Texas man dies in fall at Gorge

Fellow hiker said man was taking photo at cliffside

A hiking partner of a 64-year-old Texas man who fell to his death from a cliff in the Río Grande Gorge on Friday (July 23) said the man lost his grip while attempting to take a photo meant to make it appear like he was about to fall.

Letha Smith said Marc Diaz, herself and a group of friends had come to

the Taos area to adventure this month when tragedy struck as they hiked along West Rim Trail, about 1 mile south of the Río Grande Gorge Bridge.

She said everyone in their group was taking photos that day, but as

they split into pairs, she said Diaz and another friend were taking pictures near the edge of a sheer cliff.

Not more than “two or three minutes later,” according to Smith, the

hiker who was with Diaz came running up to say the 64-year-old had lost his grip and fallen.

Smith said Diaz was attempting to take a picture that made it appear as though he was hanging off the edge of a rock when he lost his grip.

“He had done a picture like that that morning; where he was hanging off an edge,” Smith said. “He was just

that kind of a guy, you know, like a daredevil.”

She did not specify whether Diaz was attempting to take a “selfie,” or if the other hiker was taking the photo of him.

After the group learned what had happened, Smith said they quickly made their way over to the edge to see if they could help. “We all ran to the edge at that time, but then we saw him there kind of

lifeless at that point,” said Smith. “Then we called 911 immediately.”

First responders from the Taos County Sheriff’s Office, Taos Volunteer Fire Department, Taos County EMS and a Los Alamos ropes team were dispatched to the Gorge to assess the situation.

Taos County Undersheriff Steve Miera said he hiked down to where Diaz had fallen to find that the 64-year-old had died. He estimated Diaz fell approximately 75

feet. Smith described the place he fell as “just straight down.”

The team’s efforts to recover the man’s body were delayed by a thunderstorm last Friday, but resumed the next morning. Miera said the team was able to complete the mission, which he described as a “technical rope recovery,” without any injuries.

“This is a stark reminder that accidents can and do happen without warning,” reads a statement from the Sheriff’s Office. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Diaz’s family and friends.”

Smith and others in the group remembered Diaz fondly. “He was very full of life, always adventurous,

always smiling, joyful,” said Smith. “He was kind of just like the motivator, the encourager. He always inspired people.”

The 64-year-old was a fitness coach at Crunch Fitness. The gym’s management team said in a statement that Diaz “truly made an impact for the better on everyone he came in contact with.” The

statement went on to explain Diaz’s important role in cultivating

the gym’s family atmosphere by opening up new classes and building “friendships and a community.”

Tami Wagnon, who was also hiking with the group when Diaz fell, said he was “like a brother” to

her, and said they were almost inseparable, working out together nearly seven days a week. “We are both athletic and competitive. We were always challenging each other … he was always telling me

he could finish a hike faster than me,” she remembered. “Marc motivated and pushed everyone to be better than they were yesterday.”

Wagnon described Diaz’s adventurous spirit, how he always brought his best attitude to their

group – not only while hiking, but on kayaking trips, skydiving outings and more. The rest of the

group said they plan to honor Diaz by completing the hike to Wheeler Peak at a later date. “We are making a flag that we carry on all our

hikes so he can be with us,” said Wagnon.

Another hiking partner, Theresa Roys described her close connection to Diaz: “He was my best

friend, my hiking partner and my workout partner/instructor.”

An obituary published by Harkey Funeral Home in Monahans, Texas, described Diaz as “an active outdoorsman, personal fitness

trainer, and a beloved PawPaw.” Diaz is survived by his mother, Aczuena Diaz, his brother, Javier Diaz, and his three children with

their mother Shelly Diaz: Shea Matthew Diaz and fiancee Kimberly; Myrissa Shenae Diaz; and Storey Mykal Diaz and fiancee Alyssa.

He is also survived by “three of his favorite people in the world,” according to the obituary: his

granddaughter and two grandsons.