When you go cross country you need long sleeves and pants, almost always. Especially in the desert where everything is pointy. Like
Ed I wear a very lightweight long-sleeved shirt. My skin is cooler under the fabric than it is baking in the sun slathered in sunblock. Shirt tails out - absolutely. If I'm carrying my reflective umbrella, sleeves rolled up, else the sleeves are down with cuffs unbuttoned to increase airflow. The shirt is oversized, so it is billowy and airy and hangs down over the backs of my hands for sun protection. For pants I wear lightweight zip-offs, again oversized, cuff velcro tight around the ankles but side zippers partially unzipped to increase airflow. Protects my legs against scratchy vegetation but still keeps me cool. And either my reflective umbrella, which is hands-free attached to a pack strap, or the biggest brim hat I can find, white. When I can, I put the umbrella up and the hat hangs from my sternum strap or waist belt. When I a narrower profile or it is windy, the umbrella collapses to a small cylinder and is stuffed in a pocket and the hat goes on.
I'm quite the sight in the desert, but I'm fairly comfortable.
I never ever ever wear cotton in the desert. Some people say cotton is nice and cool in summer but I am one of nature's super sweaty humans. Cotton just wraps me in a nasty, wet, hot, non-breathing, clingy wad of misery. I sweat faster than the cotton can dry out. Hence it is synthetics for me!
OtherHand - I've read reports that their footprints were found in several areas in the Park. Without knowing for sure I suspect that the 4pm ping time happened as they arrived at the trailhead, or shortly after they entered the area, after spending most of the day elsewhere in the Park. Your theory that one became incapacitated and the other one lost is among my likely scenarios too. The other is that they became trapped by the terrain together.
I wonder if they checked video for the whole day at the entrances? When we visit JT in summer we usually start at the crack of dawn, do something in the morning, pop out over lunch, and head back in in the late afternoon. JT is not remote and a huge blue Powerade from Del Taco refreshes and revives.
I considered foul play ... but both of them? And even in the case of foul play, the victims can be found.
EDIT: NPR quotes the Park as stating search efforts will continue until the end of the week, at least:
"Meantime, highs on Wednesday are once again expected to hit the triple digits, as the search for Nguyen and Orbeso goes on.
"We are continuing the search until at least the end of the week," said Land."
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/ ... mperaturesEDIT 2: From the OC Register:
“He’s in very good shape, always carries knives when hiking and is a survivalist,” Young said. “He is also the most respectful, honest, and straight-forward person you will ever meet.”
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/ ... mperaturesSo possibly at least one of them has some outdoor skills, though "survivalist" can mean lots of different things, and in cases where your knowledge may not be appropriate for the terrain, may place you in potential danger, too.