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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I know heat stroke comes on fast. I still think this entire hike makes no sense. It was already close to 90 degrees when they set out, and before 11 was forecasted to hit 103.

If they were seen driving towards the trail head at 7:45 it means they started their walk around 8. By 9 it was very hot, but not heat stroke hot yet. The baby, even with shade, would have been showing signs of struggling in the heat-either being very fussy or lethargic. How far could they have gone and how bad could things really be that one of the parents couldn’t get out by then? Again, I’m saying prior to heat stroke or exhaustion setting in. The heat would have been apparent, they could have just turned around 20-30 minutes in. Also, I had those fancy hiking carries and 1 year olds do not generally like them-they want to be walking and moving around unless they are asleep.

I live in the desert and yes it’s cool in the mornings, but that means 5/6 AM. By 9 AM, nobody goes outside on these kinds of days.

They weren’t tourists. They knew this area. On the WS thread, they said that the dad had been on this trail at least once before and had owned property in the area for years.

It just does not make sense.[/quote]

I think they thought they could it (and the adults might have indeed been able to) but foolishly didn’t realize that it is a giant NO for a dog or a baby. I also live in the desert and I guarantee when I go to pick my kids up for school in an hour I will drive by quite a few walkers and runners (as much as it surprises me). current temp 100. I see plenty of adults walking, running, golfing or playing tennis in the midday heat. Camps and sports run all summer here for school aged kids and teens. My kids do them (with lots of water and breaks) and are totally unfazed. Now obviously this isn’t at all similar to hiking in a remote area but with plenty of water, I’m surprised by how well healthy people function in the heat. (Not me!).

But for dogs and infants (or the elderly)? NO. My school aged kids can handle it, but my dog absolutely not. An infant absolutely not.

I think that is what did them in. They stupidly didn’t realize that a dog and a baby have different needs in the heat.

And I’m not advocating hiking in the heat (stupid for anyone) but there are a lot of people who exercise quite intensely in the heat. But they don’t bring their dog, and sure as heck don’t bring an infant.

They were overconfident, thought they could do it, and didn’t consider the baby or the dog. [/quote]

Ok, but again, let’s say you’re right, they were just over confident. The baby would have been showing effects from the heat 30 minutes into the hike on a hot day like that. Not yet life threatening probably, but grouchy or lethargic. How far could they really have gotten before baby was ultra fussy or starting to seem overheated? When they started the hike it was already hot.

I feel like all the analysis here assumes they started out and it wasn’t too hot yet, got too far down the trail before they realized the heat, and then were too far away to get back quickly.

I’m not buying it because when they started it was already very hot and they had a baby with them who would have been either protesting, bright red, lethargic, or vomiting soon into the hike. How could they have just oops, went too far, overcommitted when babies (actually a toddler in this case) have no problem making their objections known or showing signs of distress way before the adults.[/quote]

It’s a great question. I don’t know how a baby would react to being soooo overheated. Maybe the baby fussed, they kept going, and baby fell asleep? (and they thought baby was taking her normal mid morning nap, zonked out with the motion, and didn’t realize until too late). All of my kids would’ve screamed at the very idea of being in a carrier (wanted to be down and run) but maybe this baby was far more used to the carrier given they were avid hikers?[/quote]

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