Woman dies while hiking from Grand Canyon rim to Colorado River and back in one day

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. — Authorities say an Indiana woman died earlier this month while hiking inside Grand Canyon National Park.

The National Park Service said Wednesday that a 36-year-old man from Westfield died May 14 after trying to hike from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River and back in a day.

Rangers responded to a call of an unresponsive hiker on the Bright Angel Trail above Three Mile Resthouse. Her paramedics rushed to her, but “the hiker lost her pulse shortly thereafter,” and her resuscitation efforts also failed, the Park Service said.

Her name has not been released.

The Park Service and the Coconino County Coroner’s Office are investigating her death.

Park rangers said the incident is a reminder that tourists, especially hikers and backpackers in the inner canyon, need to plan for the weather and expect very hot days in the coming weeks. says it’s something. It is not clear whether the weather played a role in her death.

Some exposed areas of the trail can reach 120 degrees during the summer months.

Hiking in the canyon between 10am and 4pm is strongly discouraged due to higher temperatures. Additionally, his one-day hike from the rim to the river and back is not recommended.

“Hiking in extreme heat can lead to serious health risks, including heat stroke, heat stroke, hyponatremia (a life-threatening electrolyte imbalance caused by too much water or too little salt), and even death. It’s possible,” the Park Service said in a news release.

Rangers are also forced to call 911 during the summer due to limited manpower, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and the limited ability of helicopters to fly during periods of extreme heat and bad weather. It also said that the response may be delayed.