Woman dies on backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. — A woman died on a backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon over the Labor Day weekend, officials say.

>> Read more trending news

The National Park Service in a news release reported that on Sunday at around 7:30 p.m. the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center got a call that a dead backpacker was found along the Thunder River Tail.

The backpacker was identified by NPS as Delphine Martinez, 59.

According to The Associated Press, Martinez was found about a mile from the confluence of Tapeats Creek and the Colorado River.

NPS said that Martinez was on a multiple-day backpacking trip when she got disoriented and became unconscious. Other backpackers on her trip tried to resuscitate her but were unsuccessful.

According to NPS, the high temperatures on Sunday in the inner canyon were over 100 degrees and the high temperature at the Phantom Ranch was about 115 degrees.

“Park rangers at Grand Canyon National Park urge visitors to Grand Canyon, especially inner canyon hikers and backpackers, to be prepared for excessively hot days in the coming weeks. In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120°F (49 °C) in the shade. Park rangers strongly advise not hiking in the inner canyon during the heat of the day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hiking in extreme heat can lead to serious health risks including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hyponatremia, and death,” NPS said in the news release.

NPS is conducting an investigation into Martinez’s death along with the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office, according to the AP. No further information has been released.

©2022 Cox Media Group