Quote Originally Posted by Bilbodoggins View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Dan Druff View Post

Sorry but this is not correct.

There was water found in the guy's CamelBak pouch, which in fact was analyzed for toxic algae. Not only was the water free of algae, but it apparently came from a "clean" source before they hiked. And the pouch was either full or mostly full.

Heat stroke doesn't hit people like a lightning strike. It's a cumulative thing. If you and I were both walking in the extreme heat and got heat stroke, it is highly unlikely we would both collapse at the same time. One of us would start feeling symptoms before the other, due to physical differences, tolerance, etc.

Heat stroke would be a very plausible explanation if the dude were hiking alone and found dead. However, when hiking with another adult, it's likely that if one person was suffering from heat stroke, the other would be well enough to tough it out for another 1.5 miles to the car, and get help. This didn't happen. They were all found close together, and there was plenty of water in the guy's CamelBak pouch.

However, let's say they were all exposed to toxic algae at the same time -- say by swimming in the river. That's something which could have hit them all nearly simultaneously, incapacitated them, and then an eventual death came from heat stroke.

I simply don't believe that two adults got heat stroke to such an extreme degree at the exact same time, where neither went for help, and neither drank all the water they had on them. This looks like a sudden event.
Also, they did not head out hiking with an infant in 107 (now reported as 109) degree heat as some of you have been saying. It was 75 when they started. Blame them for not understanding the conditions in a new area they had moved to, but at least be accurate when you are slamming them.
Only a certified idiot does not check the weather forecast before venturing for an all day hike. This is like going to the beach before a hurricane and not worrying because its just breezy. I mean you have to use common sense before you take a hike in the middle of the summer with an infant. This was not a random tornado, the forecast was for record heat and there were probably warnings to stay inside. My guess is the husband probably knew of the heat factor and did not appreciate that death was a possibility, or probably thought it was no big deal.