What should have been an hour and a half walk turned into a 27-hour fight for survival for Jeff Hahn and his daughter Harper.
In mid-June, the two ventured into Big Bend National Park on the southwest border of Texas, where the desert terrain is arid and rocky, and temperatures reached at least 107 degrees.
Around this time, Texas and several other southern states were experiencing a heat wave.
Areas around the Lone Star State had temperatures approaching 120 degrees.
Getting back to his vehicle and finding a way to escape the heat became a high priority. So he and Harper made the decision that Harper, an endurance athlete, would move on and Jeff would try to stay with her.
However, to find safety, the two eventually had to separate.
During this time, Jeff said he experienced a couple of miracles.
What should have been an hour and a half walk turned into a 27-hour fight for survival for Jeff Hahn and his daughter Harper. Big Bend National Park / NPS / FOX Weather
In one of them he saw what turned out to be an old miner’s hut.
The hut not only provided shelter from the extreme heat, but also contained two sealed water bottles from hikers who had visited the structure before.
The second miracle also provided Jeff with a way to access water.
Big Bend National Park in Texas. FOX Climate / FOX Climate
As day turned to night, he said he tripped on a rock and fell to the ground, breaking his wrist in the process. Despite the injury, his other arm fell into a puddle of rainwater in a rock basin, which Jeff would not have passed if he had remained standing.
After 27 hours in scorching 107-degree heat, the duo finally made it to safety.
“It was a heartbreaking day, but it had a happy ending,” Jeff said.
The hottest months in Big Bend National Park are June, July and August, with average high temperatures in the low to mid-90s, according to the NPS.
In mid-June, Texas and several other southern states were experiencing a heat wave. Big Bend National Park / NPS / FOX Weather
However, temperatures can vary greatly depending on elevation, the NPS noted.
The desert floor is typically above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while the Chisos Mountains can be 10 to 20 degrees cooler.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn