What happened to this California family?

[Anonymous]

So often I'm hiking with a pack with water and see families doing the same trail carrying absolutely nothing. I feel like a weighed down chump, but I guess I'm grateful for my Scouts training to always be prepared.

In this case being prepared would have entailed checking the weather and choosing a much shorter and less rigorous activity.

[Anonymous]

My brothers was a park ranger at the Grand Canyon for a decade. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who underestimate the hikes and overestimate their abilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brothers was a park ranger at the Grand Canyon for a decade. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who underestimate the hikes and overestimate their abilities.

I do believe it. People do all kinds of stuff without giving much thought beforehand or doing any research. You can see it in so many aspects of life: people living beyond their means, eating unreasonable food portions, getting pets that they cannot or will not care for adequately, voting for politicians without knowing their policy positions, so many things.

Unfortunately for this particular family, they were experienced hikers and that may have given them an inflated sense of security in their abilities. I feel terrible for them and their loved ones — especially the ones they were trying to text. This is a gruesome end for a family that just wanted to spend a morning enjoying nature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a horrible way to die. This is heart wrenching.

+100. The final texts make it painfully clear the family was fully aware of what was happening to them, and I cannot imagine a more terrible way to go. I guess I was hoping for their sake that delirium had set in before they were able to appreciate what dire straights they had put themselves, their child, and their beloved pet in. RIP.

So sad. Good job by the investigators

I agree, and I am glad that they have at least confirmed what happened to the family. It was painful to read all of the theories about foul play that were going around on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were they unaware of how far they were getting from their car? It’s hard to believe they planned to be out for that long with a dog and a baby, especially in intense heat.

It was a loop trail - you park at the highest elevation, walk along a nice ridge (maintain high elevation), drop down the valley to the river, hike along the river, then climb back up a long hill via switchbacks with southern exposure back to the trailhead/parking area.

In the past, they had only done the ridge portion of the trail and then came doubled-back the same way to their car.

On the hike where they died, they decided to do the full loop. They were not familiar with the hill hike on the return portion, which had recently lost its tree cover due to forest fires. So they were very exposed to full sun on the hard portion of the hike.

Another tip: don’t end your hike with a long climb. Getting your climb done early, when you still have plenty of energy and it’s cooler outside.

This is a common mistake even experienced hikers make. There are signs all over the south rim trail at the Grand Canyon about remembering the difficult part is the uphill return. This story is heartbreaking...and hopefully it brings more awareness to hiking safety.

I'm trained as a wilderness EMT, and I've hiked all over the world. I see so many people out on trails without basic safety (10 essentials). Please learn a little before getting out there. I have a small fanny back that accommodates a lot of water and the other 10 essentials. I carry it even on very sort, easy for me, hikes... because you just never know

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brothers was a park ranger at the Grand Canyon for a decade. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who underestimate the hikes and overestimate their abilities.

My DS went on a trip this past summer with some friends after college graduation. One of their group of early 20-somethings got heat stroke on a hike into the Grand Canyon They had to carry her up and she spent the night in the hospital getting rehydrated.

[Anonymous]

Get personal locator beacons before you hike. They cost about $200 but will send signal to satellite that will pinpoint your location within 10 feet.

And listen to Dave Paulides harrowing tales of the missing or those found dead in national parks under bizarre circumstances. You will never hike alone or without personal locator beacon again. I’ve been bingeing on his missing person YouTube channel.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8sCYrv7HV0M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So often I'm hiking with a pack with water and see families doing the same trail carrying absolutely nothing. I feel like a weighed down chump, but I guess I'm grateful for my Scouts training to always be prepared.

In this case being prepared would have entailed checking the weather and choosing a much shorter and less rigorous activity.

Yes Scouts drill that stuff in. I always hike with water (I mean I don’t leave the house without water honestly) but flashlight, knife always with me.

The PP who mentioned 10 essentials, thanks!

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My brothers was a park ranger at the Grand Canyon for a decade. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who underestimate the hikes and overestimate their abilities.

My DS went on a trip this past summer with some friends after college graduation. One of their group of early 20-somethings got heat stroke on a hike into the Grand Canyon They had to carry her up and she spent the night in the hospital getting rehydrated.

Yeah hiking in Arizona in summer is nuts; they should close the trails.

[Anonymous]

Any recommendations for PLBs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any recommendations for PLBs?

This one has good reviews and no monthly subscription fee — I would go to REI or other outdoor retailer to discuss your particular needs (range; watercraft requirement)

https://www.rei.com/product/161982/acr-electronics-resqlink-400-personal-locator-beacon?CAWELAID=120217890006774897&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=113169082258&CATCI=pla-297725167375&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_1619820001%7C92700058337757505%7CBA%7C71700000074512915&gclid=CjwKCAiAx8KQBhAGEiwAD3EiPx6KrlJ9oAhqzP5A5BqU3GTpU86Ol2N_I4eS8CMlQbpjLfz4BKteORoC8kUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


And did any of you read the story of the guy who fell overboard in Santa Barbara, his boat sped away and he swam 5 miles to oil rig with help of seal? If he were wearing waterproof PLB he could have been found. Glad he made it to oil rig — quite a miracle. Hero seal guide!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10529225/amp/Boater-fell-ocean-Santa-Barbara-coast-swam-FIVE-HOURS-oil-rig-nudged-seal.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So often I'm hiking with a pack with water and see families doing the same trail carrying absolutely nothing. I feel like a weighed down chump, but I guess I'm grateful for my Scouts training to always be prepared.

In this case being prepared would have entailed checking the weather and choosing a much shorter and less rigorous activity.

Remember though, this wasn't about not having enough water. Their bodies overheated so much water would have done little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get personal locator beacons before you hike. They cost about $200 but will send signal to satellite that will pinpoint your location within 10 feet.

And listen to Dave Paulides harrowing tales of the missing or those found dead in national parks under bizarre circumstances. You will never hike alone or without personal locator beacon again. I’ve been bingeing on his missing person YouTube channel.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8sCYrv7HV0M

If this isn't my husband posting, I think you two would be good friends if you met in real life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get personal locator beacons before you hike. They cost about $200 but will send signal to satellite that will pinpoint your location within 10 feet.

And listen to Dave Paulides harrowing tales of the missing or those found dead in national parks under bizarre circumstances. You will never hike alone or without personal locator beacon again. I’ve been bingeing on his missing person YouTube channel.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8sCYrv7HV0M

If this isn't my husband posting, I think you two would be good friends if you met in real life.

Ha! Yes, I think we would be friends! He must also be a fan of Dave Paulides.

This video of people missing from Santa Fe “cluster” was fascinating. One of the victims kept calling 911 but call kept getting routed wrong. Eeery, terrifying stuff. There are so many people who have vanished from National Parks but you never are warned of strange disappearances. Such heartbreaking stories. Many of these are RECENT!


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YN_m38y3zbI&t=27s

[Anonymous]

Guy from Michigan just tried to retrace their route and he was literally going to die too! Had a random stranger not called 911 after randomly seeing him enter the trail the day prior, he most certainly would have died.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2022/07/07/michigan-man-rescued-california-trail-where-family-died/10010462002/