Two critical heat-related hiking rescues occurred within days of each other, despite trail closures

PHOENIX — Phoenix fire officials have conducted more than 108 mountain rescues this year, with Camelback Mountain alone accounting for 44 of those emergency responses as temperatures are expected to reach a scorching 117 degrees Thursday.

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Autoridades aseguran que han aumentado los rescates en las montañas de Phoenix mientras el calor extremo azota el Valle del Sol

The latest in a string of heat-related emergencies occurred Tuesday when rescue crews responded to an unconscious hiker on the Cholla Trail at Camelback Mountain. The man had started his hike early in the morning but lost consciousness around 11 a.m. due to heat exposure, according to officials. Bystanders called authorities after discovering the distressed hiker on the trail, which is officially closed during extreme heat warnings.

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Emergency responders hiked up the mountain to reach the victim and safely transported him down. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, while the rescue team returned without incident.

Just days earlier on Aug. 2, another heat-related emergency unfolded near Gold Canyon on the Peralta Trail. A woman was hospitalized in critical condition after she fell unconscious, fire officials said. Fortunately, her hiking partner was there to call 911.

The spike in rescues comes as the Phoenix area braces for dangerous temperatures. Thursday’s forecast high of 117 degrees would mark only the fifth time in recorded history that August has reached such extreme temperatures in the Valley.

According to Maricopa County data, eight percent of outdoor heat-related deaths in 2024 occurred in desert areas, highlighting the serious risks facing outdoor enthusiasts during the summer months.

City officials have implemented safety closures for popular hiking destinations during extreme heat warnings, defined as temperatures exceeding 110 degrees. Echo Canyon, Cholla, and Piestewa Peak Summit trails are closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during these conditions, along with three trails at South Mountain.

Despite the precautions, hikers continue to venture onto dangerous terrain during peak heat hours, and rescuers keep getting called to save them.