Woman Dies While Hiking Grand Canyon Due To Extreme Heat

An Ohio woman hiking the Grand Canyon was found dead on Sunday from what park officials believe was a heat-related illness as temperatures soared to 115 degrees.

The backpacker, Michelle Meder, 53, of Hudson, Ohio was on a multi-day hiking trip with several friends when she suddenly became disoriented along the Hermit Trail in Arizona’s Grand Canyon National park and fell unconscious on Saturday night, park officials said on Monday,

After Meder became unconscious members of her group hiked down to the Colorado River to flag down a rafting group for help who called the park rangers, Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Joelle Baird said.

Park rangers got the call on Sunday afternoon at approximately 1:15 p.m. and responded to the scene where Meder was to find her dead on the Tonto Trail near Monument Creek.

Biard said on Monday that heat-related illness has spiked lately, and park officials have recommended not hiking during the day’s peak of sweltering heat from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“It’s just very unforgiving this time of year, even people who are acclimated, and fit and in shape. Baird said. “They struggle. It can be really hard to thermal regulate if you’re not used to hiking gin these elements, and you’re not getting proper nutrition and hydration.”

After the Grand Canyon National Park released a statement on the incident that took place on Saturday, many people were quick to comment on the delay time for saving the woman. In a statement, the park warned that visitors may face delay times due to multiple factors in the summer:

“Hiking in extreme heat can lead to serious health risks including heat exhaustion, heat-stroke, hyponatremia, and death. Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed during the summer months due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat or inclement weather.”

Park officials said they are not able to shut down the park due to inclement conditions, but travelers should be cautious of the consequences they could endure if they are willing to brave the heat.