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The National Park Service temporarily closed two trails at Lake Mead National Recreation Area after one hiker died and 33 more required rescue over the course of two days last week amidst extremely hot temperatures.
Officials suspect the deceased hiker experienced a heat-related illness as temperatures crested about 100 degrees on Wednesday, April 9. Rescuers also evacuated five of the hiker’s companions from the Arizona Hot Springs Trail via helicopter.
The following day, a group of 28 hikers from a small private school based in Kingman, Arizona called for a rescue from the same trail. In a press release, park officials described the rescued party as 28 hikers strong, including three adults and 25 children with special needs, and said that the group had not prepared adequately for the conditions.
However, in a letter to parents, Catherina Normoyle, administrator of The Marvelous Microschool, disputed the park service’s characterization of the event. Normoyle wrote that there were 10 adults and 18 students in the group, including three identified as “special needs,” and said the group had take precautions before heading out on the hike.
“Before going out on the hike, we asked each student if they had a gallon of water,” Normoyle wrote. “We had brought over 100 bottles of water to distribute to students who did not bring enough. Each student verbally verified with a chaperone that they had a gallon of water. My mistake was taking the word from the students and not making them physically show me.”
According to Normoyle, it was a student, not a staff member, who chose to call for rescue. Ultimately, one student was transported to the hospital but never admitted. Normoyle shared that the child made a full recovery.
NPS rangers gave the group citations for creating a “hazardous condition” and hiking without a large-group permit. Normoyle said that the school will no longer be arranging hiking trips in the near future.
“To make sure that this situation does not occur again, all hikes from this point forward have been terminated,” she wrote. “One day we may resume them, but not soon.”
Following the incident, Lake Mead closed both the Arizona Hot Springs Trail and Goldstrike Trails. While the trails have since reopened, officials are warning visitors that high heat conditions are common in the summer months and that hikers should stay up to date on the latest closures and park information.
From 2025