Prayers to a group of our own...

“Ol-Zeke on Backpacker.com lost his wife, April, to heat exhaustion in the Grand Canyon last week. Six people were in the group, including Ms. Doolittle, who posts here.

Ol-Zeke has posted about the tragedy here:
http://forums.backpacker.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/852107219/m/5131088882

There are no words to adequately express sad feelings and tears on this, but prayers and condolences go to Ol-Zeke and the group.”

“OH My....heat stroke...oh Lord. Liz, we had to treat a girl who fell out from that a few years ago at a ...ZOO. Real hot day, she collapsed....That is just horrible...I am so sorry.”

“wow.. that's just terrible.. my condolences to the utmost degree go out to Ol-Zeke..”

“Crap. What a nightmare.

I saw Matahari's thread about this before it was deleted (by their request) and I've been thinking about those guys since then. I guess if there is a good way to leave this life then it would to be in a beautiful place doing what you love with people you love.

Ol-zeke, peace and strength to you.
last edited: 5/20/07 8:40:39 PM”

“[sigh] I feel like I just killed a sack full of puppies. :(”

“I feel so sad for Zeke. He and April were just the nicest people to hike with. Good people.”

“I never find the right words for such a tragedy.

My deepest condolences to everyone.”

“Man...the hardest thing about the Wilderness EMT training was discussing what do you do when one of your group dies...WOW...That is horrible.

I held a 25 ish year old guy one night on the roadside and watched him go from alert and oriented to...dead in a matter of minutes.

For 19 years I have had to deal with it day on and day off....I gotta remember life is a one for one trade off...One birth, One death....But it doesn't make it any easier.”

“Just terrible

I don't know if it's the low humidity or what, but it can really sneak up on you if you're used to higher humidity. It just doesn't feel that hot. By the time you begin feel it, it's already happening.

Desert Dweller met our group on a trip there about 10 years ago. I know everyone must be in shock.”

“I'm with you there, HPM.”

“All six of those individuals have been in my thoughts since that post first appeared on Friday. I am so sorry that this should happen to anyone anytime. It is especially more tragic when it is someone you love that you are unable to help. My heart goes out to all affected by this tragedy.”

“My prayers are with you.”

“What a terrible thing but iffin ya really think about it wouldn't that be a good way to go? I'm mean, I'd rather go out on the trail than to have to fight cancer for 6 months or more.”

“Very sad. Having hiked the canyon, I can testify that it is very unforgiving.”

“lizs,

Thank you for letting us know over here about the tragedy. It is incredibly sad and shocking news and my heart goes out to everyone involved but most especially to Ol-Zeke.”

“I'm saddened to hear this and my condolences to Ol-Zeke.”

“So sorry for Zeke's loss. I can't imagine losing my hiking and life partner. What a nightmare! My prayers go out to him and those that will miss April.”

“A very sad story to read and an awful tragedy to be involved in, I'm sure. My condolences.”

“It's incredibly sad - my condolences also,”

“that is so very sad...i feel very sorry for him and i've never met nor heard of him...i can't imagine loosing a loved one in that manner”

“How very tragic. My condolences to the family. :(”

“my prayers are with all involved.”

“My condolences as well. How tragic and sad.”

“What a nightmare, and heartbreaking. Very sorry to hear this. My deepest sympathies.”

“Wow. I am so sorry.”

“My heart goes out... I already posted my sympaties on the other thread. My head hurts and my heart is heavy today.”

“My prayers are with Ol-Zeke and his family. But I thought about what Spam said and it's true, I want to go on the trail in the arms of someone who truly loves me.”

“sorry to hear of the tragedy. my prayers are with you..................”

“ive never heard of ol zeke, but i guess hes part of our family. my condolences, brother”

“Very sorry to hear this. I send my condolences to your family and friends.”

“It is a tragedy for sure.

Backpacking in 100 degree heat is the last thing I want to do. Camping with the corpse of your wife for two days would be a nightmare. Tough way to go.”

“I have sent a post or two back and forth with Ms Doolittle over here and I remember Ol-Zeke from when I used to post over on backpacker. Seemed like a nice guy, but it wouldn't matter if he was or not, this is a very sad thing to happen to anyone. My heart aches for him and everyone on that trip. This makes me fill less stupid about following a lost drunk around at trail daze until he found his tent. I made light of it in my posts, but this really brings home how dangerous being outside in the weather can be.”

“Uggghhh! This is so saddening and I have no words that will give condolence to Ol-Zeke and the hiking group. Reflection and prayers for the fallen hiker and all that mourn her loss.”

“Camping with the corpse of your wife for two days would be a nightmare

i had no idea about that, and defineitely concur. i'll have to read his account very soon”

“That is one experience I have never had to deal with. I have seen em born, and held their hand as God took them. But then it was only for a few minutes....imagine your ...Oh man....just terrible.

I hope they understand how much we are supporting them over here.”

“For Bacpac and the person quoting him:

A link to this thread was posted on the condolences thread on the magazine site. Did you consider for an instant that someone Very close to the situation might read this thread????”

“i wonder if we could remove/edit those two posts
last edited: 5/22/07 1:56:15 AM”

“Remove the posts? What are you talking about?”

“I was chating a bit with ol-zeke last night, he is coping but man, I couldnt imagine having to deal with the death of a spouce :(

Still, like others have said, at least it was quick and she was with one she loved doing something she loved.”

“There are no words adequate enough for this.

To MsDoolittle and screamingflea, who read/post here...we love you. You know if there's anything we can do you just have to say it.

Thoughts and prayers of peace to them all.”

“My prayers are going out for them... I can't imagine the grief to have a loved one leave right in your arms. No words... I pray for all of us in our adventures.”

“No words. I can't even imagine how I'd deal with that. I'll be praying for all of them.”

“I never met Ol' Zeke or April, but I saw clearly their love for each other and how many people care about her when first reading about this tragedy.

My heartfelt condolences to the family and their friends and to the forum members who shared the experience. A river of tears now runs beside the Colorado River.”

“can we express ourselves to the fullest, with candor and grace. bb”

“Oh, man, that's unimaginable. Prayers for him and his family.”

“mentioned in today's Morning Report:
"Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Possible Heat-Related Death

On May 17th, the park was notified of a fatality in the inner canyon near the junction of Tonto Trail and Ruby Canyon. April Goode, 56, of Salem, Oregon, had been hiking with five companions when she began having difficulties a few days prior to her death. Two members of the group hiked out to get help, while the others stayed with her. She subsequently expired. Another hiking group came upon Goode and her companions; when they learned that she’d died, they hiked down to the river and flagged down a passing river trip, one of whose members notified the park via satellite phone. Rangers recovered the body and turned it over to the medical examiner’s office in Flagstaff. Early indications are that her death may have been heat-related. [Submitted by Maureen Oltrogge, Public Affairs Officer]"”

“While I did not know Zeke or his wife, I would like to send my condolences to him, and the other members of the group.

I'm never very good at this, but it is sincere.”

“A terrible loss. My sympathy for the family.”

“I had started writing a response to this post about 10 times now. There are no words enough to thank you for your thoughts, prayers and kindness.

April was a wonderful woman (full of spunk, but I guess you gotta be to be married to Vince) and she and Vince had a wonderful relationship. I was lucky I got to meet them on this trip and in such a beautiful place.

Keep Vince in your thoughts and prayers, as I know you will. He's good people.”

“Ah, MsD, I know what you mean. Each day, I posted in my mind but couldn't post online. I wrote a poem and cried over it.

Ol' Zeke, you're in my thoughts and prayers. And you, too, MsD and the others.”