November 27, 2012

Another hiker rescued in Phoenix, the U.S. leader in hiker rescues

The 65-year-old woman was carried down Echo Canyon Mountain in Phoenix Monday by paramedics after she suffered from what one of the hiker's friends described as a "panic attack," according to an azfamily.com report. The same friend of the hiker said the woman got concerned as she was walking up the mountain toward the steel guard rails used as support.
Larry Nunez with the Phoenix Fire Department said more hikers are rescued in Phoenix than anywhere else in the country. The attractive weather and trails play a major role in the large number of service calls.
So far this year there were 232 mountain rescue calls for help, including Monday's call. That number is up from 167 in 2011.
"People often don't pay attention to the trail markers or the rating system," Nunez said.