13 mountain rescues in El Paso this year, five in August
Hiking in El Paso’s Franklin Mountains can be spectacular, but dangerous.
On Saturday, hiker Richard Contreras, 21, died after falling at McKelligon Canyon. Crimes Against Persons is investigating the death despite foul play not being suspected, police said.
“Got some water that we’ve been drinking, a water bowl for the dog,” a hiker said Sunday.
Hiking experts recommend you carry plenty of water if you are hiking in El Paso, along with food and a well-charged phone to call for help.
“In this area here, we got a pretty good signal, so if we need to, we can call 911,” hiker Carl Sutton told ABC-7. Cell phones don’t last forever and portable batteries are a way to make sure you can call for help in an emergency.
Many don’t take the water and equipment they need to hike in the Franklin Mountains. If you don’t have the water you need, or you don’t know the trails, it’s easy to see how you can end up with a sprained ankle or a broken leg.
What is the single most important thing anyone should do? “I’m going to listen to my body. I’m probably going to stay on the trail, I don’t want to hurt myself,” Rita Rae, out-of-town hiker, said.
Firefighters recommend hikers also take strong whistles, flashlights in case they don’t have cell signal and need to call for help, and mirrors to reflect sunlight as a way to get someone’s attention.
