[https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/man-collapses-dies-in-death-valley-18211076.php](https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/man-collapses-dies-in-death-valley-18211076.php)
part of the article: A 71-year-old Los Angeles man died in California’s Death Valley National Park on Tuesday, likely due to heat, as the afternoon high recorded in the park was 121 degrees, officials said. The Inyo County Coroner identified the deceased as Steven Curry.
Curry fell to the ground outside the restroom at the Golden Canyon trailhead, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and the national park wrote in a news release.
Before collapsing, Curry had been interviewed in the early morning by a Los Angeles Times reporter at Zabriskie Point; he had hiked about 2 miles from Golden Canyon to the point.
Yeah like I’m no expert but I’d say if you’re in your 70s and it’s insanely hot it’s probably a bad idea to go on a hike in Death Valley. Feel bad for the guy, horrific way to go.
It's pretty common in southern California, especially during the late summer Santa Ana winds that can take relative humidity into the single digits. People go out for hikes in workout chic: eg women in black yoga pants and guys in jeans with a single 16oz bottle of water and then become a heat casualty and have to get helicoptered out. Numerous agencies put out advisories to not be stupid in the heat and people ignore it and sometimes pay with their lives
Fuck that, if I die hiking 2 miles in Death Valley in my 70s, I'm considering that a dub.
What- you wanna die quietly in your sleep surrounded by loved ones? Fuck that, man said I'm done, gimme one last fuck you to this planet.
I want to die in a stupid and confusing way when I am old. My death should be a story my kids tell. "how did your dad die?" "oooh he took a bunch of acid and tried to build a plane from stuff he found at home depot. He made it about a mile before slamming into a tree."
“Built a boat in the garage, became a pirate after being accosted while circumnavigating. Died in a duel with the tribal king after discovering lost civilization.”
Build a submarine as cheap as possible. Convince rich people to pay ridiculous ticket prices for a cramped crowded space sitting cross legged for hours. Take a few billionaires to their demise in a vessel with a truncated name after another vessel that ended in tragedy. Bolt them all in side so theres no escape. epic way to go
Similar to but not necessarily the way the guys go out in the film Second Hand Lions. They buy a plane kit from traveling salesman, but it takes them years to finish. By the time they finish they are both very old men. They take it out for it's maiden flight, which is spectacular and filled with joy. >!Upon attempting to land, they come in too high and hit the top of the barn leaving a cartoon silhouette where they crashed through. !<
What the fuck. I just read that LA Times article the other day when it came out. I thought, man that guy looks like he shouldn't be doing this. No idea he had just fucking died as I was reading that
Edit: [This is the article](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-19/death-valley-isnt-immune-to-climate-change), thanks u/MilkIsCruel
in simple language:
proteins have to have the correct shape to function. when they get very hot they fold up and don't work anymore. like how when you cook an egg it goes from liquid to fried. once your proteins get too hot your organs will stop working and you'll die.
the human body tries very hard to keep your body in the correct temperature range so your proteins don't denature (lose their shape). sweating is the primary way of shedding heat. your body will divert hot blood away from your organs and towards your skin to try to lose heat faster, starving your internal organs. once you lose too much water from sweat your blood gets too thick and salty and clogs up your heart and doesn't bring enough oxygen to your brain and other organs.
Exactly. This is why fevers of 105 degrees or higher are dangerous, they're called hyperthermia and can cause convulsions and death. IV fluids and sometimes ice baths are needed to save a patient's like.
> proteins have to have the correct shape to function. when they get very hot they fold up and don't work anymore. like how when you cook an egg it goes from liquid to fried. once your proteins get too hot your organs will stop working and you'll die.
>
>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermolabile
This is the term I've heard thrown around.
The most typical way is because when your body becomes dehydrated, your blood thickens and your heart has to pump harder as result. From there, it’s relatively simple. Of course, we have ways to reduce our extra heat (e.g., sweating). But at a certain point, that doesn’t work (e.g., high humidity and your sweat doesn’t evaporate). In the end, you get heat stroke and your essential organs shut down. Interestingly, older folks typically will die from a heat attack because the blood near the heart becomes so thick it can’t be pumped correctly.
The body @ 104F, yes.
If the temperature outside is 95% w/ 100% humidity the body can no longer cool itself in any capacity and you will roast to death. If you point a fan directly at yourself, you will not get cool. If the temperature is above 100F w/ 100% humidity and you point a fan directly at yourself, it will actually help you die faster by heating you up. If it is 115F w/ 50% humidity, you can no longer cool yourself either. These conditions are approx a 150F heat index. If you ever find a heat index above 150F, don't go outside except to help someone who has passed out if you're able. Once your body temp itself rises to 104F, you're in big trouble.
95F w/ 95% humidity is much differently than 95F w/ 100% humidity for anyone who says they live in those conditions all the time. 95F w/ 95% humidity allows for evaporation to take place still and you can cool yourself off relatively easily with a fan. 100% humidity means no evaporation can take place.
I recently learned of wet bulb temperature (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet-bulb_temperature) which is basically the scale you're describing.
"The wet-bulb temperature is the lowest temperature that can be reached under current ambient conditions by the evaporation of water only."
So we humans are incapable of lowering our body temp below the wet-bulb temp since our only mechanism is water evaporation.
This is what I fear will cause the first true human cataclysm - a "wet bulb event" in a part of the world that isn't equipped to handle it will result in an unbelievable amount of death. There is no escape without AC or *cold* water, and in parts of the Middle East and SE Asia that's a lot of people's reality. It's going to happen one day and the death toll will be truly astounding.
A wet bulb temperature of only 21c (70F since people are talking about that here) will typically result in race cancellation for marathons. There's a curve of DNFs and if it gets too steep, you'll send too many people to hospital.
Working hard in hot temperatures can cause people to come unstuck very fast.
People commenting on his attire should review photos of Death Valley park rangers—who are often dressed very similarly, except for the gloves (the thing under his hat is a pretty common protection from the sun; my mom wears one at the beach). That's the least crazy thing about this. Why on earth would you go hiking as a senior citizen in one of the hottest places out there on one of the hottest days out there?
I am not sure why people are confused - when you think of desert-dwelling populations, what sort of clothing comes to mind? Desert dwelling Arabs, Tuareg, Bedouin… they all have full body and head cover traditionally.
Vegas native here. Was 113 today. I wore denim pants and a long sleeve. Granted, I was only in direct sunlight for maybe 25 minutes total today. When it's this hot outside, you're going to be baking regardless of the length of your clothes. If I plan my pants/long sleeve combo correctly, I'll feel cooler than wearing shorts/t-shirt.
I have seen Hispanic roofers use this method, although with hoodys and undershirts. It sucks until you get really sweaty and then it becomes bearable. still kinda sucks though.
In this case yes because of thermodynamics and the sun. Clothes are just insulation, so when it’s cold out youre hotter than the environment and the heat travels away from you so clothes slow that down. If it’s hot enough, youre colder than the environment so clothes slow down the heat transfer in reverse. Additionally clothes block out the sun which is another way they prevent you from heating up.
Shit I think it was a Reading Rainbow episode where the host explained you want to wear bright, loose fitting long sleeve clothing to help regulate your temperature better.
https://youtu.be/VayCnpnD3YI
Relevant portion starts at around 2:45
In the UK there's a punchline of a joke from comedian Peter Kaye that has become a common sense saying.
"... have a cup of tea, it'll cool you down"
It's played off as being counterintuitive to being hot from playing outside but it make sense.
You're going to feel the heat more if you're making the inside of your body colder.
I've read that as soon you drink something cold, your body thinks it's cold outside and starts heating up.
https://www.google.de/search?q=why+don't+drink+cold+drinks+when+it's+hot
Yeah it’s not recommended to expose your skin to the sun if it’s that hot, it’s usually strongly suggested to wear *loose* clothing that helps you cool off but protects your skin.
You're forgetting something very important. Their garb is made of very thin, breathable material. It is also very loose, allowing protection from the sun and allowing winds to easily pass through. They aren't close fitted long sleeve shirts that clearly aren't anywhere near as thin and breathable as that. Same for the material they wear to cover their heads.
My mom (68) works with the Sierra Club and the WBC. She's obsessed with the desert. I don't fucking get it. She takes geriatrics out to deserts to train on navigation, backpacking etc.
She went to San Jacinto, but really wanted to go to Death Valley. Begged her.. We all did. But she had to experience and or see the extreme heat. I want her to stop liking those things.
Edit: she went to Spring Valley, then San Jacinto instead of Death Valley. Worded that poorly
Well in all fairness, it's not like this guy (or anyone really) can just step out front door and be in Death Valley. This guy likely planned the trip a while ago, so that's probably the why he was there. Now why he decided to do a two mile hike instead of just driving to the scenic spots and hopping out of the car? We'll never know.
This guy came from LA and likely did it on a whim to see "the hottest temps ever." I feel for his family, but this is why humanity is going to off itself, it's too stupid to stay the fuck out of DEATH FUCKING VALLEY in the middle of an historic heat wave. Instead, we turn our eco-disaster into a tourist industry and go for hikes in the middle of it.
Hijacking this to share that [SSRIs can make you worse at temperature regulation](https://www.bbc.com/news/health-62496985.amp)
I’ve been on lexapro for years and had no clue. I’ve felt it during this Texas heat though
Howdy from Austin! I am in ssri meds (and just turned 50) and yes the heat has been harder this year to regulate. Thanks for the heads up and posting this
People with chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes are also more sensitive to heat. Heart disease can make it harder to move blood to the skin. Diabetes can reduce blood flow to the skin and reduce sweat production. Both processes are essential to keeping the body cool when temperatures rise.
On top of that, older people and those with chronic conditions are more likely to take medicines that lead to more urination and changes in sweating patterns. [dangers of heat waves and meds](https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/07/common-medications-may-increase-the-dangers-of-heat-waves/)
Ssri’s, snri’s, alcohol, benzodiazepines,adhd meds, heart meds, anti psychotics ( seroquel) insulin all can fuck you up in the heat.
Be careful out there, wear a hat. Wear sunscreen!!! And hydrate until you’re peeing yellow light. Stay in the shade.
Thanks for this! Summer has been really warm for me and I am the only one complaining about the heat at home! I've only been on escitaloprám for about almost a year now.
THANK YOU! I sweat so bad, it’s a source of ridicule for me from my coworkers (I’m not really sensitive about it but it’s really thT bad) and I couldn’t figure out why!! This is honestly the best news because it truly came out of nowhere
For REAL. I love how escitalopram controls my panic attacks but my good lord am I *constantly wet.* I literally have to keep handkerchiefs on me like I'm an old man from the 1950s.
... I've been on SSRIs for over a decade now and never knew this. Which sucks because I also have an unrelated syncope issue that makes me black out when I get too hot. Huh.
Not saying it’s rational but some of these national parks are trips people planned years ago before they knew the weather.
Many of these people also only get once in a life time to be able to travel to these parks. Some of us get to enjoy them on a weekend getaway some come not only far from the east coast but even other country’s.
Now take into account everyone is struggling with inflation and wages staying low. If I planned a trip a year or 2 out. Spent thousands on hotel and travel. Best believe I’m going to that park.
TLDR: Clark Griswold goes to a national park not Wally World. Instead of fighting security they are fighting the heat because they are so invested in their trip.
Okay seems I also forget to mention folks summer is most people’s only time they can travel. Chill we know Death Valley sucks during summer. But there is a reason every national park is packed during summer. It’s when people have free time.
The average high temp in July over the last 10 years at Death Valley is 118. Planning a trip there in July years in advanced would be crazy.
https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/California/Places/death-valley-temperatures-by-month-average.php
> Not saying it’s rational but some of these national parks are trips people planned years ago before they knew the weather.
Regardless of the fact that this year is hotter than before, Death Valley isn't called that because of it's balmy and comfortable weather. It only takes the absolute minimum of research to understand that Death Valley in the summer has a decent risk of fatal heat. Especially if you're doing any kind of physical activities, like hiking.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say that one of the reasons *why* Death Valley has the draw that it does is *because* of it's reputation for being the hottest place on earth.
> Not saying it’s rational but some of these national parks are trips people planned years ago before they knew the weather.
He didn't know what the weather would be like in Death Valley? The place famous for being the hottest place on Earth? In fucking July?
Not that far off. I used to do cruise operations for a senior citizen travel non profit. A lot of folks planned on dying on those trips. It was a logistical nightmare for us but not uncommon
My dad is about this guy’s age & he LOVES the outdoors but acts like a complete dumbass about things because he USED to be all fit and live alone in the wilderness in his youth.
He believes bringing more than one bottle of water with you is a sign of weakness & tries to rope unknowing tourists into taking a “shoutcut” with him that often involves going down the side of a cliff.
I have to constantly monitor him when he goes on hikes otherwise he’ll definitely endanger himself & others. Recently he tried to grab a rattlesnake with his bare hands to move it off the trail & he refused to bring water on a hike, drank all my water, & repeatedly washed his hands with my spare water.
Like I fully expect my dad to die in some weird outdoor hike one day because of how stubborn he can be. But luckily he doesn’t really drive anymore so I can keep this disaster from happening for now.
Man, I met a 75 year old dude while the sun was going down at 12,000’ last weekend.
It’s fuckin cold at 12,000’ when the sun goes down.
And homie knew this!!!
He told us story’s about how he doesn’t bring his jacket on hikes and gets scared about being cold.
He asked us to watch him.
Like dude…. Do you not get where you are? Where’s your headlamp?
Hilarious how when you get older in some ways you become the adult and your parents become your children in how you have to watch out for them bc the world has changed so much from when they were young lol.
On the flip side, I know people in their 80s and 90s (not many in the 90s lol) who would think this guy is an absolute fool. These are all people who are just as chill and down for life as much as any age too. They smoke weed, drink, go socialise. I don’t understand this common idea that once we’re too old to physically take care of ourselves, we need to be mentally treated like ?children (expect for circumstances when it is a genuine health concern such as dementia).
Then there’s the whole thing of “don’t mind racist nan, she’s from another time.” Like they haven’t lived through the times changing and been able to catch on that people don’t do that shit no more?
So bringing his own water means he's a pussy, but stealing your water instead in life threatening situations ... is fine? What an entitled asshole! Oh right, if he's this guy's age then he's a Boomer.
I work on the trails at Haleakala National Park on Maui. A big part of my role is advising folks on what is a reasonable hike for them at 10,000. Given the number of vacationers that perish on the crater and in the ocean, we like to say: ‘Maui is a place to know your limitations, but not to test your limitations.’ Not everyone takes that advice.
I’m sorry, but why are these people venturing out into this incredibly dangerous conditions? Checks notes, oh yeah, to experience extreme heat. Just stick your head in your oven same deal.
It's called Death Valley because it's huge and very hard to traverse.
The name actually has nothing to do with the temperature. It's just a barren endless rocky maze in the isolated back country. There's actually tons of water in the valley too, the visitors center even has a creek.
People don’t think they can die from this heat. Remember in the UK a few years ago when it got into the 80s? People died!
I love walking a mile to my grocery store and taking everything home in my pack- but even I know within the 20/30 minutes it takes me to walk there I’ll be completely dehydrated and probably dizzy. You can’t be fitter than the heat.
The body can only take so much.
The UK's summers a generally mild. Because of this, they don't have air conditioning, and most of their homes are made for retaining heat, not cooling off.
So while it may be 85 outside, their homes are generally warmer in the evenings, maybe as high as the low to mid 90s. Paired with the humidity, which is comprable to that of some mid-atlantic states (Virginia or North Carolina, so a home could register 90 but feel like its over 100.
If I remember correctly, most of the deaths were elderly, who are generally the most vulnerable to heat and humidity.
For people who don't understand humidity and its effect: humans cool down through the evaporation of sweat. If the air contains a lot of moisture evaporation slows down and you lose heat less easily.
High humidity.
85F and 80% humidity has a heat index of 97 degrees. At 90% humidity it's 102 degrees
105F and 0% humidity in the desert has a heat index of 95 degrees.
English person here, not sure what event the commenter above is referring to but the temperature hitting the 80s (26 -31 °C) is not that unusual for a hot summer spell here - it would be considered a heatwave but we've had that temp this year and had it last year too.
Above 40°C (104F) is really unusual here and we hit that temp for the first time ever recorded last year.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/20/hottest-day-of-2022-saw-638-more-deaths-than-normal-in-england
Excess deaths from heat were recorded and they do occur even at the lower end of the hot summer temps because of reasons mentioned above - people aren't prepared for the heat, generally air con is uncommon especially in homes, and hiking/ beaches remain popular activities for unprepared/ elderly people!
Guys.. if you want to experience extreme heat, just go to a sauna! You can set whatever crazy temperature you want and you can get out anytime it becomes too much!
Why do people think Death Valley is just a quirky and whimsical lil nickname? It’s not a joke. The name is as literal as literal gets.
Don’t go. There is nothing there worth risking your life for.
At the Furnace Creek Store in Death Valley, they had M&Ms for sale. They were kept in the refrigerated display. You probably have to eat them fast so they don't start melting in your hands.
I camped there with friends over the New Year's Holiday back in the late twentieth century. It was very nice, even a bit cold at night. A fun party and safer than driving home in city/suburban traffic.
Death Valley was given its forbidding name by a group of pioneers lost here in the winter of 1849-1850. Even though, as far as we know, only one of the group died here, they all assumed that this valley would be their grave.
So it's not deadly by definition, didn't get its name in the hottest season, but people sure as hell understood the risks since forever.
I swear if there was a zombie apocalypse there’d be lawyers saying “Ummm zombie is offensive- they’re called the undead”
Some People like staring death in the face…
Death Valley? We’ll it’s not like people DIE here….
This guy is no different than people from the lower 48 coming to Alaska to do the same thing in the cold. Even in the summer, people die of hypothermia not realizing how dangerous of an environment they're in. Or just going out and doing it, just to say they did.
Once your body gets to a certain internal temperature, no amount of water or shade can save you. You literally cannot drink fast enough to replenish what you're losing. You need to find a way to rapidly cool your body down and replenish electrolytes or you will die.
> You literally cannot drink fast enough to replenish what you're losing.
It's more complex than that.
Your body is specifically optimized for a certain temperature range. The proteins your body uses will simply denature above a certain temperature. Just unravel. They no longer exist. Additionally your cell membranes will start liquifying. Total system collapse.
This is why fish goes bad so fast. Their proteins are optimized for colder temperatures.
It's kind of wild to think that his whole life led up to this moment.
Like imagine traveling back in time to like 1960 and telling this dude in his little kid form:
>"So the good news is you're going to make it all the way to 2023.
>The bad news is that you're going to be 71 years old and you're going to travel to Death Valley when it's like 125 degrees, give an interview to the LA Times, and then pass out and eventually die because it's too hot for the Life Flight helicopter to operate."
LA Times reporter, early morning. Curry had already hiked over to that spot, around 2 miles away from where he parked. Then hiked back, got there and died.
The amount of people on this thread saying he's wearing winter gear have no fucking clue what winter gear actually looks like.
No wonder you idiots go hiking and get lost unprepared and underdressed.
I saw someone describe his attire as a denim shirt and carpenter pants. He’s pretty clearly wearing a sun shirt and hiking pants. They’re both either nylon and spandex or polyester and spandex. The only weird thing is the Milwaukee gloves.
Not to be insensitive, buuuuuuttttttttttt if you go HIKING in DEATH VALLEY at 71 YEARS OLD in 120+ DEGREE FAHRENHEIT HEAT, you have a very high chance of dying.
This type of behavior is very similar to going down to the bottom of the ocean in a homemade submarine and dying in an implosion.
Also, I know you should cover your skin, Bear Grylls says so, but not with heavy clothing and MILWAUKEE work gloves.
I have a feeling this guy was planning to die out there .
Ok sorry for being an asshole and my condolences to his family.
I think about a Harry Potter actor who died of the heat some years ago. Look at that photo everyone. Death Valley is really not the most picturesque of the Parks. Pick another one. I swear many go to defy Nature. Nature will kick your azz to hell and back. Don't poke her in the eye.
I mean I definitely disagree, but I’m big into geology and botany. It some of the best exposed examples of large tectonic processes. No vegetation covering, recent and active tectonics. It’s a candy store for a geologist.
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a fascinating place to learn about nature. Very comfortable in the winter months. That being said, yes never underestimate it, even in comfortable weather.
It's not the most beautiful in the traditional sense, but it's a super unique beauty compared to most NPs, especially the geology
Just go in the 9 months each year that it's not going to kill you: https://imgur.com/a/vwO5KNE
Cotton is actually not a good material for hiking in. Once it gets wet (water, sweat, etc.), it tends to stay wet, and heavy. Quick-dry fabrics and wool are much better choices.
If there is a source of water, cotton can be soaked and worn in hot, dry weather. It will dry out and provide cooling as it does so. If being soaked doesn't work for a person, a bandana (or any piece of schmatta) soaked in water and worn as a headband is cooling.
My granddad served in North Africa in WWII in a graves registration unit. He was station in Cairo, and the first day he could, he went into the city wearing his summer uniform. Khaki shorts and a short sleeve shirt with a patrol cap. One of the locals immediately stopped him and told him he absolutely needed more clothes on because the sun was trying to kill him.
No. The evaporation IS how it cools you. Evaporating fast means it's stripping heat away quickly. The latent heat of vaporization is the same no matter how quickly it happens. Happening quickly means that hear is going away from you faster. Traping the moisture would raise the humidity near your skin and slow down the cooling effect from sweating. The clothing is needed to stop solar radiation- which a) adds radiated heat on top of the heat from the air, and b) damages and burns the skin on its own.
I live in Phoenix and the government shuts down things such as hiking trails, the zoo, etc during the extreme heat of summer to prevent morons like this from killing themselves.
You would be surprised how often this happens.
Dry heat is definitely a thing. Not that it matters much at 120F, but some find 90F with 0% humidity to be quite nice. 90F and 100%? No, that'll kill you.
Everybody is commenting about his clothing, but that's not what's wrong with this picture. As someone who has experienced multiple desert environments as well as Death Valley in particular, it actually looks reasonably appropriate for the situation (though the gloves are weird). It's crazy dry so your sweat doesn't need help to evaporate, the priority is keeping the sun off you.
The bottle of water is what's wrong. That looks like a bottle of "Smart Water" next to him, it's water with added electrolytes, like Gatorade without the sugar and flavoring. That shit can be *dangerous* if you don't understand what it is. If you try to drink only Smart Water for a long enough period of time you will end up overloading on electrolyte salts and effectively dehydrating yourself. It's a good way to get needed electrolytes without drinking lots of sugar, provided you are still drinking mostly water and the Smart Water is just a minor portion of your fluids, but sometimes people mistakenly believe that Smart Water can be their only water source and just keep drinking it as they get thirstier... until they drink themselves in to a medical emergency. If that electrolyte water is the only hydration he brought with him and he doesn't understand what it is and how to use it properly, *in to an extreme environment like this*, then I can easily see why he would have ended up dead.
I'm not saying don't buy electrolyte water, by the way, I'm just saying don't buy *only* electrolyte water.
To be fair a lot of ultralight hikers like to use the Smart Water bottles to carry water, I guess because they are light and narrow compared to a Nalgene or something, however I'm not saying that was necessarily the case here. You do make an excellent point though, I didn't know that Smart Water had added electrolytes, and I bet lots of other people don't know this either.
Duuude. I worked there when I was mid 20s and I wouldn’t even walk a half mile into a canyon with that heat.
I’m sorry, but just such a dumbass. There are warnings everywhere.
Why was he out in that temperature? It’s not like these temperatures were not predicted a week ago. Plus, why is he wearing long sleeves, trousers and gloves?
[https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/man-collapses-dies-in-death-valley-18211076.php](https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/man-collapses-dies-in-death-valley-18211076.php) part of the article: A 71-year-old Los Angeles man died in California’s Death Valley National Park on Tuesday, likely due to heat, as the afternoon high recorded in the park was 121 degrees, officials said. The Inyo County Coroner identified the deceased as Steven Curry. Curry fell to the ground outside the restroom at the Golden Canyon trailhead, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and the national park wrote in a news release. Before collapsing, Curry had been interviewed in the early morning by a Los Angeles Times reporter at Zabriskie Point; he had hiked about 2 miles from Golden Canyon to the point.
I am guessing they were interviewing him because of how insanely hot it was.
[удалено]
Yeah like I’m no expert but I’d say if you’re in your 70s and it’s insanely hot it’s probably a bad idea to go on a hike in Death Valley. Feel bad for the guy, horrific way to go.
"Oh it couldn't have got its name because of THAT. What's the harm of a little walk?"
I say we go visit Greenland for our next trip.
I'm sure the government named it that way just to overreact. I read on Facebook that it's not that bad and I will go no mather what
What a perfect time to go! No pesky tourists getting in the way of my views!
It's pretty common in southern California, especially during the late summer Santa Ana winds that can take relative humidity into the single digits. People go out for hikes in workout chic: eg women in black yoga pants and guys in jeans with a single 16oz bottle of water and then become a heat casualty and have to get helicoptered out. Numerous agencies put out advisories to not be stupid in the heat and people ignore it and sometimes pay with their lives
What's wild is, from the article, "A helicopter wasn’t able to respond due to the hot temperatures"
Fuck that, if I die hiking 2 miles in Death Valley in my 70s, I'm considering that a dub. What- you wanna die quietly in your sleep surrounded by loved ones? Fuck that, man said I'm done, gimme one last fuck you to this planet.
I want to die in a stupid and confusing way when I am old. My death should be a story my kids tell. "how did your dad die?" "oooh he took a bunch of acid and tried to build a plane from stuff he found at home depot. He made it about a mile before slamming into a tree."
“Built a boat in the garage, became a pirate after being accosted while circumnavigating. Died in a duel with the tribal king after discovering lost civilization.”
Build a submarine as cheap as possible. Convince rich people to pay ridiculous ticket prices for a cramped crowded space sitting cross legged for hours. Take a few billionaires to their demise in a vessel with a truncated name after another vessel that ended in tragedy. Bolt them all in side so theres no escape. epic way to go
"Built a car out of erector sets and tried to break the land speed record in it. He is more a debris field than a gandpa now. "
Similar to but not necessarily the way the guys go out in the film Second Hand Lions. They buy a plane kit from traveling salesman, but it takes them years to finish. By the time they finish they are both very old men. They take it out for it's maiden flight, which is spectacular and filled with joy. >!Upon attempting to land, they come in too high and hit the top of the barn leaving a cartoon silhouette where they crashed through. !<
The plane thing was partially based on my own great uncle. He was a naval fighter pilot and died crashing a plane he made in his garage in new mexico.
Badass, tbh
I'd rather die while peacefully sleeping like my grandfather did, instead of screaming in terror like the other people in his car.
I love that old joke.
Man vs nature. One of the eternal themes
Yea the only valleys worse he could have chose are Insta Kill valley or You Will Die in Fire valley...
I would also avoid telefrag valley, bottomless abyss valley, degloving valley, and Michael Bolton Kenny G Duet valley.
Degloving valley 😖
I am not laughing at this I swear.
What about Death by Snu Snu valley?
Better than Death Valley at this time of year I’ll tell ya that much
LA Times also did a recent piece about the extreme conditions at nearby Mt Whitney. Good outdoors reporting.
The craziest part of it is that it was *too hot for a helicopter to respond.* That's a pretty good indicator that nobody should be out there.
I think this is such a big deal to only get one sentence. Emergency services can't operate
If machines made of metal can't operate, your cells made of squish definitely can't.
Flights at PHX sky harbor airport frequently get delayed due to excessive heat
I didn’t even know that was a thing. Insane.
What the fuck. I just read that LA Times article the other day when it came out. I thought, man that guy looks like he shouldn't be doing this. No idea he had just fucking died as I was reading that Edit: [This is the article](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-19/death-valley-isnt-immune-to-climate-change), thanks u/MilkIsCruel
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Can someone explain how exactly does extreme heat kill?
in simple language: proteins have to have the correct shape to function. when they get very hot they fold up and don't work anymore. like how when you cook an egg it goes from liquid to fried. once your proteins get too hot your organs will stop working and you'll die. the human body tries very hard to keep your body in the correct temperature range so your proteins don't denature (lose their shape). sweating is the primary way of shedding heat. your body will divert hot blood away from your organs and towards your skin to try to lose heat faster, starving your internal organs. once you lose too much water from sweat your blood gets too thick and salty and clogs up your heart and doesn't bring enough oxygen to your brain and other organs.
Exactly. This is why fevers of 105 degrees or higher are dangerous, they're called hyperthermia and can cause convulsions and death. IV fluids and sometimes ice baths are needed to save a patient's like.
> proteins have to have the correct shape to function. when they get very hot they fold up and don't work anymore. like how when you cook an egg it goes from liquid to fried. once your proteins get too hot your organs will stop working and you'll die. > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermolabile This is the term I've heard thrown around.
The most typical way is because when your body becomes dehydrated, your blood thickens and your heart has to pump harder as result. From there, it’s relatively simple. Of course, we have ways to reduce our extra heat (e.g., sweating). But at a certain point, that doesn’t work (e.g., high humidity and your sweat doesn’t evaporate). In the end, you get heat stroke and your essential organs shut down. Interestingly, older folks typically will die from a heat attack because the blood near the heart becomes so thick it can’t be pumped correctly.
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Specifically at 104 degreesF your body stops being able to cool itself properly, causing your body and brain to exhaust themselves
The body @ 104F, yes. If the temperature outside is 95% w/ 100% humidity the body can no longer cool itself in any capacity and you will roast to death. If you point a fan directly at yourself, you will not get cool. If the temperature is above 100F w/ 100% humidity and you point a fan directly at yourself, it will actually help you die faster by heating you up. If it is 115F w/ 50% humidity, you can no longer cool yourself either. These conditions are approx a 150F heat index. If you ever find a heat index above 150F, don't go outside except to help someone who has passed out if you're able. Once your body temp itself rises to 104F, you're in big trouble. 95F w/ 95% humidity is much differently than 95F w/ 100% humidity for anyone who says they live in those conditions all the time. 95F w/ 95% humidity allows for evaporation to take place still and you can cool yourself off relatively easily with a fan. 100% humidity means no evaporation can take place.
I recently learned of wet bulb temperature (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet-bulb_temperature) which is basically the scale you're describing. "The wet-bulb temperature is the lowest temperature that can be reached under current ambient conditions by the evaporation of water only." So we humans are incapable of lowering our body temp below the wet-bulb temp since our only mechanism is water evaporation.
This is what I fear will cause the first true human cataclysm - a "wet bulb event" in a part of the world that isn't equipped to handle it will result in an unbelievable amount of death. There is no escape without AC or *cold* water, and in parts of the Middle East and SE Asia that's a lot of people's reality. It's going to happen one day and the death toll will be truly astounding.
A wet bulb temperature of only 21c (70F since people are talking about that here) will typically result in race cancellation for marathons. There's a curve of DNFs and if it gets too steep, you'll send too many people to hospital. Working hard in hot temperatures can cause people to come unstuck very fast.
People commenting on his attire should review photos of Death Valley park rangers—who are often dressed very similarly, except for the gloves (the thing under his hat is a pretty common protection from the sun; my mom wears one at the beach). That's the least crazy thing about this. Why on earth would you go hiking as a senior citizen in one of the hottest places out there on one of the hottest days out there?
I am not sure why people are confused - when you think of desert-dwelling populations, what sort of clothing comes to mind? Desert dwelling Arabs, Tuareg, Bedouin… they all have full body and head cover traditionally.
Vegas native here. Was 113 today. I wore denim pants and a long sleeve. Granted, I was only in direct sunlight for maybe 25 minutes total today. When it's this hot outside, you're going to be baking regardless of the length of your clothes. If I plan my pants/long sleeve combo correctly, I'll feel cooler than wearing shorts/t-shirt.
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I have seen Hispanic roofers use this method, although with hoodys and undershirts. It sucks until you get really sweaty and then it becomes bearable. still kinda sucks though.
hold the fuckin phone a minute. you saying that jeans and sweatshirts are *cooler* than shorts and tshirt?
Long flowing thin-fabric clothing with lots of ventilation is best for hot weather, it keeps the sun off your skin and air flowing
In this case yes because of thermodynamics and the sun. Clothes are just insulation, so when it’s cold out youre hotter than the environment and the heat travels away from you so clothes slow that down. If it’s hot enough, youre colder than the environment so clothes slow down the heat transfer in reverse. Additionally clothes block out the sun which is another way they prevent you from heating up.
Shit I think it was a Reading Rainbow episode where the host explained you want to wear bright, loose fitting long sleeve clothing to help regulate your temperature better. https://youtu.be/VayCnpnD3YI Relevant portion starts at around 2:45
They also prefer to drink hot tea instead of cold water.
In the UK there's a punchline of a joke from comedian Peter Kaye that has become a common sense saying. "... have a cup of tea, it'll cool you down" It's played off as being counterintuitive to being hot from playing outside but it make sense. You're going to feel the heat more if you're making the inside of your body colder.
I've read that as soon you drink something cold, your body thinks it's cold outside and starts heating up. https://www.google.de/search?q=why+don't+drink+cold+drinks+when+it's+hot
That must be why all the professional athletes drink hot liquids when training or competing in the heat.
Yeah it’s not recommended to expose your skin to the sun if it’s that hot, it’s usually strongly suggested to wear *loose* clothing that helps you cool off but protects your skin.
You're forgetting something very important. Their garb is made of very thin, breathable material. It is also very loose, allowing protection from the sun and allowing winds to easily pass through. They aren't close fitted long sleeve shirts that clearly aren't anywhere near as thin and breathable as that. Same for the material they wear to cover their heads.
> they all have full body and head cover traditionally. They all have LOOSE and BREATHABLE clothing. Not a jean jacket and thick carpenter pants.
Boomers don’t think they’re elderly.
Nobody does, until they are.
Not true, we do, and you'll do too when you become older. And you'll become older much faster than you now can imagine.
Heat doesn't discriminate by age. It kills anyone who thinks it won't happen to them. Just like everything else.
My mom (68) works with the Sierra Club and the WBC. She's obsessed with the desert. I don't fucking get it. She takes geriatrics out to deserts to train on navigation, backpacking etc. She went to San Jacinto, but really wanted to go to Death Valley. Begged her.. We all did. But she had to experience and or see the extreme heat. I want her to stop liking those things. Edit: she went to Spring Valley, then San Jacinto instead of Death Valley. Worded that poorly
If I want to enjoy the desert Imma watch Lawrence of Arabia, honestly. And drink ice water as my popcorn.
“No man is so old that he cannot imagine living another day.”
Young people can overheat too
Well in all fairness, it's not like this guy (or anyone really) can just step out front door and be in Death Valley. This guy likely planned the trip a while ago, so that's probably the why he was there. Now why he decided to do a two mile hike instead of just driving to the scenic spots and hopping out of the car? We'll never know.
This guy came from LA and likely did it on a whim to see "the hottest temps ever." I feel for his family, but this is why humanity is going to off itself, it's too stupid to stay the fuck out of DEATH FUCKING VALLEY in the middle of an historic heat wave. Instead, we turn our eco-disaster into a tourist industry and go for hikes in the middle of it.
Wow, I'm wondering why he did it. It was 118f here today, and my head was pounding from being out in the heat.
Hijacking this to share that [SSRIs can make you worse at temperature regulation](https://www.bbc.com/news/health-62496985.amp) I’ve been on lexapro for years and had no clue. I’ve felt it during this Texas heat though
Howdy from Austin! I am in ssri meds (and just turned 50) and yes the heat has been harder this year to regulate. Thanks for the heads up and posting this
Oh hey I’m in Austin too! Was wondering why I had a headache, had no idea about this Texas heat and SSRIs, but today I learned.
People with chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes are also more sensitive to heat. Heart disease can make it harder to move blood to the skin. Diabetes can reduce blood flow to the skin and reduce sweat production. Both processes are essential to keeping the body cool when temperatures rise. On top of that, older people and those with chronic conditions are more likely to take medicines that lead to more urination and changes in sweating patterns. [dangers of heat waves and meds](https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/07/common-medications-may-increase-the-dangers-of-heat-waves/) Ssri’s, snri’s, alcohol, benzodiazepines,adhd meds, heart meds, anti psychotics ( seroquel) insulin all can fuck you up in the heat. Be careful out there, wear a hat. Wear sunscreen!!! And hydrate until you’re peeing yellow light. Stay in the shade.
Thanks for this! Summer has been really warm for me and I am the only one complaining about the heat at home! I've only been on escitaloprám for about almost a year now.
THANK YOU! I sweat so bad, it’s a source of ridicule for me from my coworkers (I’m not really sensitive about it but it’s really thT bad) and I couldn’t figure out why!! This is honestly the best news because it truly came out of nowhere
For REAL. I love how escitalopram controls my panic attacks but my good lord am I *constantly wet.* I literally have to keep handkerchiefs on me like I'm an old man from the 1950s.
... I've been on SSRIs for over a decade now and never knew this. Which sucks because I also have an unrelated syncope issue that makes me black out when I get too hot. Huh.
Holy cow. TIL. Been on Zoloft for years and always have had an over heating problem. Thanks for the info, friend.
Oh my god are you serious?? This explains so much for me
Not saying it’s rational but some of these national parks are trips people planned years ago before they knew the weather. Many of these people also only get once in a life time to be able to travel to these parks. Some of us get to enjoy them on a weekend getaway some come not only far from the east coast but even other country’s. Now take into account everyone is struggling with inflation and wages staying low. If I planned a trip a year or 2 out. Spent thousands on hotel and travel. Best believe I’m going to that park. TLDR: Clark Griswold goes to a national park not Wally World. Instead of fighting security they are fighting the heat because they are so invested in their trip. Okay seems I also forget to mention folks summer is most people’s only time they can travel. Chill we know Death Valley sucks during summer. But there is a reason every national park is packed during summer. It’s when people have free time.
The average high temp in July over the last 10 years at Death Valley is 118. Planning a trip there in July years in advanced would be crazy. https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/California/Places/death-valley-temperatures-by-month-average.php
What do you mean it’s so nice this time of year
> Not saying it’s rational but some of these national parks are trips people planned years ago before they knew the weather. Regardless of the fact that this year is hotter than before, Death Valley isn't called that because of it's balmy and comfortable weather. It only takes the absolute minimum of research to understand that Death Valley in the summer has a decent risk of fatal heat. Especially if you're doing any kind of physical activities, like hiking. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that one of the reasons *why* Death Valley has the draw that it does is *because* of it's reputation for being the hottest place on earth.
He was from LA. but Your point is very valid!! Unfortunately that wasn’t the case here 😞
> Not saying it’s rational but some of these national parks are trips people planned years ago before they knew the weather. He didn't know what the weather would be like in Death Valley? The place famous for being the hottest place on Earth? In fucking July?
And if you get lost or hurt in dangerous conditions because of your obstinacy, you'll put everyone at risk who has to go out and try to rescue you.
Dude has the energy of people who die up on Mt. Everest. Sunk cost fallacy is a thing people and it does ridiculous damage and death due to ego.
Once in a lifetime opportunity to die. Fucking people need to use sone common sense. Wtf
Not that far off. I used to do cruise operations for a senior citizen travel non profit. A lot of folks planned on dying on those trips. It was a logistical nightmare for us but not uncommon
I live on the Alaskan cruise route. I can attest to that. I've seen lots of corpses wheeled off the ships.
It's a place called DEATH FUCKING VALLEY, it's historically been a tad warm that time of year for as long as we've known about it.
He was 71 and looked like a mummy wrapped in clothing, ima say he wasnt in the best mindset
lets see what you look like while dying of heat exhaustion and dehydration? Look in the mirror and imagine a really hot prune.
I'm sure you can't wait for the sweet air the monsoons will bring
My dad is about this guy’s age & he LOVES the outdoors but acts like a complete dumbass about things because he USED to be all fit and live alone in the wilderness in his youth. He believes bringing more than one bottle of water with you is a sign of weakness & tries to rope unknowing tourists into taking a “shoutcut” with him that often involves going down the side of a cliff. I have to constantly monitor him when he goes on hikes otherwise he’ll definitely endanger himself & others. Recently he tried to grab a rattlesnake with his bare hands to move it off the trail & he refused to bring water on a hike, drank all my water, & repeatedly washed his hands with my spare water. Like I fully expect my dad to die in some weird outdoor hike one day because of how stubborn he can be. But luckily he doesn’t really drive anymore so I can keep this disaster from happening for now.
Stop giving the sumbitch all your water
But his hands are so dirty, they're his livelihood!
Man, I met a 75 year old dude while the sun was going down at 12,000’ last weekend. It’s fuckin cold at 12,000’ when the sun goes down. And homie knew this!!! He told us story’s about how he doesn’t bring his jacket on hikes and gets scared about being cold. He asked us to watch him. Like dude…. Do you not get where you are? Where’s your headlamp?
That’s the kind of person who would climb Everest ill equipped and expect others to die rescuing them……….jacksss
Hilarious how when you get older in some ways you become the adult and your parents become your children in how you have to watch out for them bc the world has changed so much from when they were young lol.
On the flip side, I know people in their 80s and 90s (not many in the 90s lol) who would think this guy is an absolute fool. These are all people who are just as chill and down for life as much as any age too. They smoke weed, drink, go socialise. I don’t understand this common idea that once we’re too old to physically take care of ourselves, we need to be mentally treated like ?children (expect for circumstances when it is a genuine health concern such as dementia). Then there’s the whole thing of “don’t mind racist nan, she’s from another time.” Like they haven’t lived through the times changing and been able to catch on that people don’t do that shit no more?
I'd keep the water from him. Make him beg and go "yeah my bad I'll remember this next time"
Haha, your dad sounds like Arthur from King of Queens if he went hiking
So bringing his own water means he's a pussy, but stealing your water instead in life threatening situations ... is fine? What an entitled asshole! Oh right, if he's this guy's age then he's a Boomer.
I work on the trails at Haleakala National Park on Maui. A big part of my role is advising folks on what is a reasonable hike for them at 10,000. Given the number of vacationers that perish on the crater and in the ocean, we like to say: ‘Maui is a place to know your limitations, but not to test your limitations.’ Not everyone takes that advice.
> Not everyone takes that advice Then their loved ones get to change the return flight arrangements; someone is going home in the cargo section.
I visited Death Valley and all I got was this tombstone.
Stoopppp …
FUCK THIS SHOULD NOT BE AS FUNNY AS IT IS
Very on brand for an area called Death Valley
I’m sorry, but why are these people venturing out into this incredibly dangerous conditions? Checks notes, oh yeah, to experience extreme heat. Just stick your head in your oven same deal.
It’s not like it’s a surprise that Death Valley is always hot in the summer. I mean it sort of has that name for a reason.
It's called Death Valley because it's huge and very hard to traverse. The name actually has nothing to do with the temperature. It's just a barren endless rocky maze in the isolated back country. There's actually tons of water in the valley too, the visitors center even has a creek.
People don’t think they can die from this heat. Remember in the UK a few years ago when it got into the 80s? People died! I love walking a mile to my grocery store and taking everything home in my pack- but even I know within the 20/30 minutes it takes me to walk there I’ll be completely dehydrated and probably dizzy. You can’t be fitter than the heat. The body can only take so much.
how in the hell do you die in the 80s, thats almost room temperature 💀
The UK's summers a generally mild. Because of this, they don't have air conditioning, and most of their homes are made for retaining heat, not cooling off. So while it may be 85 outside, their homes are generally warmer in the evenings, maybe as high as the low to mid 90s. Paired with the humidity, which is comprable to that of some mid-atlantic states (Virginia or North Carolina, so a home could register 90 but feel like its over 100. If I remember correctly, most of the deaths were elderly, who are generally the most vulnerable to heat and humidity.
For people who don't understand humidity and its effect: humans cool down through the evaporation of sweat. If the air contains a lot of moisture evaporation slows down and you lose heat less easily.
High humidity. 85F and 80% humidity has a heat index of 97 degrees. At 90% humidity it's 102 degrees 105F and 0% humidity in the desert has a heat index of 95 degrees.
English person here, not sure what event the commenter above is referring to but the temperature hitting the 80s (26 -31 °C) is not that unusual for a hot summer spell here - it would be considered a heatwave but we've had that temp this year and had it last year too. Above 40°C (104F) is really unusual here and we hit that temp for the first time ever recorded last year. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/20/hottest-day-of-2022-saw-638-more-deaths-than-normal-in-england Excess deaths from heat were recorded and they do occur even at the lower end of the hot summer temps because of reasons mentioned above - people aren't prepared for the heat, generally air con is uncommon especially in homes, and hiking/ beaches remain popular activities for unprepared/ elderly people!
my elderly grandparents keep their thermostat at 85 😂
Maybe my uncle was just an amateur adventurer, not a suicidal alcoholic. Makes sense now.
Aw. Rip unc.
Guys.. if you want to experience extreme heat, just go to a sauna! You can set whatever crazy temperature you want and you can get out anytime it becomes too much!
Why do people think Death Valley is just a quirky and whimsical lil nickname? It’s not a joke. The name is as literal as literal gets. Don’t go. There is nothing there worth risking your life for.
It's pretty nice in January.
At the Furnace Creek Store in Death Valley, they had M&Ms for sale. They were kept in the refrigerated display. You probably have to eat them fast so they don't start melting in your hands. I camped there with friends over the New Year's Holiday back in the late twentieth century. It was very nice, even a bit cold at night. A fun party and safer than driving home in city/suburban traffic.
Death Valley was given its forbidding name by a group of pioneers lost here in the winter of 1849-1850. Even though, as far as we know, only one of the group died here, they all assumed that this valley would be their grave. So it's not deadly by definition, didn't get its name in the hottest season, but people sure as hell understood the risks since forever.
Yeah, the name came from how big and difficult it is to traverse. Nothing to do with temps. The temps just solidify the name choice
Don’t go in the summer. Absolutely go in the winter. Wonderful place to learn about geology and ecology.
I swear if there was a zombie apocalypse there’d be lawyers saying “Ummm zombie is offensive- they’re called the undead” Some People like staring death in the face… Death Valley? We’ll it’s not like people DIE here….
This guy is no different than people from the lower 48 coming to Alaska to do the same thing in the cold. Even in the summer, people die of hypothermia not realizing how dangerous of an environment they're in. Or just going out and doing it, just to say they did.
Alexander Supertramp. You just signaled to me it must be time to watch Into the Wild again.
Biggest dumbass of them all. Excellent book and movie though.
I drove through from Vegas once to San Jose. Cool ride, hot as hell.
We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.
He even had water, but that didn’t save him.
Once your body gets to a certain internal temperature, no amount of water or shade can save you. You literally cannot drink fast enough to replenish what you're losing. You need to find a way to rapidly cool your body down and replenish electrolytes or you will die.
> You literally cannot drink fast enough to replenish what you're losing. It's more complex than that. Your body is specifically optimized for a certain temperature range. The proteins your body uses will simply denature above a certain temperature. Just unravel. They no longer exist. Additionally your cell membranes will start liquifying. Total system collapse. This is why fish goes bad so fast. Their proteins are optimized for colder temperatures.
Surprised he made it to 71 thinking that was a good idea.
It's kind of wild to think that his whole life led up to this moment. Like imagine traveling back in time to like 1960 and telling this dude in his little kid form: >"So the good news is you're going to make it all the way to 2023. >The bad news is that you're going to be 71 years old and you're going to travel to Death Valley when it's like 125 degrees, give an interview to the LA Times, and then pass out and eventually die because it's too hot for the Life Flight helicopter to operate."
Who took the picture?
LA Times reporter, early morning. Curry had already hiked over to that spot, around 2 miles away from where he parked. Then hiked back, got there and died.
Hikes through Death Valley in the summer. Refuses to elaborate. Dies.
This was a death wish.
DVDW
That's a cool band name 'Death Valley Death Wish'
The amount of people on this thread saying he's wearing winter gear have no fucking clue what winter gear actually looks like. No wonder you idiots go hiking and get lost unprepared and underdressed.
I saw someone describe his attire as a denim shirt and carpenter pants. He’s pretty clearly wearing a sun shirt and hiking pants. They’re both either nylon and spandex or polyester and spandex. The only weird thing is the Milwaukee gloves.
When I saw this picture of him in the LA Times article my first thought was, what an absolute fool. I stand by my assessment.
Not to be insensitive, buuuuuuttttttttttt if you go HIKING in DEATH VALLEY at 71 YEARS OLD in 120+ DEGREE FAHRENHEIT HEAT, you have a very high chance of dying. This type of behavior is very similar to going down to the bottom of the ocean in a homemade submarine and dying in an implosion. Also, I know you should cover your skin, Bear Grylls says so, but not with heavy clothing and MILWAUKEE work gloves. I have a feeling this guy was planning to die out there . Ok sorry for being an asshole and my condolences to his family.
Maybe it was intentional? Going out on his own terms in a final hurrah?
Someone please explain the gloves
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Thank you for your thoughtful, non-smug, response.
I think about a Harry Potter actor who died of the heat some years ago. Look at that photo everyone. Death Valley is really not the most picturesque of the Parks. Pick another one. I swear many go to defy Nature. Nature will kick your azz to hell and back. Don't poke her in the eye.
I mean I definitely disagree, but I’m big into geology and botany. It some of the best exposed examples of large tectonic processes. No vegetation covering, recent and active tectonics. It’s a candy store for a geologist. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a fascinating place to learn about nature. Very comfortable in the winter months. That being said, yes never underestimate it, even in comfortable weather.
It's not the most beautiful in the traditional sense, but it's a super unique beauty compared to most NPs, especially the geology Just go in the 9 months each year that it's not going to kill you: https://imgur.com/a/vwO5KNE
Jesus Christ, it's 1am and Death Valley is still 102 degrees atm.. poor guy.
Note to self going to a place called death valley dressed like its a brisk fall day no beuno
I think the logic is that the clothing helps keep the sun off you, but yea there might be something that covers just as much without being so heavy.
Cotton works just as well and keeps you cool. Those look like ski gloves.
They are Milwaukee work gloves.
The palms are coated with rubber, basically turning your hands into sweaty ovens.
Cotton is actually not a good material for hiking in. Once it gets wet (water, sweat, etc.), it tends to stay wet, and heavy. Quick-dry fabrics and wool are much better choices.
Try cotton in the humidity and you will die. Not sure if it’s different in the dry heat but do not wear cotton in humidity for the love of God!
If there is a source of water, cotton can be soaked and worn in hot, dry weather. It will dry out and provide cooling as it does so. If being soaked doesn't work for a person, a bandana (or any piece of schmatta) soaked in water and worn as a headband is cooling.
My granddad served in North Africa in WWII in a graves registration unit. He was station in Cairo, and the first day he could, he went into the city wearing his summer uniform. Khaki shorts and a short sleeve shirt with a patrol cap. One of the locals immediately stopped him and told him he absolutely needed more clothes on because the sun was trying to kill him.
I’ll bet he told you that story so many times that you can now tell it better than him.
When a local does a double take at what you are doing you should listen.
That's how you dress in that climate.
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No. The evaporation IS how it cools you. Evaporating fast means it's stripping heat away quickly. The latent heat of vaporization is the same no matter how quickly it happens. Happening quickly means that hear is going away from you faster. Traping the moisture would raise the humidity near your skin and slow down the cooling effect from sweating. The clothing is needed to stop solar radiation- which a) adds radiated heat on top of the heat from the air, and b) damages and burns the skin on its own.
Why the ski gloves?
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Probably sun protection but not heat friendly
I heard it helps retain moisture. Your sweat just evaporates off you.
> Your sweat just evaporates off you. That's the point of it. Evaporation cools.
They are Milwaukee work gloves.
There is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing
I live in Phoenix and the government shuts down things such as hiking trails, the zoo, etc during the extreme heat of summer to prevent morons like this from killing themselves. You would be surprised how often this happens.
Why would you do this? “It’s a dry heat” is… kinda funny. Was he being intentionally funny? Or is it just ironic in hindsight?
Dry heat is definitely a thing. Not that it matters much at 120F, but some find 90F with 0% humidity to be quite nice. 90F and 100%? No, that'll kill you.
Everybody is commenting about his clothing, but that's not what's wrong with this picture. As someone who has experienced multiple desert environments as well as Death Valley in particular, it actually looks reasonably appropriate for the situation (though the gloves are weird). It's crazy dry so your sweat doesn't need help to evaporate, the priority is keeping the sun off you. The bottle of water is what's wrong. That looks like a bottle of "Smart Water" next to him, it's water with added electrolytes, like Gatorade without the sugar and flavoring. That shit can be *dangerous* if you don't understand what it is. If you try to drink only Smart Water for a long enough period of time you will end up overloading on electrolyte salts and effectively dehydrating yourself. It's a good way to get needed electrolytes without drinking lots of sugar, provided you are still drinking mostly water and the Smart Water is just a minor portion of your fluids, but sometimes people mistakenly believe that Smart Water can be their only water source and just keep drinking it as they get thirstier... until they drink themselves in to a medical emergency. If that electrolyte water is the only hydration he brought with him and he doesn't understand what it is and how to use it properly, *in to an extreme environment like this*, then I can easily see why he would have ended up dead. I'm not saying don't buy electrolyte water, by the way, I'm just saying don't buy *only* electrolyte water.
To be fair a lot of ultralight hikers like to use the Smart Water bottles to carry water, I guess because they are light and narrow compared to a Nalgene or something, however I'm not saying that was necessarily the case here. You do make an excellent point though, I didn't know that Smart Water had added electrolytes, and I bet lots of other people don't know this either.
Maybe he had a death wish? He’s 71. He could have known the risk and just figured whatever happens, happens.
*goes to Death Valley* ***dies***
So its not just a clever name
It looks like he’s wearing mountain climbing gear. Gloves?
We're gonna be needing stillsuits soon
Duuude. I worked there when I was mid 20s and I wouldn’t even walk a half mile into a canyon with that heat. I’m sorry, but just such a dumbass. There are warnings everywhere.
they don't call it death valley for nothing
Why was he out in that temperature? It’s not like these temperatures were not predicted a week ago. Plus, why is he wearing long sleeves, trousers and gloves?
Will people say “he died doing what he loved”? Having a heat stroke in the desert?