Searchers found the body of a 24-year-old hiker during a rugged trial in Big Bend National Park in Texas, the National Park Service says.
According to the agency, park rangers became concerned the day before because a vehicle had been parked at the trailhead of the Marufo Vega/Strawhouse/Ore Terminal Trail for several days.
“Records showed there were no backpackers listed for that area for those nights. A quick search by the park pilot failed to find any hikers in the area,” the agency said.
National Park Serbia
So a search and rescue team of rangers and U.S. Border Patrol personnel headed to three routes Monday morning, along with helicopters from the Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Customs Air and Marine Operations.
The body was spotted in a remote area along the Marufo Vega Trail, park service officials said. A Ministry of Public Security helicopter flew it away.
The identity of the hiker has not been released.
The park service described the Marufo Vega Trail as “a spectacular but challenging 14-mile loop that winds through rugged desert and past rocky limestone cliffs. No shade or water makes this trail dangerous during the warmer times of the year.”
The agency pointed out that even though it is late October, the mercury along the Rio Grande and desert areas of Big Bend has risen to nearly 100 degrees each afternoon.
“Park rangers would like to remind all visitors to be aware of the dangers of extreme heat,” the agency emphasizes. “Hikers should be prepared to bring plenty of water and salty snacks and to leave desert trails during the heat of the afternoon.”
