Why Mountain Rescue Calls Are Increasing: The Most Common Mistakes Hikers Make

Why are mountain rescue calls increasing?

Mountain rescue calls are increasing because more people are entering mountain environments, but not everyone is arriving with the same level of preparation, awareness and decision-making ability. Hiking, trekking, trail running, via ferrata, mountain biking, snowshoeing, photography walks and family trips have become part of a wider outdoor culture. This is positive: more people are discovering nature, movement and mountain landscapes. The problem begins when accessibility is confused with simplicity.

A marked trail is not the same as a city park. A route saved on a smartphone is not a guarantee of safety. A sunny morning in the valley does not mean stable conditions on a ridge. A destination seen on social media can become difficult if reached with poor footwear, insufficient water, no windproof layer, a late start, low fitness or no realistic plan for turning back. Many mountain rescue operations do not begin with extreme alpinism. They begin with ordinary hikes that gradually become complicated because small mistakes accumulate.

The modern hiker often has access to more information than ever before, yet may use it in a superficial way. Online maps, GPS tracks, short videos and scenic photos can make a route look predictable. They show the summit, the lake or the panoramic viewpoint, but they do not always show loose stones, muddy descents, exposed traverses, long return sections, sudden fog, unstable weather, closed huts, dry water sources or the fatigue that appears after several hours of walking.

This is one of the main reasons why mountain rescue statistics often involve hikers rather than only expert climbers. Hiking appears simple because the basic movement is familiar: walking. But walking in the mountains is not just walking. It means reading terrain, managing effort, interpreting weather, choosing equipment, maintaining balance, understanding your group and knowing when a safe day is turning into a risky one.

A typical situation is easy to imagine. A group starts one hour later than planned. The route takes longer than expected. One person is slower on steep ground. The water runs low before the final climb. The sky becomes darker. The descent is slippery. The phone battery is almost empty after hours of photos and navigation. None of these elements looks dramatic on its own. Together, they can turn a normal hike into a call for help.

Recent data: hiking is the activity most involved in rescue missions

Recent figures published by the Italian National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps show a very high level of pressure on the mountain rescue system. In 2025, there were 13,037 mountain rescue missions, an 8% increase compared with 2024. The report recorded 528 fatalities and 9,624 injured people. Hiking was the activity most involved, accounting for 43.6% of rescue operations, ahead of mountain biking, skiing, mountaineering and mushroom picking.

These numbers reveal something important: mountain rescue does not only concern elite climbers, expert mountaineers or people attempting difficult walls. The largest share involves people who walk. Hiking is a beautiful and accessible activity, but it still demands planning, suitable equipment and respect for terrain. A hiking trail may include roots, scree, wet rocks, exposed bends, steep forest tracks, residual snow, stream crossings, long descents and sections where a small loss of balance can have serious consequences.

The leading cause of rescue operations is falling or slipping. This detail matters because it connects rescue statistics to very practical decisions: footwear, grip, fatigue, balance, weather, terrain, visibility and pace. Many hikers focus most of their attention on the climb and treat the descent as the easy part. In reality, the descent is often when legs are tired, concentration decreases and the risk of slipping increases.

Illness and exhaustion are also significant factors. Dehydration, heat, excessive effort, insufficient food, pre-existing health conditions, altitude, stress and lack of sleep can affect judgment and physical ability. Preparing for a hike is not only about avoiding dramatic accidents. It is also about protecting your energy, hydration, temperature, vision and mental clarity from the first step to the final return.

Mistake 1: starting without real route planning

The first indirect cause behind many mountain rescue calls is poor planning. It is not enough to know the name of a summit or save a GPS track on your phone. Planning means understanding distance, elevation gain, maximum altitude, trail difficulty, terrain type, exposure, water availability, open huts, escape routes, realistic timing, possible snow patches, technical sections and updated local conditions. It also means asking a very honest question: “Is this route suitable for me and for this group today?”

One of the most common hiking mistakes is judging a route only by distance. In the mountains, kilometres can be misleading. Eight kilometres with 1,100 metres of elevation gain, loose stones and steep descents are completely different from eight kilometres on a smooth forest road. Elevation gain alone is not enough either. You must consider how the climb is distributed, how much of the route is in the sun, how technical the descent is, whether the trail is exposed to wind, whether there is residual snow, and how easy it would be to shorten the itinerary.

A well-planned hike always includes margin. Margin of time, margin of water, margin of energy, margin of daylight and margin for changing your decision. If you start already close to the limit, you leave no room for the unexpected. A slower group member, a closed path, a thunderstorm, a blister, a wrong turn or an unexpectedly difficult descent can quickly turn a beautiful day into a stressful situation.

The problem is not only lack of information. It is often the lack of a decision structure. Many hikers do not define in advance when they will turn back. They simply start walking and hope that the day will go as expected. In the mountains, hope is not a plan. A safer approach is to set a turnaround time, identify alternative routes and decide which signals will force a change: worsening weather, low water, strong fatigue, poor visibility, injury, loss of the trail or slower progress than expected.

How to plan a hike more safely

• Study the route using more than one source, not only a track uploaded by another user.
• Check distance, elevation gain, maximum altitude, terrain type and official trail difficulty.
• Verify whether huts, cable cars, buses, water points or support points are open.
• Choose a realistic start time and define a turnaround time before leaving.
• Tell someone your planned route, expected return time and alternative option.
• Prepare a shorter or safer version of the hike in case conditions change.
• Read recent reports or ask local experts when the route crosses snow, exposed terrain or remote areas.

Mistake 2: underestimating weather, altitude and sudden changes

Weather in the mountains is not a small detail to check quickly before leaving. It is one of the main variables of the entire hike. A summer thunderstorm can turn a simple trail into a channel of water. Fog can erase landmarks. Wind can make the perceived temperature drop quickly. Rain can make roots, rocks and wooden bridges slippery. Heat can accelerate dehydration, fatigue and poor decision-making.

Many hikers check the forecast for the nearest town and assume it applies to the whole route. Mountains do not work like that. Conditions change with altitude, exposure, slope orientation, valley shape and time of day. The village may be sunny while the ridge is windy. A forest section may be humid while the upper path is dry and hot. A “partly cloudy” forecast may be acceptable for a short low-altitude walk but unsuitable for a long exposed loop with no shelter.

The weather must be interpreted in relation to the itinerary. A long circular route with a ridge return is very different from a short hike to a hut on a path that can be descended quickly. A steep grassy slope can become dangerous after rain. A rocky path in full sun can become exhausting during a hot spell. A via ferrata or exposed traverse should not be approached when thunderstorms are possible.

One of the most dangerous habits is delaying the decision to turn back until the bad weather is already present. By the time thunder is close, fog is thick or the ground is completely wet, the safety margin may already be reduced. A responsible hiker reads changes early: cloud growth, wind direction, falling temperature, darker sky, humidity, distant thunder, decreasing visibility and the feeling that the group is becoming slower or more nervous.

Weather signals hikers should not ignore

• Clouds growing rapidly upwards, especially around midday and early afternoon.
• Wind that changes direction, becomes colder or increases in intensity.
• Unusual heat, constant thirst, cramps, headache or dizziness.
• Fog rising from valleys and reducing visible landmarks.
• Rocks, roots, grass or wooden sections becoming progressively slippery.
• Distant thunder: if you can hear it, you already need to reassess your plan.

The safest habits are simple: start early, avoid long exposed routes on unstable afternoons, carry a light windproof or waterproof layer, protect yourself from sun and wind, and choose a route that matches the forecast rather than forcing the forecast to match your route. The jacket you think you will not need is often the one that matters when temperature drops and the car park is still hours away.

Mistake 3: using equipment that does not match the hike

Another reason why mountain rescue calls are increasing is the idea that “sportswear” is enough. The mountains do not always require expensive equipment, but they do require coherent equipment. Footwear, clothing, backpack, water, food, sun protection, sunglasses, emergency layer, headlamp, first-aid essentials and a charged phone are not accessories. They are part of the safety system.

Footwear is one of the first critical points. Many falls and slips happen because hikers use shoes that are too smooth, too soft, too worn out or simply not designed for the terrain. Urban sneakers may work on a flat gravel path, but they are not suitable for scree, mud, wet rocks, residual snow or steep descents. The sole must provide grip, the fit must be stable, the foot must be protected and the shoe should already have been tested before the hike.

The backpack is another common problem. Some hikers carry too much and exhaust themselves. Others carry too little and cannot handle a delay. The goal is not to fill the backpack with random items “just in case”, but to carry what is appropriate for the duration, altitude, season, weather and isolation of the route. In summer, the most common mistake is insufficient water. In spring and autumn, it is often the lack of layers. In winter or on snow, the error becomes more serious: underestimating cold, ice, avalanche conditions and daylight.

Eye protection is often underestimated. In the mountains, light changes constantly: forest shade, bright rock, snow patches, gravel, open ridges and sunlit descents force the eyes to adapt repeatedly. Wind, dust, insects and glare can reduce concentration exactly when you need to read the ground clearly. Stable mountain sunglasses are not only about comfort; they help reduce distractions and protect vision during long hours outdoors.

Minimum hiking equipment, chosen with reason

A good equipment list should not make hiking complicated. It should make the day more predictable. The right shoes reduce slips. The right layer protects you when the weather changes. Enough water keeps your thinking clear. Sunglasses reduce eye fatigue. A headlamp protects you when timing goes wrong. A small first-aid kit allows you to manage minor problems before they become bigger ones.

Mistake 4: relying only on a smartphone or GPS track

The smartphone is a valuable tool, but it should not be the only foundation of mountain safety. Digital maps, GPS tracks and outdoor apps have helped many hikers discover routes and navigate more confidently. The problem begins when technology completely replaces awareness. A GPS track can be old, inaccurate, uploaded by someone much fitter, affected by seasonal conditions, interrupted by a landslide or unsuitable for the current weather.

A phone battery can drain quickly because of cold, photos, videos, constant navigation and poor signal. The device can fall, get wet, break or lose coverage. GPS precision can decrease in narrow valleys, dense forests or close to steep walls. Most importantly, following a line on a screen does not mean understanding the route. The map may tell you where you are, but it does not decide whether the ground is safe, whether the group is tired, whether the weather is changing or whether you should turn back.

Navigation in the mountains means connecting several pieces of information: trail signs, map, slope direction, altitude, time, landmarks, terrain shape and the route you have already walked. Even a simple paper map in the backpack can be useful when paired with the ability to read it. You do not need to become a professional navigator, but you should know where you are, where you are going and how to return to the last safe point.

One of the most dangerous reactions when losing the trail is improvising a shortcut. A grassy slope can look easy from above and become steep, slippery and exposed. A dry stream bed can seem like a direct route and become unstable. A faint track can lead to private land, abandoned paths or difficult terrain. If you lose the marked trail, the safest decision is usually to return to the last certain point, not to invent a new route downhill.

How to use technology more safely

• Download maps and routes before leaving, including offline access.
• Carry a power bank for long hikes or cold conditions.
• Compare the digital track with an official map or recent route description.
• Do not follow unmarked shortcuts only because they appear on an app.
• Learn to recognise trail signs, junctions, altitude references and key landmarks.
• If you lose the trail, return to the last certain point instead of continuing randomly.
• Keep enough battery for an emergency call, not only for photos and navigation.

Mistake 5: overestimating fitness and underestimating fatigue

Many mountain rescue calls happen not because the hiker is severely injured, but because they can no longer continue safely. Exhaustion, cramps, fear, dehydration, poor training, low blood sugar, vertigo, knee pain or a route that is more technical than expected can stop a person in the mountains. This is common because hiking combines endurance, strength, balance, mental focus and terrain management.

Being fit in the city does not automatically mean being ready for a mountain trail. Running, cycling or training in a gym helps, but it does not fully replace walking on uneven terrain with a backpack, elevation gain and a long descent. The descent is often more demanding than the climb for knees, quadriceps and concentration. A hiker can reach the summit with satisfaction and then discover that the real challenge is getting back down.

Overconfidence is often reinforced by comparison. Online times, summit photos and enthusiastic route descriptions can make an itinerary look easier than it is. But every hiker has a different pace, balance, experience, altitude tolerance and ability to manage discomfort. A route described as “easy” by a trained mountaineer may be challenging for someone who hikes only a few times per year.

Fatigue also changes decision-making. When people are tired, they may walk faster to finish sooner, eat less because they do not want to stop, ignore weather changes, become irritated with the group or take shortcuts. This is exactly when the margin of safety is already shrinking. A responsible hiker manages effort before exhaustion arrives.

How to choose a route that matches your real level

• Choose a shorter route if you have not hiked recently or if the group is inexperienced.
• Increase distance and elevation progressively, not suddenly from one outing to the next.
• Treat the return as part of the hike, not as a formality.
• Take short regular breaks before you are exhausted.
• Drink and eat little but often, especially in warm weather.
• Choose the route based on the least experienced person in the group.
• Do not turn the destination into an obligation: turning back is a technical decision.

A good hiker is not someone who always reaches the summit. A good hiker is someone who returns with margin. The mountain will still be there another day. Safety depends on the decisions made before the situation becomes serious.

The most common hiking mistakes: practical summary

Most hiking mistakes do not come from complete recklessness. They come from small automatic thoughts: “It is just a walk”, “everyone does this route”, “the summit is close”, “the weather should hold”, “the app shows a path”, “we will decide later”. These phrases sound harmless, but in the mountains they can reduce the attention needed to stay safe.

The following table summarises the behaviours that most often increase risk during a hike. The goal is not to create fear, but to make the warning signs easier to recognise before they lead to a mountain rescue call.

Mistake 6: managing the group badly

In the mountains, a group can be a source of safety, support and motivation. It can also become a risk factor when managed poorly. The most common mistake is choosing the itinerary based on the strongest members and expecting everyone else to adapt. At the beginning, everyone says yes. After a few hours, differences in pace, confidence and fatigue become clear. A safe group walks at the speed of the slowest person, not the fastest.

Another dangerous habit is separating. “You go ahead, we will catch up” can sound harmless, but if the trail splits, the weather changes or someone becomes injured, the situation can deteriorate quickly. The faster group may not notice the problem. The slower group may be left without map, water, experience or phone signal. Mountains reward clear communication, not pride.

Before leaving, the group should agree on a few simple rules. Nobody passes an important junction without waiting. Breaks are taken in safe places. Every person can say they are tired, thirsty, afraid or uncomfortable without being judged. If one person cannot continue, the route changes for the whole group. The itinerary must adapt to real conditions, not to the original plan at all costs.

The emotional side of group hiking is important. Many people hide discomfort because they do not want to slow others down. This silence is dangerous. A blister mentioned early can be managed. A blister ignored for two hours can stop the hike. Dizziness mentioned early may lead to rest, food and water. Dizziness ignored can become a medical problem. Group safety begins when people are allowed to speak honestly.

Sentences that should make the group stop

• “I do not feel safe on this section.”
• “I have run out of water.”
• “I feel dizzy.”
• “I cannot see the trail signs anymore.”
• “The weather is changing faster than expected.”
• “I cannot maintain this pace.”
• “My knee hurts on the descent.”

A healthy mountain culture does not treat difficulty as weakness. It treats difficulty as useful information. The earlier the group receives that information, the easier it is to make a safe decision.

Mistake 7: drinking and eating too late

Many hikers wait until they are hungry or thirsty before doing anything. In the mountains, that is often too late. Strong thirst, cramps, headache, irritability, poor coordination and empty legs are signs that the body is already struggling. Food and water should be managed from the start, not only when discomfort appears.

This is especially important in summer, on exposed trails, at altitude, with heavy backpacks or for hikers who are not used to elevation gain. Dehydration does not only reduce physical performance. It also reduces the ability to make good decisions. A dehydrated hiker may ignore weather changes, misjudge distance, become impatient or take risks to finish sooner.

Food matters too. A heavy meal before a steep climb can slow you down, while starting almost without breakfast can lead to a sudden energy drop. The best hiking snacks are simple, digestible and easy to eat during short breaks: nuts, dried fruit, bars, bread, cheese, chocolate, fruit, small sandwiches or salts when the route is long and hot.

Do not rely on huts, bars or fountains unless you have verified them. A hut may be closed, a water source dry, a village farther away than expected or a detour longer than planned. Water has weight in the backpack, but the absence of water weighs much more when the trail feels endless.

Mistake 8: not knowing how to turn back

Turning back is one of the most important skills in hiking. It is also one of the hardest. After hours of walking, the destination seems too close to abandon. Photos seen online, group expectations, the desire to complete the loop and the fear of “failing” can push hikers to continue. But in the mountains, the most important question is not “How far is the summit?” It is “How much margin do we still have to return safely?”

The right time to turn back is before the situation becomes obviously serious. If the fog is already thick, the storm is already overhead, the group is already exhausted or the water is already gone, the decision has probably arrived late. This is why safe hikers define criteria before leaving: maximum time to reach a point, minimum acceptable weather, level of fatigue, water remaining, clarity of the route and daylight available.

Turning back does not erase the value of the hike. It proves that the hike was managed with awareness. The mountain does not judge those who turn back. Often, it protects exactly those who do.

Hiking mistakes change with the seasons

Every season creates different risks. In summer, the main issues are heat, dehydration, thunderstorms, intense light and crowded trails. In autumn, days become shorter, leaves hide obstacles, mud increases and the first cold spells can make simple routes more demanding. In spring, residual snow can turn a hiking trail into a serious hazard, especially on hard morning snow or exposed traverses. In winter, cold, ice, avalanche conditions, navigation and specific equipment become decisive.

A common mistake is carrying summer habits into other seasons. The same trail that feels easy in August can become completely different in November or April. Times get longer, daylight decreases, huts may close, water points may be unavailable and the ground changes. Trail signs and route descriptions are useful, but they cannot account for every real condition on the day you hike.

Vision, light and concentration: details that affect safety

When people talk about common hiking mistakes, they usually think of shoes, weather and navigation. These are essential, but vision also affects mountain safety. Walking on uneven terrain requires constant reading of the ground: loose stones, roots, natural steps, holes, branches, mud, gravel, shadows and changing light. If the eyes are tired, irritated by wind, disturbed by glare or distracted by insects, foot placement becomes less precise.

Mountain light can be intense even when the air feels cool. Altitude, open slopes, pale rock and residual snow can increase glare. In forests, the eyes must adapt continuously between shade and bright sun. This constant adaptation can create fatigue, especially during long hikes. Sport sunglasses designed for mountain use should remain stable, protect from side light and wind, resist sweat and match the light conditions of the environment.

This becomes even more important on descents. When the body is tired, each step needs attention. Good visual comfort helps maintain concentration, reduce squinting and avoid unnecessary distractions. It is not the only safety factor, but it is part of the system. In the mountains, many small details work together.

What to do if something goes wrong

Even with good preparation, unexpected situations can happen. The difference is how they are managed. The first step is to stop in a safe place. Avoid making the situation worse. Protect the person in difficulty from cold, wind, sun or wet ground. Evaluate the injury, the terrain, the weather, visibility, remaining daylight and the possibility of communicating. Moving randomly, especially when lost or frightened, can make rescue operations more difficult.

In many European mountain areas, the emergency number is 112. In Italy, for mountain or cave accidents, you should call 112 where active, or the relevant emergency medical number, and clearly request the activation of mountain rescue. The call must be calm and precise. Communicate your position as accurately as possible, what happened, how many people are involved, the condition of the injured person, weather, visibility, obstacles for a helicopter and the number you are calling from.

After the call, keep the phone available. The emergency centre may call back. Save battery, stop unnecessary photos or videos and avoid moving from the location you have communicated unless staying there is unsafe. If you must move because of immediate danger, inform the operator as soon as possible.

An app such as GeoResQ can be useful because it allows users in outdoor environments to send an alarm and communicate position and route information to the rescue system. However, emergency apps only help if they are installed, configured and understood before the hike. They are useful tools, not substitutes for preparation.

Useful behaviour while waiting for rescue

• Stay at the communicated location if it is safe to do so.
• Protect the injured person from cold, wind, rain, sun and wet ground.
• Do not move a seriously injured person unless there is immediate danger.
• Do not give medication unless you know exactly what you are doing.
• Make the group visible with bright clothing or agreed signals.
• Follow the operator’s instructions and conserve phone battery.
• Keep calm: clear information helps rescuers work faster and better.

Pre-hike checklist for safer mountain days

A checklist does not make hiking complicated. It turns good judgment into habit. Before leaving, take a few minutes to check the following points. They are simple, but they prevent many of the most common hiking mistakes that lead to mountain rescue calls.

The real prevention: changing the way we think about hiking

Reducing mountain rescue calls does not mean discouraging people from going to the mountains. It means helping more people enjoy them better. Prevention is not a list of prohibitions. It is a culture. It means accepting that mountains are not theme parks, that experience matters, that preparation does not ruin adventure and that outdoor freedom works only when combined with responsibility.

Every hiker can contribute. Choose routes that match your level. Check conditions. Carry what you need. Avoid dangerous trends. Respect the pace of the group. Turn back when necessary. Tell the story of the mountains honestly, including difficulty, elevation, season and conditions, not only the spectacular photo from the top.

People who publish routes, videos or social media content also have responsibility. A beautiful image can inspire, but it should not hide the effort, exposure, weather or preparation behind the result. Many hikers choose destinations because they have seen them online. For this reason, describing risk clearly is part of respecting the mountain community.

The mountain does not ask for fear. It asks for attention. Preparation does not make the experience less intense. It makes it more complete. A landscape enjoyed with water, time, clear vision, suitable shoes and a safe return plan is far more beautiful than a summit reached in anxiety, dehydration or darkness. Safety does not remove emotion. It makes emotion possible.

Four common scenarios that lead to rescue calls

To understand why mountain rescue calls are increasing, it helps to look at concrete situations. These are not rare or extreme cases. They are common patterns created by decisions that seemed small at the time.

The golden rules of a responsible hiker

A responsible hiker is not someone who avoids adventure. A responsible hiker creates the conditions to experience adventure well. The mountains leave room for freedom, but they reward method. Prepare first, then walk. Observe first, then decide. Listen to the group first, then aim for the destination. This sequence reduces risk and makes the entire experience more enjoyable.

The first rule is to choose the right route, not the most famous one. The second is to start with margin, because margin is what allows you to handle the unexpected. The third is humility: even a trail you know can change after rain, snow, wind, maintenance work or landslides. The fourth is continuous observation: pace, sky, terrain, water, time and mental clarity. The fifth is understanding that safety does not depend on one object, but on a coherent set of choices.

• Choose the hike according to real ability, not momentary enthusiasm.
• Start early and leave margin for the return.
• Check weather, terrain, season and support points.
• Carry equipment coherent with altitude, duration and isolation.
• Do not separate the group and wait at junctions.
• Drink, eat and rest before reaching the limit.
• Protect eyes, skin and body from light, wind, cold and heat.
• Avoid shortcuts, doubtful tracks and unmarked steep terrain.
• Turn back when the margin decreases.
• In an emergency, call rescue services calmly and provide precise information.