A 31-year-old stepfather from Florida and his teen stepson died while attempting to hike at Big Bend National Park on June 23 as temperatures soared above 110 degrees and officials warned people against hiking in the extreme heat. Sadly, the 14-year-old boy fell ill during the hike and the stepfather died instantly in a car accident on the way to get help, authorities stated, per The Guardian.
The stepfather and his two stepsons were reportedly hiking the Marufo Vega Trail on June 23, the news outlet reported. The other stepson, age 21, was unharmed. The identities of the stepson and stepfather have not been released by authorities yet, and the teenager's official cause of death is still pending.
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Authorities advised against hiking on the trail that day because of the excessive heat.
Park officials released a statement about the dangers of trying the Marufo Vega Trail in the blazing hot heat.
“The Marufo Vega Trail winds through extremely rugged desert and rocky cliffs within the hottest part of Big Bend national park. No shade or water makes this strenuous trail dangerous to attempt in the heat of summer,” the park service news release said, per The Guardian.
The 14-year-old boy reportedly became ill during the hike and became unconscious about 6 p.m., the New York Post reported. The stepfather went to get help, and the older brother tried to carry the teen back on the trail, the news outlet noted. Authorities found the boy and his brother around 7:30 p.m., and he was pronounced dead, according to a statement from the National Park Service.
The stepfather died in a car accident trying to get help.
Authorities reportedly searched the area after locating the teen to try to find the stepfather. Around 8 p.m., they discovered the father’s vehicle had crashed at the Boquillas Overlook over an embankment, according to The Guardian. The stepfather was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to the National Park Service.
The National Park Service offered its condolences to the family. "Our entire park community sends our deep condolences to the family and great appreciation to the dedicated first responders who reached the scene under extreme conditions,” said Park Information Officer Tom VandenBerg, according to the agency.
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It can be extremely dangerous to hike in high temperatures.
The NPS has an extreme heat advisory posted on its site advising hikers to stay off the trails in the afternoon. “Temperatures reach over 110+ every day along the Rio Grande and throughout the desert areas of Big Bend. These are extremely dangerous/deadly temperatures! Hikers should be OFF TRAILS in the afternoon. Stay hydrated. Limit your exposure,” the advisory states.
When you hike in extremely hot weather there is a danger of dehydration, heat exhaustion, sunburn, heat cramps, and heat stroke, according to Recreational Equipment Inc, or REI.
Symptoms of heat stroke can include nausea, headaches, dizziness, disorientation, and a high body temperature of 104 or higher. Shade, hydration, and evacuation to a hospital as soon as possible are necessary in this situation, the company recommends.
People were shocked and confused about why the father would have taken his sons hiking in the extreme temperature.
Readers of the New York Post story about the hike could not understand why the hike too place given the weather conditions.
“Don't understand how an adult ignored the obvious to put anyone, no less an adolescent, in danger,” one person commented.
Others pointed out that the park is huge and in a remote area, and those two factors aside from heat can make it very dangerous.
“I have hiked that park which is absolutely huge and very remote. If not careful, you can easily run out of gas in the middle and find yourself in deep trouble," one commenter wrote. "Not a place for those who fail to plan appropriately or aren't able to care for themselves.”
Another reader pointed out that people choose not to heed warnings, but doing so can mean the difference between life and death. “Hiking on rugged trails in the desert during summer months with Temperatures near 120F, what could go wrong? This isn’t some Good Bad & Ugly desert movie script its real life & death. Know the conditions you will face, heed warnings & carry more water than necessary,” the person wrote.
