Exclusive | Idiot Tiktokkers are getting stranded on hikes and costing taxpayers up to $20k
They’re showing less-than-great judgment in the great outdoors.TikTok is turning treacherous alpine trails into bucket list destinations—and overwhelmed rescuers in New York and beyond are sick of rescuing these cocky, inexperienced adventurers.Seduced by stunning summit videos that downplay the dangers of extreme hiking, these wannabe Daniel Boones turn into babes in the woods, stranding themselves on steep mountain trails or getting lost on unmarked trails in search of the perfect selfie.The unpreparedness epidemic seemingly peaked last month when two 20-year-old Michigan hikers attempting Mount Marcy, the Empire State’s highest point, were trapped overnight without warm clothes, food, or headlamps.
Rescuers found them the next day at 5:30 a.m.Meanwhile, in August, four New Jersey teens required an overnight rescue from New Hampshire’s notoriously rugged Franconia Ridge after embarking on a grueling 7- to 9-hour hike at 3:30 p.m.sans proper supplies.
Due to their negligence, officials said the hikers would have to foot their own rescue bill, which could range from $1,000 to $20,000 depending on the cost, according to the Boston Globe.That same month, three novice hikers were stranded on California’s 14,179-foot Mount Shasta after using Gemini AI and YouTube to plan their path.They reportedly missed the recommended turnaround time and descended in darkness.“People are completely clueless on the hazards of the area and then, therefore, are not prepared for it,” New York State Forest Ranger Robert Dawson, who’s based in Greene County, told the Post.
“Then it leads into the ultimate situation where they’re now calling 911.”The source of many non-preppers’ overconfidence isn’t exactly a mystery.Dr.Christopher Van Tilburg, a physician and volunteer for Oregon’s Hood River Crag Rats—the country’s oldest all-volunteer search and rescue team—recalled saving a family who planned their entire excursion via TikTok.“They took a longer tr...