Tragedy in Amboy
Amboy Crater, Mojave Trails National Monument: At approximately 1:36 p.m., Saturday, August 12, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dispatch received a call from a woman identified as Kathie Barber. Barber said she had been hiking with her husband near Amboy Crater since 11 a.m. and had become separated from him. She noted her husband had a heart condition and she was unable to find him. She also noted she was out of water.
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department patrol helicopter 40King1 arrived at the location and met with Morongo Deputy Nathan Campos in the parking lot at the Amboy Crater trailhead. Deputy Campos was first on scene and started a search and needed assistance. The couple's car was parked in the trailhead parking lot and Deputy Campos could not determine which direction the hikers had gone.
The helicopter crew, Deputy Pilot K. Henry, and Deputy Flight Officer B. Heard, began an aerial search and located both hikers, matching the description Barber provided during her call. Both were approximately one to two miles east of the Amboy trailhead and appeared unresponsive on the ground.
The two hikers were located approximately 100 yards apart in the open desert with no shade. The outside air temperature was estimated to be 113 degrees at the time. It is unknown if the two were in the black lava fields surrounding the crater which can make the heat there unbearable.
An offsite landing was conducted near the hikers and Deputy Heard went to them. The crew then flew back to the trailhead and picked up a member of the San Bernardino County Fire Department for a second assessment of the hikers, which determined both hikers were dead.
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Air Rescue 307 helicopter aided in recovery of the victims, crewed by Deputy Pilot R. Conner, Deputy W. Hess, and medic J. Centeno. San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Coroners Divisioin arrived and confirmed the identity of the victims as Kathie Barber, 58, and her husband, Gen Miake, 60, of Yorba Linda.
Hiking in the open desert mid-day is dangerous at this time of year. Even the hike into Amboy Crater can be brutally hot and debilitating, especially to inexperienced and unprepared hikers. These two hikers hiked into the hottest time of the day, in an area filled with black volcanic rock that radiates heat during the afternoon, and they apparently did not bring nearly enough water to sustain them. We hate stories like this one, and we hate it when people die in the desert.
If you hike in the desert, especially in the summer (but you need to be prepared all year long), you need to be prepared. You absolutely must bring plenty of water. Yes, it's heavy. But it's heavy for others to carry your body out, too. A usual recommendation is to have a liter of water per person per hour, but as the temperatures climb, do does your need for water. In addition to drinking, wetting your face, ears, and neck is also a good way to help cool yourself down if you begin to overheat. We see a lot of novice desert hikers bring one of those tiny water bottles with them, thinking that's enough. No, it's not. You're asking for trouble if that's all you bring with you.
When you see your water supply dip to about 60 percent, it's time to head back. If you wait until you are almost out of water before heading back to the trailhead, you increase the chance of heat exhaustion and heat stroke - with little you can do to address it. You can supplement water with sports drinks like Gatorade or others with electrolytes. We find them helpful, especially on longer hikes.
Wear clothing and hats that protect from the sun, and appropriate footwear. Proper shoes when hiking can prevent a lot of accidents and injuries. A first aid kit is also useful.
You need to bring snacks as well. Make sure they're not the melting kind of snacks.
Don't overdo it. If it's summer, hike early mornings or later in the evening. Plan hikes that fit those time periods, so you do not find yourself hiking in the hottest parts of the day. Check the weather forecast. The hotter it is, the shorter the hike. If you're in an area you are unfamiliar with, stick to established trails. You can't afford to be lost when the temperature is over 100 degrees.
Don't count on your cell phone. If you hike in interesting places, it often won't get reception. That said, don't act like you're in the city and play lots of music or drain the battery using your apps. If you need to call for help, you'll want it to work if possible.
Do not bring your dog. Presumably you love your dog. If you do, do not bring your dog hiking with you in the desert in the summer, and be careful when hiking with them in other times of the year. We're tired of hearing about dogs with burned paws, or even dogs dying on hikes. The national parks often do not allow dogs on trails anyway, so leave your pooch at home.
Please do everything you can to prevent us from having to write another story about hikers dying in the desert.