Big Bend National Park (TX)
Hiker Dies on Grapevine Hills Trail
On Thursday, May 20th, park searchers, aided by a Border Patrol helicopter, found the body of a 42-year-old New York man who became lost on a day hike the previous day. Another hiker reported seeing the man around 11 a.m. on Wednesday on the Grapevine Hills trail. When the hiker returned to his car at 4 p.m., he noted that the other hiker’s vehicle was still at the trailhead. He reported this fact to rangers, noting that the man had no pack, water or hat on a day when temperatures hovered near 100 degrees. Several hasty teams aided by a Border Patrol tracker searched until dark, following an intermittent track. Terrain and darkness halted their efforts, which resumed the next morning. Searchers picked up tracks near the last known point shortly after sunup. An observer in the helicopter spotted the body of the hiker as the helicopter flew ahead of searchers who were on the track trail. It appears that dehydration and heat were the cause of death. Ranger Kathy Hambly was IC.[Submitted by Mark Spier, Chief Ranger]
http://data2.itc.nps.gov/morningreport/morningreportold.cfm?date=05%2F24%2F2004
RSS Feed For This Forum