Negotiating Zion National Park's sandstone canyons via rope, with one rappel followed by another, is an exhilarating experience, but it also can be quite dangerous, as the death of a Las Vegas man demonstrates.

Park officials say the 24-year-old had taken a fall of about 100 feet into a side canyon off Heaps Canyon about 7 p.m. Saturday. Word wasn't received by park officials for about four-and-a-half hours, however, as the route is a strenuous, challenging technical one which involves about 3,000 feet in descent, they noted. It usually takes 12 to 20 hours to complete, consists of a number of rappels into cold water, and ends with a final 280-foot rappel to the Upper Emerald Pool area, the officials said.

The man's three companions were able to descend to him, and while one waited with him, the other two went for help.

Rescue efforts started early Sunday. A helicopter from Grand Canyon National Park was sent up to Zion to assist. Two Zion Search and Rescue team members were short-hauled into the canyon above the victim. They rappelled down and found the man deceased. His name is being withheld pending family notification.