Why Are Hikers Dying? (Not What You Think)
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Published 2024-08-09
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00:00 Mountain Lions
02:20 Moose
03:15 Bears
05:19 Snakes
08:05 Heat and Cold
10:29 Altitude
11:26 Good Decisions
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When we think about the dangers of hiking, it's easy to focus on the more sensational risks like mountain lion attacks or bear encounters. But the reality is that these incidents are incredibly rare. Despite the visceral fear that comes with the idea of facing down a predator, the odds of actually being attacked—and the attack resulting in a fatality—are slim. I’ve hiked in areas known for mountain lions and bears, and while I’m always cautious, I know that statistically, I’m much more likely to be injured or killed by something as mundane as the weather or even just driving to the trailhead.
The real risks on the trail are often the ones we don’t think about as much. Heat-related illnesses, for example, claim lives every year, especially in places like the Grand Canyon or Death Valley. Hiking in extreme temperatures is no joke, and it’s something I see hikers underestimating all the time. Similarly, heart attacks and other medical emergencies are more common than you might expect, often exacerbated by the strain of hiking in hot weather. It’s a reminder that respecting your limits and knowing when to turn back can be the difference between life and death.
Falls are another leading cause of death among hikers, and they usually happen when people go off-trail, ignoring warning signs to get that perfect view or explore a seemingly harmless area. These are tragic accidents that could easily be avoided by sticking to the marked paths and staying aware of your surroundings. And let’s not forget about the importance of preparation—knowing the trail, sharing your plans with someone, and carrying essential gear like a satellite communicator can significantly improve your chances of staying safe. In the end, hiking is an incredible experience, but it’s not without risks. The key is to be smart about it, respect the environment, and always be prepared.
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Hiking risk calculation:
data source: www.nps.gov/aboutus/mortality-data.htm
Calculate the odds of unintentional deaths in National Parks
Data: 53% of 330 deaths per year in National Parks are unintentional
total_deaths_per_year = 330
unintentional_death_percentage = 53 / 100
unintentional_deaths_per_year = total_deaths_per_year * unintentional_death_percentage
Assuming a general US population engaging in hiking activities in National Parks
Let's consider an estimate of the number of visitors to National Parks annually
For simplicity, we'll use a rough estimate of 300 million visitors (for calculation purposes)
total_visitors_per_year = 300_000_000
Calculate the odds
odds_unintentional_death = total_visitors_per_year / unintentional_deaths_per_year
odds_unintentional_death
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All Comments (21)
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Hey guys - from the GOES team: use the code GUIDEWITHGOES for one month of free access to GOES
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When I lived in Alaska, I was told “If it’s black fight back, if it’s brown lay down and if it’s white, good night.”
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This is another example why this is my favorite hiking channel on YouTube. The pacing, the clear communication, articulate, and genuine. Thanks.
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I had a black bear encounter in the Los Padres National Forest high country. I believe he was a fairly young adult, but still fairly large. I frightened him as I turned a blind corner and he sprinted away full speed. Then about 100 feet down the trail he appeared standing up about 75 feet away looking right at me. He was behind the trunk of a large downed old growth conifer tree. He then bounded over that tree coming straight towards me only to stop about 50 feet from me, again behind a large downed tree trunk. He again stood up and looked at me. I didn't know what he was going to do next so I decided to start yelling, waving my arms and throwing things in his direction (didn't hit him). After 15 seconds or so of this he decide to amble away. I think he was just being curious. This was a pretty remote part of the forest. Maybe this was the first time he saw a human. He must have stood at least two feet taller than me. I had one other bear encounter in that area and it was just a glimpse of a very large disappearing butt from a good distance away.
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I learned this tip from the LNT training, follow the "rule of thumb." Close one eye, put your arm out and thumb up and if you can still see the animal and the thumb doesn't cover it up, you're probably too close. There are probably a few exceptions, like brown bears where you still need a little more space, but it's a simple way to try and ensure you give animals their space.
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Living in bear country and reflecting on the "deer attack" case in Yosemite that you mention, I'm actually closely familiar with the true story, which as I think you suspected has been embellished over the years. This was merely a case of a human habituated animal that ventured into an area where it expected it might find food. The boy was accidentally gored when the deer bobbed its head in a simple case of unnatural proximity. It was not an "attack". I think this is worth mentioning as it illustrates why allowing or encouraging any wild animals to come into proximity to humans is a mistake. At best, it results in a "nuisance animal". At worst...
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Has anyone had any near-death experiences on the trail? Share them here so that others can learn
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Nice video. The health app looks handy. Thanks for linking Outside With Mike's Whitney video.
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Great episode! We need more safety and knowledge in trail. Thanks
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I hike Whiting Ranch a lot as well. There is a family of resident deer that I see every time I hike there. I figure if the deer haven’t been eaten, then I’m in a good position to live. Great hiking at Whiting Ranch
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Thanks man! Will be hiking Mt Lafayette this coming Monday with a chance of rain. Learned a lot from your video 🙏🏻
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That sounds like an awesome app. I’m a paramedic and am going to become checking it out and recommending it. Thanks for including it in this video.
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Great video and advise, thanks!
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Great video. Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks for the info on the app. I will definitely use it. very helpful.
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Great video. Thank you!
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I almost stepped on a sidewinder in the Mojave, scared the hell out of me. The sidewinders blend in with the ground in color and texture, almost impossible to see in addition the can bury themselves in the sand except for their head and wait outside of animal burrows for their prey. As a result of my encounter around ten years ago I always wear snake gaiters when hiking in those areas where sidewinders may be present.
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I've encounter 3 bears in the last 10 years. All ran away from me
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Lol I've walked by so many pacific rattlers and they always seem pretty docile. I even walked past one, and came within around 6 inches, from my shoe to its head. The only time I've been rattled at is when I've been motoring downhill and come up on one too fast for its liking. Oh and one time I tossed a few pebbles at one to make it get off the trail, and it rattled at me. But as long as you leave them alone, generally they leave you alone. I've walked past a black bear in Santa Anita Canyon before, and didn't even realize it. The people hiking a ways behind me started screaming to chase it away. And I've walked through a heard of mule deer, but they were kinda used to hikers so they didn't react that much; just kinda gave me room to get through. I came up on a momma deer and some young ones at Baldy the other day, so I just smacked my poles together to scare them away.
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Well Done!!
