Missouri hiker dies on unmarked trail while following hiking app, officials say

Editor’s note: The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office on July 22 issued a correction to its earlier news release stating that the trail was “featured in a social media challenge.”

“After speaking with the family of the victim, the young men were simply following a trail on a hiking app,” the sheriff’s office says in the corrected release.

The original article is below.

A 22-year-old from St. Louis died while hiking in Badlands National Park on Wednesday, July 20, South Dakota officials say.

The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said Maxwell Right and a Missouri companion ran out of water while they were “on an unmarked trail featured in a social media challenge.”

Right collapsed and died on the trail, and officials believe his death was caused from dehydration and exposure.

His companion, a 21-year-old whose identity was not publicly disclosed, was flown to a Rapid City hospital. He was being treated for exposure and dehydration caused by a lack of water and the hot weather in the park, according to the sheriff.

Temperatures reached 101 degrees on Wednesday at Philip Airport, which is near Badlands National Park, according to the National Weather Service.

“The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public stay on marked trails and carry sufficient supplies when participating in outdoor activities,” the sheriff said in a news release.

Helene Duhamel, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, did not want to advertise details of the social media challenge to The Associated Press, but said “clearly it’s out there.” She advised hikers to carry enough water while on the trails.

“I don’t think people understand and they underestimate the heat, especially in the Badlands,” she said.

This story was originally published July 22, 2022 at 8:57 AM with the headline "Missouri hiker dies on unmarked trail while following hiking app, officials say."