Three deaths on Wave trail

We have done a lot of hiking - some pretty extreme - and seen a lot of things; some truly beyond comprehension.

About a month ago, DW Barbara and I came up with a one word response to most anything. Simply ----

P E O P L E !

Campfire Time wrote:
And strollers! Why do people think national parks and recreation areas are like city parks!

Strollers work just fine in LOTS of national parks. I have done numerous trails (even in Alaska state parks) with kids in a backpack and kids in a high-end jogging stroller. Stroller had a snug 5-pt harness and a secure emergency strap to the handle that was ALWAYS tied to my wrist/waist. Sometimes it rolled on it's wheels, sometimes it was carried between DH and I. We had numerous rangers over the years of using the stroller compliment us on "getting it done" with infants/toddlers.

My husband and I hiked to the Wave about 10 years ago when were in our 50s. It was mid-May and the temps were in the 90s but that was the coolest time we could go since we had only his summer break from teaching to vacation. Coming from Florida, we're accustomed to high temps, but the lack of humidity really sucks you dry.

We had water-filled camel-backs, plus several quart bottles of Gatorade each, salty snacks and high protein munchies. By the time we got back to our Jeep we'd gone through most of it but were in good shape. The rangers had warned us to drink before we felt thirsty and we made it a point to stop for a bit of water or Gatorade every 15-20 minutes.

As previously mentioned, there is no trail and following the scattered rock cairns would have been risky because they didn't seem to follow any one route. The crude map was most useful for the landmarks it gave. Even with the route co-ordinates pre-programmed into our GPS we got off once but were able to get back on track quickly because we checked the GPS frequently. We saw only a few other people that day. Most were well-prepared.

The most shade we found was cast by the high "walls" of the Wave itself. An occasional rock "spire" along the way across the slick rock offer some, but it was generally only enough for one person at a time.

Now that we're retired, we'd love to go back in cooler weather. It's an amazingly beautiful place, well worth the effort it takes to get there. However, it isn't for everyone. The problem is that people often overestimate their abilities and underestimate the difficulty and/or danger of the situation. I live on a barrier island and see it all the time. People who drown because they don't think the warnings about rip currents apply to them. It's sad when something like this happens.

We hiked The Wave in May a year ago in 90 deg heat and it was brutal. We are hikers and have hiked in deserts and up mountains for much further distances but this was a real test for us. We each carried 2 gal of water and let me tell you, it definitely was not enough. The hike is 6 miles round trip. There is no trail and no cairns to show the way (perhaps there were years ago as stated above, but not now). You are given a hand-drawn map with landmarks (rock formation or mountain shapes on the horizon). No two people will walk the trail the same way so it would be very easy to miss someone laying down in need of help. There is virtually no shade out there and the last push to the actual Wave formation is up a steep hill of very deep sand. This is not a typical 6-mile hike. It's very strenuous and mostly uphill the first 3 miles. There are many desert 'washes' (dry river beds) and if you get into a wrong one it can get you even deeper off the route. It sounds like that's what happened to the first couple. Even having a GPS can get you going in circles. There is no cell phone reception for 30-40 miles.

To explain further..this is a highly protected area to preserve it. If there was a regular marked hiking trail there would be hundreds out there every day and it would be ruined. To keep that from happening only 20 people/day are allowed on the hike and people from all over the world want to do it so therefore, the lottery. If you are chosen by the lottery and have waited years to do the hike, the majority of people will do it regardless of the weather and heat. They just want to do it. If chosen you are required to attend a thorough orientation on what to expect. However, even if you're in good condition, that hike is difficult. Yes, it was a very sad thing for those deaths.

We take multiple bottles of water when we are just out running errands! Learned the first time we went to elevation on our honeymoon just how hard it can be to adjust, especially us flatlanders. My town is a whopping 93 feet above sea level. Some people just don't get it or don't think nature's rules apply to them. The woman who just died left small children behind. Sad.

I almost stayed out too late in a long hike at Big Beam MP in TX a few years ago. It gets dark quickly. When I got to the end of the hike, it was near a road and I found a ride back to the campground. If I had taken the trail back, I would NOT be writing this now.

We witness a lot of uneducated decisions here in New Mexico. Last year a family from Florida was up on Sandia Mountain which is 10,678 with one 20 oz bottle of water wanting to hike down the mountain! Coming from sea level and wanting to do that is a way for our rescue crews to be called out. Not smart! Not only are you risking altitude sickness but also dehydration, people don't realize it but the altitude and heat in the southwest really can be dangerous.

Sheila aka....

Francesca Knowles wrote:

photonut4 wrote:
Witnessed a lot of stupidity at Mt. Rainier National Park a few days ago. On the trail we took, parts of it was snow covered on a steep slope. The sign posted recommended an ice axe, although hiking poles were sufficient. However, we watched several people navigate these areas in sandals and no poles at all. All it would have taken was one slip in those sandals, and they would have fallen down the mountain. I cannot believe people can be so cavalier about their lives.

I hope the sign also said what the ice axe/poles is/are for, because I'd bet that not one person in a hundred knows how to use them to stop their sorry selves from sliding off a mountain.

Nope. Just a sign recommending them.

photonut4 wrote:
Witnessed a lot of stupidity at Mt. Rainier National Park a few days ago. On the trail we took, parts of it was snow covered on a steep slope. The sign posted recommended an ice axe, although hiking poles were sufficient. However, we watched several people navigate these areas in sandals and no poles at all. All it would have taken was one slip in those sandals, and they would have fallen down the mountain. I cannot believe people can be so cavalier about their lives.

I hope the sign also said what the ice axe/poles is/are for, because I'd bet that not one person in a hundred knows how to use them to stop their sorry selves from sliding off a mountain.

Just the thinning for the heard. Darwin at his best.
We don't have a pollution problem!!!!
WE HAVE A POPULATION PROBLEM!!!!!
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!