The death of a 56-year-old female hiker who was visiting Palm Springs from Scotland prompted police on Monday to issue a warning about the risk of mountain trails in extreme heat.
The woman’s 59-year-old husband called 911 about 10:15 a.m. Monday, saying his wife was unconscious and the pair were overheated, dehydrated and low on water, according to a Palm Springs Police Department news release.
After air units located the couple on the South Lykken Trail, the woman was airlifted in critical condition. Rescue personnel hiked about 35 minutes into the area, and the man was airlifted and then transported to a hospital via ambulance.
The woman died at the hospital. Her identity was not released.
Her husband was hospitalized in stable condition, police said Monday afternoon.
The couple, who had been visiting Palm Springs from Scotland, began hiking at about 7:30 a.m., leaving from the trailhead at Murray Canyon Drive and South Palm Canyon Drive (map), south of downtown Palm Springs.
The scenic, 4.4-trail in the San Jacinto Mountains is popular in part because it gains some 1,000 feet and provides views across the Coachella Valley. It is almost completely exposed to the sun and can be brutally hot even on fairly mild days.
A high of 108 degrees was forecast for Palm Springs Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
Palm Springs police said search-and-rescue personnel respond to dozens of calls from overheated hikers each year.
Police reminded hikers to be in good shape, wear bright colors, carry a charged cellphone, and bring several liters of water — for each person — when venturing into “these treacherous mountains.”