Group of Lost Hikers in Extreme Heat Resulted in Death

By on September 6, 2022 0 363Views

One person hiking over the Labor Day holiday has died and five others in the group had to be rescued off a valley hiking trail suffering from heat emergencies.

On Monday, a group of six hikers were together hiking Spur Cross Ranch Trail in Cave Creek when they got lost and ran out of water. Just before 1:30 p.m., deputies and firefighters responded to reports of hikers experiencing heat exhaustion.

The Scottsdale Fire Department reported that a man in his 20s died as a result. All of the hikers were air-lifted off the trail and three were taken to a hospital and two others were evaluated by firefighters and released.

The hikers reportedly ran out of water halfway through their hike. Authorities recommend turning around on the trail once you have gone through half of your bottle of water.

Here are some important tips if you choose to hike during the summer months:

  • Drink plenty of water before, during and after your hike.
  • Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
  • Wear proper and protective hiking gear.
  • Do not bring pets if temperatures are above 100 degrees.
  • Start early in the morning. Avoid peak times of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is harsher.
  • Never hike alone. Hiking with another person means that you can both look for signs of heat exhaustion and have a charged cell phone with you.
  • Take breaks during the hike, preferably in shaded areas.

If you or your hiking partners start to feel dizzy, nauseous, fatigued or clammy these could be signs of heat exhaustion. Call 911 immediately if you notice your symptoms getting worse.