A 65-year-old Arizona man was found dead on a popular Grand Canyon National Park hiking trail on Thursday, marking the 10th fatality in the park this year, officials said.
James Handschy, of Oracle, Arizona, was pronounced dead on the Bright Angel Trail.
He was attempting to hike from the South Rim to the river and back, the National Park Service said in a statement.
The Arizona trail, which is about 18 miles roundtrip, is considered the most popular hike in the park but descends down into the canyon, making the uphill trek back far more difficult.
Grand Canyon is the deadliest national park in the country, with the highest number of missing person reports and deaths among the US National Parks, records show. De Agostini via Getty ImagesAn investigation into the incident is being conducted by the NPS and the Coconino County Medical Examiner.
The Grand Canyon — the deadliest national park in the country — records 10 to 20 deaths on average a year, according to reports. Out of the 10 so far this year, four have been hiking-related, three of which were on the Bright Angel Trail.
The death marks the 10th fatality this year at the famous park, which averages between 10 and 20 deaths annually, according to officials. Getty ImagesEarlier this year, a 57-year-old woman died while trying to complete an eight-mile hike in triple-digit temperatures in the Grand Canyon.
With Post wires
