This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Garfield County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that a 56-year-old Orem woman died while hiking the Brimhall Double Bridge Trail in Capitol Reef National Park on Thursday with her husband.
A statement Friday said the woman's body had been turned over to the Utah Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. However, it was suspected she had suffered heat exhaustion as temperatures neared 100 degrees along the popular southern Utah trail.
When the woman became ill, her husband reportedly hiked out to get help, but when emergency personnel arrived she has passed away.
The woman's identity still had not been released as of Friday afternoon, pending notification of family.
The sheriff' office emphasizes that outdoor recreationists need to be aware of the deadly risk of desert heat and make sure they remain well-hydrated during outings.
Twitter: @remims