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Author: Subject: The Desert heat will kill
EnsenadaDr
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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 09:47 AM
The Desert heat will kill


I read the sad outcome of a young couple that was found dead embraced in each other's arms in Joshua Tree National Park. The boy's father had been looking for the couple since July 28th of this year. The searchers followed a trail of paper food wrappers and water bottles from their deserted car. There have been several stories like this that have ended in tragedy. People that supposedly were in prime physical condition with water and food. Bottom line?? Stay out of the heat!! Do not hike in the midday sun, and start early and end early in the day. Temperatures over 80 degrees need to be avoided completely while hiking. It's common sense yet many refuse to heed the warning. Even with youth, water and food and a car at this young couple's disposal they didn't win against the cruel desert environment.

[Edited on 10-20-2017 by EnsenadaDr]
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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 09:55 AM


Quote: Originally posted by EnsenadaDr  
Temperatures over 80 degrees need to be avoided completely while hiking.


I somewhat agree with the sentiment, but your 80 degree criteria is ridiculously low. People in good shape can very safely hike in 80 degree heat if they use common sense.




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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 10:01 AM


I would never see anything if I only hiked under 80°!

If you don't have a GPS, then make rock monuments (cairns) every so often... or drag your foot if no rocks, to make a line, if you can't see your footprints.
As you hike, also turn 180° around and familiarize yourself with what the hike back looks like (background mountains, cactus, etc.).




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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 10:02 AM


What a sad event. It's easy to be overconfident. I think we've probably all been lucky at times. Hiking through Arches National Park, I caught a little conversation between park rangers--how many times they've had to rescue folks, and how un-fun it is to portage people out!
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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 10:03 AM


If you are going to hike in an area you are not familiar with take a GPS and note the GPS location of your vehicle so you can get back to it. Always take plenty of water, more than you think you'll need.
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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 10:03 AM
Over 80 dangerous?


perhaps for the infirmed, or those expecting too much out of themselves in unfamiliar conditions.

On the other hand, consider this

http://www.badwater.com/event/badwater-135/

Not unusual for daytime temps over 120 - and they are running! Running and walking continuously for 135 miles. I'd care to see Ensenada Dr's thoughts on this event. I've paced and crewed in this event five times and i'm still here (I think, both mentally and physically) - though "Aridneal" may disagree.

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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 12:33 PM
It may have been the gun and not the heat.


"A couple who disappeared in Joshua Tree National Park nearly three months ago died in a murder-suicide, authorities said Friday."

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-joshua-tree-murd...


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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 02:45 PM


Just use your smartphone. Record your start by bring up the navigator app and getting a screen dump of the GPS reading. Later use GPS readings to navigate to the recorded value. Nobody in this country should be getting lost any more.

77% of Americans now own smartphones.

[Edited on 10-20-2017 by Skipjack Joe]
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wow.gif posted on 10-20-2017 at 03:09 PM


Quote: Originally posted by greengoes  
"A couple who disappeared in Joshua Tree National Park nearly three months ago died in a murder-suicide, authorities said Friday."

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-joshua-tree-murd...


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:light:


Yikes!




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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 04:27 PM


Just goes to show, hiking in the desert heat (80+ F) with a bullet in your brainpan can be harmful to your health. ;)



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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 04:54 PM


Yes well I just saw the report. In any case there have been deaths reported because of heat and exhaustion. Who knows? Maybe the heat affected his thinking!!
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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 04:58 PM


Jajajajaja, that's why he had the pistola, eh? Must be hot in Ensenada... :biggrin:



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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 05:11 PM


Maybe (since they were in an embrace) they chose their method to die instead of dying of thirst or exposure? Nobody wants to suffer. That he had the money for a gun but not a GPS, compass (or smartphone as Igor mentions), is a bit weird.



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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 06:08 PM


Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Maybe (since they were in an embrace) they chose their method to die instead of dying of thirst or exposure? Nobody wants to suffer. That he had the money for a gun but not a GPS, compass (or smartphone as Igor mentions), is a bit weird.


Possibly he had some kind of weird necrophiliac thing going? Maybe jjj can weigh in on this?

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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 06:14 PM




:lol::lol::lol::lol:




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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 06:29 PM


Igor is Skipjack Joe (the one who said smartphones could be used like a GPS).



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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 08:10 PM


Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Maybe (since they were in an embrace) they chose their method to die instead of dying of thirst or exposure? Nobody wants to suffer. That he had the money for a gun but not a GPS, compass (or smartphone as Igor mentions), is a bit weird.


Oh, gee........ ya think?? smdh.




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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 09:20 PM


you'd be foolish to stray from civilization without a quiver of electronic gizmo's, GPS, Inreach, smartphone, sat phone, SPOT, .....you'd be likely to encounter.....what do they call it....adventure?:?:



oh and don't be walking around in 80 degree extreme heat:rolleyes:

[Edited on 10-21-2017 by willardguy]
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EnsenadaDr
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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 09:29 PM


Yes David the article suggests they were seeking shade and covering up from the sun and it was unclear whether it was a mercy killing due to their running out of food and water or a planned murder-suicide.
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[*] posted on 10-20-2017 at 09:32 PM


What I am saying Willard is to exercise in 80 degree heat for an extended period of time and likely to go into the 100s that time of year can cause dehydration and exhaustion if hiking for miles especially for the senior crowd which evidently you are not a part of if you think it is no big deal.
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