Crazy heat at the Grand Canyon could make your shoes disintegrate, park says

How hot is the Grand Canyon? It could be scorching enough to split your shoes open, park officials warned.

Grand Canyon National Park is warning hikers that the canyon’s heat can be extremely dangerous — and this week it’s going to be especially hot.

“Grand Canyon is an unforgiving environment,” the park said in a tweet. “The heat inside the canyon can cause shoes to come apart, and heavy hiking boots can trap sweat and lead to painful blisters.”

Park officials said the temperatures in the canyon for this week are expected to go above 110 degrees, which can be dangerous or fatal.

“What many don’t realize is that when the forecast calls for, say, 112°F at Phantom Ranch (Like today) this is actually a shade temperature,” the park said. “In the direct sun, it can feel hotter. MUCH hotter.”

Over the weekend, rangers responded to multiple search-and-rescue incidents after hikers and backpackers experienced heat illness and exhaustion, the park said.

“Hikers and backpackers attempting hikes in the inner canyon are strongly encouraged to be prepared for excessively hot temperatures and to understand their own physical limitations in order to prevent emergency situations for themselves and responders,” the park said.

The National Weather Service in Flagstaff, Arizona, near the Grand Canyon, said Wednesday that temperatures will start to cool off and head back to normal by the weekend.

This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Crazy heat at the Grand Canyon could make your shoes disintegrate, park says."