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#292244 - 05/03/19 01:25 PM Picacho Peak fatality
hikermor Offline
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Registered: 08/26/06
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Loc: southern Cal
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/teen-d...fice/ar-AAAQ0wM

This really sucks! Picacho Peak is a very prominent spire, highly visible just west of I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix. The trail to the top is short and steep, but non-technical and rather easy.

First rule of Arizona hiking. Be sure of your water supply and carry sufficient for your endeavor and prevailing conditions. Who, if anyone, was in charge???


Edited by hikermor (05/03/19 01:26 PM)
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#292245 - 05/03/19 02:46 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
chaosmagnet Offline
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Registered: 12/03/09
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Terrible.

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#292247 - 05/04/19 06:24 AM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
Phaedrus Offline
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Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3148
Loc: Big Sky Country
How awful! They definitely weren't very well prepared.
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#292248 - 05/04/19 04:27 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
KenK Offline
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Registered: 06/26/04
Posts: 2208
Loc: NE Wisconsin
I find carrying water to be one of the most difficult aspects of hiking. Its VERY heavy and the containers are often less than convenient/comfortable to carry. Even worse to hand carry or strap over a shoulder. Plus, placed in a pack/bag they bring a risk of leaking onto other gear.

I never found anything better than using 1 liter Lexan bottles, but always worry about them leaking, so I single or double bag them in gallon size ziplock bags, depending on what else is in the pack/bag. Never found a flexible container I trusted.

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#292249 - 05/04/19 04:41 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: Phaedrus]
hikermor Offline
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Registered: 08/26/06
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Loc: southern Cal
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...ite/1094875001/

A few-more details. A group of boy scouts, accompanied by two adults. It is easy to jump on the BSA, but young kids get messed up in the outdoors all the time, as do many adults, for that matter. But not bringing enough water on an easy hike is an elementary error.

Neither of these articles mentions the weather conditions, which would be crucial.

This incident affects me emotionally, because sixty-one years a similar incident involving Scouts in S Arizona was a life changing experience.

Clearly BSA doesn't have a perfect safety record, but who does??
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#292250 - 05/04/19 06:25 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
haertig Offline
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Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
How long is this hike they were taking? Is it multi-day, where they might have needed to cache water along the route in advance?

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#292251 - 05/04/19 07:21 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
hikermor Offline
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Loc: southern Cal
The hike is trivial - I have done it at least once (maybe twice). There are two trails - one is three miles, the other is two miles and I believe they join near the summit in a sort of via ferrata arrangement with fixed cables. Total elevation gain is about 1,500 feet.

Usually April and early May is a very good time to enjoy the Sonoran Desert - lots of green vegetation and flowers, although things get toasty as May progresses.

I am surprised that there wasn't enough water within the group to prevent any kind of dehydration incident, much less a fatality. A thoughtful group leader would most likely have extra items, mostly FA, but also including extra water.

I assume there will be an autopsy. I wonder if mere dehydration is the only factor in this poor kid's demise. Very sad, indeed!
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#292252 - 05/04/19 08:42 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
rafowell Offline
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Registered: 11/29/09
Posts: 258
Loc: Southern California
Originally Posted By: hikermor
things get toasty as May progresses.

It was 90º, and near noon.
Originally Posted By: hikermor
I assume there will be an autopsy.

One news source said the autopsy was complete, but I've seen no results

Pichacho Peak is a spectacular hike, though.

Here's a nice video, including the shot of the sign recommending 2-3 liters per hiker,
and lots of shots of the videographer using their hydration bladder.

Video of Pichaco Peak Hike

Photo of Picacho Peak


Edited by rafowell (05/05/19 12:04 AM)
Edit Reason: Updated photo
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#292253 - 05/04/19 08:48 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
gonewiththewind Offline
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Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
Many people with little experience do not prepare properly, regardless of what they were taught. Many also do not recognize the signs of dehydration and hyperthermia. Many, when they do feel something wrong, feel the need to push through, tough it out so they don't look bad in front of their friends. I have seen this many times in many different situations. The adult volunteers should have been more thorough in their pre-hike checks and in their attention to how the kids were doing. Kids don't know, they have never experienced it. Their first instinct is to hide it. Yes scouts are supposed to be learning and taking more responsibility, but even in the military there are certain checks done on troops no matter what their age.

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#292254 - 05/04/19 11:23 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
hikermor Offline
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Loc: southern Cal
One thing about desert hiking - you want to do your activity early before the day warms up. In typical low humidity situations, the evening and early morning temps are quite comfortable.

typical start time would be 4:30 AM, finishing by 9 or so. An alternative would be to drive to high country where you are in a different world. T.he Santa Catalinas rise to 9,000 feet, with many very nice trails available.

What is it they say about mad dogs and Englishmen??
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#292255 - 05/05/19 01:19 AM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
haertig Offline
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Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
Originally Posted By: hikermor
The hike is trivial - I have done it at least once (maybe twice). There are two trails - one is three miles, the other is two miles and I believe they join near the summit in a sort of via ferrata arrangement with fixed cables. Total elevation gain is about 1,500 feet.

Given that - even in the desert, even in the heat - I don't see how dehydration could have been the cause of death. It is very sad that the boy died, but I would be more inclined to think it was a pre-existing (but maybe undiagnosed?) medical condition.

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#292256 - 05/05/19 01:26 AM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
Doug_Ritter Offline

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Registered: 01/28/01
Posts: 2197
Tragic! This hits close to home as I have done that hike multiple times when younger. I also participated in the civil war reenactments. The Civil War engagement there (calling it a "battle" gives it more prominence than it deserves, IMHO) was the westernmost of the civil war. We drive by every time we travel from Phoenix down to Tucson and back.

It is a short but tough, steep hike. When i did it was no signs warning and on a hot day, not sure the 2-3 liters recommended would suffice if hiking during middle of the day. We did most of my hikes in the winter months or leaving early in the Spring to see the desert bloom, avoiding the real heat. Natives should know better.

Dehydration is insidious to a degree and very individualized and even minor medical conditions can make getting dehydrated a far bigger problem than it might otherwise be.
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#292259 - 05/08/19 04:53 AM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: rafowell]
Herman30 Offline
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Registered: 08/08/06
Posts: 495
Loc: Finland
Originally Posted By: rafowell

I fail to understand why people go half naked in hot sunny weather (like this woman in the video). Hottest part of summer I never expose more bare skin than face and hands, always a long sleeve shirt and a boonie hat to shield nose and ears from sun. I do not want skin cancer.

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#292268 - 05/09/19 12:29 AM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
Doug_Ritter Offline

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Registered: 01/28/01
Posts: 2197
PCSO releases report on death of Boy Scout at Picacho Peak - https://www.abc15.com/news/region-centra...at-picacho-peak
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#292269 - 05/09/19 12:53 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: Doug_Ritter]
hikermor Offline
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Registered: 08/26/06
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Loc: southern Cal
This doesn't compute. Two quarts of water consumed on a three mile hike taking four hours and some amount refilled half way...There must be something other than dehydration involved.

It is nice to know that it was 94 in Tucson that day, but Tucson is significantly lower than the state park, although the group would have been dealing with reflected heat off of upright surfaces, etc.

For a typical individual, nearly a gallon of water would have been more than enough to complete this excursion comfortably, provided any degree of adequate hydration at the beginning.
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#292271 - 05/09/19 03:48 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
Russ Offline
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Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
Seems that normal may not be at work here. There may be other conditions or substances so far unmentioned; Coroner will determine COD.

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#292272 - 05/09/19 11:13 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
Ren Offline
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Registered: 11/05/07
Posts: 522
Loc: Wales, UK
Reminds me of US journalist Matthew Power. Died of heatstroke after spending a few days walking with Levison Wood whilst he was attempting to Walking the Nile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGpHqccbfuY


Edited by Ren (05/09/19 11:16 PM)

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#292519 - 06/19/19 02:18 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
hikermor Offline
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Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...ing/1289001001/

According to the autopsy, the sixteen year old victim weighed 289 pounds. Doubtless a contributing factor.
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#292521 - 06/20/19 03:30 AM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
Herman30 Offline
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Registered: 08/08/06
Posts: 495
Loc: Finland
289 pounds = 131kg. Oh my, explains a lot.

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#292523 - 06/20/19 07:40 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
teacher Offline
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Registered: 12/14/05
Posts: 988
You can cache water on the way up.

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#292536 - 06/21/19 04:32 AM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: Herman30]
Phaedrus Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3148
Loc: Big Sky Country
Originally Posted By: Herman30
289 pounds = 131kg. Oh my, explains a lot.


Originally Posted By: hikermor
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...ing/1289001001/

According to the autopsy, the sixteen year old victim weighed 289 pounds. Doubtless a contributing factor.


Yeah, unfortunately that's problematic unless he was six feet six inches. It's difficult to carry all that extra weight.
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#292580 - 06/25/19 08:13 AM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: Phaedrus]
EMPnotImplyNuclear Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 09/10/08
Posts: 382
Originally Posted By: Phaedrus
Originally Posted By: Herman30
289 pounds = 131kg. Oh my, explains a lot.


Originally Posted By: hikermor
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...ing/1289001001/

According to the autopsy, the sixteen year old victim weighed 289 pounds. Doubtless a contributing factor.


Yeah, unfortunately that's problematic unless he was six feet six inches. It's difficult to carry all that extra weight.

Hi,
Maybe its difficult but its not deadly.

Ignorance is the most important factor.
I'm ignorant

Students , esp on
Junior Varsity Football Team ,
work out a lot in high school,
lifting weights,
team practice,
gym class...
but they dont learn a lot about dehydration

It took a 6 hours hike to overheat/dehydrate.
A few others also overheated.
All ran out of water
None had thermometers
None had checked everybody for overheating and dehydration
over the course of 6 hours (1-6 pee breaks?)
None had icepacks
...
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Knox2/publication/49686313_A_retrospective_analysis_of_American_football_hyperthermia_deaths_in_the_United_States/links/0046351f98156f4011
Quote:

Abstract Over the period 1980–2009, there were 58
documented hyperthermia deaths of American-style foot-
ball players in the United States. This study examines the
geography, timing, and meteorological conditions present
during the onset of hyperthermia, using the most complete
dataset available. Deaths are concentrated in the eastern
quadrant of the United States and are most common during
August. Over half the deaths occurred during morning
practices when high humidity levels were common. The
athletes were typically large (79% with a body mass index
>30) and mostly (86%) played linemen positions. Meteo-
rological conditions were atypically hot and humid by local
standards on most days with fatalities. Further, all deaths
occurred under conditions defined as high or extreme by
the American College of Sports Medicine using the wet
bulb globe temperature (WBGT), but under lower threat
levels using the heat index (HI). Football-specific thresh-
olds based on clothing (full football uniform, practice
uniform, or shorts) were also examined. The thresholds
matched well with data from athletes wearing practice
uniforms but poorly for those in shorts only. Too few cases
of athletes in full pads were available to draw any broad
conclusions. We recommend that coaches carefully monitor
players, particularly large linemen, early in the pre-season
on days with wet bulb globe temperatures that are
categorized as high or extreme. Also, as most of the deaths
were among young athletes, longer acclimatization periods
may be needed.

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#292583 - 06/26/19 02:50 AM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
Phaedrus Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3148
Loc: Big Sky Country
Good point! Even professional athletes occasionally succumb. Years ago NFL All-Pro Corey Stringer died of heat stroke during training camp. You have to keep an eye on hydration for sure!
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#292743 - 07/10/19 05:17 PM Re: Picacho Peak fatality [Re: hikermor]
teacher Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 12/14/05
Posts: 988
"Normal" fits most people in some situations; what's normal water consumption for a small woman might be a third of what a big teenager needs. Plan accordingly

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