Missing hiker search July 19

[Cy Kaicener]

I sent our message board link to the Coachella Valley hiking club and they contacted the Desert Sun (article in the Painted Canyon posting) and Desert Hiker
http://www.deserthiker.typepad.com

[Perry]

The news and newspaper have discussed the possibility of closing hiking trails when it's hot. This raises philosophical questions of what kind of country we want to be. I think as far as law enforcement goes, police resources are better spent on serious crimes and citing reckless drivers.

[physicslord]

I don't understand why some kind of sign isn't sufficient.

I think a sign like this at the trail head would work:

Hiking for today is [NOT RECOMMENDED] by the [fill in the blank authority] due to excessive heat. [some number] people have died in the past year due to heat stroke. Proceed beyond this point at your own risk. You are responsible for knowing how to prevent heat stroke and knowing the symptoms. If you do this, it is assumed you know what you are doing.

Put some suitable pictures of a sun and a stick man lying dead for those who can't read.

I do not agree with closing the trails because of heat. There are many ways to die out there besides the heat.

[Perry]

I do not agree with closing the trails because of heat. There are many ways to die out there besides the heat.

So we should close them year-round? Just kidding. Living life is a risky thing.

[physicslord]

My guess is people will still ignore the sign, but maybe 10 percent will think twice about what they were about to do, after seeing the reality of how many people have died in the last year.

I mean, what are we up to now, like 6 for skyline?

[Perry]

I think 2 heat-related deaths this year. They haven't identified the other body, possibly from a homeless person living on the hillside. In the past few years I know someone died of hypothermia on Skyline during a snowstorm (what year?), and in January 2004 someone slipped on the ice and hit some rocks. I think there's only been 4 Skyline deaths since 2004. Am I missing any? Before that I think it was a very long time since the previous Skyline fatality which was a heart attack I think.

I do know that 2003 had a lot of Skyline rescues among the different SAR groups. I don't know how today's rescue numbers compare, but it would be interesting to see.

[halhiker]

It's just too hot for anything. Maybe we should go back to shutting the town down in the summer. No golf, no work, no shopping, nothing. Why limit it to hikers?

Until they do that I will continue to hike whether anyone else likes it or not. [/url]

[Zé]

no regulation. instead, sites like this (and perry's website) should provide a basis. hopefully more and more people who attempt c2c look up info online and find it.

I'd just take any web info on C2C and link to hiker's deaths and make sure people know clearly that you are a moron if you try to hike C2C/ Skyline in the summer without having a great feel for hiking in this climate.

btw, I know someone who is attempting c2c this weekend. ridiculous...however at least this person has done it several times and loves hiking in the heat, and knows how to prepare. lets hope

[pdforeme]

2 signs needed

a) 2 (actual count) deaths each summer; if high in Valley > 100F, death is a real possibility. Air temps of 100 on open rocky trails will feel more like 1?? degrees, and if you have troulbe and have to descend, temps get worse as you descend

b) Only possible rescue in heat is by helicopter, and you will be charged the $10,000 fee (whatever it is)


(i would not be dissuaded by general warning, but would think twice if i knew others had died (or been rescued) and the fees would enormous

We failed last year in 115 day; despite nightime hiking, the partner with Cramps and descending into heat about killed us (literally)

[ntheno]

Just the facts. PSMP has responded to 5 calls in the last 6 weeks. 2 were succesful rescues and 3 were body recoveries with one addditional recovery while searching for another. Three of the four were deceased before PSMP was contacted. The exception was the orange county hiker who was hiking with his girlfriend and was so close to the Museum that paramedics were able to reach him without PSMP assistance. His body temperture was 108 when paramedics reached him and he passed on the way to desert regional. The man fom Montreal(mid fifties) went to the Indian Canyon trading post at @10am for a "mile hike" and asked his significant other to pick him up at noon. When she returned he had not returned the Agua Caliente Indian Rangers(who I might add are the best conditioned,knowlegable and motivated rescuers I know) cleared all of the trails by 9pm. The PSMP were called to assist and flew until dark without any contact. The PSMP and A.C. Rangers having cleared the trail system decided to resume the search at 0600. (rescue teams do not go off trail at night unless they have some info as to where the victim might be;to send rescuers randomly off trail in every direction is a very irresponsible action to take). This man as it turns out hiked the fern canyon and took a side trail, left the side trail by some 75 feet, set his pack down, took a few steps on a grade not as steep as my driveway, and fell to his death. He never moved after the initial fall. Estimated time of death was before noon. We will never know(since he was alone and contrary to TV CSI no coroner can tell you definetley one way or the other) Which came first, the fall or the ill effects from the heat? We will never know. To set the record straight, he was not climbing up Fern Canyon,crawling over DO NOT ENTER signs. He was slightly off the main trail. Moral of the story: do not hike alone, do not go off trail, do not hike in tempertures over 90 degees(why not buy the PS Tramway Summer Pass for $60 and hike in mid 70 temps?)and watch your steps on trail and especially when you take even one step off the trail you are in danger. As far as the two bodies this past Sunday the coroner is still working but I am confident the coroner will find that the hiker fell and died immediatley. (very unlikley he ever called for help). He was on a goat trail below lyken and half mile above the PS Tennis Club. Whether he was off trail by accident or attempted an off trail more direct route we will never know. He was alone at the time. He was hiking with one other person and they split up at @2200ft at around 6:45 am on Sat. PSMP was called after 7:00pm. We had very little to go on and the lower part of the trail had beed hiked and cleared that evening(as it turns out he could not have been seen from the main trail or the goat trail, even in the day time). All facts lead to the conclusion that this hiker had passed before 9:00am Sat. SAR resuers would have been risking their lives at night, off trail for someone who was already gone. Moral of the story: do not hike alone, do not leave your partner, do not hike off trail, notify someone of your return time and if thay have not made contact they should call 911. Maybe there will be an exception in the future but in over 5 years of SAR, every body recovery had no partner at the time of death. Everyone please be safe, be smart and do not take unnecessary risks.