I really like hiking but I do feel like for some people, there’s either a performative aspect (especially where people are posting on SM) or they are trying to prove something to themselves.
It’s like people who insist on flying halfway across the world to go to a beach because all the beaches closer are too basic, or people. There can be a compulsive need to prove to yourself that you are more (fill in the blank) than other people. Maybe this family was killed by drug dealers or a weird climate gas escape or something, but it just seems that a hike like this with a baby and furry dog—odds are that it would not end well. |
With a baby and a dog? Come on. |
Her date might have been experienced, but she was not. And neither had any water with them. And this was a mountain. |
I'm in the heatstroke camp, but I don't think this is a good comparison. The woman who died in AZ had just flown in from Boston, which can lead to dehydration. Neither she or her date brought water with them and he abandoned her partway through the short hike. |
What's the altitude change of Camelback Mountain? From what I understand, the trail the couple started up on was less than 1.5 miles and she only went part way up before turning back, so she hiked less than 3 miles and was going back down when she suffered heatstroke. |
And this family was completely experienced - had hiked in multiple deserts - had water on them - was hiking difficult terrain. Still died. |
There are more Brett Ks per sq mike on college campuses than national parks. |
Congrats. That’s the dumbest DCUM post of the day. |
95+ here with humidity is 1000x worse than 105+ with no humidity. |
Camelback is a difficult hike, in parts there isn't really a paved trail and you're climbing over rocks to get to the top which is around 2700 ft. It's almost as bad coming down, again, because of all the rocks you have to pick over. That said, I have done this with a child in high temps in May and it didn't occur to me someone could die the way she did. I worry more about falling, twisting an ankle and snake bites. I would never go without water, alone, or in July. That was just a bad idea. I think the circumstances of the first date led her to over exert herself more than she could handle. |
It is very common on this dumb thread. Read back a few pages if you are having trouble following. |
I think 75% of families we know have hiked in last 2 years. Very popular during pandemic. Even here in the DC area. It’s definitely very popular in outdoorsy areas like CA, CO, VT, etc. Even pre-pandemic |
LE's satellite phones did not work where they were found on the trail. A PLB may have worked and could have saved their lives. Costs have really come down, it is a great safety item esp if hiking or camping with kids. |
anyone here ever been to the adirondacks? They used to have emergency phones every few miles. |