At Grand Canyon; where the most people go into the canyon at the worst time of the year (June-Aug); resulting in 12 people dying a year, on the average; the volunteer and seasonal Ranger PREVENTIVE SEARCH AND RESCUE staff have worked wonders. PSAR personnel are stationed a places like trail camp, trail crest, summit; to interact with hikers. They educate and discuss conditions with the hikers itinerary; and hopefully the hiker can make a better educated decision on their hike.
Staff at these strategic locations on the trails also provide quicker emergency response when the environment overcomes the hikers knowledge and abilities.
The program has significantly reduced the number of heat issues turning into life threatening issues; and is being copied at other parks now.
Volunteers come from all over. Some are local hikers. Some come from S. AZ. Some have S&R experience. Some doctors spend 2 weeks of vacation to come from the East Coast and do several PSAR hikes. They all want to help hikers enjoy themselves and not be casulties.
The forest service and NPS could start something similiar- cause you can't fix stupid; and we know more and more ill prepared people go to these places; due to SPOTS, GPS, Backpacker Magazine,etc.
