Complacency might get to most of us before we head out on the trail, and that’s not a good habit to fall into. I’ve done it myself over things that might seem trivial with the thought that, “Oh, that won’t happen.”
I don’t know what the statistics are, but I’ve heard that more injuries or life threating incidents occur on day hikes more than for backpackers. If that’s true, maybe it’s because more people may day hike than backpack.
For me, it’s saying, “I’ve got enough water left in my bladder from yesterday’s hike, and I don’t need to fill it for today’s hike.” Big mistake. Or, “I’m sure the rechargeable battery in my headlamp has enough juice in it if I’m caught out after dark,” even though I haven’t charged it in a couple of months and don’t check it before I go out. That may seem like a little thing as you head out in the morning. It’s not so much complacency on my part more so than laziness. Really. And it’ll catch me one day.
I got to thinking about this as searchers found the remains of hiker Ann Herford, who went missing on November 15, 2023, and her remains were found on November 30, 2023 on the Arnold Rim Trail, which I previously wrote about. My issues I mentioned are stupid rookie moves, and Herford made a rookie move that cost her her life.
Without knowing the circumstances of what happened to her, the coroner’s report came back that she died of exposure. She was an experienced hiker, but she was not prepared to spend the night in the cold November forest if something went wrong.
I don’t know her, and I don’t know if she got complacent thinking she was going to be out on a simple day hike or not. Clearly something went horribly wrong for her, and she was not prepared for the elements.
What happened to her is a reminder to me, and I hope to others, to make sure I do check my gear and have proper clothing with me just in case the unforeseen happens and I can be ready for the possibilities of things going wrong.
I know the trail Herford was on, and I do know there are areas where there is no cell service. I’ve said it before, and I’ll preach it again – I do carry a locator beacon with me in case I get into a jam that I can’t get out of on my own. I encourage everybody who hikes out in the wilderness to carry some kind of satellite communication device with them. Even if you get into trouble, and all you have is a cell phone but it says you don’t have service, dial 911 anyway. In a 911 instance, your cell phone can access any cell tower regardless of the carrier network.