Mysterious Deaths Near Hite’s Cove

[maverick]

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/20/10295828 ... be-to-blam

[balzaccom]

I have done a number of trail crew projects in that area. Very sad news. And very odd. Hard to imagine what happened...

[tomba]

"the family died of hyperthermia and possible dehydration due to excessive heat" - https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/da ... rish-chung

[ykill5]

This case is so bizarre. The article said they were found 1.5 miles away from their car ON the trail. The map does show ~2,000' climb to get back to the trailhead but it's just so odd that one of them wasn't strong enough to get up to the car and get help. They must have had an altered level of consciousness from the heat stroke and weren't thinking clearly. Tragic.

[John Harper]

My sister sent me a link to this story yesterday. Very strange indeed, especially the dog found dead too.

John

[SSSdave]

Posted below on another board:

... Despite weird speculation of toxic algae and whatnot, I didn't see that. So now we know, and am not at all surprised, and am more surprised it doesn't happen more often with people hiking so. I have plenty of stories of groups without preparation or common sense I've met on their way up trails.

Much like history of tourists without understanding or experience or proper gear starting down most every day of summer from the Grand Canyon rim on the Bright Angel Trail festively despite warning signs following others down towards the Colorado River and getting into trouble. In this case, an obscure dirt road trailhead on a route down over 2100 feet to the barely flowing South Fork of Merced River at 1700 feet on a day with forecast temperatures over 100F degrees that likely reached 107F through a sun baked exposed sooty blackened wildfire landscape with little shade. Total distance of 8 miles with the hard part at the end hiking back up. Ok in April and May for those fit but not mid August not with... The dog may have stayed with the family until it was too weak because that is what loving pets do. All so sadly tragic.

"Investigators found an 85-ounce CamelBak-type backpack with the family, along with a small amount of baby formula in a bottle, some snacks, car keys, a child carrier backpack, and a cellphone, which the FBI is still looking at for more clues. Briese said there is no cell service in the area where they were found. He said they were wearing basic hiking attire, with shorts and tank-tops, but didn’t have hats, he said. They were not carrying a water filtration system. Briese said he’s not sure if the water in the CamelBak was bottled but that it appeared to be clean or tap water. “There was a small amount of residue (in the CamelBak), but basically empty,”

www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article255157607.html

[c9h13no3]

This case is so bizarre. The article said they were found 1.5 miles away from their car ON the trail. The map does show ~2,000' climb to get back to the trailhead but it's just so odd that one of them wasn't strong enough to get up to the car and get help.

I'd think hiking up a 2K, south facing climb when already in dire straits would make things worse. I'd think the answer is to soak your clothes, and lay down in the river or at least under some shade. Course, by the time you're cramping up & vomiting, you may also not be thinking straight.

[rlown]

Anyone know the breed of dog?

[maverick]

Aussie/Akita mix

[rlown]

Okay. A protective dog breed.