According to the article HerbG referenced, Joshua Tree was 15-20 degrees cooler than the LA basin, so not as abnormally hot as usual. Still, I find it a bit odd to be sweating so much in October here in SoCal. The leaves are even turning colors and falling off the trees while my wife is sunbathing in the backyard today!

A local TV news segment on this story said that he got lost after his GPS unit crapped out during the hike. Reportedly, he had a compass, too, but I guess land nav skills could've been better.

Still, a tough guy to make it that long.