Grand Canyon: Search Underway For Missing Backpacker

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Search Underway For Missing Backpacker

On the evening of Tuesday, July 21st, park dispatch received a report that at least one and possibly as many as three young men were overdue from a backpacking trip to the Deer Creek/Thunder River area of the park. On Wednesday, rangers found the car of Bryce Gillies, a student at Northern Arizona University, parked at the Bill Hall trailhead, which is located about half way between Tuweep and the developed area on the North Rim of the park. Initial investigations included aerial passes over the trails and major drainages in the area, contacting members of river trips and other backpackers on the trail, and contacting Gillies’ friends and acquaintances to gather more information. Based on the information received during these investigations, concerns grew that there might be as many as four individuals in the party of missing men. However, investigators have now contacted most of the friends it was feared might be with him and have concluded that Bryce Gillies most likely came to the park alone. Bryce is 20 years old and is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 130 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He departed for his trip into the canyon on Saturday, July 18th, and left word that he would return on Monday, July 20th. Search and rescue efforts are now focused on locating a lone male backpacker in the Deer Creek/Thunder River area. One ground search team was inserted on Wednesday evening to begin a more thorough search of the area and two additional ground search teams were inserted yesterday. A helicopter search is also underway, as weather permits. Rangers from Zion and Glen Canyon are being brought in to assist with search efforts. Hikers who may have seen Gillies are encouraged to contact the National Park Service at 928-638-7805.