This is the first in a series of stories about people getting lost in the Grand Canyon. You can find the second instalment at this link: th-cam.com/video/rGI6A-6j50M/w-d-xo.html. Thanks for watching!
These events mirror closely an incident at the Grand Canyon in 2019. I was a ranger there at the time, and I managed the search for a married couple who were hiking a similar route: the New Hance Trail to the Tonto Trail and out on the Grandview Trail. They too ran out of water and unsuccessfully attempted to reach the river off-trail to refill their supply. Thankfully, unlike Paul and Karen, several factors were in their favor. First, they were backpacking in the fall in much cooler weather. Second, they had shared their itinerary with their adult children before departing, who then became concerned and notified us when their parents failed to return home on time. Additionally, once they realized they were in trouble, they hunkered down and waited for help to arrive rather than continuing to exert themselves. We found them alive and well on the first night of the search and flew them out on the park helicopter the following morning.
I think that one thing a lot of people don't realize is that the altitude and thinner air are contributors to problems in the Grand Canyon area. North Rim is 8,000 ft. above sea level, down by the river is about 2,600 ft. above sea level (+/-) and North Rim is 7,000 ft. above sea level. Even living here at 5,300 ft. above makes a huge difference when you're not well hydrated and trying to do anything half way strenuous. A lot don't realize that even though we have pine trees and scrub brush we're still desert. I've seen a lot of people get very lightheaded at South Rim. Thank you for being there for people in 2019.
I really think that the signs warning people not to do this kind of thing should _also_ tell them what to do if they ignore the warnings and end up in trouble. You can't stop people doing dumb things, but you can sometimes give them the tools to keep themselves from suffering the ultimate punishment for "fuck around and find out."
Yes, staying in place when you know you’re lost is a strategy a lot of people pass up. It’s understandable; you want to actively get yourself out of a situation, but wandering around can make it so much harder to find you and exert energy needlessly.
They may have thought they were experienced hikers but hiking in the Rockies is World's apart from hiking in the desert. Going into the Grand Canyon in the Summer on a multi-day hike with only 3ltrs of water shows how clueless they were to the dangers of the desert.
I really, really, really can't imagine setting off on a multi-day hike with so little water. I did four hours of yardwork (weeding, digging, and raking) today when it was around 70F/25C outside, and I went through three liters in just those few hours!
I did some hiking and backpacking in the Grand Canyon when I was younger. But I always went in the fall. The temperatures in the inner canyon in the summer are just too high for safe or comfortable hiking. And trying to get from the Tonto (the trail they were on) to the river on anything other than a known route is just insane. Most places it's impossible without climbing gear and the experience to use it safely. As for the water in the creek that they decided not to use. It was not mentioned whether they had a filter, iodine tablets, or other means of treating it. If they had stoves they could have boiled it. It might not have been the most pleasant water to drink, but it would have kept them alive. If they didn't want to drink that water, the only reasonable choice would have been to go back the way they came. Continuing on that route without adequate water in the summer was insane.
I have done hikes with less water but only where I know I can top-up from natural sources on route. The presence of tadpoles means the water is clean (ish). I'd have no problems topping up from that but surely in those conditions you'd take a basic filter and purification tablets.
People seem to lose their brain when it comes to the desert. I lived in Tucson AZ for over a decade and nvr went hiking, mostly because I felt I could nvr carry enough water, and it didn't help that every time I turned around, someone was in trouble for lack of water and maps. I didn't even leave the house without water even just around town.
I read Death In The Grand Canyon a few years ago (which would have contained this story), and just shook my head in disbelief at the multiple tales of folks deciding to do a rim to rim hike, in the middle of summer, starting at 10am, and only taking a small bottle of water with them and no hat. I'm from Australia and I won't even start walking in the bush without a hat and 1L of water. When you stated that this couple only had 3L EACH for a 25km trek my jaw just dropped. That's maybe enough for half a day. I was recently working in the Pilbara and was shocked to find I was severely dehydrated when I thought I was drinking plenty of water, and I was drinking 4-5 litres per day!
If you're going to hike in the Grand Canyon in the summer (I always hiked there in the fall, when the weather is considerably cooler), you need to start before sunrise and hike during the early morning hours when the temeratures are more manageable, take a break during mid-day and maybe hike some more in the evening, when, though it will still be ridiculously hot, there will at least be some shade.
That’s a good book, there’s also one like that about Yosemite, where I hiked for many decades. It’s unbelievable the chances people take. Utterly stupid!
If I was a Ranger and saw somebody leaving for that hike without a hat or turban I'd probably hand them a pamphlet on caring for adults with "special needs".
Oh yeah, I'll drink about .5L per hour (or more) easy on a hot day while hiking. One thing that sneaks up on people too is elevation. Not only the extra UV radiation but the dryer air really zaps you.
well to be fair everyone has different needs for water. I drink only 1 liter each day normally, and in summer maybe 1,5 liters (because I'm never thirsty ) and here in summer temperatures also reach around 38 celsius, it always needs to be calculated how your body is and what the body needs, how much you are sweating or not etc.
And not just in the Grand Canyon. I run a backpacking group here in central Canada, and we annually see people needing emergency rescue due to not being prepared, overpacking, dehydration, no GPS or map and getting lost…. We stress the importance of experience and preparation and an emergency exit plan, but of course, there are always people who underestimate the wilderness, and what it takes to be in it for a few days. People assume “well there’s a trail and lots of people do it so we’ll be fine too.”
Last year I walked the South Rim and stopped at most of the viewing points, and saw many, many people taking insane risks for a selfie. “…between 1 and 4 people each year do still fall from viewing points into the canyon itself” is a dreadful statistic, and these tragedies are entirely avoidable.
Sssshhh... let Darwinism take its course. If not then these idiots might try idioting out in public, or while driving their car, and end up hurting someone else.
As someone who lives in Phoenix Arizona, I knew right away that they likely didn't take enough water. We have so many mountain rescues here in Phoenix alone due to hikers, usually from out of town, not taking enough water. People severely underestimate the heat and the dry climate. A good rule is, when your water is halfway gone, turn around
Heck! Just walking through a parking lot to your car in Phoenix can kill u if u don't have enough water! And if u make it to your car, u need knowledge of how to touch a steering wheel without getting 3rd degree burns! Not to mention the 1000 degree heat death inside the car! I love Idaho. 😊
I am from Utah and grew up in desert heat- its not something to mess with. In my 20's my husband and I and another couple hiked the grand canyon rim to rim (north to south). We planned everything and arranged to stay at the campsites and made the journey over 4 days. It was spectacularly beautiful but also very demanding. We packed tons of water and extra dehydrated food packets. We refilled our water at taps in the campgrounds and ended up eating some of our extra food because of the physical toll of the hike. Its an experience i will never forget and am grateful to have- but i wouldnt recommend it for most people. You have to plan and reserve the campsites months in advance and you ABSOLUTELY MUST BE PREPARED.
You probably needed even more watereach day since the dehydrated food has so much sodium. I am so glad that you guys planned well and were successful. It sounds like an amazing trip!
Respect ✊ Be proud of ur accomplishment..Thatd be nice to try but realistically after 4 hrs I’d most likely be the first one to quit. Since u grew up out there would u say u can handle hot sun bearing down on u for hours better than others? Like do u ever get used to it to the point where ur not uncomfortable n sweaty n emotional? Can u really drink water with tadpoles in it without that horrible feeling of ur stomach convulsing n having to use the bathroom for 45min?
Another Utah native here. The Grand Canyon is also only _one_ of several canyons in the state, and at least once a year there's a story about hiker getting lost, falling into the canyon, or otherwise having the _worst_ day of their lives because they underestimate the danger of the desert. Happens in the winter, too, with skiers.
When i was first learning photography, a friend and i (artists not athletes) took a day-trip expedition to Sam's Point preserve in upstate New York to shoot the autumn colours. We were hiking with a guide map but couldn't figure why the numbers seemed 'off'--we were following a trail that we read as '8 miles', but it turned out the markings weren't length measured in miles, but calculations for hour markings. We were hours late getting back to the car--the rangers had to wait for us and i felt terrible about it, but i swear it never occurred to me that they'd map distances in 'time' rather than actual trail length. It was a scary lesson to learn.
That doesn't make sense. Distance is the only sensible way to measure it. Ages, experience, fitness levels, stride length lead to different speeds. Some crap park management there.
There was an old saying that the distance was counted with tabacos -the time that takes smoke a cigarate- about 100 years ago...Crazy to think some one can do something similar in this day and age...
@DavidAbyssal Yeah. Still works today though. Lol. "How long you going to be love? Reply "After this smoke break" lol , For me, it is after this dungeon. Which can take any amount of time depending if I am speed running or taking my sweet time. Lol
If you don't want to carry the weight of extra water, you can always boil what you find and use purification tablets... I'm baffled by their choice to completely pass over refilling when they knew they'd packed lightly.
Wouldn't you get parasites if you just drink out of water found in nature? It's annoying that Fascinating Horror didn't debunk them getting parasites or diseases.
I was shocked to learn that there are a surprising number of bodies that are left in the Grand Canyon, mostly due to how hot and inaccessible many of it's areas are in the remote areas off the travelers' paths. Even with helicopters and volunteers, it's a huge and dangerous, undertaking to recover many of the deceased down there. Imagine the inverse of Mount Everest, but with more human remains in it, because unlike that mountain, you don't have to be rich or a pro to go hiking there, so many more people can visit it, and as a sad consequence, many more corpses are left or buried there, primarily due to dehydration &/or heatstroke.
I'd expect they'd go looking for them in fall or early spring, perhaps? I bet drones are useful. Dunno. The canyon would be a nice place for my nibbled bones to hang out, personally.
My Grand Canyon Experience: A couple years ago, my dad and I hiked from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. For those unfamiliar, that involves starting from one side, hiking all the way down, crossing the river, then going back up the other side. Dad and I have many times gone hiking in desert terrain, and had been to the Grand Canyon once before, and both of us knew this was going to be the most challenging hike of our lives. We managed to complete the hike in three days, but looking back, we both agree that we should have taken an extra day's rest in one of the campgrounds we passed up. It cannot be overstated just how beautiful the area is. *Pictures absolutely do not do this place justice.* If you ever have a chance to visit, do it. You won't be disappointed. However, if you're planning to hike into the Canyon, *even if it's only a short way,* please prepare yourself properly. This video doesn't even begin to scratch just how tumultuous the environment can be. As stated, the Canyon itself can be incredibly hot the further you venture into it. I was silly at the time, and thought that a Google forecast would be enough for me, and since the Grand Canyon Google forecast only had it in the mid-80s at the time of the hike, I figured we'd gotten lucky. What Google failed to tell me was that that was the temperature at the surface. Inside the Canyon, temperatures were easily exceeding triple digits, even in heavily shaded areas. Rangers provide a more accurate forecast at their stations for conditions inside the Canyon, and hang thermometers up at most campgrounds. If you venture into the Canyon, rangers heavily advise you not to do heavy hiking between the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM, because that's when the heat is most extreme, and when most accidents tend to happen. Especially if you're trying to go back up the Canyon. There may be walking trails, but they can only do so much. If you're hiking up the Canyon, you're still essentially traversing a natural wall, and fighting gravity is its own battle outside the heat. On our final day of hiking, I was kinda foolish and wanted to get out of the Canyon in time to reach a gift shop to pick up a souvenir for my then-girlfriend. And that meant hiking up the South Rim in blazing weather. My dad was more level-minded, stayed at a resting area until the heat had passed, and would rejoin me at the hotel we planned to stay in that night. I really should have stayed with him. I love a challenge, and love hiking, but this hike was something I underestimated. The heat got to a point where I was so exhausted that it felt like for every five minutes of hiking, I had to find a shady spot, and sit for ten minutes to get my strength back. Now thankfully, I was well equipped with water, and salty food (a pair of other hikers even gave me more salty food near the top), so dehydration wasn't really on my mind. I was able to sustain myself there. What was more in my mind was the fact that I was carrying over 30-40 pounds of equipment, up a wall, and my pace was starting to take its toll on my body physically. The nature of the trails at the Canyon made my muscles incredibly sore. After a day or two, I couldn't easily go downhill on a trail without my calves feeling incredibly sore, and I couldn't lift my knees up high without further muscle pain. Pair that with the heat, gravity, and whatnot, and one can probably tell that I was incredibly foolish for attempting to exit the Canyon as quick as I was. Now I'm happy to say that both dad and I were successful in our hike. And after hiking to the Grand Canyon marketplace they have, I bought myself an ice cream cookie sandwich, and it was the best victory treat I've ever had. (That and having something sweet after three days of salty rehydrated meals, ice cream was just a godsend.) And I look back on that trip with nothing but love. But I definitely learned some lessons that trip. My leg muscles would be incredibly sore for at least three weeks after the hike, and considering my relationship ended a few weeks after that trip, my initial goal was silly in the long run. If I can pass down any advice to those wishing to take on the Grand Canyon, it would be this: respect the Canyon. Respect the hazards the area will bring. Do not push yourself unnecessarily. When you feel the need to rest, then don't think twice about it, just find a place to rest. And above all else, when the heat is getting to be too much, *YOU ARE NOT WASTING TIME WAITING FOR IT TO PASS.* The Grand Canyon is easily one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to, and I'm happy to say I've done the hikes I have, and hope to return again in the future for more. But I will be wiser, and I will not repeat the same mistakes as I once did. Even if they were minor, in that environment, they can make a huge difference in the long run.
I did the rim to rim experience myself in 1993. Definitely one for the books. At 54 with arthritis, not likely to repeat, but something that will always stick with me as one of my more memorable vacations.
@PBottomPoochies Yeah, it was meant to be one big last hiking hurrah for my dad as well, since he's in his early 60's and he'd been wanting to do the Rim hike since we first visited in 2015 (if I recall correctly). He didn't see himself doing such a hike again when we finished. But next year, we're planning on a backpacking trip through the Redwoods in California, so he's not done yet!
For the life of me, I will never understand why hiking parties split up while on a hike. It's done in winter conditions, too. I wouldn't want to leave someone alone unless absolutely necessary.
@carrienation6080 As I said, it wasn't a smart decision. My priorities were kinda stupid in hindsight, and I wouldn't repeat it. That said, the South Rim trail we were on is among the more popular trails of the park, and he was with other hikers. I'm not saying this to exonerate myself, but he wasn't alone. But yeah, it's not something I'll do again.
How extremely sad for her, I can’t imagine how alone she must have felt after he died. But he did sacrifice himself for her by making sure she had the water.
Les Stroud pointed out that parasites take a few days or so to start making you sick and can be cured with a single pill. In this scenario absolutely refill your water, even if its stagnant because dehydration will kill you faster then a parasite.
@@justayoutuber1906 There's an article on outdoorlife about it "Solar water disinfection (SODIS for short) is a water treatment method that uses the sun’s energy for disinfection. ....The sun’s abundant UV light kills or damages almost all biological hazards in the water. "
I read about the Strykers in the book: 'Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon'. (A fascinating read - just like this channel!) The other story that struck me from that book was the one about Margaret Bradley. She and her jogging companion were in a similar situation; hopelessly lost, and ran out of water. Margaret left him to get help, and the jogging companion was rescued by a ranger. Only, he just assumed Margaret made it to safely, and as a result never bothered to inform the ranger that she was out there!
In fairness to the friend, he was badly dehydrated and heat exhausted, which may have significantly impaired his mental functions. His leaving a message for her at the Ranger station telling her that he was quitting and would park her car for her, combined with her decision to leave the trail and go looking for water instead of simply turning back, suggests that neither of them at any point actually fully understood how dangerous their situation was. Athletes are trained to ignore their bodies, and this can make them unbelievably stupid when it comes to accepting physical reality.
I did a Rim to Rim to Rim hike there in my 20s. Even as a person who was very in shape and with lifetime of outdoor experience it took everything I had mentally and physically. When I was there the bottom of the canyon got over 51C. This place is no joke
I live in Tucson so we get a handful of days that hot every summer. It's unbelievable how much the air just wrings the moisture out of you. I can't even imagine attempting to do anything remotely strenuous in it.
@@moterinsun I was working outside in Florida it was 88 degrees. I got heat stroke but luckily did not pass out. I made it inside to air conditioning. I sat down and did not move for two hours. Florida is as scary as the Grand canyon.
I did the rim to rim in one go when I was 18, in July. I used advanced heat management techniques and had no difficulty. But I was also an athlete who could cycle 100 miles in a morning.
The problem with dry heat is that you don’t realize you are losing much water even if you are not doing any physical activity. You never see sweat because it all evaporates before you even notice it. So people who don’t know any better easily get dehydrated and they realize something is wrong when they can no longer think straight.
As a cadet in the Girl Scouts, I hiked down to the Havasupai Indian reservation back in the early 80's. I remember stopping often to drink and have small snacks. It was a 12-13 mile hike. It was an incredible trip I'll always remember. So sad that this couple wasn't truly prepared even being experienced hikers.
Ps. I live in an outback mining town in Oz, I don't walk my dog here, or even go to town - 5mins drive- without water & at least a few other supplies.. you just never know what might happen! Walking my dog I take water, medical & emergency supplies,. Better safe than sorry!
Heck I live in an Australian capital city and I don’t go anywhere without a bottle of water and my mini first aid kit and sewing kit in my handbag 😂 I’ve rarely needed it but when I have it’s been very handy.
@@margarita8442Australia, where the plants will cause you unending pain if you touch them and the magpies will try to end you if you're simply walking down the street.
One of my biggest takeaways from having served in the Marines with regard to outdoor safety is to never underestimate the weather and conditions of new places. A lot of things that we did were physically strenuous, yet whenever we went somewhere with a notable difference in temperature or elevation we wouldn't be allowed to or compelled to do any physical exercises for at least a week, if not two until we were acclimated. On top of that during my time in 29 palms they would often have "black flag conditions" meaning that it was too hot and there was to be no outdoor exercises. Being an avid hiker now I still take that all to heart after having learned a lot about heat exhaustion, heat strokes, and dehydration. It boggles my mind how often people go somewhere unfamiliar and very different from what they're used to and they just go on extremely strenuous hikes especially jf theyre unprepared. It's not just putting themselves in danger, but it endangers anyone that tries to help or rescue them.
@@moterinsun according to official safety index anything above 90° was considered black flag, but I don't remember if that was necessarily followed. I just remember that during particularly hot days (think 110°+) we'd have a black flag during the day time. We typically did our PT in the mornings while in garrison though, so we were usually done before 7 or 7:30 and avoided most of the heat.
Several years ago, I witnessed something rather bizarre: on an extremely hot and humid afternoon in Virginia's midsummer, there was a guy walking through a mall parking lot, wearing a long, black coat fastened all the way shut. When everyone else was wearing shorts and t-shirts, and businessmen had shucked their suit blazers and rolled up their sleeves, the guy in black just looked WRONG. They tell us: If you see something, say something. So I called 911 and gave them a description of this guy -- young, white, clean-cut, wearing that suspicious long coat, totally inappropriate for the weather. There's no telling what kind of explosives or weaponry he could have concealed under that coat. I felt a bit silly, actually, but it was unnerving to see that guy. And if something horrible happened and I hadn't reported it, I'd feel far worse than silly. Well, the 911 person took my info and said they'd check it out. Meanwhile, I stayed in my car and shadowed the guy at a distance, in case the police needed an update on his whereabouts. Several minutes later, the 911 person called me back and said the guy in the black coat was okay. Before I could ask how they could possibly determine that, since I hadn't seen any cops going after him, the 911 person said this same guy had already been stopped and questioned by two police officers -- the guy in the coat explained to them (and they were able to verify this) that he had enlisted in the army and was going to be deployed to the Middle East, and he was dressed like that on a blistering-hot day to try to get used to the high heat he'd have to deal with overseas. Well, what a relief to me! First, he wasn't some mad bomber/shooter, and second, the COPS saw the same thing that I did, and they also found it highly suspect behavior!!! When I realized that, I finally didn't feel silly. This time, things turned out okay. But it pays to stay vigilant...
So many people underestimate what desert heat can and will do to the body, and it so often ends in tragedy. The scary thing about dehydration is that it can sneak up on you- you can wind up dangerously dehydrated and overheated without any real idea things are getting bad until you're just about to fall over. It happened to me, and luckily I was in the middle of a city in a place where I was surrounded by people who were able to help me. I lived in a very hot, dry place for several years and that experience with dehydration and heat sickness taught me to take at least one full water bottle everywhere I went, and that was just for wandering around town.
When you said at the beginning that their hike was doomed by lack of preparation I correctly guessed that they didn't pack enough water. But I was still completely unprepared to hear how little they packed -- THREE LITERS each?!?! And they passed on a chance to refill at a creek?! Like I feel bad for them and all, but that's just negligence cranked up to an insane degree.
I also guessed water. I’m not an outdoorsy person at all but when I heard how much water they brought, I gasped out loud. Even with the small amount of experience I have, I know that’s way too little for the Grand Canyon in summer. Then they got to some water and were going to fill their bottles, I thought at least they have that. But when they decided not to use it, I knew how this was going to go down. The water they found sounded… not great, but dying of dehydration seems a lot worse. I feel like they should have turned around right there and come back on a day when they were better prepared.
I can't imagine how Karen continued after she knew her husband was dead....if I was in her position I think I might have just lain down next to them to wait for the end too but the instinct for self-preservation is strong and he would have wanted her to live, which is maybe what kept her going.
I've been to the Grand Canyon; i's hard to describe how hot and dry it is. People who hike there are like mountain climbers, they have to do it because it's there.
I went backpacking in Zion once, there’s zero water. No springs, nothing to boil. We had to bring enough to drink and prepare food with. It was so heavy! We ended up coming back a day early because it was such a pain
A friend of mine lives near Death Valley. She says 'experienced' athletes and hikers die every year because they underestimate how quickly the heat zaps your body.
I hiked Telescope Peak in Death Valley last July. Highs were in the 70s, but no there is not water up there. I looked down on Furnace Creek where it was 128F and a hiker died that same week. Proper planning is everything.
I majored in Geology/Earth Science in college. One of the classes I took was about the geology of the Colorado Plateau, including the Grand Canyon. The last two weeks of the semester consisted of a trip to the Grand Canyon from NY. Our professor had 25 of us plan to hike into and out of the canyon. Down the South Kaibab trail to the bottom, and then up the Bright Angel trail, about 26 miles. We started hiking at 0300 hours, so we could make it down to the bottom of the canyon before it got too hot. In our packs we had 3 gallons of liquid- 2 gallons of water, 1 gallon of an electrolyte drink like Gatorade. I don’t like Gatorade so I chose coconut water. By the time we hiked to the bottom it was about 1000 hours . All of my liquid water supply was just about gone. We got to Phantom Ranch (campsite at the bottom of the canyon with cabins, a restaurant, and canteen), refilled all our liquids, consumed some of the granola bars and trail mix we had, and started back up. By the time we exited the canyon at about 1900 hours, we were exhausted, sore, but in good health. All in all we each consumed about 6 gallons of liquid, and went through at least a two pound bag of trail mix and several protein bars each. Those trails are no joke, and our professor made sure we knew what we were in for before we set off on our hike. Students that were too scared were allowed to opt out and hike the rim trail. All in all, hiking the canyon was a tremendous, spiritual experience. Learning about the complex geology was one thing, but seeing those amazing rock formations in person, and experience the splendor of the canyon’s beauty, made it all worthwhile. As long as you can handle the physical aspects of the hike, and you’re prepared with adequate supplies, it’s totally doable.
@@DanFan2042I went to SUNY New Paltz, in NY. Our professor had warned us of how dangerous it was, which is why he made the hike optional, and why some of us only hiked along the rim. If I was traveling out there after learning about the geology all semester, I was going for the gold. It was amazing. I still think about it, and love looking at the pics I took along the way.
Thats why it's important to stick with your planned turn around TIME, not just your planned turn around point. If you only brought supplies for a 24 hour hike, you turn around at 12 hours even if you didn't make it to your point.
By definition I’m an “experienced hiker”. I did day hikes for scouts. That doesn’t mean I’m qualified to traverse a harsh and dangerous terrain without proper equipment.
@@jamesstrainer9859 I'm experienced in an entirely different climate and am familiar with what I need for a hike near me. Grand Canyon is entirely different than what I'm use to.
I hiked a similar route down the Grand Canyon a couple of years ago. There are many signs posted there, warning about the sufficient amounts of drinking water you are required to bring, so even if you were unaware or ignorant before entering, at least then you were warned and finally should reconsider your bad packing effort. Unfortunately they must have ignored them, or maybe in 1990 they were not set up yet..
Their problem was not taking desert heat into account. That amount of water would have been fine in any other season and if the trek had been the right distance. But that goes to show that being an experienced hiker means nothing if that experience isn't relevant to the environment you're in.
Its risky enough to go hiking in the best conditions let alone those sort of conditions and once you start to run out of water you really should turn around and go back the exact same trail you walked up
I hiked down into the Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail, to Indian Gardens then to Plateau Point. This was in July 1990 and there were extra warnings because of this death. There were water top up points at half way and at Indian Gardens but despite the abundance of water I suffered from severe heat exhaustion and sun stroke. The extreme heat and total lack of shade, except at Indian Gardens itself, was overwhelming.
I can't imagine heading out for a two HOUR hike with so little water! I actually shouted out loud in shock when you said they only had 3 litres each. That's mowing the yard levels of water, not a two day trek! Not turning back when they didn't feel comfortable refilling their water is so incomprehensible to me. They had to see they had messed up by then!
Good timing! My mom and step-dad just left today for Arizona and they'll be at the grand canyon in 2 days for the first time. Wished I had gone with them but... maybe not anymore after this video
As a European who grew up in the US, I can vouch that we usually sorely underestimate the vast distances and absolute desolate wilderness of the US. There is nothing like it in Europe, Places where you can go out and not see another human being for days. I also lived in the California desert for a few years and the desert will definitely kill you if you're not paying attention, It almost happened to me but for the grace of God.
Took an all day bus tour of the grand canyon, it doesn't even go all the way around it, that's how big it is. So beautiful but easy to slip and fall in at lots of the viewpoints.
For comparison, while working outside in the same temperature years ago, I often drank three gallons of water (12-ish liters) a Day and might not take a leak till evening after a few beers. It was ridiculous. A coworker and I used a big family cooler just for us for each day. Never hiked with that much. I wouldn't go into that furnace for recreation. Most was about 95. Had an 80 ounce camelback bladder (2.3L) two single liter bottles and a. 250 or so that I refilled from the other bottles. Whatever 16 ounces is in metric. And make sure the other people in your party won't be needing your water halfway. I was at lake Navajo and took a 5 gallon for camping a long weekend and became the laughing stock for all of two days till it was their water too. I didn't even know half the people, I was tagging along with a dude I worked everyday with. They were his people. Can't rightly refuse. You can take umbrage all ya want but you can't hold water back from people.
Thank you for being such a respectful narrator for these types of stories. People make mistakes, sometimes foolish ones, but that doesn’t mean they deserve what happens to them. I appreciate framing the stories as lessons we can learn, rather than laughing at peoples expense.
Hiking with 3L per person in the hot weather of the Grand Canyon is insane. You can easily go through that in a few hours let alone multiple days. Not to mention people also forget about the altitude. The rim of the Grand Canyon is a relatively high altitude so you are also battling that on the way up. I have done lots of hiking in summer in the Mojave desert and it’s not something to take lightly. I frequently see people underestimate the extreme unrelenting heat. People don’t realize that during the day not only is it hot air temperature wise but EVERYTHING is hot. The ground is hot, the rocks, no shade, the wind is hot, and the UV radiation is off the charts.
After reading accounts by Park Service Rangers who've worked at the Grand Canyon (and other parks) I'm horrified at the number of deaths from both mishaps and planned actions (i.e., suicide). The recovery of bodies seems to be an almost constant thing, and then of course there are the search and rescue efforts. These are places to treat as a playground at one's peril.
This is why it's so extremely important to always be well equipped & prepared when going on any activity which involves long distances. It's baffling at just how ill prepared many folk are when going hiking or camping like they completely undermine the dangers that nature processes
The reason that it is always the experienced hikers who get into these situations is because people can get so confident in their skills that they forget that being an experienced hiker does not necessarily make one an experienced survivalist.
The fact that 5am in the next day she found help is extra heartbreaking…. had they never left the trail there was a chance both would have been rescued - they weren’t far, just terribly lost.
Southern Calif resident. Spent decades learning about hot weather and desert survival. Also certified in Wilderness Survival. When I visit anywhere hot (which is damn near everywhere), I tell someone where I am going and my schedule. I go to the Ranger Station/gift shop, buy an overprice souvenir, then stop at one or two viewpoints I can drive to, with a weeks worth of survival gear in my car. That's my schedule. And that's my advice about surviving in unfamiliar wilderness or desert type places. Seriously, I'd rather live with an overpriced crystal, fridge magnet and post card from Joshua Tree or Death Valley, than be a Fascinating Horror story. 😳
Also in So Cal. I love Death Valley... very rarely ever go in the summer (hated the desert growing up, but after a couple decades away in a perpetually green part of the world, had a new appreciation for it's grandeur and beauty when I moved back) ... Have been to Grand Canyon a handful of times but never hiked it. I am also about to delve into the world of ADV Moto-camping, mostly solo (not on the bike in my avatar, though it can be done)... Will never go anywhere without letting family know my location/progress (and won't be going too far off the beaten path).
@@Rob801 Enjoy the adventure and it sounds like you have a lot of good common sense. Yah I did 6 months solo on the road and didn't go too far into the wilderness. Great experience, hope yours is too! 🙂
I once visited Arches National Park in Utah, which has a very similar sort of desert terrain as the Grand Canyon. One of the main attractions in the park is the Delicate Arch (an image of which is actually featured in this video, at 0:39). The trail to see it up close is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km), meaning a return trip is slightly more than 3 miles (4.8 km). As someone who grew up in the forested Appalachian foothills of Georgia, I had done hikes as short as three miles before, so I figured that seeing the arch would be a breeze. I was totally wrong, and totally humbled by my attempt at the hike. Hiking in the woods is one thing-- hiking in the desert, on uneven terrain, where there's no shade and no place to rest, when the temperature is constantly up over 90°F (32 C), is a whole other beast altogether. I quickly realized, about half a mile on my way up the path, that there was no way I was going to be able to hold out for three miles-- I might be able to push myself to the arch, but then I would be in real danger of being stuck out there without any hope of getting back. So I made the smart decision to abort my hike, and settled for seeing the arch from afar at one of the park's viewpoints. I came away from the experience with this lesson: Desert hiking is no joke. If you're taking it on, you _really_ have to prepare yourself and take plenty of water, because out there, the sun is absolutely brutal and relentless.
I spent an entire month in similar heat (August in the Mojave). Felt like the air that hits you in the face when you open your kitchen oven. We mostly remained in the shade during the main part of the day, and did all of our work at night.
3:20 - There are NUMEROUS signs that warn people going into the canyon. Two friends and I thought we could take a short stroll down one trail, because we were New Yorkers and it was "just a short walk." The first sign warned that if we were unprepared, we were in for a bad time. The second sign was like, "We're not kidding. If you're not geared up, you should turn around." The third sign we came to and finally obeyed said something akin to, "If you go beyond this point, and you don't have the proper supplies, you are DEFINITELY going to die! Turn around NOW!" So we turned around. We hadn't gone far. It was around 75 F, so we felt great during our minor descent. I think we got about 200 yards down the trail... and we suffered all the way back up. We actually shoved one another out of the way when we reached a water fountain at the top! We were a mess. 😵 Bonus stupidity: Once we'd caught our wind and rehydrated, we made the drive back down to Phoenix. On the drive up and down, I had my arm resting on the open window. Driving created a wonderfully cool breeze. So, so many hours... with my arm under the Arizona sun... albeit feeling cool, but quietly roasting. 😱 So, yeah. That was a fun day. 😐
I'm not a hiker but I do have a little bit of experience with being in the desert, as soon as you said how much water they were carrying I was like "that's not even enough for one person!"
Yeah I agree, very brave and selfless. Even if they had split the water 50/50, I bet they would both be dead. His sacrifice gave her a chance at survival.
I remember that week very well. I was in Phoenix for work and the temperature hit a record 123 degrees on either the 20th or 21st of June 1990. I worked for an airline and our training was suspended for the day because we had to ground the aircraft (there weren’t any performance specs written for Boeing aircraft in temps that high). So it would have been brutal beyond belief in the canyon those exact days they were hiking.
I remember that day because it shut down Sky Harbor. I was at a waterpark (Big Sur, I think), and they literally made a park-wide announcement that Sky Harbor Airport was closed because we broke a heat record! It's 123°! It was hilarious. You could tell who was from out-of-town cuz they looked HORRIFIED. Meanwhile, the Phoenicians cheered for a minute, put on more sunscreen, and went back to playing~ It was a very memorable thing for me as a kid 😂😂😂
@@Scorpioncactusflower yep it sure did. Do you know what I was doing at Sky Harbor that day? Doing aircraft de-icing training out on the ramp near our hangar. Can you imagine?? I’m not sure which was more brutal that day, the temperature or the irony of being up in the boom hosing down the aircraft pretending it was covered in snow and ice. I was based out of DC and that was when we were scheduled for winter ops training. Good gawd.
@@kcindc5539 o.O Why, in the name of sanity, would they send you to PHX for de-icing training? 😂😂 At LEAST go to ORD or something. Does PHX even have the EQUIPMENT for that? O.o
@@Scorpioncactusflower and in June, no less! I worked for America West so Sky Harbor it was. We did have a few de-icing trucks that mostly served as trainers but were usually in transit to and from various field stations, though occasionally they were put to use on rare cold mornings would cover the aircraft in frost.
As an experienced solo hiker who loves to cross deserts, it is foolish to attempt the desert in the summer. I also always carry 50% more water/food than what I need because if something bad happens I have an extra supply. Sadly, 3 times I have run across hikers that were lost, dehydrated, severely sunburned, etc. and had to provide aid and/or escorted them out of the wilderness to get help. Had I not had an emergency kit and the extra food and water, and water purification tablets, I'm not sure they would have made it. The worst was a father with his 10 year old son that were attempting to hike to a slot canyon in the distance but did not have a compass or topographic map. There was no trail to that slot canyon and while it looked like from the side of the road that it was all level ground to the slot canyon about 100 yards in you had to descend into a maze of canyons and the reference point of the slot canyon and the road went out of view and it was very easy to get turned around. They had been wandering lost without food or water all day in the maze when I ran across them on my way back from the canyon. They were only 1/3 of a mile from their car, but because of the elevation changes they were unable to see their vehicle. I always say I am an adventurous hiker, not a foolish one. I will turn myself around and not complete a hike or summit if I can foresee a problem that might endanger me. In one instance i realized my foot ware was inadequate for the last 75 yards to summit, I was very tempted to make the push being so close, but I realized that while I might have made the summit, coming down would be a problem without the appropriate shoes to grip the rocks properly. The trail guide had not mentioned the last section required rock climbing/scramble. In another instance I turned around when the hiking was taking longer than I anticipated and I realized the temperature was going to be too high for me to make the return trip safely. The rule of thumb when doing a long hike: Think of worst-case scenarios and prepare accordingly.
Kudos to you for having the wisdom to let go of ego in the name of safety. And blessings to you for having helped others. On a trip to the Canyon I turned back after only a quarter mile when I admitted my infected toe was too painful for me to proceed. Did the trip the following year. Safety first.
I find the videos of people getting lost in natural areas and not having supplies both fascinating and terrifying. Another great job by you my friend 👏
I live in the desert of Southern Arizona. There is a lot of amazing hiking around here, however, sometimes when people go hiking from out of town, they seem to really underestimate how brutal hiking in the desert can be. Many of the deaths are from people not bringing enough water. It doesn't matter how in shape you are, dehydration is a big risk.
My friends and I hiked from south to north rim in 1993. But the route we took was on the very popular trail directly through the canyon (Kaibab, I believe) with ranger stations at 5 mile intervals. We always carried a pack of water and a water bottle in hand. Our most dangerous effort was our last hike out of the canyon bc of the altitude we would be climbing and the time of year (July). My friend had us start hiking at 4 am to be sure we exited the canyon by noon to avoid the heat BUT this too came with hazards as it’s still dark at 4 am! All in all, I had a great time and one of the more memorable trips of my life. Not everyone gets to see the canyon rim to rim.
Kaibab!! I camped there every year with my family as a kid~~ Right near the rim. But my FAVORITE canyon story will always be the night float down the Colorado on a moonless night in 2000~ Week-long rafting/exploration trip down the river. Waterfalls, sleeping on the riverbank, and our night float~~
I know it's easy to chastise people for the dumb decisions they make in these types of situations, but I can't help but feel bad for them. They truly thought they could handle the canyon and underestimated it, something I'm sure many hikers do. The heat also didn't aid in making rational decisions, such as the idea that maybe they would've been fine refilling at the tadpole pond. As for the water, they miscalculated the length of the trail, something easy to do when you're inexperienced. As not very smart as they were, I feel bad that it took losing one of them for them to learn their lesson
I don't know if they existed back then, but rach family member on my household has a LifeStraw. It can be used to filer water safely. Too bad they didn't have one.
as soon as you mentioned it was june and how little water they packed I was like 'yup, one or both died.' I live in Southern Nevada and that little bit of water isn't even enough for an outing to walmart let alone the grand canyon.
I’m always terrified of leaving the trail it will be the death of me. I keep thinking animals will be there waiting to eat me. I know it’s really dramatic but so far I’m alive because of it. I’m just sorry for the victims and the families that went through it
This. Bears in particular scare the absolute crap out of me. Theres no reasoning with close on a thousand pounds of angry muscle armed with razor-sharp claws and fangs. It doesn't matter who you are or how tough you think you are. I'm 6' and over 300lb and I know that if a bear picks a fight with my fat ass, he's gonna win. Being mauled isn't a quick or painless death either. The stuff of nightmares. So grateful that we don't have them in the UK.
It's been awhile since my last trip (Thunder River Loop that time). It was Memorial Day week, and we had two very fit and experienced young men with us who had never done desert hiking. It hit some record temperatures. And we reminded them so often about the dangers, including "the energy you expend today will significantly affect tomorrow, so take your dang rest days," that we titled the trip appropriately. No backacking between 10:00 and 18:00. Yes, we're carrying extra water to stash. These are salt tabs. Hats are our friends. Let us know even if you're going to "just go look around that bend." That's a wash; we will not camp there. I think we forced them to watch videos. And I know the GC and other places have started at least a little training/warning at some of the more popular launch points, but it's amazing how many people skip it.
Note to people wondering about water with tadpoles or frogs, they need super clean water to live in, so that's good water. Fish are more questionable If it looks like it has an oily sheen on it or smells stay away.
I was thinking the exact same thing. I was also told long ago that they only survive in clean water. That’s what baffled me about them not filling up the water supply…
As a person who hikes the desert, when you said how much water they carried for this trip, I genuinely gasped. That is the advisable amount for a much shorter hike, the Hermit’s Rest trail, and still one is always advised further to take more than needed, in case of spills, extra needs besides drinking, or getting lost. It was truly heroic of Paul to hand over his water to his wife, though. I have no doubt that is what saved her life.
The second it was said that they only had 3 litres each for a 2 day hike (in desert conditions, no less!) I felt second-hand panic. I can easily down 2 litres in a few hours if I'm hiking in the woods.
When planing field trips (I tend to travel and hike in differend countries) I always make sure to learn what animals swiming ina a water signal it is safe (because some species live only in dirty water and some only in extremly clean water) and this is one of the basic things kids should learn (because you never know when you will suddenly stranded). When it is planned than always carry water tablets of filters just to be sure (even if you think you have enough water).
Lived in Phoenix AZ all this summer. 2 months of 120F days, 4 months of every day over 100F. I grew up without air conditioning and weeks of 100F days and even I spent most of my time indoors in the artificial cool. You do eventually acclimate, and I like it hot, but I would still never plan a hike in the Canyon between May and September.
I have a landscaping business in Lake Havasu City and have had heat exhaustion several times. When he mentioned how little water they took on an 18 mile hike in Arizona, I thought he had misread his script!
I live in Arizona and every single year it baffles me why people choose to do these hikes in the summer. We get 4-5 months of perfect weather here and yet they choose the months where its 120 outside. Darwin wins.
Probably because majority of people can only take time off work during the summer months. Also, those used to continental climate who never experienced desert weather and scorching heat probably reason " it's summer, and that means nice, warm weather, more hours of daylight, warm nights..." etc. and don't bother to do research about conditions in different places.
I lived in Phoenix and hiked Squaw Peak year round. On occasion a 103º F summer day. I hiked the Grand Canyon on the 23rd of June and it was 120º - drank 7 liters of water and Gatorade. I prefer the heat, as I grew up in Montana and moved to get away from the cold winter.
Fifty years ago, when I was in my early twenties, I worked at the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim. Many times I've hiked down to Roaring Springs and back the same day, and twice I've gone rim to rim (about 24 miles). It is very different than hiking up a mountain and then back down. It's very easy to go down, but 10 times more difficult to come back up. Many people make the mistake of going down too far, and then they're in trouble. Add to that the mistake of not enough water and you have a real problem. Plan carefully ahead, and it's one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
I would add that simply carrying a light weight water filter would have made a huge difference. I have climbed Half Dome in Yosemite around 10 times in my life. During some of those hikes I was stunned at how ill prepare d many people were. I saw people wearing leather loafers and even flip flops and carrying little or no water or food. It was so common that I remember volunteers standing at the beginning of the trail asking people if they were adequately prepared and knew what they were in for.
As someone who worked at the Grand Canyon for a summer one year and did a lot of hiking, every single time I heard the next decision the couple made, I just cringed more and more.
I've lived in desert environments long enough to understand just how fast the summer heat can wring you dry. What's worse is that a slight miscalculation can be dangerous. About 15 years ago I went for a walk in 95 degree weather with a pretty reasonable amount of water for the trip. But I saw something in the distance I wanted to explore so the trip length decreased. And before I knew it, the water was gone. I made it back safely to my car, but I was definitely starting to feel the effects of the heat. It was a lesson that has never left my memory.
When setting out on a hike in the wilderness, people should be required to start at a ranger station. Where the rangers calculate the supplies needed to accomplish the hike. This will give those that are inadvertently supplied a chance to update before leaving.
There are not nearly enough Rangers for that. That is also a hugely unfair burden to put on someone. Those Rangers would become legally responsible for the safety of hundreds of people miles out of their control and would likely be held accountable for things entirely not their fault because dead people tell no tales, and the desert doesn't give up much in the way of evidence. People make *choices* but when they go a mile off trail for a selfie that looks just like every other selfie and use of half a day's water doing it, and then die of dehydration, no one will know what they did, and the Ranger will be blamed for not planning them enough water.
A couple of years ago I read a great book called “Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon” by Michael Ghiglieri. People never seem to believe the warning signs. Highly recommended
As a resident of Az, you just kind of expect someone to pass away during the summer while hiking. It's almost always someone from out of town, and most of the trails down here in Phoenix are closed if the temperature is above 105*f (40* c). Though that dosen't stop locals from making the same mistakes with heat.
My BF is from Phoenix and I went there for the first time last year. He’s told me every year someone dies hiking on the Camelback in the summer. I got heat stroke just hanging out by the pool in mid May so I have a whole new respect for the heat in Arizona.
What always amused me was when LOCALS, not even oit-of-towners, would come back from a hike in, like, May or Sept, and be SHOCKED at how cold it got at night out in the desert. 😂😂😂 Like, yeah? Hardpan doesn't absorb two things: water or heat. People always thought it weird when I'd pack a set of sweats for multi-day desert outings...until the first night, when they're shivering and I'm cozy~~😊
A tragedy, and a good reminder to be prepared. I took up hiking this past spring, and have done only 1-2 hour woodland hikes so far, mostly easy to moderate trails. Even then I carry a backpack with some essentials and plenty of water. It’s crazy to me that experienced hikers would ever hike the Grand Canyon without truly being prepared.
It's recommended to drink a gallon a day in cooler weather. It's a foolish idea to take less than a gallon of water for a hike in that area. This is Arizona. Arid Zone. Dry zone. Probably a better idea to turn back when supplies diminished.
I live in Arizona and have hiked multiple trails in the grand canyon and surrounding areas at all times of year. Even the most well traveled trails are no joke and water is more important than you know. You should plan as if there will be nowhere to get water, then plan for all water to require filtration. Carry at minimum 4L of water per person for each day. If you are worried about water or making it rest during the hottest part of the day and hike in the evening or early morning.
I live in a temperate climate, and hike exclusively in an alpine climate. My rule is 1 gallon per person per day, and you NEVER pass up a chance to reprovision on the trail. To not meet those requirements in an arid environment is truly astounding to me
I've hiked in forested, mountainous and desert terrain, and they all sport their own sorts of hazards, however, I think that desert hiking is the most risky of the lot, especially if you underestimate the environment and what you need to even just do an afternoon of hiking, much less multi-day hikes. Sadly I think that this couple's hiking experience added to their danger because they were far from experienced in desert hiking, since their actual experience involved mountainous/forested terrain, two environments that are far and a way different from each other, almost as much as day is to night.
This channel reminds me of Criminally Listed for the fact that you can watch a video from 5 years ago and the style of video doesn't change. I am a fan.
I visited the Grand Canyon in 1988. I recall being very glad that I took a motion sickness pill before watching a film on the exploration of the Grand Canyon on an IMAX screen. Is it an awe-inspiring sight? Yes. My terror of falling kept me from getting too close to edges without guard rails, though.
Three liters of water is NOT enough water for a two day hike in the Grand Canyon. That is not enough for one day. When I was there, I could have imagined that I wasn't sweating: I had no wetness because the sweat evaporated before it left the pore.
This is the first in a series of stories about people getting lost in the Grand Canyon. You can find the second instalment at this link: th-cam.com/video/rGI6A-6j50M/w-d-xo.html. Thanks for watching!
These events mirror closely an incident at the Grand Canyon in 2019. I was a ranger there at the time, and I managed the search for a married couple who were hiking a similar route: the New Hance Trail to the Tonto Trail and out on the Grandview Trail. They too ran out of water and unsuccessfully attempted to reach the river off-trail to refill their supply. Thankfully, unlike Paul and Karen, several factors were in their favor. First, they were backpacking in the fall in much cooler weather. Second, they had shared their itinerary with their adult children before departing, who then became concerned and notified us when their parents failed to return home on time. Additionally, once they realized they were in trouble, they hunkered down and waited for help to arrive rather than continuing to exert themselves. We found them alive and well on the first night of the search and flew them out on the park helicopter the following morning.
I think that one thing a lot of people don't realize is that the altitude and thinner air are contributors to problems in the Grand Canyon area. North Rim is 8,000 ft. above sea level, down by the river is about 2,600 ft. above sea level (+/-) and North Rim is 7,000 ft. above sea level. Even living here at 5,300 ft. above makes a huge difference when you're not well hydrated and trying to do anything half way strenuous. A lot don't realize that even though we have pine trees and scrub brush we're still desert. I've seen a lot of people get very lightheaded at South Rim. Thank you for being there for people in 2019.
I really think that the signs warning people not to do this kind of thing should _also_ tell them what to do if they ignore the warnings and end up in trouble. You can't stop people doing dumb things, but you can sometimes give them the tools to keep themselves from suffering the ultimate punishment for "fuck around and find out."
This is why you should ALWAYS share your itinerary before going on a long trip.
Yes, staying in place when you know you’re lost is a strategy a lot of people pass up. It’s understandable; you want to actively get yourself out of a situation, but wandering around can make it so much harder to find you and exert energy needlessly.
Thank you for the hard work that you exerted for the safety of the *not-so-lucky visitors.
*used for lack of better and nicer words
They may have thought they were experienced hikers but hiking in the Rockies is World's apart from hiking in the desert. Going into the Grand Canyon in the Summer on a multi-day hike with only 3ltrs of water shows how clueless they were to the dangers of the desert.
Is that the mirage demon that feeds on the false hope of their victims?
I really, really, really can't imagine setting off on a multi-day hike with so little water.
I did four hours of yardwork (weeding, digging, and raking) today when it was around 70F/25C outside, and I went through three liters in just those few hours!
I did some hiking and backpacking in the Grand Canyon when I was younger. But I always went in the fall. The temperatures in the inner canyon in the summer are just too high for safe or comfortable hiking. And trying to get from the Tonto (the trail they were on) to the river on anything other than a known route is just insane. Most places it's impossible without climbing gear and the experience to use it safely.
As for the water in the creek that they decided not to use. It was not mentioned whether they had a filter, iodine tablets, or other means of treating it. If they had stoves they could have boiled it. It might not have been the most pleasant water to drink, but it would have kept them alive. If they didn't want to drink that water, the only reasonable choice would have been to go back the way they came. Continuing on that route without adequate water in the summer was insane.
I have done hikes with less water but only where I know I can top-up from natural sources on route. The presence of tadpoles means the water is clean (ish). I'd have no problems topping up from that but surely in those conditions you'd take a basic filter and purification tablets.
People seem to lose their brain when it comes to the desert. I lived in Tucson AZ for over a decade and nvr went hiking, mostly because I felt I could nvr carry enough water, and it didn't help that every time I turned around, someone was in trouble for lack of water and maps. I didn't even leave the house without water even just around town.
I read Death In The Grand Canyon a few years ago (which would have contained this story), and just shook my head in disbelief at the multiple tales of folks deciding to do a rim to rim hike, in the middle of summer, starting at 10am, and only taking a small bottle of water with them and no hat. I'm from Australia and I won't even start walking in the bush without a hat and 1L of water. When you stated that this couple only had 3L EACH for a 25km trek my jaw just dropped. That's maybe enough for half a day. I was recently working in the Pilbara and was shocked to find I was severely dehydrated when I thought I was drinking plenty of water, and I was drinking 4-5 litres per day!
If you're going to hike in the Grand Canyon in the summer (I always hiked there in the fall, when the weather is considerably cooler), you need to start before sunrise and hike during the early morning hours when the temeratures are more manageable, take a break during mid-day and maybe hike some more in the evening, when, though it will still be ridiculously hot, there will at least be some shade.
That’s a good book, there’s also one like that about Yosemite, where I hiked for many decades. It’s unbelievable the chances people take. Utterly stupid!
If I was a Ranger and saw somebody leaving for that hike without a hat or turban I'd probably hand them a pamphlet on caring for adults with "special needs".
Oh yeah, I'll drink about .5L per hour (or more) easy on a hot day while hiking. One thing that sneaks up on people too is elevation. Not only the extra UV radiation but the dryer air really zaps you.
well to be fair everyone has different needs for water. I drink only 1 liter each day normally, and in summer maybe 1,5 liters (because I'm never thirsty ) and here in summer temperatures also reach around 38 celsius, it always needs to be calculated how your body is and what the body needs, how much you are sweating or not etc.
You could do a whole series on people who got lost while hiking without enough supplies
Or weekly videos
Yesss😊
I think those are called The Darwin Awards.
Kyle Hates Hiking has done many of those on here
And not just in the Grand Canyon. I run a backpacking group here in central Canada, and we annually see people needing emergency rescue due to not being prepared, overpacking, dehydration, no GPS or map and getting lost…. We stress the importance of experience and preparation and an emergency exit plan, but of course, there are always people who underestimate the wilderness, and what it takes to be in it for a few days. People assume “well there’s a trail and lots of people do it so we’ll be fine too.”
Last year I walked the South Rim and stopped at most of the viewing points, and saw many, many people taking insane risks for a selfie. “…between 1 and 4 people each year do still fall from viewing points into the canyon itself” is a dreadful statistic, and these tragedies are entirely avoidable.
Sssshhh... let Darwinism take its course.
If not then these idiots might try idioting out in public, or while driving their car, and end up hurting someone else.
my thought exactly
Play stupid games win stupid prizes as they say...
Darwin Awards. Good riddance.
I was only surprised, the number was that small. There are plenty of wannabe Darwin award recipients out there.
As someone who lives in Phoenix Arizona, I knew right away that they likely didn't take enough water. We have so many mountain rescues here in Phoenix alone due to hikers, usually from out of town, not taking enough water. People severely underestimate the heat and the dry climate.
A good rule is, when your water is halfway gone, turn around
Heck! Just walking through a parking lot to your car in Phoenix can kill u if u don't have enough water! And if u make it to your car, u need knowledge of how to touch a steering wheel without getting 3rd degree burns! Not to mention the 1000 degree heat death inside the car!
I love Idaho. 😊
@@IdahoRanchGirlgod you sound boring
I am from Utah and grew up in desert heat- its not something to mess with. In my 20's my husband and I and another couple hiked the grand canyon rim to rim (north to south). We planned everything and arranged to stay at the campsites and made the journey over 4 days. It was spectacularly beautiful but also very demanding. We packed tons of water and extra dehydrated food packets. We refilled our water at taps in the campgrounds and ended up eating some of our extra food because of the physical toll of the hike. Its an experience i will never forget and am grateful to have- but i wouldnt recommend it for most people. You have to plan and reserve the campsites months in advance and you ABSOLUTELY MUST BE PREPARED.
You probably needed even more watereach day since the dehydrated food has so much sodium. I am so glad that you guys planned well and were successful. It sounds like an amazing trip!
Grew up in central Utah now I'm up in Northern Utah. I can handle the cold a lot better than the heat.
Respect ✊ Be proud of ur accomplishment..Thatd be nice to try but realistically after 4 hrs I’d most likely be the first one to quit. Since u grew up out there would u say u can handle hot sun bearing down on u for hours better than others? Like do u ever get used to it to the point where ur not uncomfortable n sweaty n emotional? Can u really drink water with tadpoles in it without that horrible feeling of ur stomach convulsing n having to use the bathroom for 45min?
Another Utah native here. The Grand Canyon is also only _one_ of several canyons in the state, and at least once a year there's a story about hiker getting lost, falling into the canyon, or otherwise having the _worst_ day of their lives because they underestimate the danger of the desert. Happens in the winter, too, with skiers.
When i was first learning photography, a friend and i (artists not athletes) took a day-trip expedition to Sam's Point preserve in upstate New York to shoot the autumn colours. We were hiking with a guide map but couldn't figure why the numbers seemed 'off'--we were following a trail that we read as '8 miles', but it turned out the markings weren't length measured in miles, but calculations for hour markings. We were hours late getting back to the car--the rangers had to wait for us and i felt terrible about it, but i swear it never occurred to me that they'd map distances in 'time' rather than actual trail length.
It was a scary lesson to learn.
Given that people hike at different speeds that makes no sense at all!
That doesn't make sense. Distance is the only sensible way to measure it. Ages, experience, fitness levels, stride length lead to different speeds. Some crap park management there.
Gonna have to to echo that, that is a terrible way to mark trail maps. In an effort to make it simpler they made it less helpful and more confusing!
There was an old saying that the distance was counted with tabacos -the time that takes smoke a cigarate- about 100 years ago...Crazy to think some one can do something similar in this day and age...
@DavidAbyssal Yeah. Still works today though. Lol. "How long you going to be love? Reply "After this smoke break" lol , For me, it is after this dungeon. Which can take any amount of time depending if I am speed running or taking my sweet time. Lol
If you don't want to carry the weight of extra water, you can always boil what you find and use purification tablets... I'm baffled by their choice to completely pass over refilling when they knew they'd packed lightly.
Wouldn't you get parasites if you just drink out of water found in nature? It's annoying that Fascinating Horror didn't debunk them getting parasites or diseases.
Maybe they were already suffering from the effects of dehydration?🤷🏽♀️
I believe Mr. Darwin had some thoughts on this subject. Something about Natural Selection, if memory serves.🤔
@@k.c1126when they were packing? Or after consuming half of the water they had brought with them?
Who cares if it dirty water if you have a empty take fill it up anyway
I was shocked to learn that there are a surprising number of bodies that are left in the Grand Canyon, mostly due to how hot and inaccessible many of it's areas are in the remote areas off the travelers' paths. Even with helicopters and volunteers, it's a huge and dangerous, undertaking to recover many of the deceased down there. Imagine the inverse of Mount Everest, but with more human remains in it, because unlike that mountain, you don't have to be rich or a pro to go hiking there, so many more people can visit it, and as a sad consequence, many more corpses are left or buried there, primarily due to dehydration &/or heatstroke.
I'd expect they'd go looking for them in fall or early spring, perhaps?
I bet drones are useful.
Dunno.
The canyon would be a nice place for my nibbled bones to hang out, personally.
I had no idea bodies were left in the Grand Canyon. That's a fascinating and sad realization.
Hey buddy, cool it with the commas or I’m going to have to ask you leave
Bodies? Is there anything even left after a few years in the scorching heat?
@@posticusmaximus1739And it freezes in winter, bones shatter after exposure to unrelenting heat & freezing nights.
My Grand Canyon Experience:
A couple years ago, my dad and I hiked from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. For those unfamiliar, that involves starting from one side, hiking all the way down, crossing the river, then going back up the other side. Dad and I have many times gone hiking in desert terrain, and had been to the Grand Canyon once before, and both of us knew this was going to be the most challenging hike of our lives. We managed to complete the hike in three days, but looking back, we both agree that we should have taken an extra day's rest in one of the campgrounds we passed up.
It cannot be overstated just how beautiful the area is. *Pictures absolutely do not do this place justice.* If you ever have a chance to visit, do it. You won't be disappointed.
However, if you're planning to hike into the Canyon, *even if it's only a short way,* please prepare yourself properly. This video doesn't even begin to scratch just how tumultuous the environment can be. As stated, the Canyon itself can be incredibly hot the further you venture into it. I was silly at the time, and thought that a Google forecast would be enough for me, and since the Grand Canyon Google forecast only had it in the mid-80s at the time of the hike, I figured we'd gotten lucky. What Google failed to tell me was that that was the temperature at the surface. Inside the Canyon, temperatures were easily exceeding triple digits, even in heavily shaded areas. Rangers provide a more accurate forecast at their stations for conditions inside the Canyon, and hang thermometers up at most campgrounds.
If you venture into the Canyon, rangers heavily advise you not to do heavy hiking between the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM, because that's when the heat is most extreme, and when most accidents tend to happen. Especially if you're trying to go back up the Canyon. There may be walking trails, but they can only do so much. If you're hiking up the Canyon, you're still essentially traversing a natural wall, and fighting gravity is its own battle outside the heat.
On our final day of hiking, I was kinda foolish and wanted to get out of the Canyon in time to reach a gift shop to pick up a souvenir for my then-girlfriend. And that meant hiking up the South Rim in blazing weather. My dad was more level-minded, stayed at a resting area until the heat had passed, and would rejoin me at the hotel we planned to stay in that night.
I really should have stayed with him. I love a challenge, and love hiking, but this hike was something I underestimated. The heat got to a point where I was so exhausted that it felt like for every five minutes of hiking, I had to find a shady spot, and sit for ten minutes to get my strength back. Now thankfully, I was well equipped with water, and salty food (a pair of other hikers even gave me more salty food near the top), so dehydration wasn't really on my mind. I was able to sustain myself there. What was more in my mind was the fact that I was carrying over 30-40 pounds of equipment, up a wall, and my pace was starting to take its toll on my body physically.
The nature of the trails at the Canyon made my muscles incredibly sore. After a day or two, I couldn't easily go downhill on a trail without my calves feeling incredibly sore, and I couldn't lift my knees up high without further muscle pain. Pair that with the heat, gravity, and whatnot, and one can probably tell that I was incredibly foolish for attempting to exit the Canyon as quick as I was.
Now I'm happy to say that both dad and I were successful in our hike. And after hiking to the Grand Canyon marketplace they have, I bought myself an ice cream cookie sandwich, and it was the best victory treat I've ever had. (That and having something sweet after three days of salty rehydrated meals, ice cream was just a godsend.) And I look back on that trip with nothing but love. But I definitely learned some lessons that trip.
My leg muscles would be incredibly sore for at least three weeks after the hike, and considering my relationship ended a few weeks after that trip, my initial goal was silly in the long run.
If I can pass down any advice to those wishing to take on the Grand Canyon, it would be this: respect the Canyon. Respect the hazards the area will bring. Do not push yourself unnecessarily. When you feel the need to rest, then don't think twice about it, just find a place to rest. And above all else, when the heat is getting to be too much, *YOU ARE NOT WASTING TIME WAITING FOR IT TO PASS.*
The Grand Canyon is easily one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to, and I'm happy to say I've done the hikes I have, and hope to return again in the future for more. But I will be wiser, and I will not repeat the same mistakes as I once did. Even if they were minor, in that environment, they can make a huge difference in the long run.
but did you get that gift for your girlfriend ???? 🤔😲
I did the rim to rim experience myself in 1993. Definitely one for the books. At 54 with arthritis, not likely to repeat, but something that will always stick with me as one of my more memorable vacations.
@PBottomPoochies Yeah, it was meant to be one big last hiking hurrah for my dad as well, since he's in his early 60's and he'd been wanting to do the Rim hike since we first visited in 2015 (if I recall correctly). He didn't see himself doing such a hike again when we finished.
But next year, we're planning on a backpacking trip through the Redwoods in California, so he's not done yet!
For the life of me, I will never understand why hiking parties split up while on a hike. It's done in winter conditions, too. I wouldn't want to leave someone alone unless absolutely necessary.
@carrienation6080 As I said, it wasn't a smart decision. My priorities were kinda stupid in hindsight, and I wouldn't repeat it. That said, the South Rim trail we were on is among the more popular trails of the park, and he was with other hikers. I'm not saying this to exonerate myself, but he wasn't alone. But yeah, it's not something I'll do again.
How extremely sad for her, I can’t imagine how alone she must have felt after he died. But he did sacrifice himself for her by making sure she had the water.
I feel like I'd be the one sacrificing. I don't think I could take water and watch someone else die. It's a good thing she's more practical than I am.
Les Stroud pointed out that parasites take a few days or so to start making you sick and can be cured with a single pill. In this scenario absolutely refill your water, even if its stagnant because dehydration will kill you faster then a parasite.
Les is the man!!
I saw the same video. Changed my outlook!
Another tip from Les is to put the water in clear bottles and leave them in the sun. The UV will kill everything in a few hours.
@@trentvlak I don't think that works as it would mean shallow puddles in the sun would be safe.
@@justayoutuber1906 There's an article on outdoorlife about it "Solar water disinfection (SODIS for short) is a water treatment method that uses the sun’s energy for disinfection. ....The sun’s abundant UV light kills or damages almost all biological hazards in the water. "
I read about the Strykers in the book: 'Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon'. (A fascinating read - just like this channel!) The other story that struck me from that book was the one about Margaret Bradley. She and her jogging companion were in a similar situation; hopelessly lost, and ran out of water. Margaret left him to get help, and the jogging companion was rescued by a ranger. Only, he just assumed Margaret made it to safely, and as a result never bothered to inform the ranger that she was out there!
That's so horrible! I'm guessing this was before cell phones were common?
That's horrifying.
@@rishkabibble I'm not sure if you can even get cell service in the grand canyon, I doubt that the whole canyon would have coverage
@@rishkabibblethere's no service down there
In fairness to the friend, he was badly dehydrated and heat exhausted, which may have significantly impaired his mental functions. His leaving a message for her at the Ranger station telling her that he was quitting and would park her car for her, combined with her decision to leave the trail and go looking for water instead of simply turning back, suggests that neither of them at any point actually fully understood how dangerous their situation was. Athletes are trained to ignore their bodies, and this can make them unbelievably stupid when it comes to accepting physical reality.
I did a Rim to Rim to Rim hike there in my 20s. Even as a person who was very in shape and with lifetime of outdoor experience it took everything I had mentally and physically. When I was there the bottom of the canyon got over 51C. This place is no joke
I live in Tucson so we get a handful of days that hot every summer. It's unbelievable how much the air just wrings the moisture out of you. I can't even imagine attempting to do anything remotely strenuous in it.
@@johnchedsey1306 It's funny, because even though it absolutely does wring the moisture out of you, it would be infinitely worse if it were humid.
@@moterinsun I was working outside in Florida it was 88 degrees. I got heat stroke but luckily
did not pass out. I made it inside to air conditioning. I sat down and did not move for two hours. Florida is as scary as the Grand canyon.
I did the rim to rim in one go when I was 18, in July. I used advanced heat management techniques and had no difficulty. But I was also an athlete who could cycle 100 miles in a morning.
The problem with dry heat is that you don’t realize you are losing much water even if you are not doing any physical activity. You never see sweat because it all evaporates before you even notice it. So people who don’t know any better easily get dehydrated and they realize something is wrong when they can no longer think straight.
As a cadet in the Girl Scouts, I hiked down to the Havasupai Indian reservation back in the early 80's. I remember stopping often to drink and have small snacks. It was a 12-13 mile hike.
It was an incredible trip I'll always remember.
So sad that this couple wasn't truly prepared even being experienced hikers.
As a kid enjoying my 5th birthday party, I had no idea these people were suffering
Ps. I live in an outback mining town in Oz, I don't walk my dog here, or even go to town - 5mins drive- without water & at least a few other supplies.. you just never know what might happen! Walking my dog I take water, medical & emergency supplies,. Better safe than sorry!
Heck I live in an Australian capital city and I don’t go anywhere without a bottle of water and my mini first aid kit and sewing kit in my handbag 😂 I’ve rarely needed it but when I have it’s been very handy.
where is dis darlinks ?
I feel like no matter where ya live in Oz, you have to stay prepared, that place seems like it just WANTS to kill you 😂
But I still wanna go. Lol
ty now we are getting somewhere whit dis mystery !!! @mehrimazedeh
@@margarita8442Australia, where the plants will cause you unending pain if you touch them and the magpies will try to end you if you're simply walking down the street.
One of my biggest takeaways from having served in the Marines with regard to outdoor safety is to never underestimate the weather and conditions of new places. A lot of things that we did were physically strenuous, yet whenever we went somewhere with a notable difference in temperature or elevation we wouldn't be allowed to or compelled to do any physical exercises for at least a week, if not two until we were acclimated. On top of that during my time in 29 palms they would often have "black flag conditions" meaning that it was too hot and there was to be no outdoor exercises.
Being an avid hiker now I still take that all to heart after having learned a lot about heat exhaustion, heat strokes, and dehydration. It boggles my mind how often people go somewhere unfamiliar and very different from what they're used to and they just go on extremely strenuous hikes especially jf theyre unprepared. It's not just putting themselves in danger, but it endangers anyone that tries to help or rescue them.
had to wear the heat case Tshirt myself once in boot. its a lesson you dont forget..
Acclimation to new climates is something that never gets mentioned enough. That's arguably the most important aspect of being outdoors anywhere.
@alejandrolopez2577 I'm really curious what were considered black flag conditions? I was out working in 110F this summer, and damn did I feel it.
@@moterinsun according to official safety index anything above 90° was considered black flag, but I don't remember if that was necessarily followed. I just remember that during particularly hot days (think 110°+) we'd have a black flag during the day time. We typically did our PT in the mornings while in garrison though, so we were usually done before 7 or 7:30 and avoided most of the heat.
Several years ago, I witnessed something rather bizarre: on an extremely hot and humid afternoon in Virginia's midsummer, there was a guy walking through a mall parking lot, wearing a long, black coat fastened all the way shut. When everyone else was wearing shorts and t-shirts, and businessmen had shucked their suit blazers and rolled up their sleeves, the guy in black just looked WRONG. They tell us: If you see something, say something. So I called 911 and gave them a description of this guy -- young, white, clean-cut, wearing that suspicious long coat, totally inappropriate for the weather. There's no telling what kind of explosives or weaponry he could have concealed under that coat. I felt a bit silly, actually, but it was unnerving to see that guy. And if something horrible happened and I hadn't reported it, I'd feel far worse than silly. Well, the 911 person took my info and said they'd check it out. Meanwhile, I stayed in my car and shadowed the guy at a distance, in case the police needed an update on his whereabouts. Several minutes later, the 911 person called me back and said the guy in the black coat was okay. Before I could ask how they could possibly determine that, since I hadn't seen any cops going after him, the 911 person said this same guy had already been stopped and questioned by two police officers -- the guy in the coat explained to them (and they were able to verify this) that he had enlisted in the army and was going to be deployed to the Middle East, and he was dressed like that on a blistering-hot day to try to get used to the high heat he'd have to deal with overseas. Well, what a relief to me! First, he wasn't some mad bomber/shooter, and second, the COPS saw the same thing that I did, and they also found it highly suspect behavior!!! When I realized that, I finally didn't feel silly. This time, things turned out okay. But it pays to stay vigilant...
So many people underestimate what desert heat can and will do to the body, and it so often ends in tragedy. The scary thing about dehydration is that it can sneak up on you- you can wind up dangerously dehydrated and overheated without any real idea things are getting bad until you're just about to fall over. It happened to me, and luckily I was in the middle of a city in a place where I was surrounded by people who were able to help me. I lived in a very hot, dry place for several years and that experience with dehydration and heat sickness taught me to take at least one full water bottle everywhere I went, and that was just for wandering around town.
Hypoxia and hypothermia on the other end, too - they all lead to loopiness and bad decision making.
When you said at the beginning that their hike was doomed by lack of preparation I correctly guessed that they didn't pack enough water. But I was still completely unprepared to hear how little they packed -- THREE LITERS each?!?! And they passed on a chance to refill at a creek?! Like I feel bad for them and all, but that's just negligence cranked up to an insane degree.
Neither of them thought to bring water filtration which would have solved their problem! Always pack a life straw!
I also guessed water. I’m not an outdoorsy person at all but when I heard how much water they brought, I gasped out loud. Even with the small amount of experience I have, I know that’s way too little for the Grand Canyon in summer. Then they got to some water and were going to fill their bottles, I thought at least they have that. But when they decided not to use it, I knew how this was going to go down. The water they found sounded… not great, but dying of dehydration seems a lot worse. I feel like they should have turned around right there and come back on a day when they were better prepared.
I can't imagine how Karen continued after she knew her husband was dead....if I was in her position I think I might have just lain down next to them to wait for the end too but the instinct for self-preservation is strong and he would have wanted her to live, which is maybe what kept her going.
He willingly gave her his water so that she would survive. To lie down and die would be to make his sacrifice meaningless.
I've been to the Grand Canyon; i's hard to describe how hot and dry it is. People who hike there are like mountain climbers, they have to do it because it's there.
Agree. We went and South rim was blisteringly hot. To a Brit it was bad but my cousins are from Arizona and even they were complaining how hot it was.
I went backpacking in Zion once, there’s zero water. No springs, nothing to boil. We had to bring enough to drink and prepare food with. It was so heavy! We ended up coming back a day early because it was such a pain
It's like an upside down mountain: When your energies are fresh, you're going downhill. The tough part is hiking up and out.
@@TonyCox1351 Zion? How many middle eastern people were getting war crimes committed against them there?
A friend of mine lives near Death Valley. She says 'experienced' athletes and hikers die every year because they underestimate how quickly the heat zaps your body.
Death Valley is beautiful in the winter months, but I bet just as deadly because it's very remote if you're not on the major tourist road.
Doesn’t Death Valley get the hottest temperatures on earth ?
@judyjudy51 I don't think it is the hottest but it is a desert climate and regularly climbs well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
@@ejtappan1802I think Death Valley got the highest recording temperature in 1913 though
I hiked Telescope Peak in Death Valley last July. Highs were in the 70s, but no there is not water up there. I looked down on Furnace Creek where it was 128F and a hiker died that same week. Proper planning is everything.
I majored in Geology/Earth Science in college. One of the classes I took was about the geology of the Colorado Plateau, including the Grand Canyon. The last two weeks of the semester consisted of a trip to the Grand Canyon from NY. Our professor had 25 of us plan to hike into and out of the canyon. Down the South Kaibab trail to the bottom, and then up the Bright Angel trail, about 26 miles. We started hiking at 0300 hours, so we could make it down to the bottom of the canyon before it got too hot. In our packs we had 3 gallons of liquid- 2 gallons of water, 1 gallon of an electrolyte drink like Gatorade. I don’t like Gatorade so I chose coconut water. By the time we hiked to the bottom it was about 1000 hours . All of my liquid water supply was just about gone. We got to Phantom Ranch (campsite at the bottom of the canyon with cabins, a restaurant, and canteen), refilled all our liquids, consumed some of the granola bars and trail mix we had, and started back up. By the time we exited the canyon at about 1900 hours, we were exhausted, sore, but in good health. All in all we each consumed about 6 gallons of liquid, and went through at least a two pound bag of trail mix and several protein bars each. Those trails are no joke, and our professor made sure we knew what we were in for before we set off on our hike. Students that were too scared were allowed to opt out and hike the rim trail.
All in all, hiking the canyon was a tremendous, spiritual experience. Learning about the complex geology was one thing, but seeing those amazing rock formations in person, and experience the splendor of the canyon’s beauty, made it all worthwhile. As long as you can handle the physical aspects of the hike, and you’re prepared with adequate supplies, it’s totally doable.
Where did you go to college? What a great thing to do for students...albeit a bit risky.
@@DanFan2042I went to SUNY New Paltz, in NY. Our professor had warned us of how dangerous it was, which is why he made the hike optional, and why some of us only hiked along the rim. If I was traveling out there after learning about the geology all semester, I was going for the gold. It was amazing. I still think about it, and love looking at the pics I took along the way.
What joy is there to even hike in the middle of the Summer in the heat that would be torture.
'It was 42 kilometers rather than the 29 kilometers they had anticipated'. I wonder how they miscalculated so badly. RIP Paul Stryker.
Kept saying "experienced hikers" as if they knew what they were doing. I am suspicious of that description.
@@jamesstrainer9859They may have been experienced, but with different terrain and climate.
Thats why it's important to stick with your planned turn around TIME, not just your planned turn around point. If you only brought supplies for a 24 hour hike, you turn around at 12 hours even if you didn't make it to your point.
By definition I’m an “experienced hiker”. I did day hikes for scouts. That doesn’t mean I’m qualified to traverse a harsh and dangerous terrain without proper equipment.
@@jamesstrainer9859 I'm experienced in an entirely different climate and am familiar with what I need for a hike near me. Grand Canyon is entirely different than what I'm use to.
As soon as you said they left the trail, I out loud yelled "NOOOO!"
Is 330am for me right now, I'm sick and can't sleep, and this couldn't have dropped at a more perfect time ❤
Hope you feel better soon, stranger.
Get better soon and I hope you'll be able to sleep again. 💕
Me too, except I'm 2 hrs later than you. Feel better
Thank you all, beautiful strangers ❤️
I hiked a similar route down the Grand Canyon a couple of years ago. There are many signs posted there, warning about the sufficient amounts of drinking water you are required to bring, so even if you were unaware or ignorant before entering, at least then you were warned and finally should reconsider your bad packing effort. Unfortunately they must have ignored them, or maybe in 1990 they were not set up yet..
We've become very out of touch with nature and severe environments. Never underestimate a hike.
That's normalcy bias for ya.
Their problem was not taking desert heat into account. That amount of water would have been fine in any other season and if the trek had been the right distance. But that goes to show that being an experienced hiker means nothing if that experience isn't relevant to the environment you're in.
Who tf is we?
@@mickdeez1435 Your mom I believe.
@@classicmicroscopy9398 So based off these dumb asses not knowing how to prep for a my mom gets thrown into the equation? Alright then... 👍🏾
Its risky enough to go hiking in the best conditions let alone those sort of conditions and once you start to run out of water you really should turn around and go back the exact same trail you walked up
Unbelievable that they did not turn around the first morning when their water was half gone w/o refill.
I hiked down into the Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail, to Indian Gardens then to Plateau Point. This was in July 1990 and there were extra warnings because of this death. There were water top up points at half way and at Indian Gardens but despite the abundance of water I suffered from severe heat exhaustion and sun stroke. The extreme heat and total lack of shade, except at Indian Gardens itself, was overwhelming.
I can't imagine heading out for a two HOUR hike with so little water! I actually shouted out loud in shock when you said they only had 3 litres each. That's mowing the yard levels of water, not a two day trek! Not turning back when they didn't feel comfortable refilling their water is so incomprehensible to me. They had to see they had messed up by then!
Good timing! My mom and step-dad just left today for Arizona and they'll be at the grand canyon in 2 days for the first time. Wished I had gone with them but... maybe not anymore after this video
Better them than you 😉
So.... Did they make it back ok?
@lofthouse23 Nope never heard from them again! No of course they did lol
As a European who grew up in the US, I can vouch that we usually sorely underestimate the vast distances and absolute desolate wilderness of the US. There is nothing like it in Europe, Places where you can go out and not see another human being for days. I also lived in the California desert for a few years and the desert will definitely kill you if you're not paying attention, It almost happened to me but for the grace of God.
In Eurasia there is. Many areas of Russia and Central Asia are just as desolate. But not nearly as hot usually
Took an all day bus tour of the grand canyon, it doesn't even go all the way around it, that's how big it is. So beautiful but easy to slip and fall in at lots of the viewpoints.
For comparison, while working outside in the same temperature years ago, I often drank three gallons of water (12-ish liters) a Day and might not take a leak till evening after a few beers.
It was ridiculous. A coworker and I used a big family cooler just for us for each day.
Never hiked with that much. I wouldn't go into that furnace for recreation. Most was about 95.
Had an 80 ounce camelback bladder (2.3L) two single liter bottles and a. 250 or so that I refilled from the other bottles. Whatever 16 ounces is in metric.
And make sure the other people in your party won't be needing your water halfway.
I was at lake Navajo and took a 5 gallon for camping a long weekend and became the laughing stock for all of two days till it was their water too. I didn't even know half the people, I was tagging along with a dude I worked everyday with. They were his people.
Can't rightly refuse. You can take umbrage all ya want but you can't hold water back from people.
Thank you for being such a respectful narrator for these types of stories. People make mistakes, sometimes foolish ones, but that doesn’t mean they deserve what happens to them. I appreciate framing the stories as lessons we can learn, rather than laughing at peoples expense.
Thank you for covering the canyon again. It really is surprising how many people CONTINUE to make these mistakes each year.
Stories like this make me glad that my out of shape arse is never going anywhere near a hiking trail. I’ll stay indoors, thanks!
Hiking with 3L per person in the hot weather of the Grand Canyon is insane. You can easily go through that in a few hours let alone multiple days. Not to mention people also forget about the altitude. The rim of the Grand Canyon is a relatively high altitude so you are also battling that on the way up.
I have done lots of hiking in summer in the Mojave desert and it’s not something to take lightly. I frequently see people underestimate the extreme unrelenting heat. People don’t realize that during the day not only is it hot air temperature wise but EVERYTHING is hot. The ground is hot, the rocks, no shade, the wind is hot, and the UV radiation is off the charts.
Wow! Devastatingly sad story! Imagine having to leave your beloved spouse’s body, and press on in hope of saving your own life!
After reading accounts by Park Service Rangers who've worked at the Grand Canyon (and other parks) I'm horrified at the number of deaths from both mishaps and planned actions (i.e., suicide). The recovery of bodies seems to be an almost constant thing, and then of course there are the search and rescue efforts. These are places to treat as a playground at one's peril.
Gosh this theme music never loses its creepiness does it? Thank you for the vids x
This is why it's so extremely important to always be well equipped & prepared when going on any activity which involves long distances. It's baffling at just how ill prepared many folk are when going hiking or camping like they completely undermine the dangers that nature processes
A series of Australian dangers would be awesome.
Like the government?
That would require a new channel, only covering Australian madness 🫡
Like the roving bands of war boys and berserkers terrorising the wasteland?
@@rich_edwards79those folks are surprisingly nice when they're off the clock
That would be enough content for several centuries.
The reason that it is always the experienced hikers who get into these situations is because people can get so confident in their skills that they forget that being an experienced hiker does not necessarily make one an experienced survivalist.
The fact that 5am in the next day she found help is extra heartbreaking…. had they never left the trail there was a chance both would have been rescued - they weren’t far, just terribly lost.
No pictures or video conveyed the massive size of the canyon to me. Standing on the edge looking across, it was breathtaking.
i appreciated the note about how dehydration impairs your ability to think. you are always very respectful when telling these stories
Southern Calif resident. Spent decades learning about hot weather and desert survival. Also certified in Wilderness Survival. When I visit anywhere hot (which is damn near everywhere), I tell someone where I am going and my schedule. I go to the Ranger Station/gift shop, buy an overprice souvenir, then stop at one or two viewpoints I can drive to, with a weeks worth of survival gear in my car. That's my schedule. And that's my advice about surviving in unfamiliar wilderness or desert type places. Seriously, I'd rather live with an overpriced crystal, fridge magnet and post card from Joshua Tree or Death Valley, than be a Fascinating Horror story. 😳
Also in So Cal. I love Death Valley... very rarely ever go in the summer (hated the desert growing up, but after a couple decades away in a perpetually green part of the world, had a new appreciation for it's grandeur and beauty when I moved back) ... Have been to Grand Canyon a handful of times but never hiked it. I am also about to delve into the world of ADV Moto-camping, mostly solo (not on the bike in my avatar, though it can be done)... Will never go anywhere without letting family know my location/progress (and won't be going too far off the beaten path).
@@Rob801 Enjoy the adventure and it sounds like you have a lot of good common sense. Yah I did 6 months solo on the road and didn't go too far into the wilderness. Great experience, hope yours is too! 🙂
@@hushingsilence haha thanks, yeah, getting up there so a bit of life experience at this point.
I once visited Arches National Park in Utah, which has a very similar sort of desert terrain as the Grand Canyon. One of the main attractions in the park is the Delicate Arch (an image of which is actually featured in this video, at 0:39). The trail to see it up close is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km), meaning a return trip is slightly more than 3 miles (4.8 km). As someone who grew up in the forested Appalachian foothills of Georgia, I had done hikes as short as three miles before, so I figured that seeing the arch would be a breeze. I was totally wrong, and totally humbled by my attempt at the hike. Hiking in the woods is one thing-- hiking in the desert, on uneven terrain, where there's no shade and no place to rest, when the temperature is constantly up over 90°F (32 C), is a whole other beast altogether. I quickly realized, about half a mile on my way up the path, that there was no way I was going to be able to hold out for three miles-- I might be able to push myself to the arch, but then I would be in real danger of being stuck out there without any hope of getting back. So I made the smart decision to abort my hike, and settled for seeing the arch from afar at one of the park's viewpoints. I came away from the experience with this lesson: Desert hiking is no joke. If you're taking it on, you _really_ have to prepare yourself and take plenty of water, because out there, the sun is absolutely brutal and relentless.
I spent an entire month in similar heat (August in the Mojave). Felt like the air that hits you in the face when you open your kitchen oven. We mostly remained in the shade during the main part of the day, and did all of our work at night.
3:20 - There are NUMEROUS signs that warn people going into the canyon. Two friends and I thought we could take a short stroll down one trail, because we were New Yorkers and it was "just a short walk." The first sign warned that if we were unprepared, we were in for a bad time. The second sign was like, "We're not kidding. If you're not geared up, you should turn around." The third sign we came to and finally obeyed said something akin to, "If you go beyond this point, and you don't have the proper supplies, you are DEFINITELY going to die! Turn around NOW!" So we turned around. We hadn't gone far. It was around 75 F, so we felt great during our minor descent. I think we got about 200 yards down the trail... and we suffered all the way back up. We actually shoved one another out of the way when we reached a water fountain at the top! We were a mess. 😵
Bonus stupidity: Once we'd caught our wind and rehydrated, we made the drive back down to Phoenix. On the drive up and down, I had my arm resting on the open window. Driving created a wonderfully cool breeze. So, so many hours... with my arm under the Arizona sun... albeit feeling cool, but quietly roasting. 😱
So, yeah. That was a fun day. 😐
I'm not a hiker but I do have a little bit of experience with being in the desert, as soon as you said how much water they were carrying I was like "that's not even enough for one person!"
I almost did a spit take at the idea of experienced hikers taking 3ltrs of water for a two day hike
this is insane to me. I drink at least a liter walking one mile at an incline on the treadmill.
Very brave of Paul to encourage his wife to drink most of the water. He could have saved her life by doing that...
Obviously he did Dave her life by giving that to her , if she had the same as him she be dead
Actually I think he's a pathetic simp.
Yeah I agree, very brave and selfless. Even if they had split the water 50/50, I bet they would both be dead. His sacrifice gave her a chance at survival.
Yeah, he realised there wasn't enough for both of them, so he made sure she was the one more likely to surive. Very selfless.@@beerdrinker_6930
brave man God bless him
I remember that week very well. I was in Phoenix for work and the temperature hit a record 123 degrees on either the 20th or 21st of June 1990. I worked for an airline and our training was suspended for the day because we had to ground the aircraft (there weren’t any performance specs written for Boeing aircraft in temps that high). So it would have been brutal beyond belief in the canyon those exact days they were hiking.
I remember that day because it shut down Sky Harbor. I was at a waterpark (Big Sur, I think), and they literally made a park-wide announcement that Sky Harbor Airport was closed because we broke a heat record! It's 123°! It was hilarious. You could tell who was from out-of-town cuz they looked HORRIFIED. Meanwhile, the Phoenicians cheered for a minute, put on more sunscreen, and went back to playing~
It was a very memorable thing for me as a kid 😂😂😂
@@Scorpioncactusflower yep it sure did. Do you know what I was doing at Sky Harbor that day? Doing aircraft de-icing training out on the ramp near our hangar. Can you imagine?? I’m not sure which was more brutal that day, the temperature or the irony of being up in the boom hosing down the aircraft pretending it was covered in snow and ice. I was based out of DC and that was when we were scheduled for winter ops training. Good gawd.
@@kcindc5539 o.O Why, in the name of sanity, would they send you to PHX for de-icing training? 😂😂 At LEAST go to ORD or something.
Does PHX even have the EQUIPMENT for that? O.o
@@Scorpioncactusflower and in June, no less! I worked for America West so Sky Harbor it was. We did have a few de-icing trucks that mostly served as trainers but were usually in transit to and from various field stations, though occasionally they were put to use on rare cold mornings would cover the aircraft in frost.
As an experienced solo hiker who loves to cross deserts, it is foolish to attempt the desert in the summer. I also always carry 50% more water/food than what I need because if something bad happens I have an extra supply. Sadly, 3 times I have run across hikers that were lost, dehydrated, severely sunburned, etc. and had to provide aid and/or escorted them out of the wilderness to get help. Had I not had an emergency kit and the extra food and water, and water purification tablets, I'm not sure they would have made it. The worst was a father with his 10 year old son that were attempting to hike to a slot canyon in the distance but did not have a compass or topographic map. There was no trail to that slot canyon and while it looked like from the side of the road that it was all level ground to the slot canyon about 100 yards in you had to descend into a maze of canyons and the reference point of the slot canyon and the road went out of view and it was very easy to get turned around. They had been wandering lost without food or water all day in the maze when I ran across them on my way back from the canyon. They were only 1/3 of a mile from their car, but because of the elevation changes they were unable to see their vehicle.
I always say I am an adventurous hiker, not a foolish one. I will turn myself around and not complete a hike or summit if I can foresee a problem that might endanger me. In one instance i realized my foot ware was inadequate for the last 75 yards to summit, I was very tempted to make the push being so close, but I realized that while I might have made the summit, coming down would be a problem without the appropriate shoes to grip the rocks properly. The trail guide had not mentioned the last section required rock climbing/scramble. In another instance I turned around when the hiking was taking longer than I anticipated and I realized the temperature was going to be too high for me to make the return trip safely.
The rule of thumb when doing a long hike: Think of worst-case scenarios and prepare accordingly.
Kudos to you for having the wisdom to let go of ego in the name of safety. And blessings to you for having helped others.
On a trip to the Canyon I turned back after only a quarter mile when I admitted my infected toe was too painful for me to proceed. Did the trip the following year. Safety first.
I find the videos of people getting lost in natural areas and not having supplies both fascinating and terrifying. Another great job by you my friend 👏
I live in the desert of Southern Arizona. There is a lot of amazing hiking around here, however, sometimes when people go hiking from out of town, they seem to really underestimate how brutal hiking in the desert can be. Many of the deaths are from people not bringing enough water. It doesn't matter how in shape you are, dehydration is a big risk.
My friends and I hiked from south to north rim in 1993. But the route we took was on the very popular trail directly through the canyon (Kaibab, I believe) with ranger stations at 5 mile intervals. We always carried a pack of water and a water bottle in hand. Our most dangerous effort was our last hike out of the canyon bc of the altitude we would be climbing and the time of year (July). My friend had us start hiking at 4 am to be sure we exited the canyon by noon to avoid the heat BUT this too came with hazards as it’s still dark at 4 am! All in all, I had a great time and one of the more memorable trips of my life. Not everyone gets to see the canyon rim to rim.
Kaibab!! I camped there every year with my family as a kid~~ Right near the rim.
But my FAVORITE canyon story will always be the night float down the Colorado on a moonless night in 2000~ Week-long rafting/exploration trip down the river. Waterfalls, sleeping on the riverbank, and our night float~~
I know it's easy to chastise people for the dumb decisions they make in these types of situations, but I can't help but feel bad for them. They truly thought they could handle the canyon and underestimated it, something I'm sure many hikers do. The heat also didn't aid in making rational decisions, such as the idea that maybe they would've been fine refilling at the tadpole pond. As for the water, they miscalculated the length of the trail, something easy to do when you're inexperienced. As not very smart as they were, I feel bad that it took losing one of them for them to learn their lesson
I don't know if they existed back then, but rach family member on my household has a LifeStraw. It can be used to filer water safely. Too bad they didn't have one.
This is a great video to see the week before I head to the Grand Canyon…
as soon as you mentioned it was june and how little water they packed I was like 'yup, one or both died.' I live in Southern Nevada and that little bit of water isn't even enough for an outing to walmart let alone the grand canyon.
RIP Paul, condolences to Karen and their loved ones. Nice work FH.
I’m always terrified of leaving the trail it will be the death of me. I keep thinking animals will be there waiting to eat me. I know it’s really dramatic but so far I’m alive because of it. I’m just sorry for the victims and the families that went through it
This. Bears in particular scare the absolute crap out of me. Theres no reasoning with close on a thousand pounds of angry muscle armed with razor-sharp claws and fangs. It doesn't matter who you are or how tough you think you are. I'm 6' and over 300lb and I know that if a bear picks a fight with my fat ass, he's gonna win. Being mauled isn't a quick or painless death either. The stuff of nightmares. So grateful that we don't have them in the UK.
You are 100 percent correct.
If you do leave the trail though, you could shoot to stardom by becoming the subject of one of these videos 😂
It's been awhile since my last trip (Thunder River Loop that time). It was Memorial Day week, and we had two very fit and experienced young men with us who had never done desert hiking. It hit some record temperatures. And we reminded them so often about the dangers, including "the energy you expend today will significantly affect tomorrow, so take your dang rest days," that we titled the trip appropriately. No backacking between 10:00 and 18:00. Yes, we're carrying extra water to stash. These are salt tabs. Hats are our friends. Let us know even if you're going to "just go look around that bend." That's a wash; we will not camp there.
I think we forced them to watch videos. And I know the GC and other places have started at least a little training/warning at some of the more popular launch points, but it's amazing how many people skip it.
Note to people wondering about water with tadpoles or frogs, they need super clean water to live in, so that's good water.
Fish are more questionable
If it looks like it has an oily sheen on it or smells stay away.
I was wondering, thank you!
Frogs are very sensitive creatures. Contaminated water is very deadly since they absorb through their skin
Mosquito larvae look like tadpoles. They're not particular about how clean the water is.👀
@patriciamariemitchel Not really. I've seen both and the differences are easy to see.
I was thinking the exact same thing.
I was also told long ago that they only survive in clean water.
That’s what baffled me about them not filling up the water supply…
As a person who hikes the desert, when you said how much water they carried for this trip, I genuinely gasped. That is the advisable amount for a much shorter hike, the Hermit’s Rest trail, and still one is always advised further to take more than needed, in case of spills, extra needs besides drinking, or getting lost. It was truly heroic of Paul to hand over his water to his wife, though. I have no doubt that is what saved her life.
Hiking the desert even with plenty of water is very dangerous. What if the water leaks? What if you fall and break your leg?
The second it was said that they only had 3 litres each for a 2 day hike (in desert conditions, no less!) I felt second-hand panic. I can easily down 2 litres in a few hours if I'm hiking in the woods.
Ok it’s official FH is my FAVORITE TH-cam channel and I look forward to tuesdays now!
When planing field trips (I tend to travel and hike in differend countries) I always make sure to learn what animals swiming ina a water signal it is safe (because some species live only in dirty water and some only in extremly clean water) and this is one of the basic things kids should learn (because you never know when you will suddenly stranded). When it is planned than always carry water tablets of filters just to be sure (even if you think you have enough water).
Lived in Phoenix AZ all this summer. 2 months of 120F days, 4 months of every day over 100F. I grew up without air conditioning and weeks of 100F days and even I spent most of my time indoors in the artificial cool. You do eventually acclimate, and I like it hot, but I would still never plan a hike in the Canyon between May and September.
I have a landscaping business in Lake Havasu City and have had heat exhaustion several times. When he mentioned how little water they took on an 18 mile hike in Arizona, I thought he had misread his script!
I live in Arizona and every single year it baffles me why people choose to do these hikes in the summer. We get 4-5 months of perfect weather here and yet they choose the months where its 120 outside. Darwin wins.
Probably because majority of people can only take time off work during the summer months. Also, those used to continental climate who never experienced desert weather and scorching heat probably reason " it's summer, and that means nice, warm weather, more hours of daylight, warm nights..." etc. and don't bother to do research about conditions in different places.
I lived in Phoenix and hiked Squaw Peak year round. On occasion a 103º F summer day. I hiked the Grand Canyon on the 23rd of June and it was 120º - drank 7 liters of water and Gatorade. I prefer the heat, as I grew up in Montana and moved to get away from the cold winter.
Fifty years ago, when I was in my early twenties, I worked at the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim. Many times I've hiked down to Roaring Springs and back the same day, and twice I've gone rim to rim (about 24 miles). It is very different than hiking up a mountain and then back down. It's very easy to go down, but 10 times more difficult to come back up. Many people make the mistake of going down too far, and then they're in trouble. Add to that the mistake of not enough water and you have a real problem. Plan carefully ahead, and it's one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
I would add that simply carrying a light weight water filter would have made a huge difference. I have climbed Half Dome in Yosemite around 10 times in my life. During some of those hikes I was stunned at how ill prepare d many people were. I saw people wearing leather loafers and even flip flops and carrying little or no water or food. It was so common that I remember volunteers standing at the beginning of the trail asking people if they were adequately prepared and knew what they were in for.
As someone who worked at the Grand Canyon for a summer one year and did a lot of hiking, every single time I heard the next decision the couple made, I just cringed more and more.
I kind of raised an eyebrow when I heard they only brought 3 liters of water/day. I’m no experienced hiker but I knew that wasn’t very much.
It's not enough water to keep you hydrated if you're sitting on the couch.
I've lived in desert environments long enough to understand just how fast the summer heat can wring you dry. What's worse is that a slight miscalculation can be dangerous. About 15 years ago I went for a walk in 95 degree weather with a pretty reasonable amount of water for the trip. But I saw something in the distance I wanted to explore so the trip length decreased. And before I knew it, the water was gone. I made it back safely to my car, but I was definitely starting to feel the effects of the heat.
It was a lesson that has never left my memory.
When setting out on a hike in the wilderness, people should be required to start at a ranger station. Where the rangers calculate the supplies needed to accomplish the hike. This will give those that are inadvertently supplied a chance to update before leaving.
There are not nearly enough Rangers for that. That is also a hugely unfair burden to put on someone. Those Rangers would become legally responsible for the safety of hundreds of people miles out of their control and would likely be held accountable for things entirely not their fault because dead people tell no tales, and the desert doesn't give up much in the way of evidence. People make *choices* but when they go a mile off trail for a selfie that looks just like every other selfie and use of half a day's water doing it, and then die of dehydration, no one will know what they did, and the Ranger will be blamed for not planning them enough water.
Awesome video - I would love to see you more content of this kind, covering wilderness tragedies!
A couple of years ago I read a great book called “Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon” by Michael Ghiglieri. People never seem to believe the warning signs. Highly recommended
OH MY GOD I CANT WAIT FOR PART TWO I LOVE A GOOD GETTING LOST STORY! Thank you! 😄🙌🏼
As a resident of Az, you just kind of expect someone to pass away during the summer while hiking. It's almost always someone from out of town, and most of the trails down here in Phoenix are closed if the temperature is above 105*f (40* c). Though that dosen't stop locals from making the same mistakes with heat.
My BF is from Phoenix and I went there for the first time last year. He’s told me every year someone dies hiking on the Camelback in the summer. I got heat stroke just hanging out by the pool in mid May so I have a whole new respect for the heat in Arizona.
What always amused me was when LOCALS, not even oit-of-towners, would come back from a hike in, like, May or Sept, and be SHOCKED at how cold it got at night out in the desert. 😂😂😂
Like, yeah? Hardpan doesn't absorb two things: water or heat.
People always thought it weird when I'd pack a set of sweats for multi-day desert outings...until the first night, when they're shivering and I'm cozy~~😊
Wow a great subject thanks for sharing. So sad too.
I remember the time when Bobby and Cindy got lost in the Grand Canyon, that was INTENSE!
Well done as always
3 liters for a two day hike in the Grand Canyon
me: "uh oh"
My thought exactly.
A tragedy, and a good reminder to be prepared.
I took up hiking this past spring, and have done only 1-2 hour woodland hikes so far, mostly easy to moderate trails. Even then I carry a backpack with some essentials and plenty of water. It’s crazy to me that experienced hikers would ever hike the Grand Canyon without truly being prepared.
It's recommended to drink a gallon a day in cooler weather. It's a foolish idea to take less than a gallon of water for a hike in that area. This is Arizona. Arid Zone. Dry zone. Probably a better idea to turn back when supplies diminished.
I live in Arizona and have hiked multiple trails in the grand canyon and surrounding areas at all times of year. Even the most well traveled trails are no joke and water is more important than you know. You should plan as if there will be nowhere to get water, then plan for all water to require filtration. Carry at minimum 4L of water per person for each day. If you are worried about water or making it rest during the hottest part of the day and hike in the evening or early morning.
Such a frustrating story. Sad, yes, but very frustrating.
I live in a temperate climate, and hike exclusively in an alpine climate. My rule is 1 gallon per person per day, and you NEVER pass up a chance to reprovision on the trail. To not meet those requirements in an arid environment is truly astounding to me
I've hiked in forested, mountainous and desert terrain, and they all sport their own sorts of hazards, however, I think that desert hiking is the most risky of the lot, especially if you underestimate the environment and what you need to even just do an afternoon of hiking, much less multi-day hikes. Sadly I think that this couple's hiking experience added to their danger because they were far from experienced in desert hiking, since their actual experience involved mountainous/forested terrain, two environments that are far and a way different from each other, almost as much as day is to night.
This channel reminds me of Criminally Listed for the fact that you can watch a video from 5 years ago and the style of video doesn't change. I am a fan.
Your vid just dropped for me in NSW, Australia 9:15pm 31/October. so happy to see it drop 👏 great content as always, thanks mate 👍
I just woke up at 5:30 am in America on Halloween - global positing/time is wild- Happy Halloween!
I visited the Grand Canyon in 1988. I recall being very glad that I took a motion sickness pill before watching a film on the exploration of the Grand Canyon on an IMAX screen. Is it an awe-inspiring sight? Yes. My terror of falling kept me from getting too close to edges without guard rails, though.
Three liters of water is NOT enough water for a two day hike in the Grand Canyon. That is not enough for one day.
When I was there, I could have imagined that I wasn't sweating: I had no wetness because the sweat evaporated before it left the pore.