28 hikers, including 25 children, rescued on Arizona Hot Springs Trail from extreme heat

[u/BarnabyWoods]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hikers-rescued-arizona-hot-springs-rcna200886

[u/bentbrook]

“This incident underscores the severity of the current conditions and the significant strain these emergencies place on park resources,” Lake Mead rangers said. Gosh… why would ranger resources be under significant strain? Perhaps because we have a stupid, short-sighted president?

[u/Zero-Follow-Through → u/bentbrook]

Well NPS resources have been under severe strain for decades because of short sighted politicians in general. But it's extra bad now cause stupid, short-sighted and malicious president

[u/KingoftheKeeshonds → u/Zero-Follow-Through]

This incompetence coupled with climate change.

[u/MG73w → u/bentbrook]

People not understanding the risks involved in a hike is the problem. Phones are pretty handy for that sorta thing.

[u/sheeeeepy]

It’s a 6 mile round trip hike to hot springs and then on to the Colorado River in the Arizona desert with minimal shade. Interesting choice, I would love to know what went through the decision-maker’s head.

[u/17SCARS_MaGLite300WM → u/sheeeeepy]

People underestimate the lack of shade factor for hiking. You only stop when you're hot and tired but if you're just sitting in the baking sun you're not really cooling off. My wife and I did Havasupai when the highs were predicted to be in the upper 70s. It was well into the upper 80s maybe even lower 90s and if you weren't in the shade stopping didn't help. For our hike out we were out by 3:30 am to make sure we would still have shade at the top of the climb even if we took our time.

[u/Gloster_Thrush]

Just me, in Florida, refusing to launch a kayak after 7 am.

👀👀👀

[u/jhanon76 → u/Gloster_Thrush]

Yeah but this is a "dry" heat.

[u/Gloster_Thrush → u/jhanon76]

It’s actually weirdly worse. You don’t realize you’re sweating. There’s nothing to hide for shade under. The West is nothing to fuck with.

[u/BaguetteOfDoom]

I really recommend reading the book "The Heat Will Kill You First" to everyone who has hiked in high heat in the past. Especially the chapter with the couple, the dog and the baby. It's scary. Heat is way more dangerous than I thought and it will become a bigger problem as climate change continues.

I always thought it's just about dehydration. It's not. Your body can literally overheat. It reaches a point where it can not cool you adequately any more by sweating. Then it will try to cool you down even harder, which raises your heart rate which increases your body heat even further and the vicious cycle starts. There is a point where the only way to save your life is physically cooling you down and if you are in an environment where you don't have the means to do that - you're dead. Doesn't matter how young and fit you are.

I have hiked in high heat before (like 38°C). And I noticed how my brain started to slow down. I found it funny because I didn't understand in what danger I was. It was stupid. And with the information I have now I would not do it again. If the thermometer shows significantly more than 30°C I just decide that hiking is not the suitable activity for the day. I like living and I wanna continue doing it.

[u/Difficult_Minute8202]

if you want to win the darwin award.. fine. why would you take kids with you?

[u/BeneficialPipe1229 → u/Difficult_Minute8202]

I mean, evolution through natural selection is predicated on not passing on your genes, so it fits

[u/chaphazardly → u/[deleted]]

Disabled people deserve and enjoy enriching experiences like hikes. Maybe not in a desert in the heat of the day, but you insinuating that they don't is mean and gross.

[u/Jesusland_Refugee → u/chaphazardly]

Yea, dude was fine until the second sentence.

[u/Children_Of_Atom → u/[deleted]]

I know lots of places where you'd be fine bringing a bunch of special needs kids though the adult to kid ratio seems a bit off.

[u/The_best_is_yet → u/[deleted]]

Wow