While there are many ways people put their lives in danger while hiking here are some of the most common. We briefly mentioned the first one on the last page but it can't be said enough so we will repeat it.

1- Failing to prepare for the journey

This is a general rule for every preparation you make. As far as hiking mistakes go, failing to prepare for the hike is preparing to fail. It may look sunny and the weather may seem warm, but that can change in a matter of minutes or hours. Do you have the proper clothing if the temperature drops by 20 degrees or more? Accidents happen all the time in the wild and twisting an ankle is the most common injury. If that happens, do you have enough supplies with you until help comes? Do you have everything you need to signal for help?

2- Lacking enough hydration

People fail to calculate how much water they should bring. They just bring a water filter and think everything will work out. People forget that water is life and not everyone is able to find a water source in the wild. If you want to stay hydrated, you should bring more water than you need. You can’t go out into the woods hoping you will find a water stream along the way. That’s just wishful thinking and the wilderness doesn’t work like that. Bring water with you, unless you know for certain there’s a river or lake ahead and you know how to find it.
3- Being unaware of the surroundings

People tend to forget that nature is still wild and it doesn’t play by their rules. They don’t even bother to do a little reading about the area they intend to explore. They assume everything will be ok and that there aren’t any unknowns that could surprise them. For example, you should pay attention to the game trails and keep your distance, unless you’re out there hunting and you know what you’re doing. A game trail could lead you to water or game, but they can also lead you to a merry-go-round. Read about the weather and what you should expect. Avoid making the same hiking mistakes most people make and try to gather as much information you can about the area.
4- Going off-trail

Personally, I’ve wandered off-trail many times, but I’ve never done it without taking some precautionary measures. Most times, we’re doing so in a party of two or more and we have all the supplies we need to make it back. What bothers me the most is that beginners chose not to follow the marked trails. They tend to explore their surroundings by going off-trail without the proper gear. No matter how you look at it, this is one of the hiking mistakes that have only one outcome. People get lost or injured and they aren’t prepared for the consequences.
5- Not using all their senses
When it comes to exploring the outdoors this is one of the most common hiking mistakes. Traveling through the wilderness requires for you to learn how to use all your senses. Understanding that hearing and smell should also be exploited when exploring the great outdoors is a must. The more you learn to merge these three senses, the more you will be able to enjoy the environment, but also make it safer when navigating through. Most people only use their eyes, even though sometimes they have a restricted range of sight.

These are by far the most common and while they seem somewhat elementary you would be surprised how many people put themselves in life threatening situations simply because they failed to adhere to these ideals.

There are many great places to visit however you have to be aware. If you haven't done so check out our article on The Nations 10 Deadliest National Parks and see for yourself exactly what happens when people aren't paying attention.

To learn how else hikers can prepare themselves ahead of time before hiking or bugging out visit Preppers Will.