Three imprudent and ill-equipped hikers were the perfect example for a warning issued by officials at Grand Canyon National Park to bring “shoe traction devices and trekking poles” because the top part of the trails are icy.
“Don’t risk it—like these folks,” the warning said in the tweet.
The warning came a day before the park’s announcement Tuesday that the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the area effective from Thursday afternoon through Friday night for elevations above 4,500 feet.
On the South Rim, the East Entrance Station and Desert View Drive, known as East Rim Drive, will close at 7 pm (MST) on Wednesday and remain closed until further notice, the park said.
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The forecast calls for 8 to 12 inches at the South Rim and 15 to 21 inches on the North Rim, which is closed annually to vehicle traffic from Dec. 1 to May 15.
The warning tweet that included the photo of hikers, one in shorts and tennis shoes, descending an icy trail, prompted a barrage of replies, as one might expect.
“Those people are not smart.”
“Shouts to the guy in shorts and…running shoes?”
“That just looks like a verrrry bad choice.”
“They will probably need [rescuing]…going down…but tell me how the heck they are getting back up?”
“Darwin Award nominees!”
Photo courtesy of Grand Canyon National Park.
