James “Jimmy” Hendricks, a 66-year-old naturalist, traversed the American West in an expedition that spanned five years while carrying his late father's remains. Called “Travels with Neil: A Final Journey with My Father,” he began his pilgrimage at the Caverns of Sonora, Texas, planning to leave bits of his father’s ashes at treasured stops leading to Mount Rose, Nevada, a beloved locale his father frequently visited before his passing in 2018.
Jimmy regularly updated his journey for his family and friends on social media and through group emails. His sisters grew worried when his communication suddenly stopped. According to Ruth Hendricks Brough, his last contact was "a quick email on July 28th about some photos he had shared."
The next day, Jimmy started his early morning hiking and photography excursion at Arches National Park, Utah. Hotel CCTV revealed him looking unsteady as he entered his van at approximately 6:30 a.m., recounted Brough. His outdoor exploits started with the Sand Dune Arch Trail, known for being a short and easy hike, and the average 2.3-mile hike, the Broken Arch Loop Trail.
“Had someone accompanied him, it would’ve been evident that he was not suited to brave the heat," Brough stated.
On Aug. 1, Hendricks’ lifeless form was found in a Utah national park. He was reported overdue, and a dehydrated empty water bottle was discovered nearby. His path deviated significantly from the trail, resulting in his demise. Quoting Brough, "He just didn’t carry enough water for the hike, and even if he did, survival would've proved tough."
She added, "He had done plenty of hiking and camping at stunning places from Austin, Texas, to Moab, Utah. Therefore, he was more impaired than he comprehended." The official determination of his cause of death could take up to 12 weeks, his sister Ila Hendricks suggested.
Ila had warned Jimmy about the sweltering heat wave preceding his trip, advising him to stay hydrated. "He reassured me that he had ample water, but his water bottle was found empty."
Jimmy was an embodiment of wonder and intrigue, surmounting difficult circumstances throughout his life. "He took care of our mom from 1969 to her demise in 2007 and our dad from 2010 until he passed away in 2018. Despite lacking formal education, people often mistook him for a university professor due to his vast knowledge and insatiable curiosity about the world," Brough remembered.
The unexpected tragedy echoed a similar event from 1992 when their brother Ron was lost in a Nevada blizzard. His body remained undiscovered for over three decades. Connecting the dots, Brough mournfully noted, "Both of them experienced extreme weather conditions in beautiful wildernesses and never returned."
