What happened to this California family?

[Anonymous]

I'm from Northern California. Plenty of people take babies for hikes in August here. The never-hike-with-babies people are outright crazy.

Now, this particular hike, probably not. But hiking in general? Of course.

[Anonymous]

So did the family actually hike the 8 mile loop, or did they retract that?

[Anonymous]

No one in their right mind would take a baby and dog for that long hike in that weather. Both baby and dog were at risk from minute one. The father is no youngster either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from Northern California. Plenty of people take babies for hikes in August here. The never-hike-with-babies people are outright crazy.

Now, this particular hike, probably not. But hiking in general? Of course.

Hiking like 2 miles, sure. 8 miles over terrain that isn't mostly flat, though? Especially in 90 plus degree heat? I guess if you are really hard core ... probably depends on the kids too. My first hated any kind of carrier even as an infant and that pretty much nixed hiking until he was about 2, and anything more serious than a stroll around a wooded lake until he was 4 or 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's all very straightforward - they stopped to refill their water bottles in the river. The river had toxic algae. They got very sick. Couldn't keep walking. The father said, I can't go any further and sat down. The mom tried to go for help but didn't make it far.

What are the effects of harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms can:
Produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals


https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/harmful-algal-blooms

The river looks bad. No one would drink from it, even totally inexperienced hikers.

You don't drink from rivers or lakes ever. Everyone knows this.

I have to agree. We are 4 mile easy/moderate hikers, but even our elementary kids know that even the cleanest looking water can be dangerous to drink.

I’m with the heat stroke group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how all the babies in Africa and other hot areas of the world survive. They accompany their mothers tied on their backs for hours every day while the mother works on field, fetches water or herds goats.
Signed somebody taking their toddlers on hikes even in July and August and they SURVIVED

Africa?

https://www.infoplease.com/world/health-statistics/infant-mortality-rates-countries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from Northern California. Plenty of people take babies for hikes in August here. The never-hike-with-babies people are outright crazy.

Now, this particular hike, probably not. But hiking in general? Of course.

Hiking like 2 miles, sure. 8 miles over terrain that isn't mostly flat, though? Especially in 90 plus degree heat? I guess if you are really hard core ... probably depends on the kids too. My first hated any kind of carrier even as an infant and that pretty much nixed hiking until he was about 2, and anything more serious than a stroll around a wooded lake until he was 4 or 5.

2 miles is a family stroll not a hike. The article specifically mentions 2+ hours of exposure. I mean sure, you can load up the carrier and Instagram it and call it a hike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from Northern California. Plenty of people take babies for hikes in August here. The never-hike-with-babies people are outright crazy.

Now, this particular hike, probably not. But hiking in general? Of course.

California has so many microclimates. I would take a baby for a hike in Marin any time, but inland in August mid-day? Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from Northern California. Plenty of people take babies for hikes in August here. The never-hike-with-babies people are outright crazy.

Now, this particular hike, probably not. But hiking in general? Of course.

California has so many microclimates. I would take a baby for a hike in Marin any time, but inland in August mid-day? Nope.

Sure, there are literally micro pockets in NorCal which don’t get above 80 in August; but for almost the entire rest of the country, the rule would apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from Northern California. Plenty of people take babies for hikes in August here. The never-hike-with-babies people are outright crazy.

Now, this particular hike, probably not. But hiking in general? Of course.

California has so many microclimates. I would take a baby for a hike in Marin any time, but inland in August mid-day? Nope.

Sure, there are literally micro pockets in NorCal which don’t get above 80 in August; but for almost the entire rest of the country, the rule would apply.

LOL. Guess you don’t get out much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from Northern California. Plenty of people take babies for hikes in August here. The never-hike-with-babies people are outright crazy.

Now, this particular hike, probably not. But hiking in general? Of course.

California has so many microclimates. I would take a baby for a hike in Marin any time, but inland in August mid-day? Nope.

Sure, there are literally micro pockets in NorCal which don’t get above 80 in August; but for almost the entire rest of the country, the rule would apply.

You are nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from Northern California. Plenty of people take babies for hikes in August here. The never-hike-with-babies people are outright crazy.

Now, this particular hike, probably not. But hiking in general? Of course.

California has so many microclimates. I would take a baby for a hike in Marin any time, but inland in August mid-day? Nope.

Sure, there are literally micro pockets in NorCal which don’t get above 80 in August; but for almost the entire rest of the country, the rule would apply.

You are nuts.

I’m talking about infants in summertime heat. We hike as a family with preschoolers all the time, both coasts. I just know that if you are at all concerned about an adults hydration on a hike (make sure you bring water), it’s already too strenuous for an infant.

[Anonymous]

Baby was a toddler, not an infant…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's all very straightforward - they stopped to refill their water bottles in the river. The river had toxic algae. They got very sick. Couldn't keep walking. The father said, I can't go any further and sat down. The mom tried to go for help but didn't make it far.

What are the effects of harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms can:
Produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals


https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/harmful-algal-blooms

My understanding is the toxicity is not filtered out with standard hiking water filters that hikers use. If that's true, this is a reasonable hypothesis. By itself its unlikely toxic algae would kill a healthy adult, but if it sickened them, that could have made them susceptible to other factors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So did the family actually hike the 8 mile loop, or did they retract that?

They initially thought that based on footprints. They haven't retracted the statement but also don't seem to be promoting it.