Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department officials recovered the body of an unidentified male hiker, 38, near Sedona on Friday.
Police said sheriff’s office officials conducted a welfare check on the man who did not show up for work, which was unusual for his colleagues. Authorities have not released the man’s name.
His roommate told police he was an avid hiker, usually hiking the trails of Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock. Police found his car in the Bell Rock Trail parking lot, but it was never found. Police tried to find his cell phone, which turned out to be in the area.
At the time, authorities did not believe he was in danger, but when he did not show up later that night, authorities began to believe he was in danger.
An Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter was dispatched, but was unable to locate the hiker as it was dark. On Friday morning, a unit from the Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to search for the man.
Around 6 a.m. Friday, Sheriff’s Department personnel began searching for missing persons, while Verde Search and Rescue personnel began searching near the top of Bell Rock. They were able to observe deep crevices in the mountains and were able to locate the man.
Authorities believe he slipped and fell to his death while walking on a highly technical section of the hike.
The body will be recovered by a technical rope unit and returned to the family.
