money 4 hikers rescued from South Mountain, Phoenix Mountain Preserve trails
Four people were rescued in three separate incidents off of South Mountain and Phoenix Mountain Preserve on Saturday, the Phoenix Fire Department said.
Fire crews rescued two lost hikers on South Mountain after they "lost their bearing" while hiking and called 911.
When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they found the two hikers using the GPS off of their cell phones. Firefighters walked the hikers off of the mountain and to the parking lot, where they drove home uninjured.
The rescue of another woman took place on the Mormon Trail at South Mountain when she became overheated and called 911.
Crews made contact with the woman via her cell phone and its GPS.
The woman was found in stable condition but dehydrated, and needed to be lowered down the mountain using a big wheel. She was evaluated and treated in the parking lot where she refused to be taken to a local hospital.
In another incident, firefighters assisted a 66-year-old man off of the 40th Street Trail Head at Phoenix Mountain Preserve.
The man called 911 when he became overheated and couldn't continue the hike down the mountain.
According to the Phoenix Fire Department, crews had to hike approximately one mile up the trail to the man's location. They treated him with basic life support measures. With the help of a park ranger and his vehicle, rescue crews were able to drive the man down the remainder of the trail.
The man was then transported to a local hospital for further treatment.
The Phoenix Parks and Recreation advises that hikers follow this checklist when planning a hike:
Watch the weather. Yes, "it's a dry heat" — but Arizona's temperature can be deceiving and deadly. Hike when it's cool outside, try early mornings and evenings when there's more shade.
Dress appropriately. Wear proper shoes, clothing, hat and sunscreen.
Bring water. Hydrate before you go. Have plenty of water, more than you think you need. Turn around and head back to the trailhead before you drink half of your water.
Keep in contact. Carry a mobile phone.
Be honest. Do you have a medical condition? Asthma, heart problems, diabetes, knee or back problems? Don't push yourself! (Even trained athletes have been caught off guard by getting dehydrated on Arizona trails.)
Don't trailblaze. Enjoy the Sonoran Desert's beautiful and undeveloped landscape, but please stay on designated trails.
Take responsibility. Don't be "that person" — the one who wasn't prepared, shouldn't have been there for health reasons or ignored safety guidelines. Be the responsible hiker, who takes a hike and does it right!
Reach breaking news reporter Haleigh Kochanski at hkochanski@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @HaleighKochans.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 4 hikers rescued from Phoenix trails in 3 separate incidents
