Why doesn’t Phoenix close hiking trails amid excessive summer heat?

PHOENIX — As temperatures in the Valley reach the triple digits, hikers in Phoenix still continue to hit the trails.

Many times, these hikes end in rescues or assistance from first responders after the hikers become injured or exhausted or just dehydrated.

On one day in June alone, Phoenix fire crews responded to four rescue calls for hikers affected by the heat within a period of about an hour and a half.

While the City of Phoenix cannot personally stop every hiker from partaking in outdoor activities, it could arguably close the hiking trails when temperatures reach a certain degree.

But Gregg Bach, a spokesman with the city’s parks and recreation department told ABC15 that, with 200 miles of trails and 41 trailheads, closing them all because of the heat just isn’t feasible.

“The size and scope of our preserve land makes it a little challenging,” Bach told the television station.

“If we were to close them and somebody was out there and needed help, rangers and fire departments would have to respond and help those people anyway.”

Three years ago, Bach said city leaders met with local tourism representatives to discuss closing the trails on occasion, but instead decided to launch an educational campaign called “Take a hike. Do it right.”

The campaign involves a checklist of things that hikers can make sure they do to avoid becoming one of the 200 hikers who are rescued from Phoenix trails each year.

Those things include watching the weather, bringing water and keeping in contact with someone who knows where you are.

Follow @KTAR923