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Overdue hiker rescued<br>from Snap Canyon area

An overextended hiker was rescued out of the river corridor at Grand Canyon National Park early last week after being reported as two days overdue.

Mike Mahaney had gone on a seven-day solo backpacking trip from Parashant Canyon to Snap Canyon in the remote western section of the park, a distance of about 125 miles.

"This section of the Canyon is remote, hazardous and has no trails," incident commander Bil Vandergraff reported. "Very few people visit the area on foot."

Searchers from Lake Mead, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument and the Bureau of Land Management searched for Mahaney by vehicle, boat, airplane and helicopter.

Mahaney was reported to have a considerable amount of experience hiking in the Canyon and had advised family and friends that he would try to reach the river and await assistance if he encountered any problems.

The man was spotted from the park’s helicopter near Snap Canyon at 2:30 p.m., on Monday of last week. River ranger Chris Mengal picked up Mahaney and took him to the Temple Bar ranger station.

Vandergraff said Mahaney was in good condition, but had eaten the last of his food that morning.

"He said that he’d realized that he’d taken too long of a hike for the period of time he’d allotted," Vandergraff reported.

Fourteen people were involved in the search.


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