What happened to this California family?
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Anonymous
I have no idea why you are spending time typing this. Start here, stop (wrongly) doing Google Earth because you are just making shit up: https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/mysterious-stories-blog/tag/gerrish+family+deaths+in+sierra+national+forest |
Anonymous
| The images on Google Earth are from 2017, so, before the fire that took out all the trees. The SL trail looks much more like a moonscape now. |
Anonymous
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This link might work, you can see the switchbacks they were found on toward the top right. Obviously, "running back to the truck" with that change in elevation would not be possible. The switchbacks are in full sun all afternoon.
https://www.bing.com/maps?q=savage-lundy%20trail |
Anonymous
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Run this search in Bing. Google Earth has images from before the 2018 fire, all those trees are gone now.
"Hites Cove Trail, Yosemite Village, California, United States" You can see the switchbacks to the top right. |
Anonymous
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I love to hike and hiked one time in terrain like this with a small child. We took a short hike on flat ground. The California heat was brutal. The trail felt like desert even though it was a mountain. We were fine and never in danger. My point is that is some serious heat even if you remain on flat ground. It sucks the moisture right out of you, and you can’t even tell you’re sweating or losing water.
This story makes me so sad, and it feels personal since we took a California hike with our small child. I feel so badly for their friends and family. |
Anonymous
I've never been a hiker myself, I'm not into camping or outdoorsy activities, although I wish I was. Wherever I see anyone post about camping with their families or I see them paddle boating it looks like so much fun... but I know I wouldn't enjoy it as much as they are in the pictures. Ley me ask you a question as someone who's never hiked -- everyone says Arizona and places West are a dry heat, like standing in front of an oven door... is that harder on the bodies physiology than let's daddy hiking in heat & humidity? Does it dehydrate you faster being a dry heat? Are theyre any benefits of hiking in a drier heat (besides frizz-less hair, I mean 😉). |
Anonymous
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Ugh... So. Many. Typos... sorry.
* whenever * paddleboarding * Let * say * there |
Anonymous
I’m not sure if there are advantages beyond less frizzy hair. 
I’m also not sure if dehydration happens faster. What’s tricky is that you sweat without realizing it. Without that cue of sweat pouring down your back or face, we may not think to drink any or enough. On another short desert walk, I felt extremely unprepared for the dry air. Again, a short walk. We did NOT have a plentiful amount of water, I had no idea gas stations could be so far apart. East coasters like me may not be used to just how empty it can be out west. Let’s just say I have been extremely lucky despite some naive things I have done in the past. The article up thread with the usual causes of death of hikers is useful, and I will use some of those tips and advice. In a lot of the stories, you can see what the mistakes were and avoid those. Mistake avoidance won’t remove all danger yet will reduce it. The one story about the woman who left her day pack and emergency supplies while she took a side hike was painful to read. She fell 25 feet and broke a lot of bones. Her sleeping bag and food was in the pack she had left behind. She is lucky she survived. Another person wasn’t good at using a compass and continued her hike even when her friend had to leave. I would never hike alone unless I was on the C and O canal or something. That person died because no one could find her after she left the trail to pee. She went deeper into the woods instead of crawling to a higher place where a helicopter may have seen her. I think she became confused due to fear. I don’t blame these poor people. I have made many dumb mistakes over the years and was simply lucky. If I shared my mistakes, I would probably be excoriated here. The articles I read after this tragedy said overconfidence is one of the reasons people get hurt or die. |
Anonymous
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I don’t think this has been shared yet. Mariposa police posted an update a few days ago.
Gerrish / Chung Death Investigation Update The Mariposa County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the death of the Gerrish / Chung family. Detectives are working closely with toxicologist, environmental specialist, the FBI and other specialists. “We respect and understand the need for information and details regarding this case. Our current priorities remain supporting and informing the Gerrish / Chung family during this tragic time. As we navigate through this investigation with the family, we will later share our findings with the public. “- Sheriff Jeremy Briese Details we can update at this time: General Information- As of the date of this update the cause of death remains undetermined. Detectives continue conducting interviews and investigating all potential possible explanations for the death of the Gerrish / Chung family. Many toxicology reports have been completed; however, we are still pending a few key results. We have no timeline for those pending results. Causes of Death Ruled Out: The following have been ruled out based on evidence recovered or through investigation. ALL other potential causes of death remain. Gun or any other type of weapon Lightning Strike Carbon Monoxide Carbon Dioxide Cyanide Exposure Illegal Drugs / Alcohol Suicide |
Anonymous
| The update was already posted, several days ago. |
Anonymous
| Every few days I check this thread to see if there are answers. I’m surprised we don’t know anything yet |
Anonymous
I live in New Mexico. The heat here is MUCH harder on me than the heat on the East Coast. Part of the reason is it’s not just heat - the sun is absolutely brutal, much more intense than on the East Coast. It saps all the water and energy out of me. In the summer I have to be indoors by 10am or I get dizzy, that was never a problem for me in DC. But, I know people who grew up here and are fine. There are many people who work outside all day and prefer this heat to humid heat. So it also depends on where you’re from and your genetic makeup. For this pale girl of Scandinavian descent, it’s dangerous. Not to mention terrible for my skin, it’s taken a huge hit from all the UV. |
Anonymous
Sorry. I looked back at posts from Oct 1 and didn't see it. Hope this puts all those FA conspiracies to rest. |
Anonymous
Nope! Several posters have gamely pressed on with their FA theories. |
Anonymous
| So what’s the conclusion? I missed it too. What happened to them? |