California family found dead on hike killed by extreme heat, sheriff says

[bullwinkle428]

The California family that died in August while hiking in Sierra national forest was killed by extreme heat and probable dehydration, law enforcement officials announced on Thursday, providing some answers to a mystery that had baffled investigators for months.

The Mariposa county sheriff’s department believes 45-year-old Jonathan Gerrish, originally from the UK, his wife, 30-year-old Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter, Miju, and their dog, Oski, died while on a hike on the Hites Cove trail on 15 August. Temperatures were as high as 109F (42.8C) that day, and the majority of the eight-mile trail has little shade or trees.

The unusual case had stumped law enforcement since 17 August when officials found the bodies of the family and their dog on the remote hiking trail near the Devil’s Gulch area in Sierra national forest. They were all found in the same area, and it appeared they had completed most of the hike, Briese said.

Their vehicle was located a little more than a mile away, near a gate to the forest. A friend had reported the family, described as avid hikers, as missing. An 85-ounce water container the family had with them was empty, and they had no other water. There is no cellphone reception on the trail.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/21/california-family-hike-cause-of-death

How utterly tragic. While they may have been experienced hikers, they clearly underestimated the amount of water they would require in that kind of heat. I'm a cyclist, and take 50 ounces of water on every ride I take, and make sure I'm aware of locations to refill bottles on longer riders, especially on particularly hot days.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Regardless of the temperature it seems like taking a 1 year old on an 8 mile hike is a bad idea. nt

[Skittles]

2. tragically poor decision-making

very sad indeed

[Chautauquas]

3. I recently did a 5-day trip in Arizona

and it was very hot out there. We stayed near the 4-wheel drive truck we were using and did day-hikes but we also carried 40 gallons of water for 3 people and we drank almost all of it by the time we were done.

I don't understand how they could have made such a serious blunder if they were avid hikers.

[3catwoman3]

4. I don't even want to walk to the mailbox...

…when it’s that hot.

How very sad.

[deurbano]

5. Very sad. I don't understand why they would want to go hiking when it was that hot...

[PoliticAverse]

6. I think the key is "Temperatures were in the 70s when the family started their hike"...

so many people have gotten into trouble when the weather went in a direction they didn't think it would.
Especially sad these days when it is so easy to check what the weather is likely to be.

[LizBeth]

7. 8 miles is not that far. I can do an easy walk of a mile in 15 minutes. Maybe I am way off but even

109, this seems weird. And to go from 70 to 109 takes time.

[PoliticAverse]

8. "I can do an easy walk of a mile in 15 minutes." - with a one year old child? n/t

[LizBeth]

10. two adults, switch sides? Yes.

[Lancero]

9. 8 miles of road or sidewalk is a lot different from 8 miles through brush, trees, and other...

Assorted obstacles that you'd encounter in a forest.

And thats even before considering that you're carrying a kid, and have a dog to deal with.

[LizBeth]

11. It was a trail