Anniversary hike ends in tragedy near scenic spot

[Reader]

http://www.centurylink.net/news/rea...p-anniversary_hike_ends_in_tragedy_near_sc-ap

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — They left their two young children with relatives and set off to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary at one of the most beautiful hiking destinations in the Southwest.......

But just hours into Monday's trek, 27-year-old Elisabeth Bervel died of cardiac arrest, becoming the third hiker in a month to succumb to the brutal summer heat and disorienting open country where no marked trail shows the way.

The deaths have prompted officials to reassess the dangers for people who make the hike and perhaps seek an outside investigation of the risks, said Kevin Wright, manager of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

More at link....

 

[TGIRecovered]

The article doesn't say if he had to leave her out there to go for help, if there were any other hikers nearby or if they used a cell phone and got help right away. She was just 27, poor thing!
Was she in good shape, did they have plenty of water, did they bring anything to be used as a bit of shade?

I get frustrated when journalists leave out important facts to make space for fluff . Yes the rocks are beautiful and dangerous , yadda yadda, I want to hear about the girl!

 

[Reader]

This article has more about what happened but I've found nothing about personal information on the family, who probably asked for privacy:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56629184-78/hiking-deputies-wave-hike.html.csp

The Bervels began their hike about 8 a.m. and met other hikers along the way. On their hike back to the trailhead, they lost the trail occasionally and spent "a couple of extra hours" hiking during the hottest part of the day, deputies wrote.

"The ... hours in the heat and hiking in the sand took their toll on Elisabeth and her legs finally gave out and she could go no farther," deputies wrote.

Her husband hiked ahead to reach a cellphone signal and called for help. Medics flew to The Wave from Page, Ariz., but she was in cardiac arrest when they arrived. The medics tried CPR but could not revive her.

An autopsy is pending, deputies said.

The Bervels have two sons, 4 and 5, who were with relatives in Arizona.

 

[Nova]

I live in Palm Springs (Southern California desert) and this is a regular occurrence in our area. Our news and tourist info is full of warnings that you have to drink plenty of water BEFORE you get thirsty; once you feel the thirst it is often too late.

But human nature being what it is, it's hard for us to recognize danger before actual symptoms set in.