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No plans for Tucson to have hiking ban during extreme heat

Posted at 7:56 PM, Jun 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-30 14:37:55-04

Four hikers lost their lives to extreme heat earlier this month and two people in Phoenix passed away during a heat wave. 

Phoenix is proposing a hiking ban to close off trails when temperatures reach 110 degrees. The proposal includes not being allowed to walk dogs on hikes when temperatures reach 100 degrees.

Hikers had mixed reactions to the possibility of a similar ban on about 40 miles of Tucson's hiking trails.

"I think the people who are going to go out in this kind of heat are prepared and going to go regardless," Sher Isenberg. "It might raise a public awareness that you do need to make sure you have water and food." 

"I think it is a terrific idea because I have been here in the summer as a tourist in the past and I was not prepared," explained Cece Lucchesi. "You just don't realize how much water you really have to drink here." 

"What's the difference between 120 or 105? What limit would it do," said Mark Susa, a former Arizona resident. "If you are prepared I am sure people can do it in hotter conditions and some people can't do it in 90 degree conditions."

Pima County has no plans to propose hiking bans. A representative at Tucson Parks and Recreation advises hikers to take note of the heat advisory and manage their own fiscal activity.