An 83-year-old hiker, identified as Gerald Guinn, was rescued on the Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim after going missing for more than a day. Guinn, described as an experienced outdoorsman from Kanab, Utah, was found Tuesday evening by a National Park Service helicopter approximately 2.5 miles from where he was last seen.
Guinn and his hiking companion had intentionally split up around 12:30 p.m. on Monday to search for a historic object in a remote area near the park's northeastern boundary. While his companion located the object, Guinn did not return, prompting his companion to call for help several hours later. Search crews from Grand Canyon National Park, Coconino County Search and Rescue, and Kane County Search and Rescue initiated an overnight search, navigating rugged, burn-scarred terrain.
The search efforts were aided on Tuesday by a cellphone ping from Guinn's phone, which helped narrow the search area. A helicopter spotted Guinn waving from steep, rugged terrain, but a landing was not possible. A Kane County Search and Rescue team then hiked approximately 1.5 miles to reach him.
Rescuers found Guinn to be cold and unable to walk, though he was reportedly in good spirits. Due to approaching darkness, a helicopter extraction was not feasible. Instead, a paramedic was flown to the location, and about 20 rescuers took turns carrying Guinn on a stretcher through difficult terrain, clearing obstacles until they reached a road around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Guinn received medical attention from emergency personnel and was subsequently released. The National Park Service expressed gratitude to the Coconino County and Kane County Search and Rescue teams for their assistance in the successful operation. An image of Guinn smiling was provided by the National Park Service.