Grapevine Canyon Sunset                                                               (Photo: Brian Lane)

Inner Canyon Weather:
Inside Grand Canyon weather remains hot and humid with a chance of afternoon monsoonal thunderstorms. August and September are still dangerous times to hike the canyon due to extreme heat. Temps will remain in the 105 degree range for the next few weeks and slowly moderate into the mid-80's by mid-October. The chance of rain remains high while the Arizona Monsoon stays active, by mid-September the monsoons have subsided and precipitation goes from about an inch-and-a-half average in August to about a half inch of rain during the month of October. Due to extreme temperatures canyon hikers are still being advised to drink plenty of water (1-2 liters of water for every hour hiking) and be off the trail between the hours of 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. - the hottest time of day.

Man Rescued After Falling into Canyon:
On August 5th, 2010 an eighteen year old male visiting from France slipped and fell about 75 feet below the rim while taking pictures near Mather Point.  The incident occurred at about 2:45 p.m. and the man was air lifted via helicopter short-haul around 4:15 p.m. and flown to Flagstaff Medical Center with non-life threatening wrist, ankle, and neck injuries.

Technology Can Cause Trouble:
A recent article in the New York Times talked about the problems related to hikers using cell phones and other emergency communication devices in the backcountry. First of all, cell phones generally do not work inside the Grand Canyon, so canyon hikers are usually limited to satellite phones, personal location beacons (PLBs), or the newer SPOT Messenger. In the Grand Canyon I know of one instance where these satellite communication devices possibly saved a life a couple of years ago when a hiker in Surprise Valley suffering from heat exhaustion was air lifted out to medical care.

Then, I know of two instances where these devices were activated for no reasonable purpose, both happened during September, 2009...

The first occurred on September 2nd at 1:30 a.m. when a group of three hikers was sleeping along the rough and unmaintained Tanner Trail, about three miles from the South Rim. Grand Canyon dispatch was notified that a SPOT "911" activation had been received from the group whose permit holder and trip leader had extensive experience hiking the canyon. A rescue team arrived a short time later to find all three in their tents fast asleep. Further investigation revealed that one of the three hikers (on their first trip into the canyon) had become worried that they had run out of water, and she had heard "odd respiratory noises" coming from the group leader. Deciding they were in trouble she activated the 911 device and went back to sleep without telling anyone. After the rescue situation happened the group decided not to continue their intended trip any further and returned to the South Rim the next day. The Park Service did not press charges. 

Later that month, on September 23rd, Park Rangers initiated a search for two men and their two teenage sons along the rugged, unmaintained, and difficult to follow, Royal Arch Loop after receiving word that the group had activated the "help" button on the SPOT tracking device rented for the trip. They were reached via Park Service helicopter the next day, where they declined rescue since they had activated the device because they ran out of water, and had since then found a water source. That same evening the group activated the "911" button on their SPOT device. Due to darkness, an Arizona State DPS helicopter with night vision capabilities was requested. The DPS helicopter crew found the group less than a quarter mile from the location of the first "rescue" call. This time they said they were concerned about dehydration because their water "tasted salty." The group requested a night evacuation but was turned down by the helicopter crew due to the danger of such extractions. The group was provided more water before the helicopter departed. The next morning the group again activated the "help" button on their rented SPOT device. They were subsequently removed from the canyon at that time - all four refused medical assessment or treatment of any kind. The group leader admitted that he had hiked in the Grand Canyon once before, while the others had never hiked the Grand Canyon, and had little backpacking experience. The trip leader was cited for "creating a hazardous condition."

Emergency communication devices should never be relied upon in the backcountry. They are not intended to replace common sense and informed decision making. A reasonable person would know what they are getting into before entering the backcountry, and should be fully prepared physically and mentally for such a challenge. If rescue from the inner canyon is required you may be charged the cost of such rescue.

To read the full NYTimes article go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/science/earth/22parks.html


  Hike Safe & Have Fun!
              Brian