• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hit the Trail

Hit the Trail

Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon, Sedona, & the Southwest

  • Home
  • Hikers Guide
    • Equipment
      • Backcountry Food
      • Backcountry Kitchen Gear
      • Backpacking Stoves
      • Backpacks
      • Boots & Footwear
      • Clothing
      • Equipment Guide
      • Equipment Rentals/Purchase
      • Flashlights and Lanterns
      • Seat Pads
      • Sleeping Bags
      • Sleeping Pads
      • Socks
      • Tents
      • The Wonder Bucket
      • Walking Sticks
      • Water Purification
    • Trails & Campgrounds
      • Bright Angel Campground
      • Cottonwood Camp
      • Desert View
      • Grand Canyon’s Corridor Trails
      • Grand Canyon Trail Descriptions
      • Havasu and Mooney Falls
      • Indian Garden Campground
      • North Rim Campgrounds
      • North Rim Day Hikes
      • North Rim Yurt
      • Pack Hauling Service
      • Phantom Ranch/BA Day Hikes
      • Phantom Ranch Area Map
      • Phantom Ranch FAQs
      • Phantom Ranch Lodging/Dining
      • South Rim Campgrounds
      • South Rim Day Hikes
      • Sedona/Verde Valley Trails
      • Toroweap & Tuweep
      • Trip Reports and Resources
      • Trip Reports – Baja
    • Safety, Resources & Training
      • Acrophobia/Fear of Heights
      • Arizona Hiking Clubs
      • Backcountry 911
      • Backcountry Etiquette
      • Backcountry Permits
      • Bubonic Plague
      • Heat Strain
      • Hiker FAQs
      • Hiker’s Links/Resources
      • Lightning Strikes/Safety Tips
      • Monsoon Facts
      • Rabies
      • Training/Physical Fitness
    • Tips & Tricks
      • Author’s Tips & Tricks
      • Boot Lacing Technique
      • Phantom Ranch Tips & Tricks
      • Readers’ Tips & Tricks
      • Rest Step for Uphill Hiking
      • Summertime Hiking Tips
      • Winter Hiking Tips
      • Women’s Tips & Tricks
  • Visitors Guide
    • General Information
      • Entrance Fees/Park Brochures
      • Events Calendar
      • Fishing Regulations
      • Fires/Smoke in Park
      • Fishing Regulations
      • Grand Canyon Distances
      • Grand Canyon Park Links
      • Grand Canyon Trivia/Facts
      • Grand Canyon Weather
      • Havasu and Mooney Falls
      • Hiking Guides
      • Indian Reservations
      • Photo Galleries
      • Ranger Programs
    • South Rim
      • Desert View
      • Havasu and Mooney Falls
      • South Rim Campgrounds
      • South Rim Day Hikes
      • South Rim Lodging
      • South Rim Mule Rides
      • South Rim Restaurants/Cafés
      • South Rim Services
      • South Rim Transportation
    • Phantom Ranch
      • Pack Hauling/Duffel Service
      • Phantom Ranch Area Map
      • Phantom Ranch/BA Day Hikes
      • Phantom Ranch FAQs
      • Phantom Ranch Human History
      • Phantom Ranch Lodging/Dining
      • Phantom Mule Ride Gallery
      • Phantom Ranch Mule Rides
      • Phantom Ranch Tips & Tricks
    • North Rim
      • North Rim Campgrounds
      • North Rim Day Hikes
      • North Rim Dining/Food Service
      • North Rim Lodging
      • North Rim Mule Rides
      • North Rim Services
      • North Rim Yurt
      • Toroweap & Tuweep
    • Sedona
      • Permitted Guide Services
      • Red Rock Pass
      • Sedona Geology
      • Sedona Information
      • Sedona Photography
      • Sedona/Verde Valley Area Trails
      • Visitor Centers
  • Mules, Guides & River Trips
    • Commercial River Trips
    • Hiking Guides
    • Horseback Rides
    • Mule Ride Gallery
    • North Rim Mule Rides
    • Pack Hauling/Duffel Service
    • Phantom Ranch Mule Rides
    • Private River Trips
    • River Trip Safety
    • South Rim Mule Rides
  • Explore
    • Natural History
      • Bats
      • Canyon Treefrogs
      • Condors at Grand Canyon
      • Ravens
      • Scorpions
      • Snakes
      • Squirrels & Rodents
      • Tarantulas/Other Spiders
    • Human History
      • Civilian Conservation Corps
      • Phantom Ranch History
      • Pre-Park Era
      • NPS Era
    • Grand Canyon Geology
      • Intro to Grand Canyon Geology
      • Kaibab Limestone to Supai Formation
      • Redwall Limestone to Tapeats Sandstone
      • The Supergroup
      • The Inner Gorge
    • Lake Powell Geology
      • Introduction
      • The Back Story
      • Rock Layers
      • Monoclines
      • Prominent Rock Units
      • Striking Landscape
      • Laccoliths
      • Future of Lake Powell
    • Sedona Geology
      • Introduction
      • Prelude to the Red Rocks
      • Sedona’s Red Rocks, Part 1
      • Sedona’s Red Rocks, Part 2
      • Deposition, Uplift, and Erosion
      • House Mountain Volcano
      • Verde Valley and Verde Lake
      • Carving Oak Creek Canyon
  • Books & Videos
    • Hiking Guides
      • Apps, Maps & Hiking DVDs
      • Arizona Hiking
      • Canyon Country Hiking
      • Grand Canyon Hiking
      • Utah Hiking
    • Hiker Safety/Skills
      • Backcountry Skills
      • Camper’s Cookbooks
      • Search and Rescue
      • Wilderness First Aid
    • Natural/Human History
      • Grand Canyon Human History
      • Grand Canyon Legends
      • Natural History & Geology Guides
    • Colorado Plateau
      • Exploring Arizona
      • Exploring Utah
      • Regional Guides
      • Scenic Photography Books
  • Blog
    • Canyon Posts
    • Canyon Archives
    • Trip Reports
    • Baja Trip Archive – Baja
    • Site Contributors
Home/Hikers Column/Excessive Heat, Updates and Exciting News

Excessive Heat, Updates and Exciting News

Excessive Heat Blankets the Canyon and Southwest

Grand Canyon National Park: North Kaibab Trail | NPS Photo
Grand Canyon National Park: North Kaibab Trail | NPS Photo

With the monsoon storms being few and far between so far this summer, our temperatures have soared unchecked to dangerous levels.

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning through 8:00 PM Tuesday, July 16. Temperatures at Phantom Ranch are expected to reach 112 °F, and they are to remain above 105 °F through the week with no chance of rain until Sunday.

Hiking the Inner Canyon this time of year is no fun! It is truly like hiking in an oven. Until you’ve experienced this kind of heat, you truly cannot imagine the intensity of it. Heat illness is easier to get than to avoid. Do yourself a favor and enjoy relative coolness of the rim.

If you can’t help yourself and feel you MUST hike into the inner gorge, please take all precautions seriously. Here are some resources to help make your trip safer and more enjoyable:

  • Grand Canyon Weather (Multiple Locations including Inner Canyon): https://www.hitthetrail.com/grand-canyon-weather/
  • Summertime Hiking Tips: https://www.hitthetrail.com/summertime-hiking-tips/
  • Grand Canyon NPS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GrandCanyonNationalPark/
  • Grand Canyon NPS Summer Hiking Page: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hike-smart.htm

Castle Fire Burning on North Rim

If you plan on visiting the North Rim in the very near future, be aware of the lightning-caused fire on the North Kaibab Ranger District being allowed to burn off forest fuels.

The named Castle Fire was discovered July 12 and is located about 11 miles south of Jacob Lake and 3 miles west of Hwy. 67.

Since it occurred within an established planned area of 12,000 acres destined for managed burns, it will be allowed to burn as long as weather conditions and other factors are favorable to its growth.

Smoke will likely become more visible in the coming days as the fire spreads. Fire managers will conduct burnout operations as needed to strengthen established control lines.

More information is available on the InciWeb website at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6439/.

Body Recovered in Grand Canyon

Peter Schwab, a river runner passenger on a day hike to the Narrows in National Canyon, was reported missing on June 28th. A missing person search was conducted and never turned up anything, which sadly is often the case.

On Wednesday, July 10, Grand Canyon NPS was notified of a body in the Colorado River below Lava Falls near River Mile 181. The body was recovered and transported by helicopter to the rim and the Coconino County Medical Examiner.

It appears to be the missing river runner, Mr. Schwab. The medical examiner will confirm positive identification. An investigation is being conducted into the incident.

Condor 409 | NPS Photo
Condor 409 | NPS Photo

1000th California Condor Chick Born in the Wild

I am happy to end this post on a wonderful note. Zion National Park has a special new baby nesting in its cliffs north of Angels Landing.

A condor chick believed to be the 1,000th born in the wild has been confirmed by Zion biologists. They estimate the egg hatched at the beginning of May to Condor 409 (Tag 9).

The story of the California Condor is one of the most exciting success stories ever. After the population of California Condors dwindled to 22 in the entire WORLD, it was decided to capture the remaining birds. They were bred in captivity, carefully keeping them from becoming habituated to humans.

Individuals were then released into remote areas with the hopes to build up a wild population. As you can tell by this story, it has been very successful!

More about the new chick:

  • https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2019/07/condor-chick-spotted-zion-national-park
  • http://www.peregrinefund.org/news-release/356

Banner Photo Credit

Grand Canyon National Park: North Kaibab Trail | NPS Photo

Published on: July 16, 2019

Categories: Hikers Column

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent News

Havasu Creek | Photo by Mike Buchheit

Important Updates – and Fascinating Stuff Too!

Fire Restrictions Going Into Effect Friday, May 14 The Kaibab National Forest (the national …

Continue Reading about Important Updates – and Fascinating Stuff Too!

Important Inner Canyon Closures and East Entrance Opening

Temporary Closures Along the Silver Bridge and Bright Angel Trail The Grand Canyon announced …

Continue Reading about Important Inner Canyon Closures and East Entrance Opening

Archives

  • Hit the Trail Returns with New Partnership
  • Hit the Trail Resumes with Limited Updates
  • Important Updates for Park

Newsletter

Sign up for email updates. You can stop at any time and your information will never be shared.

Footer

Copyright © 1998–2023 · Hit the Trail: Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon, Sedona and the Southwest

All Rights Reserved · All photos credit NPS unless stated otherwise

Newsletter

Sign up for email updates. You can stop at any time and your information will never be shared.

  • Contact
  • About
  • Sitemap
  • Affiliate Disclaimer