3 Disturbing Stories that sound FAKE but are actually 100% TRUE (hiking GONE WRONG)

3 hiking stories that sound like total BS, but are actually 100% true.

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Edited by @LeviSpangler

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[emiliaEA]

Regarding head lamps... last year after a day of hiking I climbed with my sister a small cliff to sit on, drink beer and relax. We needed to go down very short, but quite steep set of "stairs", few steps up, and there it was: a big rock to sit on and enjoy the sunset. It was lovely. Since it was very hot, we stayed quite some time after the sunset. Around midnight we wanted to go back to our tent. But then we realized we brought with ourselves only beers. No headlamps, no phones, nothing. And it was DARK. Going down few steps and back up was impossible, we probably would've broken legs or necks trying. So we slept on a rock in the middle of a fucking nowhere, waiting for sunrise to be able to go to our tent which was not even a minute from there. Take headlamps with you, everybody, rocks are not the most comfortable thing to sleep on.

[confusedussay]

I worked for Search & Rescue in Durango and I appreciate and thank you for your donation to the Silverton crew.
During the summer season we would sometimes rescue people daily. Most members are volunteers.
I have become wiser in my senior years and I purchased a Personal Locater Beacon for my future travels.

[naomilennox]

In Australia we have an issue that trails exist, then a fire goes through the area and the regrowth is so dense that the trail is completely lost. An example is the Kanangra to Katoomba trail which frequently requires the people who attempt it to be rescued.

[loftonrudolph]

I think that your promoting of the rescue organizations is so wonderful. They don't get enough love!

[Noahlikes]

Recently got back from my first backpacking trip. I’m 16 and after watching your videos it really taught me to be prepared. I went with two experienced hikers my uncle his best friend and my cousin, both my uncle and his friend hiked on the Appalachian Trail together. So I just want to say thank you for everything you do.

[kaoskronostyche]

I am 68 and hiked and climbed extensively in the Canadian Rockies for decades. My experience was that as more people took up hiking the more incompetent people I encountered and joined in with on organized outings. I got so tired of these people not eating, drinking enough, having no gear or knowledge or experience and having to treat or rescue them from their own incompetence that I stopped hiking with others all together and started hiking alone. Many times I said to myself "if I get into trouble here, I will never be found." Somehow that was more acceptable than to be lured into disaster by people who know nothing and behave poorly. At least if I screwed up it was my fault, not the result of some moron not drinking enough fluid and ruining the trip for everyone. Cheers for your efforts, Kyle Who Hates Hiking.

[RonaldSimkin]

17:53 Even if it is a guy asking if you want an extended warrenty for your car -- you can STILL tell them you're lost and

[michaelosgood]

Hi. A hiker, train guy and cattle truck driver from NZ. I NEVER rely on Google Maps coz they send you down roads too small for our trucks. I use map books 100% of time. The Darango Railroad is heard of down here too. Must travel on this when I'm in the States next. Glad they were able to help that hiker

[Amanda-ucjq]

I used to feel weird because even if I’m going for an hour I take thermals, extra socks, emergency blanket, paracord, headlamp, emergency pack with flint, compass etc, water, some muesli bars & nut/fruit mix.
After watching your videos so much I’m now proud to say no matter what those things are permanently in my day pack, they weigh practically nothing so why not.

[Pipsqwak]

I lived in Lake County (Leadville) Colorado back in the 1960s and 1970s, . My mother worked at St. Vincent's hospital in Leadville and it seemed like every day she came home with some story about a tourist or hiker getting lost, getting injured, getting severe altitude sickness (including HAPE and HACE), or never being heard from again. Search and rescue was busy all the time. One of the main ways people killed themselves was by flying small planes over to Aspen and other small towns in the mountains. The weather would deteriorate, they'd crash, and everybody would be killed, or the plane would just vanish and not be found for weeks, months, years...or ever. The high country of Colorado is not a place to f*** around, because you WILL find out. The hikers in this video were extremely lucky. I hope they all learned something.

[jeaniebird]

If you ever get an opportunity to take the Durango train, DON'T WEAR CONTACTS! It's an old steam engine that uses coal and the smoke is gritty and flows backwards, along the train, and WILL get in your eyes! Dirty glasses are better than gritty eyeballs.

[bcwest]

I'm going to play devil's advocate on the story about the guy not answering calls from search/rescue because I've seen TONS of jokes about this on FB. As you said in the video, he didn't call S & R, so he wasn't expecting calls from them and no reason at all to expect that these calls could help him in any way. In fact, in the case of being out on trail, lost or not, I know I try my best to conserve battery just in case. Answering some robo-call wouldn't have helped him and would've cost him a decent amount of battery life, which could become a problem as time went by. If he knew S & R was looking for him, it's hard to imagine not answering, but not having any idea they were looking for him makes his decisions to not answer actually seem fairly reasonable to me.

[Aesyrbane]

As a person who can receive uo to 3 spam phone calls a day, i pefectly undestand the logic behind ignoring all calls from unknown numbers.

[nonnieofsix]

Silverton/Durango Train: I’ve been on that amazing train several times. Extreme outback and we’ve even seen bears from the train. She was very fortunate.

[badabee]

You know society has really gone off the rails when you would rather be lost in the woods than risk picking up the phone for a scam/robocall. That was the realest story you told because I probably would have done the same.

[KarenEldredge-sv]

I've hiked Mt. Elbert (it kicked my butt!) while completing a 100 mile section of the CT. I'm "old school" and a bit of a purist. I am also not tech savvy- it drives my kids nuts, so I rely on map & compass. It pays to "be prepared". Even on day hikes, I pack enough on the off-chance that I am forced to spend a night out. Headlamps with fresh batteries, for example. Sh*t happens. I would highly recommend a Wilderness First Aid course to all who recreate in the outdoors. Kudos to you Kyle for supporting the various SAR groups. As a volunteer EMT in my local community, we appreciate the support!!! Lastly, a healthy respect for Mother Nature goes a long way. Happy Hiking All and Be Safe!

[mercury-king]

colorado native here! rule number one of hiking in the rockies is to ALWAYS RESPECT THE MOUNTAINS! never ever underestimate them. always tell someone your plan & when you estimate you’ll return!

[OmnivorousReader]

Love the way you link search and rescue groups to these videos! There are lots of places in the Australian outback where Google gets confused - there are signs, some department of transport, some handwritten - everywhere saying "Ignore the maps app".

[Cherokee]

Kyle I'm so glad you've starting using your (300, 000+ is massive) massive platform to bring attention to and encourage contributions toward the search and rescue teams.

👍 Great idea. 👍

Cheers mate.

[Mulva]

Although I’m an indoor enthusiast I love your stories and how well you tell them!