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There have surprisingly been multiple cases of people who've died or disappeared while hiking in the past few months. One that maybe didn't get as much national attention as the others but hits closer to home for me because of its location and the nature of the deaths, involves a family of hikers in the Sierra Nevada just west of Yosemite National Park. A family of three, including a 1 year old child, and their dog, were all found dead on a hiking trail in a remote area.
The cause(s) of death remained a mystery for two months. Authorities and onlookers offered various hypotheses First was foul play as all 3 people and the dog died close to each other. Fortunately authorities quickly ruled out a violent attack (guns, knives, etc.) as the bodies of the deceased showed no trauma. Next was that the family inhaled poisoning gases from a long-closed mine or ingested a deadly bacteria from drinking or swimming in the water of a river with a toxic algae bloom. Indeed, parts of the Merced River nearby were closed to recreation because of a toxic algae bloom.
The local sheriff yesterday announced authorities' conclusion on the causes of death. All three died from hyperthermia and probable dehydration— problems related to extreme heat. Example news coverage: Reuters video of sheriff's press conference 21 Oct 2021; CNN.com article updated 22 Oct 2021.
The sheriff explained that afternoon temperatures while they climbed a hill on the exposed trail were fierce, 107° to 109° F (about 42° C). I've hiked in that kind of weather and I can tell you, you don't want to do it. You especially don't want to be making a long hill climb in those conditions. And the one, 85-ounce water bladder the sheriff mentioned finding with the bodies... that is totally not enough water for them in those conditions. At first when I heard hyperthermia I was like "Whaaat?" but then when the sheriff explained these details I was like, "Oh. Yeah. Wow. Totally makes sense." The great outdoors is a great danger if you're unprepared for it.
The cause(s) of death remained a mystery for two months. Authorities and onlookers offered various hypotheses First was foul play as all 3 people and the dog died close to each other. Fortunately authorities quickly ruled out a violent attack (guns, knives, etc.) as the bodies of the deceased showed no trauma. Next was that the family inhaled poisoning gases from a long-closed mine or ingested a deadly bacteria from drinking or swimming in the water of a river with a toxic algae bloom. Indeed, parts of the Merced River nearby were closed to recreation because of a toxic algae bloom.
The local sheriff yesterday announced authorities' conclusion on the causes of death. All three died from hyperthermia and probable dehydration— problems related to extreme heat. Example news coverage: Reuters video of sheriff's press conference 21 Oct 2021; CNN.com article updated 22 Oct 2021.
The sheriff explained that afternoon temperatures while they climbed a hill on the exposed trail were fierce, 107° to 109° F (about 42° C). I've hiked in that kind of weather and I can tell you, you don't want to do it. You especially don't want to be making a long hill climb in those conditions. And the one, 85-ounce water bladder the sheriff mentioned finding with the bodies... that is totally not enough water for them in those conditions. At first when I heard hyperthermia I was like "Whaaat?" but then when the sheriff explained these details I was like, "Oh. Yeah. Wow. Totally makes sense." The great outdoors is a great danger if you're unprepared for it.
