From the given question, we can deduce the following information:
• Time, t = 4 hours
,
• The hiker goes from 892 ft to 256 ft above the canyon floor.
Let's find the vertical speed of the hiker.
To find the speed, apply the formula:

To find the distance, we have:
Distance covered = 256 ft - 892 ft = -636 ft.
Hence, to find the vertical speed, we have:

Therefore, the vertical speed of the hiker is -159 feet per hour.
ANSWER: