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Before heading up a mountain, there are things you’re supposed to do and gear you’re supposed to take. That’s obvious to a Scout.
A new study conducted in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park says most hikers aren’t checking either of those boxes. John Lambert, a graduate researcher at Boston University and former Scout, spent the summer of 2024 surveying hikers and trail runners at the base of the park. His goal was to determine how prepared visitors were before heading into the wilderness.
“Know Before You Go! A Field Survey of the Preparedness of Wilderness Day Hikers and Trail Runners in Rocky Mountain National Park” was published in March in the scientific journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.
Nearly 88% of hikers considered themselves adequately prepared, but only about 16% met the study’s criteria for wilderness preparedness. Trail runners fared slightly better, but only 25% met the standard.
“It was a larger gap than I expected,” Lambert said.
The research includes surveys of 654 wilderness users — 586 day hikers and 68 trail runners. The results found that many participants lacked adequate gear, navigation tools, communication devices and first-aid supplies that could prove critical during an emergency.
For Scout leaders, the findings reinforce lessons already built into Scouting’s outdoor program.
“Scouts are prepared,” says Lambert, formerly of Troop 89 in Medfield, Massachusetts. “I got into Scouting because I didn’t come from an outdoor family, but I love being outside. We learned very early how to prepare ourselves for these activities.”
Why the park wanted answers
Lambert’s project began when Rocky Mountain National Park officials identified two groups that account for a significant number of search-and-rescue incidents: day hikers and trail runners. The park wanted to know the demographics of these people, what equipment they typically carry and how they prepare for their day of fun on the mountain.
The answers matter because search-and-rescue operations are expensive and time-consuming. They also put rescuers at risk. Park data showed that day hikers account for most search-and-rescue incidents, and Lambert’s separate analysis of more than 1,000 rescue cases found that falls, injuries and illnesses were among the leading causes of incidents.
By understanding who is least prepared, park officials can focus educational efforts where they will have the greatest impact.
What preparedness looked like
Rather than simply asking whether someone carried the traditional 10 Scout Basic Essentials, Lambert and his team created a broader definition of preparedness. Participants needed at least one liter of water, several essential items, navigation tools, and either reliable emergency signaling equipment or a robust first-aid kit to be considered prepared.
“We didn’t want to just say carrying all 10 Essentials is what makes you prepared,” Lambert explained. “Preparation is dependent on what your hike is and the length and difficulty of it.”
Even with that flexibility, preparedness rates remained low.
The study found that just over half of participants carried a map. Nearly everyone carried a cellphone, but few carried a satellite communication device that would work in areas without cellular coverage.
Another huge concern was that roughly one quarter of respondents hadn’t told anyone where they were going or when they expected to return. For search-and-rescue teams, that information can make the difference between life and death when someone fails to return home.
Experience can make a difference
One encouraging find was that preparedness increased with experience. People who spent more days in the wilderness each year, took longer trips or had previously experienced a wilderness injury were more likely to be prepared.
Yet the study also revealed a cautionary lesson for experienced outdoors people.
Simply having spent years hiking didn’t necessarily make someone more prepared. Familiarity with a trail also showed little connection to preparedness.That suggests overconfidence can become a problem, Lambert says.
Many participants believed they were ready for the challenges ahead, but their gear and planning told a different story.
For Scout leaders, it highlights the importance of reviewing hiking plans, gear lists and emergency procedures before every outing. That’s true for experienced hikers and trail runners. Lambert hopes the study will help parks improve visitor education and reduce the number of preventable search-and-rescue incidents.
“This research showed that thinking you’re prepared and actually being prepared can be two completely different things,” Lambert says.
Photo: Harvey Meston, Getty Images
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