Hiking in the Heat
Something Terrible Happened
Incident on Black Mountain
This week, something terrible happened here in San Diego. A 50-year-old woman named Diem Nguyen went hiking with a group of people at Black Mountain on the “Nighthawk Trail” in San Diego.
Mark and I have gone mountain biking on those trails a few times. We consider it an easy ride. And it’s closer to the Pacific coastline than inland mountain trails, so there’s a breeze coming off the ocean even on hot days. Mornings are cooler than afternoons, and that is when Diem and a group of 150 people climbed up the mountain trail, on a Sunday morning, in a fundraiser for the Build a School Foundation that was formed with the vision “To Build 200 schools globally by the year 2025.” A heat advisory for the city was in effect.
Why Diem perished on the trail is a mystery, at least until the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office completes an autopsy.
Heat Stroke is No Joke
However, based on a personal experience a few years ago involving a mountain biker who perished from hyperthermia in our presence, we suspect that Diem may have suffered effects from heat stroke. And based on our experience, it will be months before an autopsy has been completed.
“Everybody is still in shock. We couldn’t believe what just happened,“ the hike organizer, Thai, told the news stations.
Thai live-streamed video of the hike on his social media page. In it you see Diem at the summit with several other hikers just after 9 a.m. Sunday morning. They are all wearing the same event black T-Shirts.
Nguyen separated from the group on the descent. The body of the woman found, thought to be Diem, was on another trail entirely.
She was discovered just over top of a ridge that sits above several houses and near a shopping center.
Investigators say Nguyen called her sister around 10 a.m. complaining about the heat and a need for water. Thai says hikers were provided plenty of water and snacks and that the trail was marked with chalk.
Interspersed along the Black Mountain trails are a series of these signs. Why didn’t Diem take advantage of one? She had a cell phone with her. Maybe she was confused and panicked - effects from heat stroke.
What a tragedy.
Do it Right
Hiking is a wonderful pastime for anyone, from young to old. But don’t just start climbing a trail without being prepared.
If you are a beginner hiker, choose a short, easy trail that winds through trees. Black Mountain doesn’t have many trees, so there’s a lot of sun exposure. Trees provide the oxygen we all need, places to rest in shade and take in the beauty. Trees and breezes seem to go together. Next time, you can go on a longer, more moderate hike. Take the necessary time to work up to longer hikes. If you are not “heat-trained,” avoid hiking in extreme heat.
Take water; I recommend wearing a backpack with plenty of water in it. On hot days, take at least two bottles. Mark and I wear Camelbaks when we hike and go mountain biking, and we fill the plastic water chamber to the brim everytime. There’s a nozzle that conveniently reaches around, hanging down your chest so you can drink whenever you feel thirsty. In the Camelbak you can carry snacks, a small first-aid kit, a jacket, chapstick, etc.
A hike on Tortuga Bay, Galapagos Wear a hat for sun protection. I prefer the safari hat that has a cloth covering in the back and a wide brim. I don’t care of it doesn’t look stylish. I’d rather be safe and comfortable than fashionable on a hike.
Hike with a friend. You can look out for each other and notice if someone is getting flushed in the face. At that point, find some shade, stop, hydrate, maybe even pour a dash of water on your head to cool down.
Prior to the hike, make sure you are well hydrated.
In extreme heat, I wear a sun shirt and dunk it in water along with my hat.
Stay safe, live an extraordinary life.
