Hi,
Cynthia, I did not know this about sepsis, (don't really even know what that is), but find this very interesting. The one horse on the PCT I helped rescue above Snow Creek a couple summers ago, got that, plus renal failure, from severe dehydration. Even with an amazing hoist lift, helo rescue, the poor thing didn't make it because of this. The vet said this horse was 30+ liters under what it should be!
Was RMRU not involved with this one? They don't seem to post their mission anymore, (since May)? I took a boyscout group up many years ago, for their Eagle Scout badge, and the 3 scout masters assured me they were trained, (which they were), but I still reserved the right to turn anyone around at 3.5K, as I know at that point, if it's safe to continue, (to avoid a long, tough down climb. These were 14-16 yr. olds, and one was really struggling at one point, all had to dig deep, but made it. Much younger, and you'd need to have been a serious athlete, like the 14 yr old? female teen, who one the Baldy race, (Zip, who is she?), an endurance athlete already, or plain tough as nails, (like kids that grow up in 3rd world countries, (if their not malnourished).
It seems, as Ed touched on, that many people just don't want to listen, or take any advice, call it rebellious, (disrespectful), arrogant, so The Land of Hard Knocks isn't going away, (not saying this family did this). I've offered directions & advise many times, some accepted, much not. Doreen, Cy, Andy, Halhiker, and many like Cynthia here, have warned people, (till were just frustrated and tired of sounding like nannies), on the trail, especially in winter, and watch the horror on some of their faces, if they even make it to the traverse. Or finding their just about out of water at Flat Rock. Self reliance & responsibility seems less common in many of the folks I've encounters, or read about, than a few decades ago.
Even with much info on the web, hiking clubs, mags etc., many figure they'll do it on guts & glory and deal with the consequences, (not implying this family did that, it seems they did train for it, but to what extent). If your training for a marathon, a few 10k's and some gym work isn't going to be enough.
ss