Death Valley takes another life

Be carefull, rip.

https://apple.news/AseCpmCfnSPuRCXJgqedSlQ

 

sad news. I dont see how people dont prepare when going on trips like this. Especially in Death Valley around this time of year. Just crazy

 

Crazy, isn't it? I live in the desert. Nowhere near Death Valley, but still our general rule of thumb is pack as much water as you need, then double it. Extra fuel, a way to make shade, and then just in case, double the water again.

 

The gravity of how remote and unforgiving the Death Valley region is, especially in the warmer weather, can be rather shocking.

Water water and more water. If you are traveling in the region off pavement, listen to @kairo advice.

Even if you are staying on pavement, pack lots of water. I haven’t always been the best about that…

 

Not having enough water and fuel is on the dead guy. Not staying with the car is on the dead guy. But he told a ranger that he was low on gas and got no help. Then another ranger found his car with a note saying it was out of gas and nobody bothered to try and make sure he was okay. Three days later it finally occurred to a ranger to see if there was a problem. WTF? Dead guy may not have understood the grim hazards but the rangers are supposed to.

 

i questioned that too. Once the ranger found out the guy was low on gas something shouludve been done there on behalf of the ranger. Still this could have been avoided if the guys was well prepared

 

Rangers should have helped without a doubt.

But that highlighted point nails it. Never rely on anyone else for your own survival in Death Valley.

 

Just saw this after the fact. Never rely on anyone for your own life. Period.

 

Agree 100%. Although, some of us understand that there is no State or Federal Agency who's job is to babysit visitors.
I wonder how many "Coffee is Hot" warning labels are included in articles there are written on Death Valley. Someone will be sued and lose, stay tuned.

 

Very sad

 

Just bad decisions all around from what i read. 1. if you're low on gas, why drive the distance to a remote location? dante's peak? 2. did the park ranger offer any assistance after being told about the low gas situation, or did he just give him a ticket and drive off? 3. zabriski point is only 3.5 miles from furnace creek, and is located right on hwy 190. why walk when you can easily just wait for a passer by to help you out. i realize the extreme weather....i've been to DV during extremes many times, so i've experienced it. from what i read about the park, it has just as many visitors during the hot months as it does the rest of the year. so the chance of flagging down a vehicle on hwy 190 would be a high likelihood. so unfortunately, as many of these situations play out, it boils down to a few bad calls that all came together at the same time. no blame really, just decisions, actions, and probably the most...lack of preparedness.

 

Not everyone from Phoenix would be smart enough to be more prepared for Death Valley but many here have the opportunity to learn that distance/remoteness is not the only place you die. Search for "death on Camelback Mountain" (Camelback Mountain is in the middle of the city) to see the danger of any desert in the summer. they now close the dangerous trail between 11AM-5PM on any day the think people will die.

But Death Valley ... "truth in advertising".