Three Hikers Die From Extreme Heat While Making Their Way Through The Grand Canyon

Three hikers died from extreme heat successful Grand Canyon National Park this month, parkland officials said.

The first victim, a 72-year-old man, died June 12 while hiking connected nan South Kaibab Trail, according to nan National Park Service. Four days later, a 67-year-old man and a 68-year-old female were recovered dormant connected nan North Kaibab Trail.

The hikers appeared to person “succumbed to symptoms of heat-related illness,” but nan investigation into their deaths is ongoing, officials said.

The hikers died connected trails successful nan park’s soul canyon, wherever temperatures tin surpass 109 degrees Fahrenheit successful nan shade. All 3 were dormant by nan clip rescuers arrived, and their bodies were taken to nan Coconino County Medical Examiner’s office. Their names person not been released.

Both trails tin beryllium challenging, peculiarly during nan basking summertime months.

The South Kaibab Trail offers “little shade” and lends itself to “extreme power during nan summertime months," while nan North Kaibab Trail is nan “least visited and astir difficult of nan awesome soul canyon trails,” according to nan National Park Service’s website.

“Hiking successful Grand Canyon tin beryllium a situation for anyone, particularly during nan power of summer. The caller summation successful heat-related incidents comes arsenic summertime temperatures successful nan Inner Canyon person reached vulnerable levels, creating conditions that tin quickly overwhelm hikers during nan hottest parts of nan day,” parkland officials said.

“Due to existent conditions, nan [National Park Service] is encouraging visitors to enactment disconnected Inner Canyon trails from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” they added.

The Grand Canyon drew successful astir 4.4 cardinal visitors past twelvemonth and is 1 of nan astir celebrated nationalist parks. Falling is nan starring origin of unintentional decease astatine Grand Canyon National Park, followed by drowning and biology factors, according to National Park Service data.