As heat settles in, more hikers are being rescued from Phoenix trails. Here's how to stay safe
As warmer weather settles in, fire officials are asking hikers to be cautious when heading out on a hike, as mountain rescues are likely to be on the rise in the coming months.
While not all mountain rescues are due to heat-related incidents, trekking up trails becomes increasingly difficult for rescue teams due to heavy equipment and remote locations that need to be accessed in high temperatures.
According to the Phoenix Fire Department, more than 200 rescues are conducted per year.
On Thursday morning, a woman in her 40s was rescued and flown out of a Phoenix hiking trail after injuring herself.
The Phoenix Fire Department received reports of a woman with an ankle injury off of the Piestewa Peak Trail at 7:29 a.m., according to department spokesperson Cpt. Evan Gammage.
A Firebird 10 aircraft was used to assist in the rescue. She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, Gammage said.
During the past weekend, two people were rescued from trails in Piestewa Peak and another from a trail in South Mountain. And according to press releases distributed by the Phoenix Fire Department, at least 20 hikers had to be rescued in March.
Mountain rescues on Piestewa Peak Trail at Piestewa Peak are not uncommon. In fact, it is one of three hiking trails in the Valley known for short but steep and taxing treks — and year-round popularity.
The other two trails are the Cholla and Echo Canyon trails at Camelback Mountain.
All three trails are risky for first responders due to their terrain and respective elevations. They were among “the most challenging areas in Phoenix to access," according to a Facebook statement shared in July by the United Phoenix Firefighters Association.
In July, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board enacted a temporary policy that restricted access to the two popular hiking trails after 12 firefighters were sent home for heat-related issues after doing three back-to-back rescues on both mountains. Two of the firefighters ended up being hospitalized with acute renal failure from dehydration and exhaustion.
In October, the board voted in favor of permanently adopting the policy on Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak on days expected to have extreme heat.
The policy prohibits hikers from accessing Echo Canyon and Cholla trails at Camelback Mountain, and all trails associated with Piestewa Peak at the Phoenix Mountains Preserve from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat warning.
When these specific trails close, parking lot gates will be closed and signage will be posted in the vicinity to inform hikers. Closure information will also be communicated through the department's website, on social media accounts and to local hotels. Department rangers will also be nearby to ensure hikers don't access the area.
About 215 miles of trails in the Phoenix area would still be open to the public during those days.
Staying safe when hiking
According to Gammage, high temperatures and out-of-town visitors both cause and make up the majority of rescues.
Locals tend to hike in the fall, while beginners who might not be familiar with the potential heat risk are more likely to hike during the hotter months, Gammage said.
In 2021, there were a total of 240 mountain rescues, according to data provided by the Phoenix Fire Department. January and July each had 30 mountain rescues, which is the highest amount of mountain rescues seen in 2021 while November and December only had 11 rescues, the data stated.
In recent years, Phoenix Parks and Recreation has implemented safety guidelines under the Take A Hike, Do It Right campaign, which warns hikers to hike in early mornings and evenings, and to turn around before they've consumed half of their water.
Here are some tips when venturing out on the trails, according to Phoenix Parks and Recreation:
Watch the Weather: Yes, "it's a dry heat" — but Arizona's temperature can be deceiving and deadly. Hike when it's cool outside, try early mornings and evenings when there's more shade.
Dress Appropriately: Wear proper shoes, clothing, hat, and sunscreen.
Bring Water: Hydrate before you go. Have plenty of water, more than you think you need. Turn around and head back to the trailhead before you drink half of your water.
Keep in Contact: Carry a mobile phone.
Team Up: Hike with others. If hiking solo, tell someone your start and end times, and location.
Be Honest: Do you have a medical condition? Asthma, heart problems, diabetes, knee or back problems? Don't push yourself! (Even trained athletes have been caught off guard by getting dehydrated on Arizona trails.)
Don't Trailblaze: Enjoy the Sonoran Desert's beautiful and undeveloped landscape, but please stay on designated trails.
Take Responsibility: Don't be "that person" — the one who wasn't prepared, shouldn't have been there for health reasons, or ignored safety guidelines. Be the responsible hiker, who takes a hike and does it right!
Republic reporters Perry Vandell and Salma Reyes contributed to this article.
Reach breaking news reporter Amaris Encinas at [email protected] or on Twitter @amarisencinas.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix hikers should know these guidelines before hitting any trails
