There’s nothing unusual about hot weather in the desert in the summertime. Even without the current heat wave sweeping the western US, areas like Canyonlands and Death Valley are always going to be scorching come July and August. Despite that meteorological reliability, however, people still want to don their best hiking boots and see the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon, badlands and Mesa Arch.
No one can blame you for wanting to see these dazzling sights, and summer is often the most convenient time to travel, but it unfortunately often brings hiker deaths and heat-related illnesses. Just last week, we reported on three deaths in western National Parks and another three people died over the weekend in Canyonlands. These incidents are always tragic, but are often avoidable.
