A Chinese woman died near Moab last weekend, after she went missing along the Delicate Arch Trail at Arches National Park.
Helicopter search crews found the body of 50-year-old Ming Liu of Shandong Province about 800 meters west of the popular trail at about 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 25.
The discovery marked the second time in a week that a hiker has died just a short distance away from the trail: A 69-year-old San Francisco man was found dead in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 19, about 150 meters off the route to Delicate Arch.
The park first notified the Grand County Sheriff’s Office of Ming’s disappearance at 4:30 p.m. on June 25. National Park Service personnel initiated a search with the help of Grand County Search and Rescue and Classic Lifeguard helicopter teams. After authorities found Ming, they transported her body to the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner in Salt Lake City.
While the cause of her death has not been announced at this time, park service officials are advising visitors to take simple precautions if they visit Arches during periods of extreme heat.
According to the park service, visitors should stay inside and limit their activity during the heat of the day, and instead hike early in the morning or later in the day, once temperatures have dropped. Hikers should drink at least one gallon of water per day, and they should watch for signs of heat illness and dehydration, such as fatigue, irritability, profuse sweating, confusion, cramping, dry skin, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and dizziness.
Incident is second fatality in a week near Delicate Arch
