Colorado man dies on river trip at Grand Canyon National Park

For the two sisters of Chenoa Nickerson, the Arizona woman who died while hiking in Grand Canyon National Park nearly four months ago, the holiday season has been particularly heartbreaking. It’s going to be our first round of holidays without Chenoa,” Tamara Morales, 34, tells PEOPLE.

“It’s been really hard,” adds Kyra Farkas, 31. “She bought a house a couple houses down from mine here in Arizona a couple months ago, and she was raising my son with me. He misses her a lot. He still looks for her every day, and it’s been really tough….We miss her a ton.” On Aug. 22, Chenoa, who turned 33 that day, and her husband, Andrew Nickerson, were hiking in the park when she was swept away in a flash flood that struck Havasu Creek, according to the National Park Service (NPS). A group rafters rescued Andrew, but Chenoa went missing. Three days later, following a search and rescue operation, the NPS announced that Chenoa’s body was discovered by a commercial river trip near river mile 176 in the Colorado River.

Now her siblings have turned a tragic situation into a charitable endeavor to honor their loved one and express their gratitude to the Grand Canyon National Park Search and Rescue program, wich was involved in the operation to find her. Called the Chenoa’s Forever Fund, the initiative is raising money to support the program. Grand Canyon Search and Rescue was able to bring our family that closure of recovering her and bringing her home,” says Tamara.
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Born in Luxembourg, Chenoa and her family moved to the U.S. in 1993, according to her obituary. In addition to Tamara and Kyra, Chenoa had another sibling, a brother named Janosh, now 29.

“She was just the brightest light,” says Tamara. “She was the best part of everyone’s day. We as siblings always said that she was the best of all of us.” The man is believed to be the seventh person to die at the canyon since July 31, and the 15th this year.
Author: Associated Press
Published: 7:45 PM MDT September 9, 2024
Updated: 9:33 PM MDT September 9, 2024
COCONINO COUNTY, Ariz. — There has been another fatality at Grand Canyon National Park, authorities announced Monday.

Park officials said 59-year-old Patrick Horton of Salida, Colorado, was on the 10th day of a non-commercial river trip along the Colorado River and was discovered dead by members of his party Saturday morning.

Officials said the National Park Service is conducting an investigation of Horton’s death in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Horton is believed to be the seventh person to die at the canyon since July 31, and the 15th this year.

Park officials reported 11 fatalities in 2023 and say there are usually about 10 to 15 deaths per year.