Belyruth Ordóñez, a 30-year-old avid hiker from Utah, tragically died while hiking at Snow Canyon State Park with her parents when temperatures soared above 100 degrees F. Her parents were also hospitalized with heat exhaustion. This was one of four heat-related fatalities reported at state and national parks this month, including an incident at Canyonlands National Park where two hikers ran out of water and died. The heatwave in the Southwest has been record-breaking, leading to an increase in heat-related deaths. The National Park Service focuses on alerting visitors to weather hazards and encouraging them to make safe decisions, but fatalities are still occurring due to extreme temperatures.
Experts emphasize the importance of staying hydrated and being prepared for hot conditions while hiking. The deaths at Grand Canyon National Park, where temperatures reached over 120 degrees in exposed areas, underscore the dangers of extreme heat on park trails. Visitors are urged to heed warnings, carry enough water, and avoid hiking during the hottest parts of the day to prevent heat-related emergencies. The tragic deaths of hikers like Belyruth Ordóñez and Scott Sims highlight the importance of being aware of the risks associated with extreme heat during outdoor activities.
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