PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A hiker is in critical condition after being rescued from a Phoenix mountain hiking trail that’s currently closed due to dangerous heat.
Technical rescue teams from the Phoenix Fire Department responded to reports of a hiker in distress along the Cholla Trailhead at Camelback Mountain just after 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
Phoenix FD Capt. DJ Lee says the man began his hike around 10 a.m. and at some point while ascending the trail, fell and lost consciousness due to heat-related issues. Lee said area bystanders saw the man and called 911.
After making their way up the trail, crews located the hiker and attempted to cool him using an ice immersion bag. He was then brought down to the base of the mountain using a “big wheel” operation, consisting of a stretcher modified with a large, all-terrain tire, and loaded into an ambulance for transport to the hospital.
A hiker was rescued from Cholla Trail at Camelback Mountain on Tuesday.(Arizona’s Family)
The temperature during the rescue operation, which was completed around 12:15 p.m., was over 100 degrees. A rehabilitation truck was also set up to keep rescue personnel safe and hydrated.
No other injuries were reported.
Cholla Trail is among several Phoenix trails that are restricted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days the National Weather Service issues an Extreme Heat Warning. The current warning is in effect until 8 p.m. MST on Friday due to dangerous high temperatures across the Phoenix metro area and other parts of southern Arizona.
First Alert Weather Days have also been issued to the extreme heat, with high temperatures that could exceed 115 degrees through the rest of the work week. See the latest forecast here.
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