Teen Dies After Boy Scouts Run Out Of Water

[grmi66]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

As hiking trails go Picacho is not very long despite a few steeper spots here and there. But it is only a four mile round trip. I think that is what is mysterious.

This is what I'm getting at. It's a short hike (albeit a steep one) plus always crowded. Even if you somehow run out of water there is generally a long line of hikers that could have provided some.

[HTY483]

Originally Posted by grmi66

There is something missing in the story. I've been on that trail a number of times. While it's steep, it's not that long of a trail and help from the park rangers isn't more than a 15-20 minute hike if pressed for time.

Wondering if the scout had some other unknown health issue beforehand.

They were probably dehydrated before they reached the trailhead. Maybe they all stopped for a soda prior to the hike. Soda will definitely dehydrate you. But I agree, Picacho isnt exactly Mt. Everest. Though I've never hiked it, I've driven by it many times and it looks like a 1.5 hr hike, maybe 2.5 hrs tops.

[fluffythewondercat]

After seeing a picture of the boy, I wonder if he was a mouth breather. And no, I don't mean that as an insult.

People with allergies and sinus problems blocking the nasal passages -- that would be me for many years -- often have no choice but to breathe through their mouths. You lose a lot of water vapor that way.

Some believe mouth breathers don't get enough oxygen, which might have been a complicating factor on a steep hike, even though it was relatively short.