A 59-year-old Arizona backpacker died after hiking down the Thunder River Trail in the Grand Canyon National Park on Sunday.
Delphine Martinez, of Window Rock, was on a multi-day backpacking trip and after hiking along the Thunder River Trail became disoriented and unconscious, according to a news release from the National Park Service. Others who were on the trip tried resuscitation without success.
The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received the report of her death around 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
That day, high temperatures in the inner canyon were over 100 degrees and at Phantom Ranch 115 degrees were recorded, the release states.
Park rangers advise Grand Canyon visitors, especially those hiking and backpacking in the inner canyon, to be prepared for the “excessively hot days” expected in the coming weeks. During summer some parts of the trails can reach temperatures of up to 120 degrees in the shade.
“Park rangers strongly advise not hiking in the inner canyon during the heat of the day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hiking in extreme heat can lead to serious health risks including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hyponatremia, and death,” the release states.
The National Park Service and the Coconino County medical examiner were investigating the death.
Reach breaking news reporter Angela Cordoba Perez at Angela.CordobaPerez@Gannett.com or on Twitter @AngelaCordobaP.
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