Man dies while hiking Grand Canyon trail in extreme heat
A 67-year-old man hiking in the Grand Canyon National Park died on a trail while hiking in extreme heat, which possibly caused hazardous conditions.
The Grand Canyon National Park Service said that at about 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of an unresponsive hiker.
The hiker was a 67-year-old man from Alvarado, Texas, Park Service said. He had attempted to reach the Colorado River to spend the night at Phantom Ranch.
The man was hiking through the South Kaibab Trail in Arizona, according to officials. The trail is only accessible by walking, bicycle or a shuttle that leaves the Grand Canyon's Visitor Center.
Phantom Ranch is a 15-mile round-trip that takes around two days, according to the National Park Service, NPS.
The South Kaibab Trail can also be used for shorter hikes, "but the openness of this trail lends itself to extreme heat during the summer months and little to no protection from passing storms," NPS states on its website.
Bystanders provided CPR
Officials said that bystanders began CPR while National Park Service and medical personnel arrived on foot. All attempts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful, Park Service officials said.
According to the Park Service, the hiker turned around at Skeleton Point and was making his way back up the trail when the incident occurred.
The Park Service and Coconino County medical examiner have begun an investigation.
"In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can exceed 120 degrees in the shade, creating extremely hazardous conditions for hikers," the Park Service said. "In addition to the heat, pre-existing medical conditions can compound physical stress, making summer hiking particularly risky, especially during the peak heat hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m."
The Park Service strongly advised against hiking in the inner canyon between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and urged all visitors to take extreme caution when hiking in the summer months.
Other heat-related hiker deaths this year
In May, another hiker, Dennis Smith, 74, from Olympia, Washington, died while hiking the North Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon, stated the NPS in a press release. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts by bystanders and NPS personnel to resuscitate him.
The trail is located on the Inner Canyon and is considered to be the most difficult of the major trails in the Inner Canyon, according to NPS.
Smith, who was considered an "avid and experienced hiker," was attempting to hike a Rim-to-Rim hike from the South Rim to the North Rim.
After the man's death, the NPS warned visitors to be cautious of the heat as temperatures near 100 degrees.
"Hikers and backpackers attempting rigorous distances, such as rim to rim, through the inner canyon are encouraged to be self-reliant to prevent emergency situations for themselves and responders," the NPS stated. "Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, and employee safety requirements."
Also in May, a 33-year-old man died and four others were rescued while hiking in an Arizona mountain range.
The hikers told first responders that they had been on the trail for six hours, Sophie Boukatch, the Superstition Fire & Medical District's Public Information Officer, told Paste BN.
How to stay safe during extreme heat
People facing extreme heat should do the following, according to the National Weather Service, NWS:
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Stay in an air-conditioned room
- Stay out of the sun
- Check up on relatives and neighbors
- Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles
- Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing outdoors
- Limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, Melina Khan, Paste BN
Julia is a trending reporter for Paste BN. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com