Big bend national park hiking deaths

Big Bend National Park in Texas has seen an increase in heat-related deaths in recent years, with at least 4 deaths since 2017. The park is remote and rugged with few shade trees, and summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The article describes several of the recent deaths:

• In 2019, a 33-year-old woman from Houston died of heatstroke while hiking on the Old Ore Road trail. Her husband found her unresponsive and she later died at a hospital.

• In 2017, a 72-year-old man from San Antonio died after suffering from heat exhaustion while hiking the South Rim trail. Rangers found him dead in his tent the next day.

• In 2022, a 34-year-old man from Austin died from heatstroke on the Rio Grande Village trail. His body was found by rangers two days after he went missing.

The article warns that hiking at Big Bend in the summer requires proper planning, equipment and awareness of the risks. Hikers need to bring extra water, avoid hiking in the hottest parts of the day, and look out for early symptoms of heat-related illness.

Rangers at Big Bend advise visitors to hike in small groups, tell someone your hiking plans and avoid strenuous hiking when temperatures exceed 100 degrees. They also provide cooling stations at visitor centers for hikers in distress.