Grand Canyon hiker from Ohio dies in extreme 115-degree heat

An Ohio woman hiking the Grand Canyon died of suspected heat-related illness as temperatures hit a scorching 115 degrees, park officials said.Michelle Meder, 53, of Hudson, was on a backpacking trip over several days with friends when she became disoriented Saturday along the Hermit Trail in Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park and fell unconscious, park officials said in a statement Monday.Authorities were notified of a backpacker having heat-related issues on the Tonto Trail near Monument Creek on Sunday afternoon and responded to find Meder dead.Meder had become unconscious late Saturday, with some members of her group hiking down to the Colorado River to flag down a rafting group for help that called the park rangers, Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Joelle Baird told The Post.The rafting group used a satellite phone to contact the park rangers as Meder was in a “really remote” area, along the Tonto Trail, Baird said. — when most people need emergency medical attention due to heat-related illnesses.“Park rangers at Grand Canyon National Park are strongly urging visitors to Grand Canyon, especially inner canyon hikers and backpackers, to be prepared for excessively hot days in the coming weeks,” officials said.Tuesday’s high at Phantom Ranch in Arizona is expected to reach 109 degrees, with wind gusts up to 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service.