[Qatar-6]

Spent a lot of time around there

1. Let someone know where you're going and tell them to alert the authorities if you don't check back in by a certain time. It helps if you know the authorities number and give it to the people who are your lifeline. First check the number to see if it's good. The day you start your trip tell the authorities where you're going as well

2. Don't depend on Cellphones - plenty of deadspace

3. Don't deviate from your planned and coordinated route

4. Signal equipment, pin flares, strobes, mirrors.

5. Everything the first poster said about water, boots fix a flat ....is good advice. Loose flowing clothes (cotton, it breathes better. Blankets or jackets - gets very cold at night.

6. Extra spare if you can manage it. sandladders for if you get stuck. At least one sturdy D-handle shovel. Tarps and poles for shade

7. Know where you are when you're out there. if you're more than 10 miles walk from the nearest known civilization when you get stuck it's probably best to wait by the vehicle.

If you try to walk out follow the trail, road you came down. Unless you're a very experienced desert navigator do not try to go overland

The key thing though is let someone know when you're out there, where you're going and when you're supposed to be back and what's the drop dead time they should call the cavalry if they don't hear from you

Bottom Line: This is one of the most hostile environments on earth, easily as hostile as the Saudi empty quarter (I've been to both). It will kill you pretty quickly if you're unprepared.

Hope this helps

[kiryandil]

"[Lofgren] previously served four years in in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011."

Also sounds like he was a very experienced backcountry hiker.

I also live in an area that will kill your @ss dead - though with cold, not heat.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

It looks like they drove down to the end of Gold Valley Road. Then rather than walking back the long way to Shoshone, they tried to climb down the cliffs to Badwater.

Bad choice.

[mad_as_he$$]

Good suggestions. Mumber 1 is the best. Have a float plan with a reliable party.

I have worked S&R cases where we were looking for a party miles away from where they were because some(the only one with info) “thought” that they went to X when the party actually went to Y.

[Troublemaker]

As someone who has spent most of my life outdoors and decades on search and rescue teams...that’s and excellent list. Especially #1.

[Openurmind]

Yep, #1 first priority. Grew up in that desert and you never go without telling someone what area you are going to and when you will be back out.