Another tragic North Rim fatality ...

[hikeaz]

August 22nd- Grand Canyon, Ariz.

National Park Service rangers are in the process of recovering a body from approximately 150 feet below the rim at Walhalla Overlook on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

The body was discovered yesterday at approximately 4:30 p.m. during a helicopter reconnaissance of the North Rim to monitor the Roosevelt Fire, a Fire Use fire that is being allowed to burn for resource benefit. It was determined at that time that the victim had suffered fatal injuries.

An unattended rental car, believed to be that of the victim, was located in a parking lot at Walhalla Overlook.

Due to hazardous terrain and significant risk of rock fall, the body will be recovered using a helicopter short haul insertion and extraction operation. The operation involves suspending rangers from a 150-foot line. The rangers will then be inserted into the work area to complete scene investigation and recovery of the body. Following helicopter extraction of the body, rangers are then extracted from the scene. Once extracted, the body will be taken to the South Rim helibase and then transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office located in Flagstaff, Arizona where identification of the body will be made.

No further details are available at this time. An investigation will be completed by the National Park Service.

[djui5]

So sad. Someone was all alone too it seems. Horrible.

[azbackpackr]

Likely suicide, I'd guess.

[Nan]

I wonder if this happened before or after they closed the road to Cape Royal (due to the fire).

[PaleoRob]

I'd guess before. They should have crews making sure the road stays closed and monitoring the fire.
Bad couple months for visitors at the Canyon!