Hiking Family’s Mysterious Cause of Death Revealed 

For those skeptics, I hiked 10+ miles a day average in 2019 over 30 national parks. In Jan, after covid hiatus, I took on the strenuous loop in Chiricahua. It was 70's when I started but snow/hail halfway. Constant elevation gain/drop, temperature changes. I barely made it with all water and energy bars consumed. Hyperthermia will shut down your lung like panic attack, exhaustion/dehydration will confuse and disorientate you more. I have tremendous respect for the nature and will always do.

When you hike don't try to be a hero. If you're feeling dehydrated turn around. That's a lot more important than 'making it' through the hike. I'm so sorry for them.

I live in AZ. It doesn’t take long for dehydration to set in while hiking. Every year we lose tourists and hikers on the trails because they overestimate their skill level, endurance, and lack of water.

That is so sad. No mater how they died it is such a sad case. They were a beautiful family RIP.

8 miles with little water and with a baby and dog!?? That would be challenging even if they were mountain biking

As bad as this sounds it was just ignorance that killed the entire family and their dog. But absolute stupidly for taking an infant on a hot 8 mile hike. And these were locals I do believe. They should have known to research and known the dangers. It breaks my heart about the baby and dog, they had no choice.

They should of brought more. The fact that the dog and baby died is just heartbreaking, may their souls rest in peace

Why hike without being prepared, especially with a infant and dog? These deaths were totally avoidable! The faithfulness of their pet dog makes me love dogs even more!

My God, all of them including their dog died of heatstroke.. my condolences to family

That's sad. That means they likely died separately. It could be that one parent was overcome by heat and the other stayed to attend them until they succumbed too

The dog probably died because it didn't want to leave his owners side

In Air Force survival school, other than getting caught by the enemy, our number 1 priority was finding a source of hydration. You can go weeks without food but be in serious trouble within 48 hours without water. This is horrible tragedy and my condolences to the families.

I’m sorry but I feel like there’s something missing. I can understand if the child could have died, but both parents and the dog? Why didn’t they turn back when they realize it was getting a little tough? I’ve hiked before, I’ve done marathon, I’ve also walked under the baring sun. I just can’t buy that everyone died of exposure and dehydration. I understand the weather can change drastically in a short time, i don’t think that warrants for them to die at the same time. We’ve seen people survive against worse odds so I’m just very baffled by this.

It makes no sense to me, how did the dog even die the same rate as the family? Some freak heat wave? I don't get it and I'm still puzzled.

I don’t understand how they were so unprepared and would think pushing themselves while sweating so much was having a good time 🤷🏻‍♀️especially with a delicate baby!

This was so preventable, such a sad story.

Just a sad story. It hurts because being prepared is doable.

Exposure is a threat that so many people don't take seriously. Here in Florida, people die annually from heat exhausting and stroke. Ironically, it happens the most when the weather has just started to change and people haven't had time to adjust.

This is unbelievably tragic and sadly avoidable. Reminder that *you should also be consuming water days in advance to a hike or any strenuous, endurance requiring activity.*

A properly prepared day hike with a survival day pack AND a Garmin inReach is no joke. Gosh...what a tragic loss.

I’m just confused on who goes hiking with such a small baby especially 8 miles

who takes a baby on an 8-mile hike? damn, poor decisions killed them all. I feel bad for the baby and the dog.

So horrible. These kinds of deaths just seem so unreal. May the Rest In Peace and be united in Heaven ❤️❤️

If the mother was breastfeeding, the crisis would have escalated. I passed out with dehydration when breastfeeding after a 12 hour car journey on a hot day even though I had drunk 2 litres. My baby was thirsty and drinking from me constantly, slowing the journey. Luckily I wasn't driving. When I reached our destination I became disorientated and suddenly completely blind, passed out and an ambulance was called. I didn't even feel thirsty. I thought drinking 2 litres was pretty good. It took me completely by surprise. That was decades ago. Even now, no longer breastfeeding, I never drink less than 2 litres a day. I always have a drink of water next to me. I feel bad for them. People really don't understand how much water they need to be drinking. On a severe hot day, when breastfeeding, it should be about 4 litres at least.

Oh no 😢. What a horrible way to die. The fear and horror they must have gone through 😭. The baby probably died first 😭 and the parents had to experience it 😭

I can't imagine the horror they went through. Even the dog? This hurts my heart, may they all rest in peace together and sending love and prayers to their loved ones. 😇🤗💔🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Speaking as an experienced hiker you always carry sufficient water.The spike in heat can easily cause you to pass out under activity.Once your passed out the body goes into hyperthermic shock and you die quickly.

This is wild, I can't imagine ALL of them dying of heat stroke and dehydration that quickly when others have survived like that for over 48 hours (even in the desert). Sooo weird...

Heat is no joke. I'm dealing with it now in the Caribbean

How tho? The dog too? They were experienced hikers too. What the hell happened out there.

Never take young children/infants hiking.

The dog must’ve not left their sides 💔 I hope they didn’t suffer too much 💔 this is just awful

Where's the water expert showing us how to hike and drink water

This makes no sense at all. They all died at the same time, No way. I bet they couldn’t find a cause of death and just said this to close the case. Something very strange here

This doesn’t make sense. Unless they tried to turn around, and realized they ran out of water. But why not be more prepared? Especially with a baby, and a dog. They don’t understand.

This is why when you go hiking, you should; 1. Check the weather and temperature 2.Bring plenty’s of water just in case

So heartbreaking, a beautiful young family

Such a sad story… they were so young too with their own child who hasn’t been in this world long enough to enjoy life… may their souls be at peace…

I was so, so fortunate. When I was young, my friend and I moved from Metro Detroit to Colorado Springs. This couple about 5 years older than us spotted us at a campground. They made friends with us, and schooled us all about the mountains. And all things related to survival. Had that not happened, I actually could see my friend and I doing something risky like this, we wouldn't have known.

I know the media says “experienced hikers”. Sorry, but these two were NOT experienced. They were beginners and made a beginners mistake - sadly killing two beings other than themselves in the process, so sad.

I hike alot and would never take a baby with me on that long of a hike. Especially in weather they might now be accustomed to. It's sad for the family and my condolences go out to them but wasn't the wisest choice.

Sad for them; however, they really shouldn't have taken their baby with them on an 8 mile hike with barely any water.

A person got 1.5k thumbs up for suggesting they should have turned back. Sure, they were 6 miles in of an 8 mile loop.

It rises more questions than it is “solved”…

Experienced hiker, yet he takes his family out in those conditions with little water. We will never understand why.

Why the hell would they have that poor baby out there in the heat!!!!! So sad

The survival expert said to drink a lot of water beforehand, however he didn’t explain any signs of dehydration or hypothermia to look out for?

I went to school in Asia and the heat there can become crazy. It also is very humid. A 5th grader died from heat stroke and dehydration in our school while doing track and field in PE. So sad and so sudden. Some bodies can withstand rougher conditions, some cannot. We all react differently. One things for sure is that heat can kill people (and animals) and it’s not to be underestimated. Since then the school has installed an outdoors thermometer and forbid kids to do strenuous and prolonged outdoor activities beyond certain temperatures.

This is really heartbreaking, they looked like a perfect family, may their souls rest in peace.

It’s weird that they all died close together. They all passed out at the same time? All strange.

2.5 liters of water is barely even enough for 1 adult for a 12km hike at their starting temp of 21 degrees. They were probably dehydrated and mentally confused before they even got far enough to make the decision to turn back. Tragic.

Why even hike with a baby, can't be happy with a stroll in the park. So tragic RIP young family

Sounds like Dave Paulides needs to get involved and investigate and add this to his strange and unusual Missing 411 cases. Very strange. Very sad. Heart goes out to the families

This is so sad and tragic. The whole family, even the dog. I imagine the dog wouldnt leave its masters and would rather die with them.

Taking your 1 year old and dog out for an 8 mile walk in even 74 degrees is NOT OK

Rest In Peace.. condolences to their remaining friends and family:(

Tragic. I would've turned around once I felt the heat spike.

I literally had a heat stroke a few years ago, thank god someone found me and took me home.. I don’t even know her name .. but she really saved my life :( here in Vegas heat is no joke

This story feels so wrong? So many questions. Why would these people risk the lives of their baby and dog? It's very unsettling.

I feel so bad for them and the thought of the dog suffering 😭

Why would they take a baby on a hike (especially one that is so strenuous in the first place)?

They should’ve went more prepared. So sad.

Thats too many miles with not enough water. More people need to be aware and prepared before going on a long hike. Always bring extra water 💧 . R.I.P. to all three 😥

When I first heard this report there were so many conspiracies swirling , but after riding my bike through FL in August, suffering heat exhaustion twice, I knew it was from the heat. Heat exhaustion sets in when body temp gets to 103, and they were hiking in 107-109 degrees. God rest their souls.

Why were they hiking with a dayum baby. None of this makes any sense.

Their arrogance killed that kid.

Nature is relentless hiking requires physical preparation, training and availability of resources. It gets specifically hazardous for people who just one fine day decide to go hiking and have little or no past experience or preparation for it.

But who takes their baby on an 8 mile trail? Especially in that heat? So confused. Surely we're missing something.

Wow, a family died just like that, that must of been so painful. That is really sad.

We got out of water at Fisher Towers / Utah once by seeing our car at the parking lot at the horizont. One of the worst experiences I had in my live. Opposite to be hungry you do not recognize dehydration before it is to late.

It sneaks up on you. I almost died from it. Now I keep an obscene amount of water when I camp, and I camp a bunch.

So did the baby suffer and lay there screaming as her parents died?! What about the dog? How did that happen too? I live in Arizona and it’s hot as hell here. I get it. It’s hot, but all of them? I just don’t get it

Going on hiking under +39C is so stupid.

Nature is beautiful, but this proves that it’s also still dangerous.

They didn't have enough water for two adults a baby and a dog. They weren't prepared, sadly. It's no conspiracy just consequences of life happened.

Who tf goes hiking with a baby in 100 degree weather and not even bring enough water either.

I personally don’t think, I would have brought my child on a hike. It seems like the conditions would have been irritating for a young one.

Always hydrate the day before ! I find this so hard to believe since they were avid hikers but I guess tragic accidents happen every day praying for their families.

This is so devastating. I’d been following because their story stuck with me since their daughter was only a month older than mine. I am so sad for them and their loved ones. I can’t even begin to imagine how they’re dealing with such a loss.

Why on earth would you take a such a young kid hiking on such temperature Rip to that family

In someways, it’s peaceful they all went ‘home’ together

This is so sad! Thank you for sharing this information maybe it will save lives.

I wish they would've called for help when they started to overheat. Even after passing out someone would've found them. Breaks my heart.

So many bad decisions were made. I just cant ignore the red flags to this story tho.

this is exactly why you must be over prepared

For those saying “ why didn’t they turn back” …they walked 6 out of the 8 miles, if they turned around they woulda had to walk another 6 instead of just finishing the last 2. I don’t know why people can’t understand that, unreal.

Definitely one of the worst ways to die. I can speak from experience that heat exhaustion sucks. ALWAYS make sure you have enough water for everyone

I'm gonna need to see the dog's autopsy report too. I'll wait.

Lesson for this. Take enough water plus extra for each member including the animals.

So sad that, that baby and dog had to die bc of the stupidity of their judgment lacking guardians

Reminds me of the girl who went on her first date with the cop hiking and she died from the heat while he continued on, but he didn't die! This is a tough one for me to believe this cause of death for all three and the dog. These were parents with a baby, I'm sure at the slightest discomfort in temperatures or if the kid just fused and fused they'd of done a B line back. I've read stories where ppl survived way more treacherous conditions in the arctic or out in deserts for days, these ppl were only out for hours. Something else I'm thinking happened and it perhaps can't be explained

the poor dog must have survived a few days after the families death but probably didn't leave their side :( rip.

Who takes a one year old on an 8 mile loop with next to no water?

RIP sigh…. Pray the family stays strong!

Why in God's name would you take your little Baby on a hike like that 😡🤦‍♀️ I feel so sad for the baby and the dog for haven't such careless parents 🤦‍♀️💔😭😡

Why take a one year old out in 100 degree weather on an 8 mile long hike with little to NO water?? Anyone who is experienced knows how much water to bring. Irresponsible and tragic.

rest in peace, never hike too far without enough supplies and stay safe. :[

Wasn't this obvious? It was a multiple hour hike in 100 degree heat.

The only thing that matters here is that this family lost their lives and it’s a true tragedy. Why must we judge the ones lost? Oh they should have done this or shouldn’t have done that. Pray for their souls and pray for their families and friends. 🙏🏼

Several conditions that can occur when your body's heat-regulation system can't handle the heat in your environment. You're said to have severe hyperthermia if your body temperature is above 104°F (40°C). By comparison, a body temperature of 95°F (35°C) or lower is considered hypothermic.