A hiker at the Grand Canyon died over the weekend while trying to hike from rim to rim in a single day.
Ranjith Varma, 55, of Manassas, Virginia, became unresponsive while hiking on the North Kaibab Trail, approximately 1 mile south of the Cottonwood Campground, around 2 p.m. Saturday.
Park rangers initiated life-saving measures after they arrived, but they couldn’t resuscitate Varma.
The National Park Service is investigating the incident in conjunction with the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Varma had been trying to hike from the South Rim to the North Rim on the North Kaibab Trail, park officials said.
North Kaibab is considered the most difficult of the Grand Canyon’s major inner trails.
Park officials strongly advise against hiking in the inner canyon between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer, when temperatures can soar and rescue efforts may be delayed by limited staff.
