While some will drive through national parks by car that they will exit only for a quick photo opp, true nature lovers will argue that the only real way to experience the country’s 63 national parks is by foot — strenuous hikes that take hours to complete but eventually lead one to the kinds of untapped nature that is becomingly increasingly hard to find in the modern age.
But going off the grid comes with certain dangers around everything from wild animals to tripping hazards when there is no marked path. In case where emergency services are necessary, they can also take significantly longer to arrive.
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On Aug. 12, a 37-year-old woman from Michigan’s Battle Creek was found dead of “sudden onset medical complications” while hiking through the state’s Isle Royal National Park.
‘As her condition deteriorated, she was eventually unable to walk’
“The 37-year-old woman from Battle Creek, Michigan, was hiking with her partner when she experienced sudden onset medical complications,” the National Park Service (NPS) wrote in its description of the incident. “As her condition deteriorated, she was eventually unable to walk, lost consciousness, and stopped breathing. CPR was provided but attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful.”
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The parkgoer lost consciousness near the Isle Royale’s LeSage Lake; the area is remote and fellow visitors attempted to provide help and contact energy park services by text message that were slow in getting through due to limited service.
“Other backpackers in the area were able contact MI State Police through a delayed 911 text,” the NPS wrote further. “That information was then relayed to a National Park Service dispatch center. Park ranger/EMTs located and stayed with the party Monday evening. Early Tuesday morning a crew of Isle Royale staff responded to transport the party from a remote location.”
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Amid ongoing investigation, NPS sends out warning
The NPS said an investigation into the cause of the woman’s death is currently in process.
The government agency did not elaborate on the cause of death further. Since the start of the summer, a number of hikers have died in different circumstances.
A father-daughter hiking duo died from extreme heat exposure after running out of water at Utah's Canyonlands National Park last July while over at Grand Canyon a 20-year-old visitor from New Mexico fell to her death after accidentally getting too close to the edge at Twin Overlooks.
The most common reasons behind hiking casualties come from either hikers underestimating just how extreme the weather in some of the country’s southernmost parks can get in the summer or accidents on elevated or uneven surfaces — as every year, the NPS puts out warnings for parkgoers to mind their surroundings and be careful particularly in remote areas.
"Hiking in extreme heat can lead to serious health risks including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hyponatremia, and death," the NPS wrote in a recent warning. "Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed during the summer months due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat or inclement weather."
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