Warning for hikers as temps rise

Triple-digit heat is expected in the valley by Friday, but the sun already is proving too much for hikers. There have been three rescues in less than a week, including one Wednesday morning.

“There is absolutely no shade, no water of any kind. It’s just as dry as it looks,” said Carrie Klauber, who is visiting from Colorado.

A group of lost hikers was rescued Tuesday in Palm Springs, a dehydrated one Saturday, and a hiker was airlifted off the Bump and Grind trail early Wednesday morning only 20 minutes into her hike. In all three situations, the hikers didn’t have enough water.

“Especially with the temperature variations and the lower humidities, many people underestimate the amount of water that they need to take with them. And it can really tax your body — these are steep trails,” said CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Rick Griggs.

These trails are a big draw. We found several hikers in Palm Desert out in the midday sun.

“We did get hot and the water that we had was hot to drink but you still have to drink it,” said Klauber. “I thought we should have gone out a little earlier and we could have gone farther. After about an hour, we turned around and said that’s enough.”

“I wear long sleeves and long pants and lots of water,” said La Quinta hiker Nancy Grisa.

“I’ve got a backpack, I’ve got a cellphone, an apple and orange, a couple bottles of water,” said Bill Moltzahn.

It’s all about planning ahead, how far you are going to be hiking and how much water it’s going to take to get you there and back to your car.

“We’ve been on people who’ve brought a small 4-once bottle of water thinking that is going to take them on a 6-mile hike. You should figure one quart an hour per person,” said Griggs.

CAL FIRE also recommends hiking boots, sunscreen, a hat and a fully charged cellphone, but don’t rely on that alone.

“Cell phone service is going to be spotty, so people need to know where are going what time you guess you might return,” said Griggs.

Start and finish the hike before the heat of the day.

“If you are looking at a two hour hike and you leave at 8 in the morning, it could be pushing 90 degrees by the time you are there and it’s just going to get hotter as you go,” said Griggs.

“You definitely have to take it seriously, You can get sick fast,” said Klauber.

If not, it could cost you.

“If we do have to rescue you and there is a reason someone was negligent, you can be held civilly responsible for the cost of your own rescue,” said Griggs.

So why not add a water station?

The city of Palm Desert says we’re the first ask about it for the Bump and Grind trailhead. It would cost about $10,000. We should point out, water at the end of the hike won’t help you if you run out on the trail.