What are the Dangers of Hiking Mountain Trails?

May 18,2016

Hiking season is back in full swing, and with it the usual influx of reports of hikers being injured, stranded or having to be rescued, reminding us of the dangers of hiking the popular mountain trails. A hiker from La Quinta was reported missing by friends Friday evening after going hiking alone in the San Jacinto Mountains. The Riverside County Sherrif’s Aviation Unit located Daniel De Bias the next day around 12:15 p.m. He was returned to his vehicle with no injures.

Another hiker was hiking on Skyline Trail in Palm Springs last week when she suffered a rattlesnake bite. The woman was found on the trail in Tahquitz Falls by a California Highway Patrol official and airlifted to a landing zone via a Riverside County sheriff’s department helicopter around 11 a.m. She was then rushed to the hospital by ambulance.

Although suffering a rattlesnake bite sounds frightening, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that between 7,000 and 8,000 people are bitten by snakes every year in the U.S., and only about five die from the injury.

The far more pressing threat to local hikers is the heat. 61 hiker rescues have taken place on Skyline Trail since 2009. Most of those rescue missions involved hikers suffering from heat-related injuries, and a total of five people died from their injuries.

“Hiking the trails is a favorite pastime for many in the Coachella Valley, but it must be done safely. Inexperienced hikers are better off hitting the trails in spring and fall instead of the unforgivingly hot summer months,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.