This is the first in a series of stories about people getting lost in the Grand Canyon. You can find the second instalment at this link: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qK15aaRem9CZYIE.html. Thanks for watching!

These events mirror closely an incident at the Grand Canyon in 2019. I was a ranger there at the time, and I managed the search for a married couple who were hiking a similar route: the New Hance Trail to the Tonto Trail and out on the Grandview Trail. They too ran out of water and unsuccessfully attempted to reach the river off-trail to refill their supply. Thankfully, unlike Paul and Karen, several factors were in their favor. First, they were backpacking in the fall in much cooler weather. Second, they had shared their itinerary with their adult children before departing, who then became concerned and notified us when their parents failed to return home on time. Additionally, once they realized they were in trouble, they hunkered down and waited for help to arrive rather than continuing to exert themselves. We found them alive and well on the first night of the search and flew them out on the park helicopter the following morning.

You could do a whole series on people who got lost while hiking without enough supplies

They may have thought they were experienced hikers but hiking in the Rockies is World's apart from hiking in the desert. Going into the Grand Canyon in the Summer on a multi-day hike with only 3ltrs of water shows how clueless they were to the dangers of the desert.

I read Death In The Grand Canyon a few years ago (which would have contained this story), and just shook my head in disbelief at the multiple tales of folks deciding to do a rim to rim hike, in the middle of summer, starting at 10am, and only taking a small bottle of water with them and no hat. I'm from Australia and I won't even start walking in the bush without a hat and 1L of water. When you stated that this couple only had 3L EACH for a 25km trek my jaw just dropped. That's maybe enough for half a day. I was recently working in the Pilbara and was shocked to find I was severely dehydrated when I thought I was drinking plenty of water, and I was drinking 4-5 litres per day!

When i was first learning photography, a friend and i (artists not athletes) took a day-trip expedition to Sam's Point preserve in upstate New York to shoot the autumn colours. We were hiking with a guide map but couldn't figure why the numbers seemed 'off'--we were following a trail that we read as '8 miles', but it turned out the markings weren't length measured in miles, but calculations for hour markings. We were hours late getting back to the car--the rangers had to wait for us and i felt terrible about it, but i swear it never occurred to me that they'd map distances in 'time' rather than actual trail length. It was a scary lesson to learn.

I am from Utah and grew up in desert heat- its not something to mess with. In my 20's my husband and I and another couple hiked the grand canyon rim to rim (north to south). We planned everything and arranged to stay at the campsites and made the journey over 4 days. It was spectacularly beautiful but also very demanding. We packed tons of water and extra dehydrated food packets. We refilled our water at taps in the campgrounds and ended up eating some of our extra food because of the physical toll of the hike. Its an experience i will never forget and am grateful to have- but i wouldnt recommend it for most people. You have to plan and reserve the campsites months in advance and you ABSOLUTELY MUST BE PREPARED.

I was shocked to learn that there are a surprising number of bodies that are left in the Grand Canyon, mostly due to how hot and inaccessible many of it's areas are in the remote areas off the travelers' paths. Even with helicopters and volunteers, it's a huge and dangerous, undertaking to recover many of the deceased down there. Imagine the inverse of Mount Everest, but with more human remains in it, because unlike that mountain, you don't have to be rich or a pro to go hiking there, so many more people can visit it, and as a sad consequence, many more corpses are left or buried there, primarily due to dehydration &/or heatstroke.

Les Stroud pointed out that parasites take a few days or so to start making you sick and can be cured with a single pill. In this scenario absolutely refill your water, even if its stagnant because dehydration will kill you faster then a parasite.

If you don't want to carry the weight of extra water, you can always boil what you find and use purification tablets... I'm baffled by their choice to completely pass over refilling when they knew they'd packed lightly.

I can't imagine how Karen continued after she knew her husband was dead....if I was in her position I think I might have just lain down next to them to wait for the end too but the instinct for self-preservation is strong and he would have wanted her to live, which is maybe what kept her going.

How extremely sad for her, I can’t imagine how alone she must have felt after he died. But he did sacrifice himself for her by making sure she had the water.

As someone who lives in Phoenix Arizona, I knew right away that they likely didn't take enough water. We have so many mountain rescues here in Phoenix alone due to hikers, usually from out of town, not taking enough water. People severely underestimate the heat and the dry climate. A good rule is, when your water is halfway gone, turn around

Last year I walked the South Rim and stopped at most of the viewing points, and saw many, many people taking insane risks for a selfie. “…between 1 and 4 people each year do still fall from viewing points into the canyon itself” is a dreadful statistic, and these tragedies are entirely avoidable.

My Grand Canyon Experience: A couple years ago, my dad and I hiked from the North Rim to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. For those unfamiliar, that involves starting from one side, hiking all the way down, crossing the river, then going back up the other side. Dad and I have many times gone hiking in desert terrain, and had been to the Grand Canyon once before, and both of us knew this was going to be the most challenging hike of our lives. We managed to complete the hike in three days, but looking back, we both agree that we should have taken an extra day's rest in one of the campgrounds we passed up. It cannot be overstated just how beautiful the area is. *Pictures absolutely do not do this place justice.* If you ever have a chance to visit, do it. You won't be disappointed. However, if you're planning to hike into the Canyon, *even if it's only a short way,* please prepare yourself properly. This video doesn't even begin to scratch just how tumultuous the environment can be. As stated, the Canyon itself can be incredibly hot the further you venture into it. I was silly at the time, and thought that a Google forecast would be enough for me, and since the Grand Canyon Google forecast only had it in the mid-80s at the time of the hike, I figured we'd gotten lucky. What Google failed to tell me was that that was the temperature at the surface. Inside the Canyon, temperatures were easily exceeding triple digits, even in heavily shaded areas. Rangers provide a more accurate forecast at their stations for conditions inside the Canyon, and hang thermometers up at most campgrounds. If you venture into the Canyon, rangers heavily advise you not to do heavy hiking between the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM, because that's when the heat is most extreme, and when most accidents tend to happen. Especially if you're trying to go back up the Canyon. There may be walking trails, but they can only do so much. If you're hiking up the Canyon, you're still essentially traversing a natural wall, and fighting gravity is its own battle outside the heat. On our final day of hiking, I was kinda foolish and wanted to get out of the Canyon in time to reach a gift shop to pick up a souvenir for my then-girlfriend. And that meant hiking up the South Rim in blazing weather. My dad was more level-minded, stayed at a resting area until the heat had passed, and would rejoin me at the hotel we planned to stay in that night. I really should have stayed with him. I love a challenge, and love hiking, but this hike was something I underestimated. The heat got to a point where I was so exhausted that it felt like for every five minutes of hiking, I had to find a shady spot, and sit for ten minutes to get my strength back. Now thankfully, I was well equipped with water, and salty food (a pair of other hikers even gave me more salty food near the top), so dehydration wasn't really on my mind. I was able to sustain myself there. What was more in my mind was the fact that I was carrying over 30-40 pounds of equipment, up a wall, and my pace was starting to take its toll on my body physically. The nature of the trails at the Canyon made my muscles incredibly sore. After a day or two, I couldn't easily go downhill on a trail without my calves feeling incredibly sore, and I couldn't lift my knees up high without further muscle pain. Pair that with the heat, gravity, and whatnot, and one can probably tell that I was incredibly foolish for attempting to exit the Canyon as quick as I was. Now I'm happy to say that both dad and I were successful in our hike. And after hiking to the Grand Canyon marketplace they have, I bought myself an ice cream cookie sandwich, and it was the best victory treat I've ever had. (That and having something sweet after three days of salty rehydrated meals, ice cream was just a godsend.) And I look back on that trip with nothing but love. But I definitely learned some lessons that trip. My leg muscles would be incredibly sore for at least three weeks after the hike, and considering my relationship ended a few weeks after that trip, my initial goal was silly in the long run. If I can pass down any advice to those wishing to take on the Grand Canyon, it would be this: respect the Canyon. Respect the hazards the area will bring. Do not push yourself unnecessarily. When you feel the need to rest, then don't think twice about it, just find a place to rest. And above all else, when the heat is getting to be too much, *YOU ARE NOT WASTING TIME WAITING FOR IT TO PASS.* The Grand Canyon is easily one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to, and I'm happy to say I've done the hikes I have, and hope to return again in the future for more. But I will be wiser, and I will not repeat the same mistakes as I once did. Even if they were minor, in that environment, they can make a huge difference in the long run.

I read about the Strykers in the book: 'Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon'. (A fascinating read - just like this channel!) The other story that struck me from that book was the one about Margaret Bradley. She and her jogging companion were in a similar situation; hopelessly lost, and ran out of water. Margaret left him to get help, and the jogging companion was rescued by a ranger. Only, he just assumed Margaret made it to safely, and as a result never bothered to inform the ranger that she was out there!

'It was 42 kilometers rather than the 29 kilometers they had anticipated'. I wonder how they miscalculated so badly. RIP Paul Stryker.

A friend of mine lives near Death Valley. She says 'experienced' athletes and hikers die every year because they underestimate how quickly the heat zaps your body.

Ps. I live in an outback mining town in Oz, I don't walk my dog here, or even go to town - 5mins drive- without water & at least a few other supplies.. you just never know what might happen! Walking my dog I take water, medical & emergency supplies,. Better safe than sorry!

As a cadet in the Girl Scouts, I hiked down to the Havasupai Indian reservation back in the early 80's. I remember stopping often to drink and have small snacks. It was a 12-13 mile hike. It was an incredible trip I'll always remember. So sad that this couple wasn't truly prepared even being experienced hikers.

I did a Rim to Rim to Rim hike there in my 20s. Even as a person who was very in shape and with lifetime of outdoor experience it took everything I had mentally and physically. When I was there the bottom of the canyon got over 51C. This place is no joke

So many people underestimate what desert heat can and will do to the body, and it so often ends in tragedy. The scary thing about dehydration is that it can sneak up on you- you can wind up dangerously dehydrated and overheated without any real idea things are getting bad until you're just about to fall over. It happened to me, and luckily I was in the middle of a city in a place where I was surrounded by people who were able to help me. I lived in a very hot, dry place for several years and that experience with dehydration and heat sickness taught me to take at least one full water bottle everywhere I went, and that was just for wandering around town.

I can't imagine heading out for a two HOUR hike with so little water! I actually shouted out loud in shock when you said they only had 3 litres each. That's mowing the yard levels of water, not a two day trek! Not turning back when they didn't feel comfortable refilling their water is so incomprehensible to me. They had to see they had messed up by then!

When you said at the beginning that their hike was doomed by lack of preparation I correctly guessed that they didn't pack enough water. But I was still completely unprepared to hear how little they packed -- THREE LITERS each?!?! And they passed on a chance to refill at a creek?! Like I feel bad for them and all, but that's just negligence cranked up to an insane degree.

Is 330am for me right now, I'm sick and can't sleep, and this couldn't have dropped at a more perfect time ❤

I've been to the Grand Canyon; i's hard to describe how hot and dry it is. People who hike there are like mountain climbers, they have to do it because it's there.

We've become very out of touch with nature and severe environments. Never underestimate a hike.

I almost did a spit take at the idea of experienced hikers taking 3ltrs of water for a two day hike

One of my biggest takeaways from having served in the Marines with regard to outdoor safety is to never underestimate the weather and conditions of new places. A lot of things that we did were physically strenuous, yet whenever we went somewhere with a notable difference in temperature or elevation we wouldn't be allowed to or compelled to do any physical exercises for at least a week, if not two until we were acclimated. On top of that during my time in 29 palms they would often have "black flag conditions" meaning that it was too hot and there was to be no outdoor exercises. Being an avid hiker now I still take that all to heart after having learned a lot about heat exhaustion, heat strokes, and dehydration. It boggles my mind how often people go somewhere unfamiliar and very different from what they're used to and they just go on extremely strenuous hikes especially jf theyre unprepared. It's not just putting themselves in danger, but it endangers anyone that tries to help or rescue them.

Its risky enough to go hiking in the best conditions let alone those sort of conditions and once you start to run out of water you really should turn around and go back the exact same trail you walked up

As a European who grew up in the US, I can vouch that we usually sorely underestimate the vast distances and absolute desolate wilderness of the US. There is nothing like it in Europe, Places where you can go out and not see another human being for days. I also lived in the California desert for a few years and the desert will definitely kill you if you're not paying attention, It almost happened to me but for the grace of God.

I majored in Geology/Earth Science in college. One of the classes I took was about the geology of the Colorado Plateau, including the Grand Canyon. The last two weeks of the semester consisted of a trip to the Grand Canyon from NY. Our professor had 25 of us plan to hike into and out of the canyon. Down the South Kaibab trail to the bottom, and then up the Bright Angel trail, about 26 miles. We started hiking at 0300 hours, so we could make it down to the bottom of the canyon before it got too hot. In our packs we had 3 gallons of liquid- 2 gallons of water, 1 gallon of an electrolyte drink like Gatorade. I don’t like Gatorade so I chose coconut water. By the time we hiked to the bottom it was about 1000 hours . All of my liquid water supply was just about gone. We got to Phantom Ranch (campsite at the bottom of the canyon with cabins, a restaurant, and canteen), refilled all our liquids, consumed some of the granola bars and trail mix we had, and started back up. By the time we exited the canyon at about 1900 hours, we were exhausted, sore, but in good health. All in all we each consumed about 6 gallons of liquid, and went through at least a two pound bag of trail mix and several protein bars each. Those trails are no joke, and our professor made sure we knew what we were in for before we set off on our hike. Students that were too scared were allowed to opt out and hike the rim trail. All in all, hiking the canyon was a tremendous, spiritual experience. Learning about the complex geology was one thing, but seeing those amazing rock formations in person, and experience the splendor of the canyon’s beauty, made it all worthwhile. As long as you can handle the physical aspects of the hike, and you’re prepared with adequate supplies, it’s totally doable.

Hiking with 3L per person in the hot weather of the Grand Canyon is insane. You can easily go through that in a few hours let alone multiple days. Not to mention people also forget about the altitude. The rim of the Grand Canyon is a relatively high altitude so you are also battling that on the way up. I have done lots of hiking in summer in the Mojave desert and it’s not something to take lightly. I frequently see people underestimate the extreme unrelenting heat. People don’t realize that during the day not only is it hot air temperature wise but EVERYTHING is hot. The ground is hot, the rocks, no shade, the wind is hot, and the UV radiation is off the charts.

Southern Calif resident. Spent decades learning about hot weather and desert survival. Also certified in Wilderness Survival. When I visit anywhere hot (which is damn near everywhere), I tell someone where I am going and my schedule. I go to the Ranger Station/gift shop, buy an overprice souvenir, then stop at one or two viewpoints I can drive to, with a weeks worth of survival gear in my car. That's my schedule. And that's my advice about surviving in unfamiliar wilderness or desert type places. Seriously, I'd rather live with an overpriced crystal, fridge magnet and post card from Joshua Tree or Death Valley, than be a Fascinating Horror story. 😳

As soon as you said they left the trail, I out loud yelled "NOOOO!"

For comparison, while working outside in the same temperature years ago, I often drank three gallons of water (12-ish liters) a Day and might not take a leak till evening after a few beers. It was ridiculous. A coworker and I used a big family cooler just for us for each day. Never hiked with that much. I wouldn't go into that furnace for recreation. Most was about 95. Had an 80 ounce camelback bladder (2.3L) two single liter bottles and a. 250 or so that I refilled from the other bottles. Whatever 16 ounces is in metric. And make sure the other people in your party won't be needing your water halfway. I was at lake Navajo and took a 5 gallon for camping a long weekend and became the laughing stock for all of two days till it was their water too. I didn't even know half the people, I was tagging along with a dude I worked everyday with. They were his people. Can't rightly refuse. You can take umbrage all ya want but you can't hold water back from people.

Took an all day bus tour of the grand canyon, it doesn't even go all the way around it, that's how big it is. So beautiful but easy to slip and fall in at lots of the viewpoints.

The reason that it is always the experienced hikers who get into these situations is because people can get so confident in their skills that they forget that being an experienced hiker does not necessarily make one an experienced survivalist.

A series of Australian dangers would be awesome.

Thank you for being such a respectful narrator for these types of stories. People make mistakes, sometimes foolish ones, but that doesn’t mean they deserve what happens to them. I appreciate framing the stories as lessons we can learn, rather than laughing at peoples expense.

Very brave of Paul to encourage his wife to drink most of the water. He could have saved her life by doing that...

I spent an entire month in similar heat (August in the Mojave). Felt like the air that hits you in the face when you open your kitchen oven. We mostly remained in the shade during the main part of the day, and did all of our work at night.

The Grand Canyon in summer is very similar in weather and environment as Rural South Australian 120f/49c is summer time temps where I live but it can also drop below freezing at night. Though summer nights can still be 35+ Celsius Edit: 3ltrs of water?! Over that distance, over that time & in that heat?! Madness!!!! I used to spend up to 16hr working days in 46+ Celsius in direct sunlight on a pick/shovel/sledge hammer. If accustomed to it humans can perform surprisingly well in these temps but we absolutely need to keep up with quite huge quantities of water (comparatively)

I live in Arizona and every single year it baffles me why people choose to do these hikes in the summer. We get 4-5 months of perfect weather here and yet they choose the months where its 120 outside. Darwin wins.

Note to people wondering about water with tadpoles or frogs, they need super clean water to live in, so that's good water. Fish are more questionable If it looks like it has an oily sheen on it or smells stay away.

I kind of raised an eyebrow when I heard they only brought 3 liters of water/day. I’m no experienced hiker but I knew that wasn’t very much.

I hiked a similar route down the Grand Canyon a couple of years ago. There are many signs posted there, warning about the sufficient amounts of drinking water you are required to bring, so even if you were unaware or ignorant before entering, at least then you were warned and finally should reconsider your bad packing effort. Unfortunately they must have ignored them, or maybe in 1990 they were not set up yet..

I know it's easy to chastise people for the dumb decisions they make in these types of situations, but I can't help but feel bad for them. They truly thought they could handle the canyon and underestimated it, something I'm sure many hikers do. The heat also didn't aid in making rational decisions, such as the idea that maybe they would've been fine refilling at the tadpole pond. As for the water, they miscalculated the length of the trail, something easy to do when you're inexperienced. As not very smart as they were, I feel bad that it took losing one of them for them to learn their lesson

The second it was said that they only had 3 litres each for a 2 day hike (in desert conditions, no less!) I felt second-hand panic. I can easily down 2 litres in a few hours if I'm hiking in the woods.

As an experienced solo hiker who loves to cross deserts, it is foolish to attempt the desert in the summer. I also always carry 50% more water/food than what I need because if something bad happens I have an extra supply. Sadly, 3 times I have run across hikers that were lost, dehydrated, severely sunburned, etc. and had to provide aid and/or escorted them out of the wilderness to get help. Had I not had an emergency kit and the extra food and water, and water purification tablets, I'm not sure they would have made it. The worst was a father with his 10 year old son that were attempting to hike to a slot canyon in the distance but did not have a compass or topographic map. There was no trail to that slot canyon and while it looked like from the side of the road that it was all level ground to the slot canyon about 100 yards in you had to descend into a maze of canyons and the reference point of the slot canyon and the road went out of view and it was very easy to get turned around. They had been wandering lost without food or water all day in the maze when I ran across them on my way back from the canyon. They were only 1/3 of a mile from their car, but because of the elevation changes they were unable to see their vehicle. I always say I am an adventurous hiker, not a foolish one. I will turn myself around and not complete a hike or summit if I can foresee a problem that might endanger me. In one instance i realized my foot ware was inadequate for the last 75 yards to summit, I was very tempted to make the push being so close, but I realized that while I might have made the summit, coming down would be a problem without the appropriate shoes to grip the rocks properly. The trail guide had not mentioned the last section required rock climbing/scramble. In another instance I turned around when the hiking was taking longer than I anticipated and I realized the temperature was going to be too high for me to make the return trip safely. The rule of thumb when doing a long hike: Think of worst-case scenarios and prepare accordingly.

I hiked down into the Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail, to Indian Gardens then to Plateau Point. This was in July 1990 and there were extra warnings because of this death. There were water top up points at half way and at Indian Gardens but despite the abundance of water I suffered from severe heat exhaustion and sun stroke. The extreme heat and total lack of shade, except at Indian Gardens itself, was overwhelming.

I’m always terrified of leaving the trail it will be the death of me. I keep thinking animals will be there waiting to eat me. I know it’s really dramatic but so far I’m alive because of it. I’m just sorry for the victims and the families that went through it

Stories like this make me glad that my out of shape arse is never going anywhere near a hiking trail. I’ll stay indoors, thanks!

Wow! Devastatingly sad story! Imagine having to leave your beloved spouse’s body, and press on in hope of saving your own life!

When setting out on a hike in the wilderness, people should be required to start at a ranger station. Where the rangers calculate the supplies needed to accomplish the hike. This will give those that are inadvertently supplied a chance to update before leaving.

3:20 - There are NUMEROUS signs that warn people going into the canyon. Two friends and I thought we could take a short stroll down one trail, because we were New Yorkers and it was "just a short walk." The first sign warned that if we were unprepared, we were in for a bad time. The second sign was like, "We're not kidding. If you're not geared up, you should turn around." The third sign we came to and finally obeyed said something akin to, "If you go beyond this point, and you don't have the proper supplies, you are DEFINITELY going to die! Turn around NOW!" So we turned around. We hadn't gone far. It was around 75 F, so we felt great during our minor descent. I think we got about 200 yards down the trail... and we suffered all the way back up. We actually shoved one another out of the way when we reached a water fountain at the top! We were a mess. 😵 Bonus stupidity: Once we'd caught our wind and rehydrated, we made the drive back down to Phoenix. On the drive up and down, I had my arm resting on the open window. Driving created a wonderfully cool breeze. So, so many hours... with my arm under the Arizona sun... albeit feeling cool, but quietly roasting. 😱 So, yeah. That was a fun day. 😐

It's recommended to drink a gallon a day in cooler weather. It's a foolish idea to take less than a gallon of water for a hike in that area. This is Arizona. Arid Zone. Dry zone. Probably a better idea to turn back when supplies diminished.

After reading accounts by Park Service Rangers who've worked at the Grand Canyon (and other parks) I'm horrified at the number of deaths from both mishaps and planned actions (i.e., suicide). The recovery of bodies seems to be an almost constant thing, and then of course there are the search and rescue efforts. These are places to treat as a playground at one's peril.

I would add that simply carrying a light weight water filter would have made a huge difference. I have climbed Half Dome in Yosemite around 10 times in my life. During some of those hikes I was stunned at how ill prepare d many people were. I saw people wearing leather loafers and even flip flops and carrying little or no water or food. It was so common that I remember volunteers standing at the beginning of the trail asking people if they were adequately prepared and knew what they were in for.

As someone who lives in the mild Midwest and drinks a gallon of water on a normal day, I can’t imagine what these “experienced” hikers were thinking bringing 3 liters of water for three days of heavy exercise.

Good timing! My mom and step-dad just left today for Arizona and they'll be at the grand canyon in 2 days for the first time. Wished I had gone with them but... maybe not anymore after this video

As a resident of Az, you just kind of expect someone to pass away during the summer while hiking. It's almost always someone from out of town, and most of the trails down here in Phoenix are closed if the temperature is above 105*f (40* c). Though that dosen't stop locals from making the same mistakes with heat.

I'm not a hiker but I do have a little bit of experience with being in the desert, as soon as you said how much water they were carrying I was like "that's not even enough for one person!"

I remember that week very well. I was in Phoenix for work and the temperature hit a record 123 degrees on either the 20th or 21st of June 1990. I worked for an airline and our training was suspended for the day because we had to ground the aircraft (there weren’t any performance specs written for Boeing aircraft in temps that high). So it would have been brutal beyond belief in the canyon those exact days they were hiking.

No pictures or video conveyed the massive size of the canyon to me. Standing on the edge looking across, it was breathtaking.

I live in the desert of Southern Arizona. There is a lot of amazing hiking around here, however, sometimes when people go hiking from out of town, they seem to really underestimate how brutal hiking in the desert can be. Many of the deaths are from people not bringing enough water. It doesn't matter how in shape you are, dehydration is a big risk.

as soon as you mentioned it was june and how little water they packed I was like 'yup, one or both died.' I live in Southern Nevada and that little bit of water isn't even enough for an outing to walmart let alone the grand canyon.

A couple of years ago I read a great book called “Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon” by Michael Ghiglieri. People never seem to believe the warning signs. Highly recommended

As a person who hikes the desert, when you said how much water they carried for this trip, I genuinely gasped. That is the advisable amount for a much shorter hike, the Hermit’s Rest trail, and still one is always advised further to take more than needed, in case of spills, extra needs besides drinking, or getting lost. It was truly heroic of Paul to hand over his water to his wife, though. I have no doubt that is what saved her life.

I remember the time when Bobby and Cindy got lost in the Grand Canyon, that was INTENSE!

3 liters for a two day hike in the Grand Canyon me: "uh oh"

My friends and I hiked from south to north rim in 1993. But the route we took was on the very popular trail directly through the canyon (Kaibab, I believe) with ranger stations at 5 mile intervals. We always carried a pack of water and a water bottle in hand. Our most dangerous effort was our last hike out of the canyon bc of the altitude we would be climbing and the time of year (July). My friend had us start hiking at 4 am to be sure we exited the canyon by noon to avoid the heat BUT this too came with hazards as it’s still dark at 4 am! All in all, I had a great time and one of the more memorable trips of my life. Not everyone gets to see the canyon rim to rim.

I've lived in desert environments long enough to understand just how fast the summer heat can wring you dry. What's worse is that a slight miscalculation can be dangerous. About 15 years ago I went for a walk in 95 degree weather with a pretty reasonable amount of water for the trip. But I saw something in the distance I wanted to explore so the trip length decreased. And before I knew it, the water was gone. I made it back safely to my car, but I was definitely starting to feel the effects of the heat. It was a lesson that has never left my memory.

Such a frustrating story. Sad, yes, but very frustrating.

Thank you for covering the canyon again. It really is surprising how many people CONTINUE to make these mistakes each year.

Dehydration is not the only danger people face in the heat. You can drink a sufficient amount of water and still succumb to heat exhaustion. You can even drink too much water, present with the same symptoms as heat stress then succumb to hyponatremia AND heat exhaustion.

This is why it's so extremely important to always be well equipped & prepared when going on any activity which involves long distances. It's baffling at just how ill prepared many folk are when going hiking or camping like they completely undermine the dangers that nature processes

I live in a temperate climate, and hike exclusively in an alpine climate. My rule is 1 gallon per person per day, and you NEVER pass up a chance to reprovision on the trail. To not meet those requirements in an arid environment is truly astounding to me

Fifty years ago, when I was in my early twenties, I worked at the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim. Many times I've hiked down to Roaring Springs and back the same day, and twice I've gone rim to rim (about 24 miles). It is very different than hiking up a mountain and then back down. It's very easy to go down, but 10 times more difficult to come back up. Many people make the mistake of going down too far, and then they're in trouble. Add to that the mistake of not enough water and you have a real problem. Plan carefully ahead, and it's one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

Gosh this theme music never loses its creepiness does it? Thank you for the vids x

Cant read a map, didn't bring enough water for 29k let alone 40 something. This was just doomed from the start.

What joy is there to even hike in the middle of the Summer in the heat that would be torture.

The fact that 5am in the next day she found help is extra heartbreaking…. had they never left the trail there was a chance both would have been rescued - they weren’t far, just terribly lost.

I've hiked in forested, mountainous and desert terrain, and they all sport their own sorts of hazards, however, I think that desert hiking is the most risky of the lot, especially if you underestimate the environment and what you need to even just do an afternoon of hiking, much less multi-day hikes. Sadly I think that this couple's hiking experience added to their danger because they were far from experienced in desert hiking, since their actual experience involved mountainous/forested terrain, two environments that are far and a way different from each other, almost as much as day is to night.

Well done as always

RIP Paul, condolences to Karen and their loved ones. Nice work FH.

As someone who worked at the Grand Canyon for a summer one year and did a lot of hiking, every single time I heard the next decision the couple made, I just cringed more and more.

Three liters of water is NOT enough water for a two day hike in the Grand Canyon. That is not enough for one day. When I was there, I could have imagined that I wasn't sweating: I had no wetness because the sweat evaporated before it left the pore.

Your vid just dropped for me in NSW, Australia 9:15pm 31/October. so happy to see it drop 👏 great content as always, thanks mate 👍

Lived in Phoenix AZ all this summer. 2 months of 120F days, 4 months of every day over 100F. I grew up without air conditioning and weeks of 100F days and even I spent most of my time indoors in the artificial cool. You do eventually acclimate, and I like it hot, but I would still never plan a hike in the Canyon between May and September.

When I joined IBM, my first project was the Avnet disaster, which was based in Tempe. Every evening, my project lead, would make me hike with him up Camelback in Paradise Valley. The heat is just absurd. Anyway come Feb, my twin sister flew in from NYC, and we drove up to the Grand Canyon and hiked. The trail had snow and ice, plus the mule dung. We hiked about 200 meters, and back, and then had lunch. That is how you do it. But the training from Camelback really helped. We just say, it is too hot. Where is the nearest Starbucks?

even if they hadnt miscaculated the distance, they were really lowballing their water supply. 1.5 liters/day while performing strenuous activity in high temperatures? thats dangerous. i assume it was due to weight constraints, but the value of a filter/water purifying tablets cant be overstated. stay safe everyone

Sad, but the man giving the water to his wife probably saved her life. I'm surprised that they didn't bring bleach / chlorine tablets or filters to handle bad water, but I guess hikers wouldn't consider it as it's more of a camping thing. But they still seemingly planned to drink water from the river.

I live in Arizona and have hiked multiple trails in the grand canyon and surrounding areas at all times of year. Even the most well traveled trails are no joke and water is more important than you know. You should plan as if there will be nowhere to get water, then plan for all water to require filtration. Carry at minimum 4L of water per person for each day. If you are worried about water or making it rest during the hottest part of the day and hike in the evening or early morning.

I find the videos of people getting lost in natural areas and not having supplies both fascinating and terrifying. Another great job by you my friend 👏

Its crazy how "advanced" we are and yet so many people do the most senseless things. They could've carried filters to cleanse the water and rehydrate smh...

Awesome a 2 part story

i appreciated the note about how dehydration impairs your ability to think. you are always very respectful when telling these stories

It's been awhile since my last trip (Thunder River Loop that time). It was Memorial Day week, and we had two very fit and experienced young men with us who had never done desert hiking. It hit some record temperatures. And we reminded them so often about the dangers, including "the energy you expend today will significantly affect tomorrow, so take your dang rest days," that we titled the trip appropriately. No backacking between 10:00 and 18:00. Yes, we're carrying extra water to stash. These are salt tabs. Hats are our friends. Let us know even if you're going to "just go look around that bend." That's a wash; we will not camp there. I think we forced them to watch videos. And I know the GC and other places have started at least a little training/warning at some of the more popular launch points, but it's amazing how many people skip it.

I want to see the 2 part !