Yesterday, Grand Canyon National Park announced a hiker fatality on the South Kaibab Trail, a challenging hike known for its steep descent into the canyon. The hiker, a 67-year-old man from Texas, initially set out to reach Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon, where many hikers spend the night during a rim-to-rim excursion. However, at some point, the man turned around and was attempting to travel back up the trail. Bystanders’ attempts to revive him via CPR were unsuccessful. Although park officials don’t say outright what caused the hiker’s death, the press release infers it was a heat-related illness.
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“In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can exceed 120°F (49°C) in the shade, creating extremely hazardous conditions for hikers,” Grand Canyon National Park wrote in its release. “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.”
Grand Canyon park rangers strongly advise against hiking in the inner canyon between 10 AM and 4 PM. If you do decide to recreate in the heat, be aware of the common signs and symptoms of dehydration. These include headache, dark-colored urine, dry mouth and lips, feeling thirsty, lightheadedness, and feeling tired. If you experience these symptoms, begin rehydrating immediately to keep your dehydration from becoming a life-threatening emergency.
See Grand Canyon National Park’s official notice about the hiker fatality here:
Stock image of a hiker on the Grand Canyon’s South Kaibab Trail by stellalevi/Getty Images