I feel bad about the people who died but WTF were they thinking, Hiking when it's 116?
Feel a little guilty, it's sunny and about 82 here with low humidity.
One can hike in those temps but need to keep hydrated at all times. Some salt pills also would help. And keep one's head covered. Some think just because the humidity is low the 100 + temps will not be that bad. Not true.
I pull my horses in when the temperature and humidity start climbing.
When it hits around 85 - 90 degrees I start looking at the humidity. If it goes much higher (temperature) The horses come in and go under the fans. Heat Stroke does not just happen to people, Horses do terrible in hot weather, they much prefer cold weather (they love snow, as long as they have food).
I've been in Dubai where the summer temperature can climb to 136 degrees easily, and the humidity is zero, it's dangerous, sunburn (severe sunburn can happen very quickly). I won't move horses into the middle east until November or December.
Hiking in 116 degrees does present certain problems, but they aren't insurmountable when you take the proper precautions.
Love,
Liz