Hiker dies on Arizona trail after group says they ran out of water in extreme heat
GOLD CANYON, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) – A hiker died on an Arizona trail Sunday afternoon after his group ran out of water in extreme heat, officials said.
The group was hiking on a trail in the Superstition Mountains. They were hiking from the Wave Cave trailhead, located about an hour east of downtown Phoenix.
According to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, around 12:45 p.m., they received a call from a group of five hikers. The group said that they had been on the trail for six hours, and many of them were experiencing heat-related issues.
The group of hikers said they also ran out of water.
A 33-year-old man in their group, later identified by investigators as Noah Farabaugh, became unresponsive, and a bystander started R before medical crews arrived.
The group was only about 0.75 miles away from the trailhead. One person from the group made it to the trailhead and was able to flag down authorities for help.
Firefighters arrived and performed multiple rounds of R on Farabaugh. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene before deputies arrived.
No foul play is suspected. The Pinal County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death.
The other four hikers in the group were uninjured and refused transport to the hospital.
Sunday’s high temperature in the area was unseasonably hot for this time of year. Officials are encouraging people to stay clear of the trail Monday due to heat, with a high of 102 degrees.
Firefighters said by the time you feel dehydrated on the trail, you’re already behind in rehydrating yourself. Chugging fluids right before your hike won’t cut it, either.
“You really want to pre-hydrate several days in advance,” said Daniel Elliott, battalion chief of training with the Superstition Fire & Medical District. “And then also, heat acclimation. Maybe don’t start off with such a long hike. Get outdoors a little bit and have progression.”
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