Phoenix park rangers at South Mountain urge hikers to carry water, wear proper footwear and carry safety gear

Park rangers at South Mountain Park and Preserve in District 8 demonstrated trail work and urged visitors to prepare for desert hikes by carrying ample water, wearing closed-toe hiking shoes, applying sunscreen and carrying basic safety gear. Esther, a Phoenix park ranger, led the demonstration and described both safety items and trail maintenance tasks.

Esther said, "We wanna make sure that the parks are safe and accessible and clean for all." She showed closed-toe shoes with a grippy sole and recommended sunscreen and a hydration system. "Right. It depends on the person, but, rule of thumb is we wanna make sure that they're drinking about a gallon of water about every 2 hours," Esther said when asked how much water hikers should plan to bring. She also demonstrated a backpack with water slots, a whistle and a first-aid kit and advised hikers that if they are separated from others the whistle can be used to call for help: "you shouldn't hike by yourself, but if you do hike by yourself, this is an important aspect to carry."

The demonstration included basic trail maintenance. Esther described using rakes to "slope off" dirt and debris to keep trails safe and user-friendly. The host identified a colleague with the remark, "This is Keisha on the job," during a segment of on-trail work.

During the interaction a visitor encountered on the trail appeared unprepared; rangers noted concern that the visitor was not carrying water and was hiking alone. The visitor responded, "Sorry. I'm just here for the vibe."

The rangers emphasized practical precautions for desert conditions: closed-toe shoes with good tread, SPF sunscreen, hydration systems or ample bottled water, a whistle and a small first-aid kit. They also demonstrated routine trail upkeep intended to keep routes safe and accessible for all users. The rangers said they would continue trail work that day.