I think they were novices who were enthusiastic about hiking, but had no idea what they were doing and died of heat stroke. Hence, a fur covered dog and baby in 105 or 109 degree hiking for MILES. They just had absolutely no idea what they were doing, weather, difficulty, they didn't know trail at all, nothing. Basically scooped up whole family to hike miles into death valley type heat with no easy way out.

Anonymous wrote:From AllTrails (and it’s interesting it specifically mentions dogs)

Hites Cove Trail is a 6.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail.

If this was the description it would cause little pause for my family. We are not frequent hikers, but we do pretty strenuous hikes a few times a year.

The last hike we did we chose to do the steep climb early and do a longer descent (backwards). Most people didn't and started later. People are dumb.

Hite Cove Road is a 5.1 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail.


“We hiked this trail Memorial weekend 2019. A few wild flowers still out but mostly are gone. The first mile is paved/gravel road through Hite's Cove, a community of summer/rental cabins. The rest of the trail is maintained fire road. We went straight past the forest service gate onto Savage Lundy trail instead of turning right when Hite's Cove trail turns right and downhill. Savage Lundy trail drops into the Canyon below, as does Hite's Cove trail.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of whether they ventured onto the wrong trail, I still don't understand why they chose to go out in the heat with a baby and dog in tow. They had to have felt it when they left the house.

People in California and other hot areas go outside, even in the summer. Some are wimps who don't leave their ac, but others spend time outside.

Sure. I go out all the time even in the heat. But I'd be more careful if I had a baby.

Something is fishy here. They killed themselves, I think toxicology will find that out.

From AllTrails (and it’s interesting it specifically mentions dogs)

Hites Cove Trail is a 6.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail.

Timeline:
8/14/2021 – John Gerrish researches Hites Cove hike via phone app
8/15/2021 7:45 am – Witness sees Gerrish/Chung family traveling towards the trail head in their vehicle
8/16/2021 11 pm – Family friend reports family missing
8/17/2021 1:53 am – Family car located
8/17/2021 1:55 am – Search and Rescue Mission Initiated
8/17/2021 11 am – Family Located by Search and Rescue

I also wonder about time of death. Would it have made a difference if the family friend or nanny or whomever had reported them missing the same day they went hiking? They didn’t alert the authorities until 11pm the next day.

What time was the nanny supposed to come take over childcare? Did the nanny not report the fact that the family was not home? Not saying she should have thought it was an emergency at that point. But it makes me wonder if they’d have been found alive if she had.

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of whether they ventured onto the wrong trail, I still don't understand why they chose to go out in the heat with a baby and dog in tow. They had to have felt it when they left the house.

Wouldn’t it have been in the 80s when they left their house?

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of whether they ventured onto the wrong trail, I still don't understand why they chose to go out in the heat with a baby and dog in tow. They had to have felt it when they left the house.

People in California and other hot areas go outside, even in the summer. Some are wimps who don't leave their ac, but others spend time outside.

Regardless of whether they ventured onto the wrong trail, I still don't understand why they chose to go out in the heat with a baby and dog in tow. They had to have felt it when they left the house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:34 again. Going on the assumption that nothing nefarious is discovered, they were good parents and loved their aging dog, they took the wrong trail. No parent would subject a baby and dog to those conditions. Plus, they didn't cancel the nanny for that afternoon. They had to have checked the heat index. I think their plan was the leisurely hike and back before dangerous heat. But as experienced hikers, why didn't they immediately realize they were on the wrong trail and turn back? Where they were discovered is treacherous terrain. Ugh so sad.

But would it have made sense for them to turn back to take the long loop back around at that point? Maybe they looked at the map and decided going forward made the most sense time wise, even with the switchbacks.

Since there was no service they probably didn’t have a map in front of them so they may not have known about the switchbacks

Anonymous wrote:9:34 again. Going on the assumption that nothing nefarious is discovered, they were good parents and loved their aging dog, they took the wrong trail. No parent would subject a baby and dog to those conditions. Plus, they didn't cancel the nanny for that afternoon. They had to have checked the heat index. I think their plan was the leisurely hike and back before dangerous heat. But as experienced hikers, why didn't they immediately realize they were on the wrong trail and turn back? Where they were discovered is treacherous terrain. Ugh so sad.

But would it have made sense for them to turn back to take the long loop back around at that point? Maybe they looked at the map and decided going forward made the most sense time wise, even with the switchbacks.

So the path they took went around the whole trail loop… Where is the easier trail? If they had intended to take an easier route, would they have gone partway up the route they took but them doubled back before the river and switchbacks?

Anonymous wrote:I still don’t get how being in the wrong trail would end up with the dog dying too

It took much longer than planned in hot weather, so they all had heat stroke.