CA - Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung, daughter, 1 & dog, suspicious death remote hiking area, Aug 2021

[Figuring]

Just thought of something. If they were in some form of distress (injury, someone ingested something, even maybe early heat exhaustion, or even just too exhausted to go on) wouldn’t they maybe have done something like write or make a sign in the dirt, make a fire, write a paper note, write a message on their phone (even notes app) explaining what had happened?

Of course if it was heat stroke they may have been too delirious for that. Or if it was something fast acting obviously this wouldn’t be possible. I’m just thinking about some of the other, slower acting scenarios (algae water, etc).

 

[Unsolved]

Adding this info - sorry if it was already posted:

My Water Quality: California Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

 

[armchairagatha]

Problem is in an article posted earlier, LE says they set out that AFTERNOON. I had also assumed they hiked early—because most people do that when it’s this hot and because they uploaded a pic of the baby backpack at 6:45 am.

Can you paste a link to the article that conclusively says they left for their hike in the afternoon?

 

[RickshawFan]

You might be the best person to ask why people hike during very hot weather. Is it like runners who have set days to run and don’t miss a day no matter what what the weather is like?

In a word: DON'T.
I have absolutely no idea why anyone would choose to go on a hike like that. And with a baby? Sigh. That dog would have a really hard time, too, with that thick coat.
Those switchbacks, if I have this right, are full-on exposed to the sun. They might even have been facing the sun half the time. And then, they're carrying a pack. This makes you VERY hot. In addition to the weight of the pack (considerable, maybe 8-10 lbs), you have the weight of the baby. And then, are you carrying water, wipes, diapers, sunscreen, snacks, baby bottle.....?

And you'd need GALLONS of water for 2 adults, a baby, and a dog on a high-heat hike. Each liter/quart weighs 2 lbs. Calculate the weight.....

Even without all that stuff, that's an excruciating hike. I don't get it at all.

It seems this couple has a history of going to different areas of the world that might have included deserts (which presumably would give them some hot conditions), but so much depends on whether they were with guides, if it was winter. They might not actually have had experience anything close to the conditions that day.

 

[Oskive]

Can you paste a link to the article that conclusively says they left for their hike in the afternoon?

"authorities believe the family left for their hike Sunday afternoon. The last known communication was with a friend earlier that morning." - 'Not one clue': The mystery is only deepening around the family found dead on a Sierra trail

 

[armchairagatha]

In a word: DON'T.
I have absolutely no idea why anyone would choose to go on a hike like that. And with a baby? Sigh. That dog would have a really hard time, too, with that thick coat.
Those switchbacks, if I have this right, are full-on exposed to the sun. They might even have been facing the sun half the time. And then, they're carrying a pack. This makes you VERY hot. In addition to the weight of the pack (considerable, maybe 8-10 lbs), you have the weight of the baby. And then, are you carrying water, wipes, diapers, sunscreen, snacks, baby bottle.....?

And you'd need GALLONS of water for 2 adults, a baby, and a dog on a high-heat hike. Each liter/quart weighs 2 lbs. Calculate the weight.....

Even without all that stuff, that's an excruciating hike. I don't get it at all.

It seems this couple has a history of going to different areas of the world that might have included deserts (which presumably would give them some hot conditions), but so much depends on whether they were with guides, if it was winter. They might not actually have had experience anything close to the conditions that day.

I am not sure why everyone is assuming they planned to hike under hot conditions. If they had left right after posting that baby carrier pic on social media at 6.45 am, they would have avoided the heat and planned to get back by 10 am or so before it got really hot.

 

[armchairagatha]

"authorities believe the family left for their hike Sunday afternoon. The last known communication was with a friend earlier that morning." - 'Not one clue': The mystery is only deepening around the family found dead on a Sierra trail

Thank you. It is not very clear why the authorities believe that if they have not yet analyzed the phones and the last known communication was earlier that morning (presumably referring to that 6.45 am pic of the baby carrier). If I am up early in the morning on a Sunday posting a pic of a baby carrier/backpack, I am most likely going to be leaving for a hike with that backpack soon after. Not 6 hours later. They didn't sleep in on Sunday. So why delay the hike to the afternoon?

 

[whirrledpeas]

Does anyone have a link for the 'picture' that was posted somewhere of the backpack at 6:45a.m.? The post above shows a well-cited source saying LE thinks they went out in the afternoon. That information would be helpful for sure.

 

[SophieRose]

You can look up lightning strikes for August 15, 2021 for California here:

Lightning

I wish the map was a little more detailed.

I see 3 strikes that day and they look further east, in the Sierra.

 

[everybodhi]

Oh man, I think the zip code and date changes or defaults to something when a link is shared because I entered the zipcode of the trailhead! I will just screenshot next time and save us the confusion

This site shows the weather at Half Dome and other hikes and mountains very close to where they were hiking, might shed additional insight into the conditions: Half Dome Weather Forecast (2695m)

Half Dome is in Yosemite, it's very different in that waterfall and tree filled park than where they were.
[ETA: The majority of visitors don't make it up Half Dome which is the most difficult hike/climb in the park.]
Microclimates in CA can change in a few miles, depending on elevation (a valley is cooler in the summer), water proximity, shade trees, etc.
The last time I was in Yosemite a couple years ago, we took a drive out that way, exploring.
It's a very different landscape, desolate, hot and barren with black burned tree stumps.
Also, most temperature gauges are generally in a box, shaded, there can be a big difference in sun and shade temps.

 

[Oskive]

Does anyone have a link for the 'picture' that was posted somewhere of the backpack at 6:45a.m.? The post above shows a well-cited source saying LE thinks they went out in the afternoon. That information would be helpful for sure.

Could only find one report about a picture and it's from the original story when they were first reported missing.

Entire family reported missing, later found dead in Mariposa County

 

[whirrledpeas]

Are there any scenarios that anyone has that does not involve them dying on Sunday? We do not yet have time of death (though a reasonably accurate one could be determined by the coroner at the scene, give or take a few hours) so we are all mostly assuming they died the day they went out. I have gone through dozens of what-ifs and scenarios in my head and all of them point to the family having died sometime on Sunday.

 

[whirrledpeas]

[

Could only find one report about a picture and it's from the original story when they were first reported missing.

Entire family reported missing, later found dead in Mariposa County

Thanks! I knew I had read it somewhere. I wonder what platform they used to upload. This is just a really sad story all around.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

You can look up lightning strikes for August 15, 2021 for California here:

Lightning

I wish the map was a little more detailed.

I see 3 strikes that day and they look further east, in the Sierra.

That's close enough to give me pause. From my own observation, those sites don't capture every lightning event. It tells us there was at least some kind of electrical activity in the area that day.

Of course it's still unlikely they were hit by lightning with zero outward signs, but at this point every possibility seems to be without outward evidence...

MOO

 

[Tower]

Does anyone have a link for the 'picture' that was posted somewhere of the backpack at 6:45a.m.? The post above shows a well-cited source saying LE thinks they went out in the afternoon. That information would be helpful for sure.

I saw it on social media last week, but I did not personally check the time it was posted. I believe it was Ms. Chung’s Instagram. I could not find it when I looked again yesterday. I don’t know if I’m just missing it or it’s been taken down or set to private. Sorry I cannot be of more help.
ETA: I can’t even find an account that looks familiar, so I’m doubting whether I saw a backpack posted in an article or on SM. I just can’t remember.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

So, they leave in the morning... They have water with them when they are found... This is telling! Heat stroke when they have water is less likely. I am really wondering what in the world could have happened here. It doesn't make any sense. I know people who live in AZ and hike in 100 degree weather all of the time. With experienced hikers, as long as they are careful (stop to cool off in the shade often and keep hydrated), they do not typically have issues.

They had a small amount of water left and may have been rationing/conserving it. There was no shade on this trail, the tall pines had burned in a fire a few years ago. I personally think the 1400 feet of elevation to climb back to the truck was simply not possible for the adults if they were succumbing to the heat. I hope it is not an even darker tragedy. MOO only.

 

[Knox]

Thank you. It is not very clear why the authorities believe that if they have not yet analyzed the phones and the last known communication was earlier that morning (presumably referring to that 6.45 am pic of the baby carrier). If I am up early in the morning on a Sunday posting a pic of a baby carrier/backpack, I am most likely going to be leaving for a hike with that backpack soon after. Not 6 hours later. They didn't sleep in on Sunday. So why delay the hike to the afternoon?

Autopsy reports for the family and dog remained outstanding Friday, with officials saying they don’t expect any definitive answers until lab technicians in Stanislaus County and UC Davis work through toxicology reports. There are no other obvious signs of trauma or notes indicating troubles. Authorities are investigating deadly gas exposure from unknown mines, toxic bacteria blooms in the waterways and basic dehydration — it was 107 to 109 degrees Sunday afternoon when officials believe they hiked.

In the latest tragedy, authorities believe the family left for their hike Sunday afternoon. The last known communication was with a friend earlier that morning.

When the deputy found the truck, a search-and-rescue team hiked down the steep and straight road with flashlights and found shoe and paw prints similar to what you’d expect from a family of that size with a dog, Briese said.

At 3:20 a.m., the sheriff’s office reserved a search helicopter for daybreak. They called in a second search team that began winding down the switchbacks that complete the loop back up to the Forest Service gate. This section of the Hites Cove Trail makes a loop, with the halfway point the south fork of the Merced River.

About 1.5 miles down the switchbacks, around 11 a.m. Tuesday, the team found the family in the middle of the trail. The husband was in a seated position, the child beside him along with the dog, and the wife just a little farther up the hill. Briese said they believe the family was returning to their truck.

A cell phone was in Gerrish’s pocket. There is little to no cell coverage on that section of trail. Investigators are trying to determine if the phone saved any failed text message drafts, attempted calls or photos, along with GPS location data, Briese said.

The family also had a backpack with a bladder that held a small amount of water, the sheriff said. They sent the water for testing. There was no indication whether the family had been swimming, as they would have dried off by the time they were found, he said.

'Not one clue': The mystery is only deepening around the family found dead on a Sierra trail

That's the million dollar question ... I trust LE has more to go on than we do, but I'd sure like to hear a reporter ask why LE thinks it was an afternoon hike.

 

[SophieRose]

That's close enough to give me pause. From my own observation, those sites don't capture every lightning event. It tells us there was at least some kind of electrical activity in the area that day.

Of course it's still unlikely they were hit by lightning with zero outward signs, but at this point every possibility seems to be without outward evidence...

MOO

The Sierra gets a lot more moisture in the summer than the foothills, where the trail was, so they get more thunderstorms. One day back in July the foothills had a few strikes.

 

[Countem]

MOO

I am catching up on all of today’s posts, and it keeps being mentioned that foul play is likely involved because of the unlikelihood that four family members would all pass away from heat-related stressors at the same time.

First, of the four family members, the baby and the dog were completely dependent on the adults. If the two adults succumbed to the elements, the baby and the dog would likely not save themselves. Therefore, it makes sense that if the two adults perish, all four perish.

Second, just because all four family members were found in the same general area, does not mean that they all became unresponsive at the same time. If the baby or the dog were the first to become unresponsive, the two adults may have carried them back towards their vehicle for some time. Additionally, with the mother leaving the rest of her family behind in the middle of the trail to try to get to the vehicle implies that the others were incapacitated.

Personally, I find the chance of foul play (e.g., intentional poisoning either by one of the group or an outsider who dumped their bodies) extremely unlikely because they appeared to be making their way back to the vehicle based on how their bodies were found (rather than all being located at a scenic lookout point), and their water was low, meaning that they were drinking their water on a hike (a detail that a person dumping bodies would likely fail to consider).

Anyway, it’s all MOO.

 

[happyday]

Can you paste a link to the article that conclusively says they left for their hike in the afternoon?

'Not one clue': The mystery is only deepening around the family found dead on a Sierra trail

In the latest tragedy, authorities believe the family left for their hike Sunday afternoon. The last known communication was with a friend earlier that morning.