My dad had a heart attack and died when he was climbing up a mountain. Ironically, the path was called the 'Stairway to Heaven'. Either way, mountains and nature deserve our utmost respect. Thanks for shedding light on this issue, and let's stay safe while out on the mountains!
Summit fever is a big killer in the mountains. You have to know when to turn around and leave your aspirations for another day. The mountains will always be there.
This is so true. I understand the temptation, but I think making sure everyone you hike with is on board with this way of thinking before starting a hike is necessary.
I thought it was going to be bears! Really nicely done video on a serious subject. That must be an awful feeling for the man who passed her and wished he'd said something.
I wish people were more careful. I live in Tierra del Fuego, at the very south of Argentina and here near the city of Ushuaia recently a young woman died from hypothermia while trekking. There was a debate about who was responsible there but it's true that lots of tourists from the rest of the country come poorly prepared/equipped (then end up calling rescue because of a broken shoe) and not well informed. Things like the fact that at this time of year it's already dark at 6PM should be taken into account. Also, people should be aware of their own fitness and their ability, or lack thereof, to go on these long hikes.
A sobering remainder that falling down is not the only danger in the high mountains. Witnessing an event like this would shake up anyone and make you reconsider what constitutes an acceptable level of risk (as well as your equipment).
Damn a serious one here. But hits home, I know that feeling of not wanting to waste a day after a long trip, not doing the thing is hard when you feel like youre already invested in it.
Yeah- it's easy to get caught up in that and sort of tell yourselth, "it'll be fine!" .. and it sometimes isn't. BTW- I love love love your channel and your videos always make me laugh. I look forward to watching you blow by me in various metrics as your channel inevitably explodes!
So scary and sad. My family and i went hiking a trail in the NC mountains and underestimated how long it would take, how hard it would be, etc. It was evening by the time we were halfway back and it started pouring rain. The temperature dropped from 78 down to 55 very fast and we were in summer clothes, freezing and drenched, walking down slippery trails. It's crazy how quickly the tides can turn in the mountains, and is a lesson i had to learn myself. I cant imagine how scared that woman was, please be safe everyone.
We have similar problems in Hocking Hills here in Ohio-while weather isn’t necessarily as big of a problem, as overall elevation is still relatively low, there are a lot of cliffs with some treacherous drops very near the posted trails, and accidents happen each year. Not too long ago, a few teens were screwing around with a giant log up on a cliff, which fell onto a hiker resting below them. Folks unfortunately don’t really pay attention to the fact that hiking in the wilderness is not the same as walking in a park. Thank you for posting a video on this important topic!
Used to go to Hocking Hills several times a year but anymore there is just way to many people and they are really causing a lot of problems to such a historic and spiritual area. Every time I go there are always new barriers, fences, and do not enter signs because of humans causing issues. Really craving a German chocolate milk shake right now though that they have at the Old Man's Cave General Store. Might have to go over soon LOL!
Amazing human being! Keep being yourself... bound to go viral one day. The combination of your story telling, information sharing, and sense of adventure come through in such a unique and powerful way. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing these cautionary words. Some years ago I hiked Mt. Whitney here in California. At about 13,000 ft. I became incapacitated from altitude sickness. There were sheer drops on either side of me of thousands of feet. I had to stop, sit down and put my head down for about 30 minutes until I felt well enough to continue very slowly and cautiously the remainder of the way to the summit at 14,500 feet. I was trying to summit in a single day without being properly acclimated. Though I made it safely to the summit and back to the base of the trail, 19 hours round trip, it was a good lesson learned. Thank you again for your beautiful and enthusiastic videos. They are great!
my friends brother died in summer when he got caught in a thunderstorm up on a 14er (hit by lightning). weather can do strange things in the mountains even at the best of times so checking ahead is very important. I still hike, but I'm a lot more cautious about triple-checking the weather now.
When I plan a climb/hike I always over-prepare, constantly checking weather conditions, packing more than I'm going to eat/drink in my backpack, and always bringing spare socks and a fleece. The mountain has a mind of its own, natural forces that us human beings cannot even begin to phantom the strength/magnitude of. Respecting the mountain and carefully planing each part of the adventure is what I have as rules. Thank you for this video, as I'm sure that some people might think climbing/hiking is an easy-going activity. These reminders serve as "be aware" signs for inexperienced hikers, as well as experienced. Great upload as usual.
It is so true, I live in Arizona, which has the opposite of extremes. People come here and in the morning the weather is nice, and they are going on a short hike and they don't bring water. People die every year by getting mixed up in what becomes the hot sun and dehydration sets in and they pass out and perish. Always Always bring water with you on a hike
As a mountain professional, I want ot say thankyou very much for making this video. I see so many unprepared people on the mountains daily. This video is so poignant with the ultra (mountain) marathon disaster in China - this was a case of not having an apropriate mandatory gear cary. It also reminds me on how luck we are in Europe in terms of Profesional Mountain Rescue
I can imagine it must be frustrating as a mountain professional to see so much avoidable tragedy from people just not being properly prepared... And yeah- I've heard great things about the mountain rescue teams you have in Europe!
This is very sad , but shows how removed we are from nature due to are advancements in civilization. There is something like 2700 ppl that die in the US every year in the national parks , due to inexperience /weather / getting lost. You give great advise to prepare yourself for hiking/camping/enjoying the outdoors Great video !
Really appreciating this video... Every year my mountains take away so many lives, even experts and alpine guides, once also a helicopter's rescue team... Please consider always Quinlan's words!
I did this WAFA (Wilderness Advanced First Aid) training and certification last month, which taught me a lot. I didn't realize how often those rescue helicopters crash...
A very WISE DECISION for you to provide these tips. People still think that hiking is just fun. What they fail to realize is that hiking is actually allot of work - and just like anything that you have to work on, you need to take it seriously and prepare properly.
I couldn't agree more. A very important message. I hiked numerous mountains in Japan and while most paths are well maintained (compared to let's say some hiking routes I have experienced in Eastern Europe for example), the danger is real and should not be underestimated. I was down in Kyushu recently hiking Mt. Yufu, an active volcano with a beautiful caldera. It was early December and I was not prepared for the level of snow and the icy winds on that day. I made it to the crater rim but the West Peak (the highest) can only be reached with numerous chain sections several meters high. The very cold wind and the icy weather, combined with the realization of getting no grip on the chains whatsoever, I quickly abandoned the plan to summit the West Peak and settled for the much easier East Peak, saving the highest point of that mountain for another day. The following day, I went up Mt. Sobo in Miyazaki. It was a beautiful day with excellent weather and the route I took was easy enough with only some minor slippery parts at the end on higher altitudes with some snow near the summit. A perfect hike, really. On the following day, I read on the news that 1 person had died on the same I went while trying to summit that mountain. I couldn't believe it. What happened? I did some research and it turned out that this person went alone on another, slightly more difficult route. Apparently, this person slipped, fell several meters, became unable to move and ended up dying from hypothermia since it was very cold and no-one around to assist or getting help. These stories are a very sad reminder to not take the mountains lightly, and to be extra cautious when hiking alone, no matter your level of experience.
I’m glad you brought up this topic i think its something people underestimate, if you watch a video by Currently Hannah she did a hike on Mt.baki and it didn’t go too well for her. Really woke me up to the risk of hiking. It’s a good video to watch for anyone thinking of hiking in Japan in the snow.
That hits home. I too have made a mistake in hiking in Japan (in late October 2016) - I wanted to hike Mt Tanigawa (Gunma) and started too late for the kind of route (Nishi Korone) I wanted to take. Ended up getting to the ropeway down way too late (past dark/operating hours). Fortunately the cook of the restaurant / ropeway operator allowed me to stay in the restaurant building and gave me a blanket. It did get very cold that night, but fortuately I was fine (indoors & with blankets). Tried Mt Tanigawa again in 2019, and was great, mainly because I took the right step of just going up & down via the ropeway to the start/end of the hike, which I should have done the first time.
Well said! And it is important, because the mountains are no joke. I grew up in the Rockies and live there now. Exposure, falls, lightning and wildlife are all potential risks. Be prepared any time you head out in the mountains.
Quinlan, thank You for being so responsible and for making this video. I cannot stress enough how important common sense is and how much we should prepare, especially in situations like this one.
This is very tragic news, and thank you for talking about safety in the mountains as a prerequisite to having fun. I've worked as a volunteer doing wilderness/mountain rescue for almost two decades and the common thing that leads to death in most cases aside from accidents is that people over-estimate their capacity or ability and underestimate nature. One of the things that I think people need to remove from their minds when climbing, hiking, or going anywhere they have to be at the mercy of nature is the idea of being "experienced." I don't think there is such a thing, and the reason for that is there's never just one way that bad things can happen in the mountains and there is no real way that anyone can be "experienced" in all of those eventualities. Most people confuse doing the same thing (walking, hiking, climbing) as being experienced, but it's not the regular things that cause tragedy but the the unknown factors that happen only once in our lifetime like a moutain storm, a bear attack, and a hundred other unexpected things. Saying that one is experienced gives a false sense of confidence that the person can, or should, be able to handle unexpected situations, but this is never the case. I think it's best to think of mountains as something to respect each time we visit it instead of being something we can master. A good example of this is Alex Lowe, a very strong and talented alpinist who was at the height of his climbing career when a mountain took his life in the blink of an eye. He was a gifted climber, he had a lifetime of training and experience and a natural instinct for survival but, sadly, mountains don't recognize any of those things. There's a saying in climbing: "stack the odds in your favor" and this is the best approach to adventure, in my opinion. I've survived a lot of things by keeping this in my head. I never thought of myself as experienced or a master of anything even when I was still training every day for adventure sports because every experience we have in the mountains or the wilderness is an individual transaction with nature, we could be okay in one moment and not so much in the next. We stay safe, I think, when we play by the rules of nature and by recognizing that there is nothing we can do to change those rules. Thank you so much for this video, stay safe!
Thanks for doing such an important video. I went hiking Mt. Mitchell in NC with a couple coworkers. A moderate hike but I wasn’t used to my five finger shoes. We ended up getting back to the bottom after dark because of my error. I had to wrap my long sleeve around one foot and my hoodie around my other just to relieve the pain in my feet as we descended. I felt so bad for my friends. I was so thankful for their company and encouragement. Now I practically wear hiking boots everywhere. I learned my lesson.
When I hear this then reflect on the things I have done alone in the mountains. I'm amazed I'm still alive and in one piece because I've had some pretty good tumbles with just myself to get me out.
The weather sure can change in the blink of an eye. Reminds me of hikes I used to do in the French alps with my parents. Perfect weather at the bottom, a short gondola trip to the starting point later and a massive thunderstorm starts. Half an hour later and the cloud cover opened up to beautiful blue skies...
Great and informal video. Running in the lake district(not a high altitude as some of the places you hike) I've met people hiking with just normal shoes, no gear or map. Looking forward to the recommendation gear video. RIP to the 2 who died in Mt. Iwate and the 21 people who died this past weekend in the yellow river stone forest park.
This is important to share. Very scary and heartbreaking.we commonly in Ireland have tourists underestimating our mountains as they don't perceive to be dangerous but it's our weather that's very changeable in Ireland I e seen all seasons in one day.
Sharla brought me here and this is one of the first 'all-you' videos I've seen. Gorgeous images. Yes, great tips and it's also pretty awesome your glasses were in the exact same place. I'm so sorry she passed and wasn't able to make it back down.
Dang, the story was very scary. Not to make light out of it, but the way you prefixed it about the sunglasses; It made me keep thinking you were about to say, she saw your previous video and came to get your glasses for you. I was so scared of that situation. Thanks for the safety video, and all of your videos.
Wow, what a reality check you must have had! Thanks for sharing it with it. I suspect that getting an early start will be especially difficult for me, but I would definitely also be at risk of underestimating the weather and I don't think I would have remembered to bring my space blanket on holiday to Japan without this video. (Also, still glad to see your shades returned to you!)
Those space blankets pack so tight and weigh nothing, so really makes sense to bring it! And thanks- was glad to get the sunglasses back! I think as I get older I'm slowly drifting in the direction of becoming a morning person. Getting up early used to be utter hell but I'm getting more and more used to it.
What a terrible story, but these stories sadly always need sharing. I can tell from your videos that you know what you're doing when you're out on the mountains, but many people don't appreciate how dangerous mountains can be. The mountains around me are much smaller than many of those in other countries, but it's enough to lull people into a false sense of security because they assume they're not as treacherous. As a result it's fairly common for people to be killed while out on the hills, or for the mountain rescue teams to be endangered while rescuing people who, frankly, often have no idea about what they're doing. I remember once I'd been up a mountain and the light was fading quite early as it was October. We were halfway down and it was darker than I was comfortable with, but we'd got the most treacherous parts out of the way...when two tourists went past us wearing flip flops. We told them it was too late to go up but they replied "it's fine" and they kept going. Thankfully nothing happened to them. Another occasion I took friends up the same mountain only for gale force winds to start when we were 15 minutes from the summit. I was the most experienced walker and made a judgement call for us to turn back as part of the final stretch was along a ridge. A couple of my friends were pissed off until I showed them the ridge on Google Earth when we got home.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Yeah- I think people who haven't been up on ridges or summit areas don't realize just how much of a danger wind can be all on its own. Well done on keeping your friends safe! (And I very much want to visit Scotland sometime in the next 5 years. From the photos I've seen there are so many places to explore.... and then I want to get a flight from there to Iceland... so many spots to go post-pandemic!)
@@GoNorthJapan I rarely go out walking in the middle of winter, so wind is the biggest problem I encounter on my walks, and it can get dangerous very quickly. If you're ever looking for suggestions for places to go in Scotland please let me know. Although I'm more a walker than a climber, I used to work for the Scottish tourist board and know a lot of the country (particularly the West Highlands) like the back of my hand.
Thanks Quinlan for the great safety tips! Also, if hiking alone, it's probably good to let someone know where your hiking and how long you should be gone.
Its really something I recognize I take for granted since I've been hiking 2-3 times a month since I was a tiny child. But it should never be understated that safety is god and always comes first. If its an area you're not used to, or its been awhile since you've hiked, you always want to stick to safe daytime treks. Extreme hiking and camping is not for beginners, and even vets should never go into unfavorable conditions lightly or without much planning. Things I definitely advise to new hikers is always going in a group, pack as if you're expecting to be stuck over night (especially with food and water), always always always tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back (and to send the tracking dogs if you're not back by that time), and take some general first aid courses. At best it will be extra preparedness and you'll look cool for knowing first aid and having the exta snacks to share after the hike. At worst, you'll be increasing your odds of survival.
Gosh, this got serious real quick 😓 It’s so sad, especially when someone just saw her and thought about warning her. I’ve never been so thankful for your videos until this moment. Thank you for your videos and all the important information you share! You not only open our eyes to the beauty of your mountains, you open our eyes to its dangers, as well! I am infinitely sure that your videos have likely saved a life! 🙏🏻
Went out hiking in the mountains in Kofu prefecture with my kids today. My kids are 8 and 12 and I'm not a huge fan of heights. Our guide (a good friend) had us scaling the sketchiest and steepest cliff faces on janky makeshift ladders and stairs. The type of thing where one wrong step and you'd be falling down a 30m cliff face onto jagged rocks before your lifeless body is dragged away by the raging rapids below. Stomach churning stuff and doubt I'll be doing too much more hiking at that level ever again. Everything in that area is just so steep and treacherous. Surprising to me how the authorities seem okay with that level of risk to the public. You're a lot braver than me!
Wow, that sounds like quite the adventure!! Yeah- I am sometimes surprised at what is "ok" in terms of safety on some mountains and locations in Japan.
What an amazing video, my friend! Nice mountain hiking! The nature is amazing.. Enjoyed watching. Cheers from Russia bro , and welcome to my channel about bushcraft and adventures! Kind regards, Yuriy!
I'm so sorry to hear the sad news Quinlan and that you personally saw that scene. You are in a perfect position to educate others on how to be safe while hiking and that will help many I'm sure who watch these videos. Maybe you could make a series of videos and educate us on what to do in certain situations while hiking, like inclement weather or ways to survive in a worst case scenario. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences.
Great advice that may save a life in the future. Sad times for those involved. It never hurts to be reminded of the danger in the fun we seek. Well done Sir.
Sorry you had to go through that experience - this was a very sobering video, but very necessary. As beautiful and invigorating as mountains are, it's easy to underestimate what the conditions might be like on them, and that they do claim lives on occasion. When I hiked Fuji in mid-August of 2014, I knew it would be cold at the summit, but didn't quite believe it would be 0 C. I lucked out with the best conditions at Fuji and I still went up with winter layers, and gear, but I suppose that I'd only been in the country for a week then, maybe I hadn't acclimated to the Time Zone and conditions in Japan yet, and so I was very affected by the cold up there. Very happy (and lucky) that I was climbing with a friend who, when I was in the 'sleepy' stage of hypothermia at the summit, she was able to get my space blanket from my pack and look after me, and then assist me down. Stay safe out there and, as ever, thanks for your videos!
thank you. we're going to try it in early July with a child...below freezing mid August that is very surprising to me. will be taking space blankets for sure or maybe call it off
A good advice. Do not push yoursef, choose a good weather, and Start in a early morning. When I climbed Mr Iwate myself first time, I pushed myself too hard,It took 3 hours and 30 minutes from trailhead to the summit.(6600 feet high) descending was a hell . I somehow manged it fight against gravity , my weight,and air pressure.
Good video, especially for dumbasses like me who don’t think much and just go. Good to keep in mind when I ever hike a mountain in Japan. Tomorrow morning I’m going for an easy 4 hour river hike in Gran Canaria, but here it’s always 25-ish degrees. It should be alright.
Mountains with thick forests surrounding them can be dangerous as well. We have some of those here where I live in germany and let me tell you: you really do not want to be out in pine forests, or any kind of forests for that matter, even at dusk. You have all the difficulties of a forest plus that of a mountain envrionment. Even if you know your way around, just don't do it unprepared, especially if you're alone. It just goes to show that, nature is beautiful but you really should think, prepare sufficiently and know your limits, before you do anything surrounding it. Just because something is close to civilization, doesn't mean it can't be dangerous to go there. People tend to forget that I think.
Good idea to talk safety. Maybe you could (also) weave comments about difficulties/challenges/safety issues into each video depending on what these are in each case.
Yeah. Iwate San was pretty rough my first time. Luckily I hiked in a group. I plan on going on the 10th. And I'm planning on being more prepared than last time. My first time was really rough (seriously, the hardest thing physically I've ever done) so I hope I'm in better shape this time.
Yeah- if you don't do a fair amount of hiking on a regular basis, Mt. Iwate can be a real challenge! And once the normal routes like Umagaeshi and Yakehashiri become less grueling, you gotta try the more exquisitely beautiful routes like Nanataki and Matsukawa!
Nature is neutral, but can be unforgiving to those that are unprepared. I never go alone for my hikes, always check the weather in advance, and carry a satphone in cell tower service is not available in that area and an emergency happened.
should not have climbed alone in unfamiliar places, go in pairs for a safe trip, carry along 3 sets of cashmere jackets and long pants to keep warm as the tip of mountain will reach freezing point after dark. bring 2 durable torchlights with blinking functions, drinking water bottles. Plan the time of ascent, check weather forecast.
o more than the dangers in big cities. Most problems come from ignorance and ego.Not knowing what you are getting into and or over believing in your abilities.
