Peninsula Woman Dies While Hiking Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon, AZ — A Peninsula woman died while hiking the Grand Canyon Wednesday, Grand Canyon National Park Officials said Friday in a news release.

Catherine Houe, 49, of Daly City, had hiked four miles down the South Kaibab Trail late Wednesday afternoon when she became dizzy, disoriented, and then stopped breathing, according to her husband and a friend.

House was hiking was hiking into the canyon to spend the night at Phantom Ranch.

The cause of death is believed to be heat-related, park officials said. The high temperature at Phantom Ranch on Wednesday as approximately 114° F (46° C).

The National Park Service is investigating the incident in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office.

Grand Canyon National Park visitors and inner canyon hikers and backpackers in particular are urged to be prepared for excessive heat in the coming days and weeks.

Summertime temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120° F (49° C) in the shade, park officials said.

Hiking in extreme heat can lead to serious health risks including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hyponatremia, and death.

More information on hiking smart in the heat at Grand Canyon National Park can be found at the following website: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hike-smart.htm.