A 57-year-old woman hiking in the remote Tuweep area of Grand Canyon National Park in temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit has died/NPS file
Heat "well over 100° Fahrenheit" very possibly played a role in the death of a 57-year-old hiker at Grand Canyon National Park.
The unidentified woman was trying to complete an eight-mile hike in the remote Tuweep area of the national park when she became unconscious, a park release said. Park authorities were alerted around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, but it took a ranger until 1 a.m. Monday to reach the scene. When he did, he pronounced her dead.
On Sunday, the high temperature at Tuweep was well over 100°F (38°C), with the high temperature at Phantom Ranch, near the Colorado River along the North Kaibab trail, reaching approximately 114°F (46°C), the park release said.
Grand Canyon National Park rangers urge visitors to the park, especially inner canyon hikers and backpackers, to be prepared for excessively hot days in the coming weeks. An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for inner canyon portions of the Grand Canyon through Wednesday.
In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120°F (49 °C) in the shade. Park rangers strongly advise not hiking in the inner canyon during the heat of the day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hiking in extreme heat can lead to serious health risks including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hyponatremia, and death. For more information on hiking safe during the summer season, visit the park's Hike Smart webpage here.
An investigation into this incident is being conducted by the Park Service in coordination with the Mohave County Medical Examiner. No additional information is available at this time.
