Every summer we have fatalities that are always caused by irresponssible behaviour of hikers. In about 50% of these events tourists are involved, the other 50% are inexperienced hikers. The desert is HOT and DRY. I'd like to point out very few rules to follow when you are hiking in the desert and along other trails too:
- Always carry with you sufficient amount of water, even for short hikes: A minimum of 5 liters of water for each hiker / day.
- Do not hike in the desert when the tempratures are above 32c (90f), you will dehydrate much faster than you think.
- Do not hike on an unmarked trail.
- Do no hike in the desert alone.
Today we had yet another sad fatality. A tourist from Russia with her daughter took a short hike in the area of Ein Gedi , ~5 km (3 mi).
The temperature in the area was 42 c (108f) . They did not take sufficient water with them. The young daughter (17) apparently dehydrated, and her mother decided to take a shortcut on an unmarked trail. The conseqence was that the mother slipped and fell into a deep gorge of approx. 30 m (100 f). She died immediatley.
Please follow the above safety rules and do not risk your life.