{"id":16813,"date":"2026-08-28T00:13:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T00:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=16813"},"modified":"2026-08-28T00:13:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T00:13:51","slug":"memorial-shelter-saves-stranded-biker-in-100-degree-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=16813","title":{"rendered":"Memorial Shelter Saves Stranded Biker in 100-Degree Heat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>When a mechanical breakdown left a rider exposed to extreme temperatures on Colorado&#8217;s Grand Mesa, a shade structure built in memory of Jeff Higgins provided critical refuge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\">The shelter was built in memory of Jeff Higgins, a cyclist who died on the Palisades Plunge trail in 2022<!-- --> (Photo: MCSAR)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Published August 27, 2026 05:22PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>When a mountain biker riding along the Palisade Plunge, a 32-mile trail in western Colorado, suffered a mechanical failure, finding shade quickly became a life-or-death priority. It was August 3, and temperatures were hovering around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. So, they found a shade structure along the route, called for help, and waited for rescuers to arrive.<\/p>\n<p>As it turns out, the pavilion was a memorial shelter erected for another rider who died of heat exposure on that same route just four years earlier.<\/p>\n<h2>A Memorial to Jeff Higgins<\/h2>\n<p>According to responding agency Mesa County Search and Rescue (MCSAR), the structure was <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/p\/Mesa-County-Search-Rescue-100064661560769\/\">part of a memorial project<\/a> for Jeff Higgins.<\/p>\n<p>Higgins, a Colorado Springs resident, was riding on the Palisade Plunge on June 11, 2022, when he ran out of water. Temperatures soared to 102 degrees Fahrenheit that day, the <em>Associated Press<\/em> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.denver7.com\/news\/local-news\/cyclist-dies-after-running-out-of-water-during-heat-wave\">reported<\/a>. He was four miles from the end of the trail when he lost consciousness.<\/p>\n<p>Three mountain bikers found Higgins on the trail and tried to save him\u2014the trio had also run out of water and were later treated for dehydration.<\/p>\n<p>Higgins died during the first year that the full 32-mile Palisade Plunge was opened. He left behind two kids.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was a just a really avid outdoorsman and loved mountain biking,\u201d Daniel Higgins, Jeff\u2019s brother, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gjsentinel.com\/news\/western_colorado\/local-groups-family-of-deceased-rider-team-up-to-make-plunge-trail-safer\/article_ae2efd0a-d0f5-11ee-9098-331fef97d364.html\">told<\/a> <em>The Grand Junction Sentinel. \u201c<\/em>He just loved being outdoors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the wake of Higgins\u2019 death, his family asked for donations to be made to the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA), a nonprofit volunteer group that oversees trail building in the region.<\/p>\n<p>In subsequent years, COPMOBA installed signs along the Palisade Plunge warning riders to bring plenty of water, and to be mindful of the heat.<\/p>\n<p>Then, in 2024, COPMOBA identified a plot of land along the trail that was owned by the city of Palisade. The spot was where the trail intersected a road, which riders could use as an emergency bail-out if they could no longer finish the entire trail.<\/p>\n<p>According to <em>The Grand Junction Sentinel,\u00a0<\/em>the city provided the land to COPMOBA, and the Higgins family used donations and private funds to build the structure at the spot. The building opened for the 2025 riding season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt seemed like the right thing to do,\u201d Daniel Higgins told <em>The Sentinel. \u201c<\/em>It will bring some closure to our family and it will be nice to have a feature out there for others to benefit from.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2753465\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"search and rescue crews wearing neon shirts next to a mountain bike and ambulance\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2753465\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bicycle-scaled.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bicycle-scaled.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">The rider was treated for dehydration and transported by responders<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The Structure Provides a Lifeline in Extreme Heat<\/h2>\n<p>Authorities did not release the name, age, or sex of the bicycle rider they rescued on August 3. MCSAR responded on a Polaris all-terrain vehicle, treated the rider for dehydration and then transported them and their bike back to safety.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re grateful this mission ended safely and that a space created in Jeff Higgins\u2019 memory provided shade and comfort when it was needed,\u201d MCSAR wrote in a statement. \u201cOur hearts are with Jeff\u2019s family and loved ones, and we hope it brings them comfort knowing his memory is helping others along the Plunge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Palisade Plunge is a mostly downhill, backcountry singletrack mountain biking trail located in the Grand Mesa National Forest. It connects the top of Colorado\u2019s Grand Mesa to the valley floor, and is reachable from the town of Palisade. Tourism board <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"noopener\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visitpalisade.com\/blog\/palisadeplunge\">Visit Palisade<\/a> describes the trail as a \u201cfast, fun, high-energy trail through untravelled public lands and unbelievable scenery.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The trail is closed from December 1 to May 1 annually. In recent years, the COPMOBA and local authorities have urged cyclists to watch for extreme heat and ride in the mornings or evenings, when temperatures are lower. While the trail descends 6,000 feet, it also gains 1,700 feet of elevation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFast riders can spend three hours on the route while some riders spend over 12 hours on the trail,\u201d reads a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_self\" class=\"article-content-link text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copmoba.org\/palisade-plunge\/#safety\">warning on the COPMOBA website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is essential to carry water,\u201d the site adds.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><span hidden=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-adventure\/exploration-survival\/palisade-plunge-rescue-memorial-shelter\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When a mechanical breakdown left a rider exposed to extreme temperatures on Colorado&#8217;s Grand Mesa, a shade structure built in memory of Jeff Higgins provided critical refuge. The shelter was built in memory of Jeff Higgins, a cyclist who died on the Palisades Plunge trail in 2022 (Photo: MCSAR) Published August 27, 2026 05:22PM When<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wild-living"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16813"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16813\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}