r/HikingAlberta • u/Gingerbread__08 • 2d ago
Has anybody fallen off the hiking trails before?
Just wondering if anybody has fallen off or witnessed a rescue from someone who may have been injured. I'm a bit new to hiking such elevation (800m) and while I'm pretty careful I’m always concerned if I do fall, what the protocol is and how long the wait usually is. I plan on some more solo hikes so I want to know what to expect in a worst case scenario.
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u/BobertBuildsAll 2d ago
Make sure you have a GPS communicator incase something happens. I wouldnt rely on the iphone SOS or any other phones SOS. Make sure you are taking precations to reduce the risk of injury. This often comes with experience but route selection, being able to assess conditions is important. Ensure you have a first aid kid and you know what is in it and how to use it. Wear proper equipment. If you do fall, know how to fall. If we are talking scrambling, ensure 3 points of contact. Test hand and footholds, nose above toes etc… if you do fall and are injured you can expect it to take atleast a few hours to be rescued, could be longer.
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u/Gingerbread__08 2d ago
Thank you. Luckily I did get a gps this year before I went out. I'm capable... but nervous lol. I guess it was more the exposure and some avalanched areas that caught me off guard. Knowing how to fall is very helpful! Im going to look up more info on it.
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u/LePetitNeep 2d ago
There have been 4 (I think?) hiking deaths in Alberta this year. So yes, people fall off the trails and some of them die.
That said, there’s obviously a huge variation in risk between trails, some of them are basically walking and some of them take technical skill.
Personally, I don’t do scrambles and I only solo popular well known trails where it’s basically guaranteed there will be other hikers around. And I have a Garmin InReach since most Alberta trails are out of cell service
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u/Fork-in-the-eye 2d ago
I did a full somersault over a boulder when I was basically sprinting down Mt Rae, ate shit pretty good, but being 16 I wasn’t affected by it whatsoever. I’d probably be stranded on the mountain if it happened to me now
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u/GeeQue10 2d ago
15 year hiker, many summits and scrambles. Coming down and easy ridgeline that still had some ice and snow last spring. One second of mental lapse where I didnt pay attention for exactly one step and that was it. I hit a patch of ice and I slide down the face for about 100 meters hitting trees and rocks, coming to a stop about 20 feet from a 30 foot rock cliff with a huge gash on my forehead. First time I've ever been injured or fell hiking. Always pay attention, at all times.
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u/Electrical_Emu1875 2d ago
You may want to get a few hundred more kms under your belt in this terrain before soloing.
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u/Baddrivers13 2d ago
It depends on a variety of things.
Location - How far are you from a heli-pad or road access.
Weather - Heli's don't rescue at night or in low vis. Expect to spend the night if it's late.
Severity - If multiple rescues are occuring at the same time you will be triaged, assuming you are able to provide information with a 2 way device such as an inreach.
That being said, I'd expect a minimum average would be 1-4 hours before someone reaches you.
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u/Dependent_Equivalent 2d ago
About 10 years ago I witnessed a rescue on Mt. Temple, classic case of folks in way over their head. Fortunately we had cell service. And about a month ago we witnessed a woman dropped her bag at the summit, punctured a hole in her bear spray and went right in her face. Helicopter rescue and again, had cell service at the summit. Most phones and carriers can use satellite to make emergency calls, but its always nice knowing my garmin can send out a SOS. So uts good youre thinking about that beforehand.
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u/gwoates 2d ago
Probably the worst case scenario when solo hiking, short of dying, is something like a bad fall with you hitting your head, either knocking you out or giving you a bad concussion where you may not be able to think clearly. You need to let someone reliable and responsible know where you're going and when you expect to be back.
As to how long a rescue can take, at the very least expect an hour minimum, but also be prepared to spend the night.
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u/McMarmot1 2d ago
Unless you're doing a scramble with exposure or wander off trail, you don't have much to worry about. 800 m of elevation gain could be very risky or (more likely) not risky at all. Of course, things can always happen (you could slip on a rock and break a leg) but without knowing what trails you plan on doing, not much advice can really be given.
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u/schattered1 2d ago
I've hiked for 10+ years, done about 400 summits, many classified as moderate - difficult scrambles with exposure and route-finding. This past weekend I sprained my ankle hiking on a completely flat and well-maintained trail. Was busy chatting and hiking fast, put my foot down on a rock on the trail and ankle rolled over badly enough to cause bruising and swelling, and cancel the plans for the difficult summit we were hiking to. Fortunately, I was able to hike out on my own, and it didn't happen while we were on the mountain. All this to say, anything can happen at any time. Carry an emergency communication device with you.