Death on Camelback

[chumley]

Seems this happens all too often. My only question is if he was hiking with his wife, where was she, and why did another hiker first notice that he wasn't breathing...?

Hiker dies on Camelback Mountain
by Erin Norris - Dec. 11, 2008 04:26 PM
The Arizona Republic
An afternoon hike on Camelback Mountain turned deadly for one hiker Thursday, officials said.

The man, who was believed to be in his 50s, was hiking with his wife when he passed out about ¼ mile from the top of the Echo Canyon trail, Phoenix fire spokesman Mark Faulkner said.

Another hiker noticed the man was not breathing and performed CPR while a bystander called 911, Faulkner said.

A helicopter was sent to the scene as well as a rescue team on foot, he said.

Paramedics continued to attempt to resuscitate the man while they coordinated with his physician over the phone, he said.

The man's condition did not change and he was declared dead on scene, Faulkner said. His cause of death is unknown.

At 3:30 p.m., the man's body was still on the mountain.

Faulkner said he did not know if fitness or lack of preparation was a factor in the man's death. However, he did stress the importance of being prepared.

"At this time of year lots of people go up the mountain and it's important they bring the proper gear," Faulkner said. "These mountains, although they may not look very steep, they are very strenuous."

[azdesertfather]

Don't remember reading anything about Pinnacle Peak, but there was something on South Mountain

What did you hear going on on South Mountain? I was out there Saturday and there was a chopper circling on the west end near Bajada, with 3 or 4 fire trucks as well. I just assumed because it was early (9am) that that was just an exercise.

[Al_HikesAZ]

The Arizona Republic by Cathryn Creno - Mar. 18, 2009 12:00 AM

David Michael Trout, president of Phoenix Suns Charities and a founding partner of Coffin and Trout Fine Jewellers in Chandler, died Sunday while hiking in Echo Canyon Park in Phoenix.

Services will be Friday. In addition, there will be a moment of silence in memory of Trout at the Phoenix Suns and Stars Gala, a charitable event he was involved with, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort Friday evening.

A cause of the 51-year-old Ahwatukee resident's death has not been determined. Witnesses said Trout appeared to be suffering from cardiac problems when he stopped to rest during his Camelback Mountain hike Sunday.

Brad Gould, a general sales manager at Clear Channel Communications who served with Trout on the Suns Charities board of directors, said he and fellow board members are stunned by the sudden death of the athletic, civic-minded jeweler.
"Dave was a guy who was a friend to so many people," Gould said. "He was genuine, he was sincere. He was incredibly generous with his time, with his money and with Phoenix Suns Charities. He never did or said anything that caused him to have any regrets."

Trout and his friend of 29 years, Randy Coffin, co-founded their jewelry store and design company in 1984.

Coffin said they started it "on a shoestring" and developed it into a company that now does business nationally and has won awards from the American Gem Trade Association and the Gemological Institute of America.

"While Dave loved a lot of things in life - he was a fantastic snow skier, he loved to sail and he love to hike - his passion without question was jewelry and design," Coffin said.

Coffin said there are no plans to close the business, at 7131 W. Ray Road in Chandler.

Trout is survived by his parents, Marty and Barbara Trout of Phoenix, sisters Chris Womack of New Orleans and Diane Overstreet of Iowa, and his former wife, Kathleen Trout of Phoenix.

Donations to Phoenix Suns Charities in Trout's memory are requested in lieu of flowers. The address is P.O. Box 1369, Phoenix, AZ, 85001.

[azdesertfather]

oh wow, what a shock!