New Study Shows Most Hikers Miss Critical Survival Gear

As spring temperatures rise across the United States, outdoor lovers are flocking back to the nation’s parks and forest trails, prompting a noticeable uptick in rescue calls for stranded hikers and runners.

Recent rescues highlight growing safety gaps

During a single week in April, emergency teams in New Hampshire’s White Mountains rescued seven individuals and discovered a missing solo backpacker deceased on the trail, underscoring the dangers of insufficient preparation.

Boston University study surveys over 600 trail users

John Lambert, a researcher at Boston University’s School of Public Health, conducted a questionnaire with more than six hundred visitors to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Participants were asked about their recent day‑trip or trail‑run experiences and the equipment they carried.

Defining “prepared” for the backcountry

Respondents met the study’s “prepared” criteria if they had at least one liter of water, possessed seven items from the National Park Service’s Ten Essentials checklist, carried a map or comparable navigation tool, and either brought two rescue devices or stocked eight of fifteen suggested first‑aid supplies.

Findings reveal widespread shortfalls

The analysis, published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, shows that a majority of hikers and runners—particularly those with limited wilderness background—lacked key emergency items and were ill‑equipped for high‑altitude conditions. Lambert suggests that targeted education programs, often termed preventative search and rescue (PSAR), could address these vulnerabilities.

Expert advice on staying safe outdoors

“From a public health perspective, honestly, anytime outside is great,” Lambert said, noting his affiliation with the BU Center for Climate & Health. “That being said, you still have to be smart about it, and being prepared can save your life or someone else’s.”