Woman dies while hiking in triple-digit heat in Grand Canyon

A woman has died after attempting a day hike in Grand Canyon National Park when the temperature was in the triple digits.

In a news release, officials with the national park in Arizona, said park rangers received a report about a distressed hiker around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 2. The hiker was in the remote Tuweep area of the national park.

The hiker, a 57-year-old woman, was participating in an eight-mile hike “when she became unconscious.”

A ranger arrived around 1 a.m. on Monday, July 3, “and pronounced the hiker deceased.”

Park officials said the temperature in the Tuweep area on July 2 was “well over” 100 degrees. The high temperature at Phantom Ranch, near the Colorado River along the North Kaibab trail, reached about 114 degrees, officials said.

Grand Canyon National Park gave no more information about the woman.

Park officials have urged visitors to be prepared for excessively hot days because exposed parts of the trail can go over 120°F in the shade. Rangers recommend that visitors don’t hike in the inner canyon between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for inner canyon portions of the Grand Canyon through Wednesday, July 5.”

“These temperatures are beyond unpleasant or uncomfortable - they are, in fact, dangerous and if you fail to factor the heat into your plans the results could be tragic.”

Rangers encourage hikers to get wet, take breaks in the shade, hike early or late, eat “real” food and food high in salt content and add an electrolyte mix to your water.

Hikers should eat twice as much as normal, carry a first aid kit, map, flashlight and batteries, a spray bottle filled with water, a hat and/or sunscreen, a whistle or signal mirror and waterproof clothing.

“Even if you are eating and drinking correctly you still need to avoid hiking in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day. Sun temperatures are 15F to 20F (9C-11C) degrees hotter than posted shade temperatures. And keep in mind, the farther into the canyon you go the hotter it gets.”