Hiker Death in Phoenix - Dreamy Draw

[nonot]

A male hiker today died on while hiking in the Dreamy Draw area. His identity has not yet been released. Conditions were reported as 113 degrees F with 30% humidity.

Update: approx 50 year old male

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... -0703.html

[big_load]

It sounds at least possibly not heat-related, but it's hard not to think that it might have at least contributed.

[JimmyLyding]

That's right by my mom's house. There's a lot of "amateur hour" in the general vicinity, but this doesn't seem like that.

[Jeffshadows]

That amount of humidity would cause some havoc with your evaporative heat-loss system. It's no where near as dangerous as 60+%, but it could be dangerous if you're acclimatized to 5-8%...

[Alston_Neal]

My wife and I were hiking Seven Springs yesterday and because of the humidity I thought I was gonna have a heart attack.
It was like hiking Bear Jaw. I couldn't get any air...

[nonot]

Growing up in 80-90% humidity, I just don't feel it except pretty much right after a rain shower. Not that I don't sweat but I just can't feel it below about 70%. Took me years to realize people weren't joking when they say that 30-40% humidity is *high*. I hope these people never plan to visit the gulf coast.

[Sredfield]

Riding the Metro in DC years ago, we complained about 98 & 98, temp and humidity. Coming to the arid SW was a real change.

[kingsnake]

North Carolina is the same way. (Used to live there ...)