Dead Body Found On Lykken Trail

[Cy Kaicener]

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/cri ... 402549001/

Temperatures in the Coachella Valley will be climbing to as high as 122 degrees
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/loc ... 402869001/

[Perry]

That's the 2nd death and it's only mid-June. Please be careful out there. I know I sound like Cynthia now, but when it gets this hot you really don't want to mess around with this kind of heat. Hiking is totally different than walking across a parking lot.

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/201 ... 378173001/

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... 5704012459

[cynthia23]

Did somebody say my name?

Seriously, though--under no circumstances should anyone consider hiking Skyline or C2C now. No matter how early you start, how much water you carry, how fit you are, or think you are--JUST DON'T. It is incredibly dangerous, and grossly irresponsible to the rescue personnel who will have to come and get you--or, at these temps, most likely, retrieve your body.

[Ellen]

Howdy All

I agree with Perry and Cynthia -- please do not hike Skyline in these conditions.

A bit of personal background -- I've hiked Skyline starting at 2 AM or earlier when the temperature is 86 degrees with high humidity. When it is this hot, the temperature does not cool off as one climbs. Even with the early start, I have been nauseated and had a headache the entire way.

I normally complete cooler weather Skylines in ~ 6 hours. Severe heat adds one to two hours to my time. I'll admit that the heat bothers me a lot, even when I am heat acclimated. Skyline is enough of a challenge that I won't go if the high temp in the desert is above 90 and the low is above 60.

The National Weather Service has posted a heat advisory for all three Saints this weekend.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Wildhorse]

Has anyone seen a later report? I thought it was interesting that the police deferred releasing the person's name until after the coroner examination. Does anyone here know what kinds of circumstances result in such deferrals?

Although we don't yet know how this woman died, the heat has certainly killed many people on the trails over the years, and not only in the desert but all over southern California including in mild San Diego. And more dogs than people.

The heat nearly took a friend recently, not in the Palm Springs area, but in eastern San Diego county on a hot day. It came upon him by surprise. His limits are not what he thought.

[Perry]

Did somebody say my name?

Seriously, though--under no circumstances should anyone consider hiking Skyline or C2C now. No matter how early you start, how much water you carry, how fit you are, or think you are--JUST DON'T. It is incredibly dangerous, and grossly irresponsible to the rescue personnel who will have to come and get you--or, at these temps, most likely, retrieve your body.

Who can forget your summertime warnings?

When it's really hot, I think search and rescue doesn't go looking until it cools off in the evening. I'm sure it's still difficult to hike in hot air without the sun. Not sure if they fly helicopters when it's super hot.