Cyclist Runs Out Of Water, Dies On Palisade Plunge; 3 Other Cyclists Rescued
MESA COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - A 52-year-old man from Colorado Springs passed away Saturday afternoon while mountain biking in western Colorado on the Palisade Plunge trail. He reportedly ran out of water.
Three other cyclists found the man near mile marker 28 of the trail and called 911 at 6:45 p.m., the Mesa County Sheriff's Office stated in a press release. He was described as suffering from "heat-related illness."
Search and rescue personnel and a medical helicopter were sent to the remote area, but efforts to save the cyclist's life were not successful.
According to the sheriff's office, the other three cyclists had also run out of water.
"They started with a gallon of water each and ran out about 10 miles before the end of the trail," the sheriff's office stated in its press release. "They were rescued and treated for dehydration."
⚠️Strenuous activity during extreme heat is strongly discouraged.
— Mesa County Sheriff (@SheriffMesaColo) June 12, 2022
????????At least 10 liters (2 ½ gallons) of water per person and electrolyte replenishments are recommended for riders to carry on the Palisade Plunge trail in the summer. ???????? https://t.co/5Tz4cDF0Ex
The Palisade Plunge is a 34 mile trail between the top of the Grand Mesa and the Town of Palisade. The route descends from 10,700 feet to 4,700 feet at the Colorado River, according to a Facebook page devoted to the site that is run by Palisade Cycle & Shuttle. The trail opened for the season two weeks ago, though a portion of it is still closed due to muddy conditions.
The identity of the cyclist will be released by the Mesa County Coroner's Office once family members have been fully notified of his passing. The coroner's office will also determine an official cause of death.
Grand Junction airport hit 102 degrees today, which breaks the old record of 101 degrees set back in 1918. ????️ #cowx #utwx
— NWS Grand Junction (@NWSGJT) June 12, 2022
High temperatures in the triple digits are expected again Sunday and Monday.
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