Hiker Richard Mulligan did a lot of things right when he set off for a hike in Death Valley National Park on August 13, but when he awoke at the bottom of a scree slope 14 hours later, he realized that even gear and experience is no match for brutal desert conditions.
Writing on Facebook yesterday in what he describes as "cautionary tale" to others, Mulligan says he left the Panamint Butte trailhead at 4 a.m. last Tuesday. The temperatures in the area were due to climb to 116 degrees that day, and official advice is that if you do choose to hike in extreme heat, you should leave early.
He says he researched the route and told friends where he would be going. He brought a topographic map for navigation according to a news release by the National Park Service. He also says he brought almost nine liters of water, which is about as much as one hiker can carry. However, it proved not to be enough, especially when things didn't go to plan.
Mulligan reached the summit around 12 p.m., where he says it was 85 degrees at 6,500 feet. The first obstacle arose when he decided to descend via a canyon. According to the NPS, despite consulting the map, he didn't realize that route would require climbing gear.
"Not having ropes and technical gear, he climbed back up the mountain and descended the route he had climbed that morning."
Retracting his steps meant unplanned climbing and mileage in soaring temperatures. Consequently, Mulligan ran out of water around 4 p.m. before encountering an especially steep section where the NPS says heat and dehydration caught up with him.
"I was starting to feel weaker and weaker, until eventually I completely lost consciousness, and began sliding down," writes Mulligan.
"I awoke to me about 20 - 30 feet lower than the last time I was conscious, with my head severely aching and against a big bolder. No blood, but it was clear I had hit my head."
The hiker was able to use the SOS function on his Garmin InReach – a satellite communicator that works in the backcountry regardless of cell service – and request help at around 6 p.m. He says he was able to move himself to an easier evacuation point where mountain rescue reached him via helicopter at around 11:15 p.m.
Mulligan says he debated sharing details of his rescue "out of feelings of embarrassment" but believes it to be important to show that "even an experienced hiker can get themselves into trouble."
"Please take heed of my story. I am an experienced hiker, and have lived in the park since November. This sort of thing could happen to absolutely anyone."
How hot is too hot to hike?
Mulligan says that if he did not have his satellite communicator, headlamp and friends tracking his progress, he's not sure he would be alive, urging other hikers to "be prepared for the worst out there" and carry more water than you need.
Though Mulligan brought a lot of water, it may simply not be possible to carry enough water for a 15-mile hike like this in such hot conditions. As one commenter on his Facebook posts points out, it would also have been wise to hike with a companion.
The main issue for Mulligan, however, is the extreme heat warning in place in the area. These conditions are inherently dangerous for hiking, increasing the possibility of heatstroke and Death Valley warns hikers to limit their time outdoors and avoid hiking after 10 a.m.
If you are contemplating hiking in the heat, always check the mountain weather forecast before heading out, dress in loose, light layers and carry salty snacks as well as plenty of water.
For long, strenuous hikes that can't easily be completed before 10 a.m., it's advisable to wait for cooler seasons in order to hike safely. You can learn more in our article on hiking during excessive heat warnings.
