'Completely out of the blue': 74-year-old dies during Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike

USA Today

23-05-2025

'Completely out of the blue': 74-year-old dies during Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike Dennis Smith of Olympia, Washington, was only a half-mile from the end of his 24-mile hike when he was found unresponsive. Park officials are warning about the dangers of the challenge.
A Washington man considered to be an experienced hiker has died near the end of a 24-mile, rim-to-rim hike at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, officials confirmed.
Dennis Smith, 74, was found dead around 4:45 p.m. on May 15 after rangers received a report of an unresponsive hiker about half a mile below the North Kaibab Trail, according to the National Park Service. First responders and bystanders attempted to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office is investigating the cause of death.
The Olympia resident was known as an avid hiker attempting to make his way from the South Rim to the North Rim, the park service said in a May 19 news release.
Smith was a former family practice doctor who served in the Navy for a brief stint and later became an orthopedic surgeon, according to FOX News. In 1994, he reportedly started a private practice known as Olympia Orthopedic Associates.
Tom Helpenstell, a doctor who worked with Smith for over three decades, said the two would run long distances across the Grand Canyon, FOX News reported.
"He's super active, super fit," Helpenstell told the outlet. "This was not even a run, this was a hike. I don't want to downplay it. Grand Canyon's a big day, for sure, but this was completely out of the blue."
Park Service warns hikers about extreme heat
Every year the National Park Service warns Grand Canyon hikers and backpackers to prepare for extreme heat, especially in the inner canyon, where temperatures could surpass 110 degrees.
Last June, a 69-year-old man from Austin, Texas fatally collapsed on a Grand Canyon trail as temperatures in the area surpassed 90 degrees, the park service said. Officials said he was found semiconscious on the River Trail on June 30 but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
Just a few weeks earlier, a 41-year-old man was found dead near the bottom of the Grand Canyon, where he spent the night. Bystanders and park service personnel found his body on the Bright Angel Trail on June 16 but were unable to resuscitate him.
"Hikers and backpackers attempting rigorous distances, such as rim to rim, through the inner canyon are encouraged to be self-reliant to prevent emergency situations for themselves and responders," the park service warns.
Rim-to-rim hike a popular challenge
For many hikers, a rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon is a bucket list experience. At roughly 24 miles, it can be a challenging day for even the youngest and the fittest.
Among the many people who've conquered the rim-to-rim hike are a number of adventurers in their golden years.
In January 2024, A 92-year-old Spaniard named Alfredo Aliaga became the oldest known person to complete the feat. It took Aliaga 21 hours over two days to conquer the hike.
Contributing: Amanda Lee Myers