DEATH VALLEY (Calif.) Saturday's death of a San Francisco man occurred while he was hiking in Death Valley National Park. There, temperatures can reach up to 105 degrees, authorities stated.
According to a joint statement by the park and Inyo County Sheriffs Office, Lawrence Stanback, 60 died while hiking along the Golden Canyon Trail near Red Cathedral. That day temperatures reached 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius).
A report of heatstroke was received by park rangers Wednesday afternoon. They set out to search for Stanback on foot. Officials said that he was already dead when the park rangers discovered him.
The California Highway Patrol helicopter tried to fly in to retrieve Stanback's body, but strong winds prevented it. Stanback's body was found by Park Rangers in the cool evening hours.
Inyo County Sheriff's Office and Inyo County Coroner are currently investigating the cause of death.
According to the National Weather Service, Death Valley experienced a record-breaking temperature of 130 F (55 C) last month. Death Valley holds the record at 134 F (57 C), which was set in 1913. However, some question its accuracy.
Park rangers advised visitors not to hike at high altitudes or before 10 a.m. The park rangers advised hikers to drink plenty of water and eat snacks to stay safe. They also suggested that they keep cool by cooling down in an air-conditioned vehicle or building to help them cool off.
