Last year, on June 19, Phoenix broke a daily heat record reaching 118 degrees, killing four hikers in the Phoenix and Tucson area. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a singular incident. Phoenix weather routinely tops a scorching 110 degrees in the summer. Yet people continue to think they can handle hiking around the Valley despite the heat, especially, it seems, Camelback Mountain – the Phoenix hiking trail equivalent of L.A.’s Runyon Canyon in terms of popularity, but with steep ascents and tricky switchbacks over unforgiving desert landscape. It seems there’s always a helicopter rescue or five every year. Don’t forget who pays for those rescues… us, taxpayers.