Fire Weather Watch

from MON 11:00 AM MST until MON 8:00 PM MST, Eastern Pima-Southeastern Pinal-Santa Cruz-Western Cochise, Southern Graham-Central and Eastern Cochise-Southern Greenlee-Lower Elevations of the San Carlos Apache Nation in Graham County

Fire Weather Watch

from MON 11:00 AM MDT until MON 8:00 PM MDT, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward, Chinle Valley, Black Mesa Area, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264

Fire Weather Watch

from MON 10:00 AM MST until MON 7:00 PM MST, Coconino Plateau, Yavapai County Mountains, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County

Arizona man dies while hiking Grand Canyon trail

By Brent Corrado

Updated November 20, 2023 7:08am MST

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - A man who was hiking in the Grand Canyon on Thursday was found dead, officials said.

The National Park Service says search and rescue crews responded via helicopter to reports of an unresponsive hiker on Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m., to Bright Angel Trail, approximately 1.5 miles north of Havasupai Gardens.

Once at the scene, crews found James Handschy, a 65-year-old Oracle man, dead. Officials say Handschy was hiking from the South Rim to the river and back.

cc591b08-bright angel trail

The Devils Corkscrew along the Bright Angel Trail. (NPS)

Handschy's death investigation is being conducted by NPS and the Coconino County Medical Examiner.

No further details were released.

Map of the Bright Angel Trail: