Brutal. Feel terrible for that family. I think modern amenities have cheapened the value of a good shade tree to the average person, it's literally a life-saver.

When I first saw the article my first thought was that I've worked outside all day in 100+ degree heat in heavy ass snake boots and been fine with enough water. But I also had a big oak tree to take breaks under. Same thing with Grand Canyon hikes. Long and hot, but there is shade. With no shade you have no room for error, you get overheated and you can't cool down.

And in the backcountry there is no easy escape if you get in trouble. This is why I always carry a SPOT on me and have S&R insurance, even if I'm hiking some place that isn't remote. A SPOT or PLB could have saved their lives.

I don't get to hike awesome places as much as I'd like. But my family tolerated me and my desire to hike Guadeloupe peak a few years ago. This was early August and I knew what kind of temps we were looking at. Also, high desert heat is >>>>>> Houston suburb heat.

Nonetheless, I was SUPER aware about water preparation so I was sure to pack/carry a crazy amount of water. I had each family member carry, and I carried at least twice what the other 3 had combined. I was essentially a pack mule.

Long memorable story short, we started early, hiked up, and made it back with water to spare.

Same! When I did it in August, I started around 2am. Summit around 5am, stayed for sunrise, then back down before it got hot.

Naveronski said:

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Same! When I did it in August, I started around 2am. Summit around 5am, stayed for sunrise, then back down before it got hot.

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Holy cow we did not start that early. Maybe 7 lol. But a dude was hiking down in flip flops who had done what you did.

Great trail, did it in 2005 for spring break. But can't imagine doing that in that kind of heat.

Awful for the family.

Ark03 said:

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I've been to Big Bend quite a lot in the summer, and I've hiked there a good bit in the summer. Hell, I took my wife to the Window when she was pregnant with our first kid in late May (which is still their dry season, worse than late summer). The point is being prepared, physically, with equipment you bring, with knowing the trail.

I hate to limit access to anything, but maybe certain trails shouldn't have been open this time of year.

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I agree with closing trails during extreme conditions.

Quote:

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I agree with closing trails during extreme conditions.

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The problem is there's no real way to close trails in remote areas, unless rangers are stationed at trailheads and other access points, which presents a whole host of other challenges.

I was supposed to do a 3-day, 35-mile backcountry hike last week and the Forest Service told me, "We can't stop you from going out there, but we should advise you trail conditions are currently not safe for anyone to go out there." That was enough for me to make other plans, but probably not enough for the occasional jackass who thinks they know better.

I agree they could put up signs that say, "This trail is not safe. If you are not experienced and adequately prepared for dangerous conditions on this trail, you will die."

The poster above is correct, the NPS doesn't have the anywhere remotely close to enough staffing to monitor trails if they closed them.

Shoot, if NPS closed things down due to weather the Grand Canyon would be closed for like 10 months.....too hot in the summer/fall and too icy in the winter/spring.

Gates of the Arctic would be closed to all of humanity forever.

Most backcountry campsites would be closed eternally.

People just need to be responsible for their own decisions.

I'm pretty sure there is a sign at this trailhead that says something along those lines.

Over the past 8-10 years, we've done a lot of the national parks and it is pretty amazing to see some of the shape people are in walking the trails and how they are already struggling. We usually are off the trails when it's getting pretty hot (the War Department doesn't like the heat that much), but some of these people are just starting out. We call them rescues when we see them.

Tony Franklins Other Shoe said:

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Over the past 8-10 years, we've done a lot of the national parks and it is pretty amazing to see some of the shape people are in walking the trails and how they are already struggling. We usually are off the trails when it's getting pretty hot (the War Department doesn't like the heat that much), but some of these people are just starting out. We call them rescues when we see them.

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You should see the jokers trying to hoof it up mountain trails with 50-70 lb packs every September. They all say they are going to go 8-10 miles back and set up camp. But it's painfully obvious that if I were to go more than 2-3 miles, I will never see them again.

Tragic. I've taken a number of individuals and groups over the years - some friends and some who just wanted to mark The Bend off their bucket list. I've had two incidents where individuals who seemed as healthy or more so than myself succumbed to symptoms of heat exhaustion. I thought I was going to lose one friend who became briefly unconscious in the car after hiking back from the Cattail Falls area. This was in April when night time lows were in the 50's and daytime highs in the low to mid 90's. I think its a combination of the heat, low humidity and altitude compared to the climes they were accustomed to and the lack of acclimation. Also, some people just can't handle the heat.

Repeated heat stress incidents in your past can make you more susceptible to heat stress in the future.

Heat stress can sometimes come on like a migraine. Once it starts there's no stopping it.

You never know with heat stress. It's dangerous.

Russell Bradleys Toupee said:

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Tragic. I've taken a number of individuals and groups over the years - some friends and some who just wanted to mark The Bend off their bucket list. I've had two incidents where individuals who seemed as healthy or more so than myself succumbed to symptoms of heat exhaustion. I thought I was going to lose one friend who became briefly unconscious in the car after hiking back from the Cattail Falls area. This was in April when night time lows were in the 50's and daytime highs in the low to mid 90's. I think its a combination of the heat, low humidity and altitude compared to the climes they were accustomed to and the lack of acclimation. Also, some people just can't handle the heat.

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Did he have an underlying medical issue? That's not a very strenuous hike.

Dry air will dehydrate you fast. You don't notice how much you're sweating when it dries quickly.

It's longer and virtually 100% exposed since the park closed the road to vehicles. And if coming down from the basin via oak springs, it's not super easy going back up.

NoahAg said:

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Russell Bradleys Toupee said:

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Tragic. I've taken a number of individuals and groups over the years - some friends and some who just wanted to mark The Bend off their bucket list. I've had two incidents where individuals who seemed as healthy or more so than myself succumbed to symptoms of heat exhaustion. I thought I was going to lose one friend who became briefly unconscious in the car after hiking back from the Cattail Falls area. This was in April when night time lows were in the 50's and daytime highs in the low to mid 90's. I think its a combination of the heat, low humidity and altitude compared to the climes they were accustomed to and the lack of acclimation. Also, some people just can't handle the heat.

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Did he have an underlying medical issue? That's not a very strenuous hike.

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From the falls we crossed the creek and climbed to a point south, so it was a bit more strenuous. I think, though, based on after-event discussions that there might have been previous heat related stress in his medical history.

We've been very lucky here in Az so far as last weekend was the first 100 degree day but the blast furnace is turning on tomorrow they say. City of Phoenix is closing the hiking trails on Camelback from 11AM - 5PM. Having grown up near Big Bend I realize that's much easier to do as it's right in town.

dreaded double post.