This is why you don't go wandering around in the desert in July

These two might have never been out in the desert in July before. They were from Orange county

and this likely just seemed like a fun thing to do. But, this is something you don't do after about April or May of any year, especially without water or training. The desert is completely unforgiving. My father bought land and built a house within 20 miles of here and I know Joshua Tree national Park well. But, hiking off into a desert wilderness without a map, GPS finder, cell phone etc. is a bad idea

for anyone especially in a place as remote as Joshua Tree national park can be in July. There likely was no cell reception and they didn't have enough water and likely got heat prostration from over 100 degree heat and couldn't think straight and here is the result of what can happen in the desert in late July almost August of ANY year.

Unless you are drinking an incredible amount of water and watching carefully all your symptoms and watching how your body is reacting to almost zero humidity in July and August you likely are going to be in trouble in situations like this. Even with Good health people who live in the desert would question the wisdom of a trek like this in this time of the year for about 100 reasons.

But, if you have never lived in the desert year around you likely wouldn't be aware of any of this. And that's why in this situation it was fatal for 2 people. And unfortunately someone 20 to 22 years of age thinks they are immortal anyway, especially males. I almost froze to death on Mt. Shasta when I was this age in around 1970 and all my joints hurt for around 4 years and I still don't have a good temperature sense of my body still since then. I barely survived my experience. Unfortunately these two didn't.

Missing hikers found dead, locked in an embrace, at Joshua Tree National Park

By Nicole Chavez, CNN

Updated 5:57 PM ET, Sat October 21, 2017

Two killed in Yosemite BASE jump

Ice cave collapses in Washington, killing 1

Bears chase tourists at Yellowstone

Lightning strikes in park kill 2

Hikers found dead, locked in embrace

Now Playing

Child visits national park, comes down with plague

Caught on camera: Family flees wildfire

Extreme sports legend and friend killed in BASE jump

Two killed in Yosemite BASE jump

Ice cave collapses in Washington, killing 1

Bears chase tourists at Yellowstone

Lightning strikes in park kill 2

Hikers found dead, locked in embrace

Child visits national park, comes down with plague

Caught on camera: Family flees wildfire

Extreme sports legend and friend killed in BASE jump

Story highlights

• Hikers Rachel Nguyen and Joseph Orbeso were reported missing July 28
• They had been rationing food and had no water, investigators say

(CNN)California couple Rachel Nguyen and Joseph Orbeso went missing three months ago in Joshua Tree National Park. Searchers found them shot dead this week, locked in an embrace, officials say.

"Based on evidence located at the scene, detectives believe Orbeso shot Nguyen, then shot himself," the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

A gun found near the bodies was registered to Orbeso, officials said.

The owner of a bed-and-breakfast near the park reported the couple missing July 28 after they failed to check out of their room, according to authorities.

He told deputies that his guests possibly went hiking at Joshua Tree National Park.

Nguyen, 20, and Orbeso, 22, of Orange County were found dead this week in a rugged canyon with boulders in a remote area of the park. Police identified them Thursday.

'Desperate situation'

Water bottles and food wrappers led the group to the bodies, CNN affiliate KABC reported. Cindy Bachman, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, told KABC that detectives believe the couple may have perceived they had no way out.

"They have nothing to suggest that Joseph had any intent to harm Rachel -- just that they probably found themselves in a very dire situation," Bachman told the TV station.

Investigators said the two used clothing to cover part of their bodies from the sun. It appears they had been rationing food and had no water, according to the sheriff's department.

The search

More than 250 searchers, including dog teams and helicopters, looked for the couple for days after authorities found their car near the Maze Loop Trailhead, a popular trail.

During the initial search, more than 10 people were injured and others dehydrated when temperatures reached 100 degrees, according to the sheriff's department.

A week later, authorities evaluated "the continuing risk to personnel vs the reward of finding the couple alive" and decided to scale back the search, the department statement said.

Orbeso's father then joined a volunteer rescue team that combed through miles of cliffs and boulders every weekend.

"I believed that I was going to find them. I didn't know when, but I had my answer today," Gilbert Orbeso told CNN affiliate KESQ earlier this week.

He said details show the deaths on the tough terrain may have been a result of desperation.

"Joseph is a protector, as well as a kind and caring person," he said. "We can't be judgmental right away until you get more facts."

He said he's mourning the loss of his son but felt a sense of relief he was able to bring them home.