Why so many people get into trouble when hiking in Hong Kong
As the weather cools, many head for the hills – but too often they are under-equipped for the excursion
As more Hongkongers take to the countryside to escape the city’s buzz, the rising frequency of mountain rescue missions has shown they are too often under-equipped for their excursion.
Two walkers died in two days last month as the cooler weather encouraged many to take to the hills.
The number of hikes taken in Hong Kong rose steadily from 12.2 million in 2005 to 13.3 million in 2015, while mountain rescues have more than doubled from 138 in 2005 to 357 in 2016.
Phillip Forsyth, the leader of Hong Kong Hiking Meet Up, says people should pay more attention to their health and suggests those at elementary levels start by attempting easy trails – with plenty of shaded areas and water springs – before building up to the more challenging ones.
Participants should have at least six to seven hours of deep sleep before joining any hikes, he said.
As for regular hikers or athletes, mountaineer Chung Kin-man warns it is especially easy to underestimate the danger of hiking.
“A lack of preparation, awareness and a desire to make the hike more challenging is to be blamed for this worrying trend,” he says.
