A Virginia man died trying to hike from the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park to the North Rim in one day/NPS file of North Kaibab Trail near the campground
A Virginia man trying to complete a rim-to-rim hike at Grand Canyon National Park collapsed and died about a mile short of the Cottonwood Campground below the North Rim.
A park release said Ranjith Varma, 55, of Manassas, Virginia, became unresponsive on the North Kaibab Trail and bystanders tried to revive him with CPR about 2 p.m. Saturday. National Park Service search and rescue personnel responded to the call via helicopter. Given the location, rangers were flown in by helicopter to assume care of the hiker and initiate advance life-support efforts, a park release said.
Attempts to resuscitate the hiker were unsuccessful.
Varma was trying to hike from the South Rim to the North Rim in one day, the release said.
In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120°F in the shade. Park rangers strongly advise not hiking in the inner canyon during the heat of the day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed during the summer months due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat or inclement weather.
Before heading down trail, hikers are strongly encouraged to read the Hiking Tips page and check the Backcountry Updates and Closures page for current information on inner canyon conditions.
An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the NPS in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner. No additional information is available at this time.
