Florida man, stepson die on hike in Texas at Big Bend National Park

[@lisal.4498]

Why would anyone hike in that heat? That father should have known better

[@saxonsteve]

I agree. No one should ever go hiking 🥾 in this amount of heat!

[@penniesfromheaven2511]

Glad someone said it. Sorry, but that’s called natural selection. That fathers stupidity killed his stepson and himself.

[@huemann7637]

I live in Texas. It’s so hot outside right now I don’t even take out the trash until the sun starts going down. Why the heck would anyone want to go hiking in this weather?!

[@mopthermopther]

to avoid the crowd

[@thecircuswashere]

I live near this park, and the last week has been brutal for heat. I was surprised to hear they were on such a long hike, especially this time of year as this is the off season for this area.

[@jzajzayijun2282]

​​@@DanMulberryHey, how did you know that's what I would think?... 😂

[@boondocker7964]

Cuz, they think that it's "cool"?

[@kathikapp6707]

Maybe thought it would be cooler farther up?

[@alcheneler1245]

I’m an experienced desert hiker This is why I always hike at night Also, water in high heat desert will kill you You must treat water with electrolytes and special diet You don’t just go for a walk

[@goglowdaddy1686]

​@@stevenmerlock9971What are "predictors'?

[@boondocker7964]

@@goglowdaddy1686 Cousins of "predators"?

[@stevenmerlock9971]

Oopsie Predators. Correction- @alcheneler1245 You should not go hiking in this area after dark. Predators and it’s easy to lose the trail. Poor cellular service and there’s no quickie mart around for hundreds of miles.

[@stevenmerlock9971]

😂 I hate my stupid smart phone!

[@boondocker7964]

@@stevenmerlock9971 So did I, got two flip phones.

[@Granola_Girl_Cheer]

When I was 13 I went to the Grand Canyon on a day with a heat advisory. Just like the son, I got very sick very quickly. We were halfway down the angel trail by that time. That is a very far distance. Luckily, my dad and uncle were with me. They took turns running back up the trail to get me to water and a cool area. Before we made it to the top, I started throwing up. My dad was terrified. The only reason my family did not end up like this one is because others helped us. A couple from Sweden, who spoke nearly no English stopped to help us, providing me with water, gatorade, and an umbrella until I could get my heart rate down some. But, my dad and uncle were exhausted from running, and it was only getting hotter as we neared the afternoon. The Swedish man called over some people who I assume were friends with him, and they carried me up the rest of the way while supporting my dad and uncle. I was only minutes away from a heat stroke. My dad and uncle had entered heat exhaustion. Medics that day told us that it was a miracle that my body did not shut down from the stress it underwent. To this day, I cannot stand the heat. I have to take frequent breaks, and I get dizzy whenever the heat soars above 90. This could happen to anyone. I thought I was fine, and then I wasn't. Please don't just say they deserved it because there were advisories. Every body is different and can withstand different things. My uncle and dad didn't get nearly as sick as I did, yet they had been out in the heat for far longer that day. The heat is just one danger that can sneak up on you.

[@keariewashburn4680]

I actually experienced heat illness after training a group of college students for rescue AED CPR. We were inside an air conditioner building. I had taught them the concepts and physical training and certification. Anyway, it was in the heat indices of 107 that day. I loaded my equipment and proceeded to leave to drive home. I got just maybe a mile away and was so absolutely dizzy and nauseous. I just stopped and got cool water to drink ( hydrate better) and sat in my car in a shaded area for about 30 minutes before getting on the interstate to get home. When got home I was sick and had to rest immediately. Teaching about this very thing in an air conditioned building and 2 breaks. And of course, I'm about twice my students age. 🙄 it can happen so quick. People please be careful and safe!! Check on babies elderly or mindful of others too.

[@BillyFlores-sf4be]

Lol oh well and yet our loser governor ban water breaks for construction workers lol

[@BillyFlores-sf4be]

But this is funny not like the governors care

[@828enigma6]

Swedes and very kind and caring people. More so than most other nationalities.

[@lindaalaureano]

Check the weather whenever hiking. Heat deaths are preventable by choosing not to hike during a heat wave.

[@margorgogo]

I am very sad for the family. But, seriously, why would you go hiking when it is over 100 degrees?? #BeSmarter

[@eden1909]

I gotta warn and point out: Floridians are used to sweat. Sweat is like a warning sign that you're getting too hot. Dry heat doesn't make you sweat like humid heat does. As someone accustomed to humid heat, don't expect your body to warn you the same way as with dry heat. Assume that you're hotter than you feel and react accordingly.

[@stevenmerlock9971]

@eden1909 absolutely correct. In 125 basin heat you can take off your long sleeve shirt, dip it in water and put it on you will get “Cold” due to the evaporation. A cotton T will be dry in 30 minutes.

[@laurasalo6160]

I didnt know this. Thank you for sharing this really important info!

[@Thumper79]

As someone who lived in Texas for 3 years I can honestly tell you that this was avoidable. A little common sense and understanding exactly how unique of an environment that Texas can be would have made a big difference. Your best bet if you ever visit Texas during the summer is to stay indoors in air conditioning during the day. All outdoor activities should be performed either early in the morning, or in the evening. And of course above All else stay hydrated.

[@lifestudent2472]

You are correct this should not have happened . I have had heat exhaustion twice while at work and back in high school we had an inbred idiot football coach that taught " water discipline " lucky none of us died .

[@The2ndFirst]

Yep. That was absolutely avoidable.

[@lifestudent2472]

@@The2ndFirst I am sorry for the deaths but if they were from Florida I would think they knew the danger of acute heat both with or without humidity .

[@The2ndFirst]

@@lifestudent2472 Heat in Florida is completely different than west Texas. Out west you will get zero clue you are dehydrating before you dehydrate. No sweating and the normal cues.

[@dickface8742]

Do people really practice common sense and are understanding? C'mon.. it's Texas

[@teresafernandez9849]

Tip.. when you feel overheated, take off shoes and get to a patch of grass if you can. You will actually feel the cooling down of ur body.

[@SuperMassman]

I'M 70.. used to hike all the time in New Hampshire & Maine.. Can't count the number of times coming down a mountain with snow, high winds, sub zero temps at the top.. to run into people drinking beer, in street cloths headed to the top. People think just because it's warm at the base that the top will be just as warm... People in street cloths sleeping over night in $5.00 sleeping bags in the windy snow, packing food that spoils in a few hours.. the vast majority of humanity is stupid and only survives because they are in a controlled environment.. step outside that delusion and bad things happen

[@huemann7637]

You’d have to be an idiot to take more than 10 steps outside of your car in this heat without turning around. I’m in Texas. I can’t even water my garden without soaking through my shirt right now.

[@zachsheffield1325]

Please tell me where you get five dollars sleeping bags!?

[@SuperMassman]

@@zachsheffield1325 .. remember..I am 70.. almost 71 😂.. back in my youth you could actually buy a cheap sleeping bag for about $5

[@boondocker7964]

Mt. Washington, people (Summer) in sandals, and loafers? People in the Winter, non-knowledgeable and ill equipped? Us 70+ people don't process heat as well as we did when we were a lot younger. Got to stay out of the hot sun, do yard work after 5 or 6 P.M.

[@teresafernandez9849]

I'm scared to death of a heat stroke. I got one when I was young and it does sneak up on you. I lost consciousness and got very nauseous. This was a very hot day in Arizona. It's so scary and an awful feeling. Feel so bad for them. I was also 13 when it happened. Lucky it happened on a school playground and the janitor saw it and helped.

[@airtechmech6681]

You can't acclimate to 119 degrees F enough to go hiking. I'm surprised that anyone would not know that.

[@dickface8742]

Americans

[@laurasalo6160]

One shouldnt be doing anything in that kind of heat but seeking shade and drinking fluids. It's essentially a fever, boiling one's brain.

[@halasalready]

My heart goes out to the family. NOW - how the hell can Abbot take away water breaks from outside workers???? Do we need more tragedies due to the heat? Look what happened to this poor family and their deaths. It is so very important to take care of yourself in the heat.

[@daylehudson6810]

Whose Abbat?

[@marylinthicum678]

@@daylehudson6810 The Governor of Texas is Greg Abbot (Republican)

[@ziziroberts8041]

Common sense. Planning. Flexibility. Good judgement. Know your limitations. RIP. 🌹🌹

[@BrattyBetty]

Yeah they had none of that ..

[@pimphand00]

Peak season at Big Bend is Nov to April. This time of year the only thing out there are scorpions and rattle snakes.

[@lilbsnana]

My deepest condolences to their family and friends 💔💔

[@evilfingers4302]

There has to be more to this tragedy than what everyone is lead to believe, because why would anyone go on a hike into a desert in triple digit heat?

[@bellyfulochelly4222]

This is my thought exactly. 🧐

[@evilfingers4302]

@@AnnaSusannaFinkelstein-bd7ul because he crashed and died.

[@BabySpit]

Last weekend I was biking along the coast in Long Beach california I turned around and told my sister. Can you believe there are people driving to Death Valley as we speak to experience record setting temperatures…. 😮

[@jimpawa5793]

Seems like the government in Texas could care less about people who are working in the outside heat. I realize that this was a situation where it was not a workplace situation but think of the people that were working in the same environment, with no water.

[@pnichols6500]

What the heck are you talking about, how do you arrive at such an off base and uninformed comment?

[@brentwalker8596]

Super hot day? Hey. let's take a hike. Damn, what a needless tragedy.

[@bobrowers]

I live in Montana. Back when, I lived in eastern washington state and it can get over 100* easy in the summer............only an idiot would 'hike' in that shhht.

[@casienwhey]

I hiked up Mt Katahdin in Maine one one of the hottest days of the year. I think the water advisory was 2 liters and I took 2.5 figuring that would be plenty. Due to the heat, humidity, lack of shade at the top and endless rocks to scamper over, I went through 2 liters by the time I made the summit and had just .5 on the return. There were no places to get water other than to ask strangers (which I should have done). I made it back, but it was the thirstiest I've ever been in my life. I felt lightheaded and dizzy, glad it was not worse.

[@memsat2001]

glad you make it back. Heat exhaustion/'stroke ..IS NO JOKE.

[@debbiejohnson7758]

Anyone ever heard of waiting for cooler weather before going on hikes? I won't even visit the zoo until the end of the fall season. May this father and step son rest in peace.

[@JessieBanana]

I’m from LA and when walking to school in the late summer when schools starts you always check the heat advisory. You need more than just water. Dry heat comes from you, you stop sweating and peeing. You need electrolytes. And that was for a relatively short walk to school with acclimated kids.

[@ieattofu68]

Rest in peace to that father and his stepson and may the older brother get all the help he will need to work through the trauma he had to have endured. When I was 18 I was in San Antonio for military basic training during the summer during a heat wave and at the time I did not realize how dangerous the heat was and looking back I am so thankful myself and all the other soldiers survived. Texas heat can be brutal.

[@michaelschade3381]

You can fuck up, it can be sad, but it being unavoidable doesn't qualify as a tragedy. Too many people are getting a pass because they fucked up.

[@laurasalo6160]

It's a tragedy cuz the boy didn't understand. He was reliant on dad. That's tragic for his mother and entire family. The father ran himself to death to get help for those boys. He couldnt face what he had done to them. He made an error. It's very sad. I think this all qualifies as a tragedy. If not this, then what? What the he|L is such a word for, if not for THIS?

[@BabySpit]

This situation taught be the dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. I think I experienced heat exhaustion and was getting worse until we stopped at a gas station… and rested. Vegas and the car had no ac. I was hungover and headed home

[@benda777nba]

People just dont think nowadays😢

[@SomeBuddy777]

So sad... My prayers are that the families can find comfort and peace in the Lord.

[@laurenurban3942]

Hiking during the Summer months is not good for humans. I even turn my horses out for three months every summer…it’s too hot to enjoy riding. I like lazy summers by the pool and the Barbecue. I do my shopping early in the morning or after dinner…..when the sun goes down.

[@callen5713]

I am so sorry for the family…but Texas is brutal and the heat coupled with humidity is deadly😞

[@memsat2001]

Florida is the same way.

[@dickface8742]

It's not just " brutal " in terms of climate ... It's most racist state

[@mopthermopther]

oh Lordy it was hot. I saw a coyote chasing a rabbit; they were both walking.

[@imthebest4957]

You don't acclamate to 119F

[@Granola_Girl_Cheer]

please tell that to my manager. I work outdoors everyday in South Texas and she claims that we will acclimate.

[@zachsheffield1325]

Maybe someone should tell her ass outside all day then!!

[@scottnowak80]

Geez man. So sorry.

[@awaitingSaint777]

Very sad. It happens before you even realize that you're dehydrated.

[@ziziroberts8041]

There was no shade on that trail for miles.

[@TR0UBLE-SH00TER]

Reminds me of the Tuscon teacher and grandfather and his grandson that perished the same way near Gila Bend. My son is in what was his Boy Scout troop. He had only joined a month or so before their untimely deaths. Sure wish he had joined sooner to learn and teach his grandfather about the dangers of hiking in extreme elements. RIP little buddy.

[@stevenmerlock9971]

Been there many times, love the desert. Knowing how to outfit for the area is critical. On average in the summer the heat in the basin is 125+ in the mountains it’s 30 degrees cooler. Sad they didn’t make it, nature is unforgiving andd sad man must plan accordingly.

[@InternetSearchBibleErrors]

1:07 this makes no sense if your from a hot climate??? That would make sense from a cold climate from someone who isn't use to the heat.

[@rocknroth764]

On hot or heat advisory days: Can we close trails to people who don't comply to a list of basic necessities, are under 18 who are being misguided by an ignorant adult.

[@retireddeloach]

Such a tragedy. I know that trail well. It is the most difficult of all Big Bend hikes. I'm very surprised they attempted to hike it in the summer and suspect they did not check in with the rangers at the Panther Junction Visitor Center before hand to advise them of their intentions as the rangers would have strongly, STRONGLY recommended against it in this heat. We hiked it in April 1990 and even then had to leave an extra gallon of water at the N/S split of the loop to insure we had enough water to get back to our jeep. Can not imagine their suffering.

[@napalmholocaust9093]

Tough to even carry enough water for that. Had a job where I remember drinking three gallons of water despite starting before the sun rose. Got home, did whatever and only the next morning did I have to take a leak. Pretty shocked when I realized. It was so dry you don't even feel the sweat pouring out of you in buckets.

[@wesleyrodgers886]

Water breaks. No longer law thanks to abbot.

[@seanfloyd4510]

You should never be able to hike it after noon in June, July, and August

[@memsat2001]

The point is,..STAY OUT OF THE HEAT-IT SNEAKS UP ON YOU SO FAST,BY THE TIME YOU RECOGNIZE '...somethings; wrong,'..it's too late.

[@giancarloleon9983]

How does this happen? Is It just something you don’t realize until it’s too late and you are deep into the hike?

[@rehsa-zc6zq]

Its the trail that they chose as well. Marufo Vega is one of the lower elev dessert hikes. They probably wouldve been fine up in the Chisos mountains, which is what they keep showing in most of the pictures. Theres often as much as a 30+ degree temp difference based on elevation. Even in the heat of summer ive never felt it above the mid 80s up in boot canyon or on the south rim. So not only did they go hiking in Tx during a heat wave, but they chose what we would consider a winter time hike. During the summer, stay above 6-7000 ft, not down in the canyons of the dessert.

[@MikeBarbarossa]

Rio Grande village where temp is recorded and reported nearby, often boasts the highest temp in the entire US. Add no shade and a searing solar radiating heat effect to that

[@_Thoughtful_Aquarius_]

Oh, that's different! I was expecting this to be about some more people killed by drug smugglers.

[@stevenmerlock9971]

@_Thoughtful_Aquarius_ That happens but isn’t discussed because it drives tourists away. Your car and belongings end up being used to transport drugs deeper into America.

[@JayKillXRP]

No explanation of the Car driving off cliff? Just cause of the heat ? Why was there a car driven off cliff if they were on a hike ? Where is the Journelism here ?

[@poopymcgee6308]

Darwin award goes to step-dad.

[@pamfendlason3817]

So sad!

[@paulaitix77]

wait, why is the dad dead? she said car crashed

[@monabonejakon2797]

Driving too fast on a mountain road to get help and drove over a cliff.

[@yolinagarr5144]

Some people think, that happens to others, not to me! Big Mistake!

[@samsamthecat492]

This is so sad

[@Pablocojonespeso]

They brought Florida to Texas

[@Patrick-yh5yd]

I bet the step dad thought Texas is Like Florida with lakes along the way. The National park should have shaded rest areas.

[@JudiKerestan]

Why hike in that heat?? I don't get it at all.....

[@blueforest2927]

Why not wait until better weather...i don't get it.

[@InvestingWithKevin]

Is it just me over does the mainstream news only talk about negative ass shit?

[@Soapboxstomper]

Who hikes in 119 degree heat??????? Common sence saves lives❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@broderickjohnson1427]

Why the hell wud he take thm out in tht heat....damn!!!!

[@828enigma6]

Condolences to the family and friends. Were these fold experienced hikers? We get a lot of Florida residents in western NC that get into trouble because they know nothing about being out in the woods. They don't drink enough water, slide off trails and waterfalls, wipe with poison ivy leaves, etc., and get lost. This isn't Disneyland, and neither is the AZ desert.

[@lauravastag8587]

Bless them❤️‍🩹🌎

[@paul2081ok]

There’s nothing out there anyway huh

[@swerne01]

Couldn't they have used a helicopter to get to these people quicker? An hour and a half sounds like a long time to reach someone.

[@BattlefieldNPC]

Wish it was just hot in this nasty ass weather, Humid shit storm

[@Pookiegmaw1958]

Why did the stepdad leave the boys? He should of stayed with them on the way back to help and why did he go over the embankment. Very sad.

[@Pookiegmaw1958]

@@Joe-by8jh it sure sounds like it. Who knows.

[@Pookiegmaw1958]

@@Joe-by8jh that’s for sure

[@BabySpit]

That was the plan? One person stays w the kid and the other one goes get help… I wondered if the 21 yo could made it if the dad stayed w the kid

[@laurasalo6160]

I imagine he had to drive a bit to find reception cuz he did get help on the way to them, right? I think. Help eventually showed up. I think he was so dehydrated that he was surely half-unconscious and crashed as he attempted to return back to the trailhead to find his boys. Such a tragedy.

[@timd4524]

To bad he took the kid.

[@nenala7684]

The stepfather killed him!

[@parler8698]

Common sense claims more victims.

[@boondocker7964]

Mother Nature, will kill you like a bug, cold will kill, so will heat.

[@adamblack6867]

Darwinism .

[@dontlookback3549]

Darwin award candidates and likely winners!

[@franklinhernandez683]

This will happen when people really don't know what to do with that time I wouldn't take do that even if I was paid why do people play around they say it's because they want to shows how how much they can do and do it no there's things you don't do you don't go into woods that you know there are bears they are lions you don't go up a mountain will you will die for nothing for climate you don't belong there

[@desmondfrithbratton7759]

He never said climate change. I think its #1 of the 4 reasons wouldn't ya say?????.......

[@VanisleGirl1961]

Climate crisis... education is lacking unfortunately.

[@MrPHUCKYOURSELF]

Man made climate change is a scam. The climate is forever changing nationally. I’ve live in California all my life. Same are it was 100 plus when I was a kid and it’s a 100 plus every summer. Suppose to hit 112 this weekend. What do we do. Stay inside only go out if have to or swim. This was just pure incompetence. I check the weather daily. Not only on my phone but have temp gauges in the shade outside.

[@pnichols6500]

It was hot at this same spot 400 years ago, maybe hotter. So how is this related to a climate crisis?

[@chrispavin1373]

This is what happens when fools don't prepare for their surroundings.

[@Tony-k9i]

Go to boqillas best cocaine ever and cheap

[@mikeharville7371]

So sad !