While behind Death Valley as the hottest national park in the U.S., Grand Canyon is also known for extreme temperatures that have been reaching higher and higher levels with every passing summer.
Temperatures at the national park known for its layered rock cliffs enveloping the Colorado River will typically average 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius) in late June but, amid the current heat wave, have sat at over 100 F (38 C) for more than a week.
With the U.S. National Weather Service predicting up to 110 F (43 C) by Tuesday, the National Park Service (NPS) put out a warning about the extreme heat following three deaths in the week leading up to June 16.
2 heat-related episodes in Grand Canyon National Park, NPS warns
On June 12, a 72-year-old man died of heat-related illness while hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the South Rim. Two couples aged 67 and 68 hiking together were found dead on the nearby North Kaibab Trail four days later on June 16.
As it descends directly into the canyon, North Kaibab Trail is considered a highly rigorous one that should be used only by experienced hikers. It also has no stops for drinking water along the 14-mile, or 22.5-kilometer, trail.
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“Grand Canyon National Park rangers and emergency personnel responded to two separate heat-related incidents on June 12 and June 16, resulting in three deaths,” the NPS says in a statement in which it does not name the individuals or provide further details on their deaths. “In both cases, the deceased hikers were hiking trails in the Inner Canyon, where temperatures can exceed 109°F in the shade during midday hours.”
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NPS says the inner canyon is especially hot
Amid the three deaths, the NPS put out a warning advising travelers to stay away from the more rigorous trails during the hottest periods and parts of the day.
Temperatures in the inner canyon, to which the trails on which the hikers died lead, also have temperatures of up to 25 F higher than what travelers may experience at the top of the canyon and the start of their trail — leading to a situation in which it is very easy to underestimate just how hot it will be.
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“Hiking in Grand Canyon can be a challenge for anyone, especially during the heat of summer,” the NPS wrote further. “The recent increase in heat-related incidents comes as summer temperatures in the Inner Canyon have reached dangerous levels, creating conditions that can quickly overwhelm hikers during the hottest parts of the day. Due to current conditions, the NPS is encouraging visitors to stay off Inner Canyon trails from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.”
Summer and early fall is also the season of wildfires that spread throughout the region while the Rock Canyon near the Grand Canyon on the Arizona-Utah border has been burning throughout across 4,823 acres over the weekend.
A separate wildfire just two miles from Grand Canyon National Monument broke out a few days earlier and was contained by a fire team by the start of the week.
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