More cool hikes (some overlap).

Bad string of luck for some 60 year olds on the JMT (different incidents).

The first incident is a basic fundamental of group hiking - don't leave people behind!

In the second incident, imagine exerting all that time and energy climbing Mt. Whitney (14. 505'), doing the victory pose at the summit for FB or Instagram, and then falling off...!!!

Sad news and loss to the hiking community...

Another loss in California...

Beware of mountain goats.

Let's not be all too caught up in things that go wrong. Sometimes there are solutions that present themselves before hiking tragedy hits...

The National Parks Service is trying to avoid future entries to this thread forum relating to heat strokes.

And apparently, mountain lions don't like opera. Good to know.

I totally agree! Hiking has some inherent risks, but so does driving, walking down the street, swimming or any other activity. We shouldn't get paranoid or allow fear to rule the day. I just think we should all be aware of the risks and then take the proper precautionary steps to mitigate them as much as possible. Proper training, acquiring skills, experience and equipment goes a long ways in this regard.

Hey, Robert, in regards to Mountain Goats, I had my own encounter recently on Wheeler Peak in New Mexico. I had to stop my ascent near the top and wait awhile (due to bad weather at the summit). While I was lying on my pack and eating a Clif bar, a family of goats came over the ridge to visit me. They were very "friendly". One of them came right up to my face, only inches away, which was a little freaky. I realized he wanted my Clif bar. I wanted to get him away from me, so I tossed a piece down the hill. Not a good idea... That set into motion a feeding frenzy and 2 goats fought over it, butting heads, clashing horns and all! There I was watching this play out right in front of me like an episode of Animal Planet. One goat eventually prevailed and gulped down the snack. I thought I was out of the woods, but then he raised his head after he finished and looked at me as I was chewing on my Clif bar. It occurred to me that he wanted the rest of my snack and I got a little concerned he was going to ram me for it if he had to! Fearing for my safety, I let him have the rest of it and then started shooing them away and yelling "Go Away! No More!" (as if they understood English, lol). Fortunately, they did move on and I was able to finish the rest of my hike when the weather cleared. In retrospect, I realized I should not have fed the wildlife. I knew better, but when you're scared you make mistakes. Now, I'm a little wiser (hopefully!).

Necrophobia might keep some off the trails. Dead people are not a common sight on most outdoor outings, but it does happen now and then.

Walking on water is totally awesome, but could be inherently dangerous, too.

The fine folks of Tennessee are doing their best to protect trail runners from sprained ankles.

Falling into the ocean on a collapsed bluff is a pitfall living in California that I had not thought much about when living in Central Texas.



Please pay attention to warning signs, both literal and figurative!

Update: that trail may never reopen.

Edited by user Tuesday, March 31, 2015 12:28:18 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified