the Bill Hall Trailhead which is located about half way between Tuweep and the developed area on the North Rim of the park. 

Initial investigations included aerial passes over the trails and major drainages in the area, contacting river trips and other backpackers on the trail, and contacting Mr. Gillies friends and acquaintances to gather more information.  Based on the information initially received during these investigations, concerns grew that there might be as many as four individuals in the party of missing men.  However, investigators have now contacted most of the friends it was feared might be with him, and have concluded that Bryce Gillies most likely came to the park alone.

Bryce is 20 years old and is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall and 130 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.  He left for his trip into the canyon on Saturday, July 18, and left word that he would return on Monday, July 20.  On Tuesday, July 21, when Mr. Gillies still had not returned, he was reported overdue.

Search and rescue efforts are now focused on locating a lone male backpacker in the Deer Creek/Thunder River area.  One ground search team was inserted yesterday evening to begin a more thorough search of the area and two additional ground search teams are being inserted today.  In addition, a helicopter will once again be searching aerially as weather permits.  Additional rangers from Zion National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area are being brought in to assist with search efforts.

Anyone who believes they have seen Mr. Gillies since Saturday, July 18, is encouraged to contact the National Park Service at 928-638-7805.

[azdesertfather]

OK guys, unfortunately here's the bad news...

Body of missing hiker believed found in Canyon

Jul. 25, 2009 01:30 PM
Associated Press

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - Authorities say they have found a body in Grand Canyon National Park and believe it's that of a Northern Arizona University student missing on a hiking trip.

Search and rescue crews have been looking for 20-year-old Bryce Gillies since Tuesday.

Park officials say a body - presumptively identified as Gillies - was found Saturday morning in the Bonita Creek drainage on the North Rim along with a backpack and personal items.

They say the body will be removed by helicopter and taken to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office for positive identification and a possible determination of the cause of death.

Search crews found Gillies' car Wednesday parked at the Bill Hall Trailhead, located about halfway between Tuweep and the developed area on the North Rim of the park.

Authorities say Gillies started his backpacking hike last Saturday with plans to return home Monday.

Gillies' father called park officials Tuesday when his son failed to come home.

[joebartels]

[azdesertfather]

Here's the NPS article, with a bit more info...

Body of Missing Backpacker Found in Grand Canyon National Park
Date: July 25, 2009
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958

Grand Canyon, Ariz. – At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, search teams found a body believed to be that of overdue backpacker Bryce Gillies in the Bonita Creek drainage on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

On Tuesday, July 21, the National Park Service (NPS) was notified that one or more hikers were overdue from a backpacking trip in Grand Canyon National Park. Initial efforts by investigators located the car of Bryce Gillies at the Bill Hall Trailhead on the North Rim of the park, and determined that only one person had gone on the backpacking trip.

With no backcountry permit to work from and no knowledge of Mr. Gillies specific plans, searchers began covering a large area from the Deer Creek drainage across Surprise Valley to the Tapeats Creek drainage and down to the river. Today, rescue personnel narrowed their search to the Bonita Creek drainage and surrounding area based on the discovery of personal items, including a backpack, in that vicinity.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., a search team, moving up Bonita Creek from its confluence with the Colorado River, found a body at the top of a 100 foot pour-off. The body, located less than one-half mile from the river confluence, has been presumptively identified as that of 20 year-old Bryce Gillies, a student at Northern Arizona University.

The body will be recovered by helicopter via long-line operation and transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner.

This multi-day search involved approximately 50 NPS personnel and volunteers from Grand Canyon National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Zion National Park.

[azbackpackr]

Oh, that's sad. I see on my map that Bonita creek goes straight down from Surprise Valley to the river. I wonder why he didn't choose to go to Thunder Falls instead?

[PaleoRob]

Didn't have a map? Didn't know it was the wrong way? No matter what, it is sad news.

[azdesertfather]

they said on the news tonight that he was right below a 100-foot drop...didn't say if that was the cause of death, tho...our regrets/prayers out to the family of the victim...

[JimmyLyding]

What a terrible tragedy. My prayers and condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who knew him.

I surmise that he was hiking across Surprise Valley, and decided to go down the Bonita drainage towards the river for some reason. Maybe he panicked? Maybe he thought that was the correct route? We'll most likely never know, and perhaps we'll be able to piece together just what happened if more information comes out FWIW.

We need to remember a few things with respect to this incident:
*Always register for a backcountry permit if it's required. This requirement is not because the government wants to impose its bureaucracy on you. It's to help protect you and those who are charged with rescuing you when things go wrong. Even a hiker who is very strong, experienced, knowledgeable, level-headed, etc. can get hit by a rattlesnake for example. Or get injured. Or get hit by a falling tree branch. Or an almost infinite number of other things.
*It is always better to stay on the trail no matter how lost, scared, and/or desperate you are. This is especially true in a place like Surprise Valley during July where one would be very unlikely to encounter another soul.
*LET SOMEONE KNOW YOUR PLANS: WHERE YOU'RE GOING. WHO IS WITH YOU. WHEN YOU'RE COMING BACK. HAVE A SAFETY CONTACT. ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING. TAKE A MAP IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA.
*Do not push yourself beyond your limit.

This isn't the first hiking tragedy we've become familiar with, and it won't be the last. However, we need to take as many precautions as we can. I've done some exceptionally stupid things over the years:
*Solo hikes in the Santa Catalinas when I decided at the last minute to hike another trail than the one I told my safety contact I was going to take.
*Starting too late, and having to return in the dark.
*Not hydrating enough the day before. Being a young man often goes hand-in-hand with feeling omniscent, omnipotent, and immortal. Going boozing the night before a 10-mile hike may not seem like a big deal to a 25-year-old, but it would significantly affect one's chances for survival if something goes wrong.
*Same with nutrition. Eat enough carbs the day before. Protein as well. Take fluids that will not only replace water, but electrolytes as well. I would probably still be somewhere between the Bell Trailhead and Apache Maid Mountain had I put 10 electrolyte tablets in my water.
*Always know one's limits. I like to think of myself as a still-somewhat-young man, but I have a few aches and pains from bowling tonight with a fellow HAZ user.
*Learn from your past mistakes because rest assured you will make them!

I'm not trying to preach, and I certainly am not trying to point the finger at this poor soul who paid the ultimate price doing something he loved. I know that he, along with all of us, do not want situations like this to ever happen.

[azbackpackr]

Hey, James, Maybe someone new to hiking will read what you took time to type. It may sound like "preaching to the choir" to some of us, but there are a lot of newbies who read these posts, so don't feel bad if you said stuff that most of us already know. It is all really good information and should be adhered to. Plus, maybe a few of us need to hear it again!

When I heard the news I had a lot of thoughts. While that search was going on I knew that my own 25-year-old son was also hiking in the Canyon, although he was with a pal. I know my son's capabilities and that of his friend's are very high--they have both been working as paid backpackers for a couple of years. But they are young and perhaps full of hubris, as young men can be, and I thought perhaps they also could get into trouble in the Canyon. As it turned out, all they did was a dayhike to Miner's Spring and it rained and it wasn't even hot.

I feel so sad for Bryce and his parents.

Incidentally, while the (sensationalistic, commercially motivated) TV news may have reported that Bryce was BELOW a 100-foot fall, the Park Service reported he was at the TOP of the pour-over. I tend to believe the Park, don't you?

[azdesertfather]

Good thoughts, James. Particuarly the "day prior" prep...most people just wouldn't think of that. They would bring enough water at that moment and think they are OK. Also I think enough sleep is important ahead of time, so that you have the energy/wits about you. If you launch out at 4/5 am after going to bed at midnight or later, even if you are young and invincible, that can play an impact I believe.

[nonot]

That's what I thought was strange, the park service said he was at the top of a pourover, half a mile from the river. But they also said they hiked up from the river to him, implying there was no technical gear required. If he was that close you'd have thought he could have made it to the river to drink and cool off, unless he succombed to either the heat or dehydration so close to his goal.

I was trying to find a description of someone using Bonita creek to access the Colorado but couldn't find any triplogs on the internet.