Welcome to Times Insider, where we provide an inside look at who we are and how we create our journalism.
Walking a dog during the summer in Phoenix requires a simple test to determine if it’s safe: placing the back of your hand on the sidewalk. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
Having just returned from a reporting trip in Grand Canyon National Park, I’ve discovered a new way to beat the heat. I soak my T-shirt in cold water before heading out, a trick recommended by park rangers. It truly makes a difference in dealing with the scorching temperatures.
Living in the Southwest doesn’t automatically make you tolerant to the heat. Most people in Sonoran Desert spend their summers indoors, moving between air-conditioned houses and cars to find relief.
Grand Canyon Village extends this indoor bubble to the edge of the wilderness with its amenities. For my recent article in The New York Times Travel section, I wanted to explore how the park’s search-and-rescue staff manages risk in such a unique environment where comfort and rugged terrain coexist.
A significant aspect of their work is preventive search-and-rescue (P-SAR) which involves equipping people with the necessary information and supplies to endure a hot hike.
Speaking to rangers who have witnessed people experiencing critical conditions just miles away from air-conditioned food courts has shifted my perspective on risk. As an experienced hiker, I realized that I hadn’t truly considered the reasons behind common trail habits like snacking on potato chips or wetting a bandanna in the river.
Edward Abbey, a notable naturalist, criticized the invasion of paved roads and utility projects in remote areas in his book “Desert Solitaire.” His argument against “industrial tourism” lost out, and millions of people now have the opportunity to witness the wonders of the Grand Canyon. However, the topography of the park serves as a reminder that hiking below the rim requires preparation and respect for the extreme conditions.
Conventional wisdom suggests that young adult males with an adventurous spirit are most at risk of needing rescue. However, data from Grand Canyon National Park in 2018 revealed that individuals over 60 required assistance most frequently. The high altitude and effects of global warming make it easy for a bad situation to sneak up on you or exacerbate underlying health conditions.
When I asked a ranger about the common explanation from people who find themselves in trouble in the canyon, he simply said, “They thought they’d be fine.”
Having spent a month rafting through the Grand Canyon fourteen years ago, I was cautious on my recent trip. I packed essential items like a water bladder, hat, sunglasses, and appropriate footwear. However, after speaking with search-and-rescue rangers, I realized I was unprepared. I hadn’t thoroughly studied maps or planned my hike with specific departure and return times. Against their advice, I started my descent shortly before 9 AM, just as the temperatures were already climbing. When I reached Havasupai Gardens, I made the wise decision to turn around instead of pushing further.
The advice from the rangers had influenced my instincts.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
