Dozens of Hikers Have Died This Summer Amid Punishing Heat Waves — and It’s Not Even August

Dozens of hikers have died in the United States and worldwide amid weeks of extreme heat. High temperatures have broken records in locations as far apart as California, Maine, and Greece since late May, causing hundreds of heat-related deaths on and off the trail.

A father and daughter were found dead in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park in mid-July after getting lost and running out of water. Just one day later, a woman died and her parents were hospitalized after hiking in extreme heat in a Utah state park. Three have died in the Grand Canyon in the past month.

A nine-year-old died while hiking near Phoenix at the beginning of July, while two women died in June in separate suspected heat-related incidents while hiking in Colorado and California, respectively.

Hantae Kim, a PCT section hiker, was found dead in a ravine amid extreme heat last week.

Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that “at least 10 foreign tourists have gone missing or been found dead in Greece this year after going for a hike, often in scorching temperatures.”

Three hikers were rescued from Camelback Mountain near Phoenix, AZ over the weekend after overheating and running out of water. Happily, all three were evacuated to the trailhead successfully and declined further medical treatment at a hospital.

It is important to note that heat is not the confirmed cause of death in many of these cases. But when temperatures soar as they have this summer, heat is typically at least a suspected cause or contributing factor.

Thru-Hikers Are Struggling With High Temps on the AT and PCT

Photo: Eva

Heat waves have wracked the US since late May, leaving tens of millions under heat advisories, while Europe is set to face its hottest summer on record. Hikers everywhere are feeling it.

Palm Springs, California — a town just miles from the popular Pacific Crest Trail — set a record high temperature of 124 degrees Fahrenheit (51 Celsius) on July 5.

“The heat wave that was passing through was so intense that I was sweating even while lying down,” wrote Trek PCT blogger Eva on June 9 of their experience near the LA aqueduct.

Photo: Eva

Eva and other hikers ended up hiking through the night to avoid high temperatures in this infamously hot and exposed section of the PCT. On another day, they started hiking at 4 a.m. and took a long siesta during the hottest part of the afternoon. “I didn’t get to bed til almost 11 p.m. but at least I wasn’t hiking during the heat of the day,” they wrote of this 19-hour day on trail.

One month later on the opposite side of the country, Mo Wynne described their experience with brutal heat on the Appalachian Trail in a July 5 post on The Trek. “I felt overwhelmed by the heat, almost like I couldn’t breathe.” Several days later, as Wynne approached Bear Mountain State Park, the heat index topped 104 degrees.

“The daily heat index has been above 100 for weeks now,” wrote prominent thru-hiker Jack “Quadzilla” Jones in a July 17 Instagram post from the Appalachian Trail.

Hiking in Extreme Heat

Photo: Eva

Hikers should consider staying indoors and postponing outdoor plans during extreme heat. If you do intend to hike, start in the early morning or the evening to avoid the hottest part of the day.

Several of the suspected heat-related deaths on trail this summer happened after hikers became lost, overheated, and ran out of water. Basic hiking safety best practices, like carrying appropriate gear and provisions, knowing where you’re going and having a means of navigation, and letting someone know of your plans, are even more important in extreme heat.

Bring adequate sun protection — including a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen — and plenty of water. Carry at least one liter for every hour you plan to be on the trail.

Finally, learn to recognize symptoms of possible heat-related illness and know what to do if you notice them in yourself or another hiker. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, symptoms of heat exhaustion include the following:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Irritability
• Thirst
• Heavy sweating
• Elevated body temperature
• Decreased urine output

Heat stroke is a more serious heat-related illness that can be fatal if treatment is delayed. Symptoms include the following:

• Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech
• Loss of consciousness (coma)
• Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
• Seizures
• Very high body temperature

According to the CDC, heat stroke is a medical emergency. If someone on trail is exhibiting symptoms, call 911 or press the SOS button on your emergency beacon immediately. Move the hiker to a shaded location, if possible, and fan them to speed cooling. Remove outer clothing layers and “place cold wet cloths or ice on the head, neck, armpits, and groin; or soak the clothing with cool water.”

Read the full list of heat-related illness symptoms and first aid recommendations from the CDC here.