Hiking in Arizona’s summer heat can be as perilous as it is beautiful. Last week, the extreme conditions tragically claimed the life of an experienced hiker—and nearly did the same for another just a day later.
Hannah Moody, 31, a seasoned hiker, died from heat exhaustion while navigating the Sonoran Mountain Preserve east of Scottsdale. Her family says that despite her fitness and experience, the intense heat overwhelmed her.
Now, Meghan Beadnell, a newcomer to the Valley, shares her own harrowing story as a cautionary tale for anyone who might underestimate the desert’s risks.
A professional photographer who had just relocated to Arizona, Beadnell set out on her first hike — a photography trip to Camp Creek Waterfall northeast of Cave Creek. What began as a scenic outing quickly turned into what she describes as a “near-death experience.”
“We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” Beadnell recalled.
Coming from Ohio, she soon realized Arizona’s dry heat feels deceptively intense.
“In Ohio, when you sweat, you can definitely feel it. But here, the sweat evaporates almost immediately,” she explained.
A few miles into their late-afternoon hike, Beadnell and her friend lost their way. Their phones died, there was no cell signal, and the sweltering 103-degree heat started to wear them down.
In desperation, Beadnell deployed her drone to search for a landmark — a decision that may have ultimately saved their lives.
“It was honestly the only way we could figure out where to go,” she said.
They spotted transmission towers they had passed earlier and used them to navigate back. Battling exhaustion and fading daylight, they made it to safety.
“Looking back, it was a naïve decision, and very scary,” Beadnell admitted. “There were moments we thought we wouldn’t make it.”
Scottsdale Fire Captain Dave Folio said stories like Beadnell’s are unfortunately common.
“We had over 212 heat-related incidents last year,” Folio shared. “This year, we’re already at 22.”
He urges hikers—whether locals or visitors—to take precautions seriously.
“Have a plan, hydrate the night before, wear a hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and start early and finish early. That’s key,” he emphasized.
Beadnell now fully understands how quickly desert conditions can turn deadly.
“I literally did not understand the danger until it happened to me,” she said.
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