Remains identified as Timothy Allen Smith, the last missing hiker from the Grand Canyon flooding, bringing the death toll to three and confirming a disaster that devastated the Phantom Ranch area and damaged the South Rim water pipeline. The two backcountry companions, Brent Rosenkranz and John Giusti, were found earlier, leaving Smith's family bearing the loss; search-and-rescue operations relied on permits and license checks, with more than 80 people rescued. The flood, triggered by a late August monsoon and worsened by burn-area runoff, prompted water restrictions and closures across the canyon, with officials projecting a weeks-long restoration timeline. The family publicly acknowledged the tragedy, while authorities extended condolences and documented the recovery effort. Looking ahead, trail access and water supply are expected to improve gradually as repairs proceed.
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Timothy Allen Smith, 53, a pilot from Star Valley, Wyoming, was found deceased near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River, completing the set of missing-person recoveries from the August flood.
Smith’s companions, Brent Rosenkranz, 42, and John Giusti, 46, both from Granbury, Texas, were found earlier, leaving Smith as the sole remaining missing person.
The search relied on Grand Canyon National Park’s permit system and license plate checks to track who remained missing, with more than 80 people rescued during the two-day deluge.
Smith’s wife, Carrie, and their children publicly expressed thanks for support via a Facebook video during the search, and she later confirmed the identity and shared a personal reflection on their loved ones.
The flood began on Aug. 29 during the North Rim monsoon season, with rapid downslope flows exacerbated by a burn area from a wildfire the prior year, reducing vegetation and increasing runoff.
The deluge damaged a water pipeline serving the South Rim, halting overnight lodging and prompting advisories for visitors to bring their own water or filtration devices.
Authorities estimate most of the near-complete pipeline project was not damaged, with officials aiming for a weeks-long restoration rather than months, while many trails and lodgings remain closed.