Thousands of people go missing each year while exploring mountains, forests, rivers, and deserts. Safety experts offer advice on how to avoid mishaps—and what to do if you need rescuing. Each year, people worldwide disappear in nature, and extreme weather can complicate rescue efforts. The high-profile disappearance of 65-year-old actor Julian Sands in California’s San Gabriel Mountains during a storm in January highlighted the risks of solo adventures. However, there are ways to reduce these risks. Emergency service authorities provide the following tips on how to stay safe before and during your next wilderness escape.
Pro Tips for Hiking
Hikers venturing into dense forests should always bring a partner and avoid splitting up, advises Scott Hillson, a senior member of Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue in the United States. “A common scenario we encounter is when someone heads back to the trailhead before the rest of the group and ends up in trouble without the support of others,” he explains. “If you do become lost, make yourself as visible as possible and stay in one place.
Pro Tips for Wildfires
As climate change drives conditions like extreme heat and drought, few places are immune to longer fire seasons. It’s crucial to identify potential shelter points on a printed or digital map of your route, advises a spokesperson for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services in Australia. If you encounter a blaze, “don’t panic and try to outrun the fire,” they warn. Instead, “head for natural fire breaks, such as clearings, rocky areas, streams, or roads.”
Pro Tips for Mountain Climbing
Mountain climbers should equip themselves with warm and waterproof clothing and avoid overly difficult routes or underestimating the duration of their hikes, advises Rebekah Wilson, spokesperson for the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council. Social media can mislead climbers, warns Tania Seward, senior advisor for New Zealand Search and Rescue. “[We see] people choosing trips based on Instagram photos without realizing they are beyond their capabilities,” she says.
Climbers should start their hikes early to avoid being caught in darkness and leave a note on their vehicle detailing their route and timeline. Seward notes that tourists often need rescuing because they ignore adverse weather conditions and continue hiking to stick to their holiday plans.
Pro Tips for Wet and Dry Adventures
Devices like distress beacons are crucial for those exploring oceans or rivers, says Alex Barrell, commissioner of Marine Rescue New South Wales in Australia. Many people enter the water unprepared, he warns. “It’s essential to check the weather before and during your time on the water, as conditions can change rapidly,” Barrell advises. For safety, those in peril on the ocean should never let go of their vessel. He recommends using life vest leash attachments to stay connected to kayaks, canoes, and boards.
(Here are 13 real-life stories of journeys gone wrong.)
In deserts or plains, ignorance of weather forecasts is also a common issue, says Lana Mitchell, spokesperson for Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service, which specializes in remote area rescues. Hikers should carry a first aid kit, snake bite bandage, sunblock, hat, and sufficient water. The general guideline is half a liter per hour in moderate weather and 1 liter per hour in hot conditions.
Impact of Natural Disasters on Travel
Studies indicate that high-profile natural disasters, such as deadly wildfires, can lead to a decline in tourist arrivals to affected areas, says Kuan-Huei Lee, associate professor of tourism at the Singapore Institute of Technology. “Travelers who can choose safer destinations often do so to avoid risking their lives,” she explains.
However, Dan McCole, associate professor of tourism at Michigan State University, notes that tourism in popular areas like California may remain robust despite extreme weather. “Tourism tends to rebound relatively quickly, often within a year after a natural disaster,” he adds.
The best safety tool for climbers is a distress beacon, which sends coordinates to rescue crews. “Last year, 90 percent of our beacon-initiated rescues were completed within eight hours,” Seward reports. “Without a beacon, that timeline extended to 18 hours.