American Stupidity: Why Did Family Go Hiking In Blasting Phoenix Heat Wave

Hiking trails around Phoenix, Arizona do look lovely,
but what possessed parents in a family group to
take kids on a hike there on a 110+ degree day?

 You don't want to be outside for any length of time this time of year in Phoenix. 

That will seem obvious, given that Phoenix is probably the hottest major American city, at least in terms of temperature.  So anybody in their right mind would demur when somebody suggest a nice long hike in that weather, right?   

So why the living hell did, on June 29 a group of five adults and six children, mostly between the ages of 5 and 11, set off on a hike? They started around 10 a.m. and buy noon, they needed help. Desperately.  

A tactical rescue team was dispatched to the Holbert Trail, where the group was. "We basically dispatched the equivalent of a first alarm mountain rescue. We had upwards of five mountain rescue teams who responded. That's a lot of resources," Phoenix Fire Department Captain Rob McDade told AZFamily.com

"There's no reason to be on trails at 10 a.m. on an extreme heat day like this. Especially with younger children," McDade added, putting on his Captain Obvious hat.

I wonder if the Darwin Awards have a division for entire families instead of just winnings for individuals. Although I'd give the award to just the adults in the group. The ages of the children were 3, 5, 9, 10, 11 and 15. 

 The family also endangered the rescuers who had to go up and get them. The heat surely affected them, too, though I'm happy to report the rescuers survived the ordeal. At least until somebody else gets stupid in the Arizona desert summer. 

 Other members of the Phoenix fire department also panned the group.

"Trying to get the family out is very commendable but hiking on a day of extreme heat ad going around well-placed sigs that say 'This trail is closed,' is one of the worst decisions to make," Capt. Todd Keller of the Phoenix Police Department told the Arizona Republic. "The overwhelming feeling is not surprise, but disappointment."

Aside from common sense,  the family was not supposed to be there at all.  

The city of Phoenix closed most municipal trails, including the Colbert Trail that day because of the extreme heat. The city typically closes their trails from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on particularly hot days. 

The high temperature the day the family was rescued reached 114 degrees with an early morning low of a still sweltering 87 degrees. The normal June 29 high in Phoenix is 107, with a record high of 119.

So by any measure June 29 was a ridiculously hot day in Phoenix. 

Phoenix has a city ordinance that allows them to cite people who go into closed parks. Those convicted face a fine of $50 or more and eight hours of community service. 

 As azfamily.com reports:  

"You can face charges for leaving a child in a hot car, you could face charges for taking them hiking in the heat. Child crime experts say parents could be charged for neglect or abuse for knowingly bringing their children on hiking trails in extreme heat."

The Arizona Republic says people have died on Phoenix area trails when take foolhardy summer hikes. 

Ultimately, the hikers were not cited.  The city released this statement regarding the issue:

"While the city retains the authority to cite individuals for entering a closed park or trail, health and safety is the priority during an emergency rescue. The objective is to get individuals to safety off the mountain and connected to medical care as quickly as possible. No one should ever be deterred from calling for help out of concern or receiving a citation"

OK, fine, but inquiring minds want to know what possessed this group to go hiking in the first place. Alas, I could find no evidence of anybody from the group explaining what happened.  

I also, wonder - and hope - whether child protective services is looking into the matter.