Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Search efforts continue in the Grand Canyon for missing 53-year-old hiker Tim Smith following deadly weekend flash flooding that claimed the lives of his friends, 46-year-old John Giusti and 42-year-old Brent Rosenkranz. Rescue crews remain focused on locating Smith while park officials evaluate structural damage caused by the storm across the inner canyon. The tragic event has raised serious questions among regular hikers about whether the area was safe to reopen following last year's devastating Dragon Bravo Fire.
Brian Speciale, host of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, detailed the extreme dangers hikers face during monsoon season, particularly along a narrow 4- to 4.5-mile section known as "The Box" between Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch Campground. "It's called The Box for a reason," Speciale said. He noted that escape options to higher ground are virtually nonexistent in that stretch, voicing concern that only about three of the 14 miles on the North Kaibab Trail may have survived the flooding.
Arizona State Climatologist Erinanne Saffell tells FOX 10 that the burn scar left by the Dragon Bravo Fire significantly contributed to the rapid runoff. "When they burn the soil, the precipitation, the droplets aren't going to be able to go in and instead they run off," Saffell said. Speciale expressed concern that the trail was reopened prematurely, saying, "It was obvious that the terrain had not been properly tested, we had not a big monsoon on it, we had not had a significant snow melt on it."
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Search efforts continue in the Grand Canyon for missing 53-year-old hiker Tim Smith following deadly weekend flash flooding that claimed the lives of his friends, 46-year-old John Giusti and 42-year-old Brent Rosenkranz. Rescue crews remain focused on locating Smith while park officials evaluate structural damage caused by the storm across the inner canyon. The tragic event has raised serious questions among regular hikers about whether the area was safe to reopen following last year's devastating Dragon Bravo Fire.
Brian Speciale, host of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show, detailed the extreme dangers hikers face during monsoon season, particularly along a narrow 4- to 4.5-mile section known as "The Box" between Cottonwood Campground and Phantom Ranch Campground. "It's called The Box for a reason," Speciale said. He noted that escape options to higher ground are virtually nonexistent in that stretch, voicing concern that only about three of the 14 miles on the North Kaibab Trail may have survived the flooding.
Arizona State Climatologist Erinanne Saffell tells FOX 10 that the burn scar left by the Dragon Bravo Fire significantly contributed to the rapid runoff. "When they burn the soil, the precipitation, the droplets aren't going to be able to go in and instead they run off," Saffell said. Speciale expressed concern that the trail was reopened prematurely, saying, "It was obvious that the terrain had not been properly tested, we had not a big monsoon on it, we had not had a significant snow melt on it."
Subscribe to FOX 10 Phoenix!
youtube.com/channel/UCNjfNLnQYbjBEvnS8KFuyGQ?sub_confirmation=1
#fox10phoenix #grandcanyon #flooding #flashflood #arizona #news #monsoon #severeweather
FOX 10 Phoenix delivers breaking news, live events, politics, entertainment, business news and local stories from Phoenix, Arizona and across the nation.
Watch more FOX 10 Phoenix on YouTube:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP4QUeU7Yj0c
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjk-Nxa5HqPtq-kkrH0cQ3ZIYpLj5MGVT
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjk-Nxa5HqPtUghAGmV3byRgXEYXhZFT3
