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ZION NATIONAL PARK, Utah (AP) -- A 14-year-old California boy died in a 1,000-foot fall during a Boy Scout hike in Zion National Park.
Kristoffer N. Jones of Long Beach, Calif., was hiking at Angels Landing when he fell off a cliff around 3 p.m. Friday, National Park Service spokesman Ron Terry said. A search and rescue crew had to rappel down the cliff to get to the body, which was recovered around 6 a.m. Saturday.
"It's difficult to get to. The technical rescue team had to rappel in from the top. They were still in that process when it was dark last night, so they were not able to reach the location of the body until this morning," Terry said.
Terry said the troop was hiking along a trail when Jones fell.
"The incident is under investigation but we don't know the cause at this time," he said.
Members of Jones' troop were taken to a local church, where they were counseled by park staff and members of the ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Angels Landing is a popular hiking spot with an elevation of 5,785 feet in the southern Utah park. Last fall, a Utah man fell to his death while canyoneering in the park.
The Washington County Sheriff's office and National Park Service were investigating the fall.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
