Published September 29, 2026 01:44PM
What to Know: Early snow, icy trails, and vanishing daylight make autumn one of the trickiest times in the backcountry. After four tragic hiker deaths in Washington in a single week, search and rescue volunteers share how to navigate fall’s hidden hazards.
Neil Gehring, 26, went missing during an overnight backpacking trip in Olympic National Park. He set out on August 31 for a two-day traverse from Boulder Lake to Appleton Pass, starting and ending at the Madison Falls Trailhead. He would never return home.
Gehring was found dead on September 13 on the northwest slope of 6,000-foot Mount Appleton.
Doug McCall, president of Seattle Mountain Rescue, was among the volunteer search-and-rescue officials that participated the mission to find Gehring. His team searched for nearly two weeks, using cellphone-location data to aide in the mission.
“We just wish we could have found him sooner,” McCall told Outside.
Gehring died of extensive blunt trauma, coroner Rebecca Shankles confirmed to Outside. Based on the extent of his injuries, and where he was found 300 feet below the trail, Shankles said it’s likely he lost his footing and fell down the side of the mountain.
Gehring was one of at least four hikers who have been found dead in Washington State in less than a month. On September 19, 66-year-old Gary Idleburg died on Sauk Mountain after plummeting 1,000 feet after going over the edge of a switchback trail, according to the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office. The day before, Peter Kalapaca, 78, died on the same mountain. Oklahoma woman Sybil Claborn, 45, died of hypothermia in the Enchantments after she and her husband were stranded overnight in a snowstorm on September 13.
Experts told Outside that September presents very specific hazards to those who venture into the mountains, in Washington State and elsewhere. As summer transitions to fall, changing conditions mean shorter daylight, rapidly shifting weather, and slippery trail conditions that pose certain seasonal dangers.
“More and more people are getting out in the mountains, and statistically, that just means there’s a higher likelihood of incidents occurring,” McCall said. “Seattle Mountain Rescue has been around for 80 years, and year-over-year, we see a trend of increasing incidents.”
McCall said his team sees an uptick in fall rescues. Outside spoke with him and Rob Brewer of the National Association for Search and Rescue, to learn more about how to safely hike when changing conditions present hidden dangers.
Avoiding Accidental Falls in the Autumn
According to National Park Service mortality data, roughly 30 people die every year in U.S. national parks. It’s not just hikers—this dataset includes people who could be sightseeing as well, and can be as simple as a wrong step.
Washington is home to three national parks: Olympic, Mount Rainier, and the North Cascades, all of which include rugged mountain peaks and highly volatile alpine environments. Since the American Alpine Club started tracking in 1951, Washington has had more reported accidents than any other state or region, Climbing reported in February.
Washington has 2,134 climber accidents recorded since 1951, followed by California, with 1,798 accidents. Washington also ties with California for most climber fatalities to date (378 per-state).
With its wet, maritime climate and northern latitude, Washington sometimes experiences fall conditions earlier than in other states, as storms dump rain and even snow on the highest peaks as early as mid- to late-August. These storms can blow in off of the Pacific and quickly drench trails and send the thermometer plummeting.
When it comes to hiking in the backcountry, McCall said that as leaves fall to the ground and freezing rain moves through high-alpine environments, the ground can become extra slippery.
Hikers should always be aware of their surrounding areas. They should also bring spikes, shoes with traction, and hiking poles because the ground can erode in bad weather.
“In the Pacific Northwest, the days are getting shorter, and the time will change soon,” McCall said. “A lot of times people will forget a headlamp, just thinking that it’ll be nice weather, but it gets dark faster. We will have an increase [of rescues] typically in the fall.”
Shorter Daylight and Sudden Storms
Autumn also brings shorter daylight hours paired with rapid weather shifts.
“As the days get shorter, you can get sudden snowstorms,” McCall said. With it getting darker sooner, he adds that hikers will forget critical cold weather gear, especially if they start a hike in nice weather.
McCall advises hikers to prepare for the early darkness with specific gear. Always bring a headlamp, including one additional light source in case it dies. Hikers should always include extra warm layers and an emergency shelter in case they get stranded overnight. A search-and-rescue favorite is the 98.6 bag, a plastic barrier that retains body heat and protects against the elements. It costs less than $10.
McCall adds to check weather conditions for the entire route—not just the trailhead—and to use satellite devices that can also provide real-time weather updates.
Know When to Turn Around
Both Brewer and McCall said people often overestimate their skills or endurance in the backcountry.
“Know your limits and be thoughtful about where things stand, because a small mistake can be devastating in the backcountry,” McCall said. “Be realistic about it. Preparedness is key.”
In search-and-rescue operations, Brewer and his team us a three-colored system to determine whether it’s safe to go into the backcountry. Green means it’s safe, amber indicates they should pause, and red means stop.
“We continually adjust and reflect on that Green-Amber-Red,” he said. “We tell our team members that it’s important that if something changes in the situation—like the terrain or vegetation or weather— to stop the team and have a discussion about what that risk looks like.”
Perhaps most importantly, know when to turn around.
“Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory,” Brewer said. “That idea drives risk management and situation awareness. Both transition seasons, spring and fall, bring their own risks not just to inexperienced or extreme hikers, but to anyone outdoors.”
A little communication can go a long way. Set a turnaround time that gives you enough time to get back to the trailhead. When hiking in groups, discuss limitations, coordinate gear like first aid kits and emergency blankets, and run through potential emergencies and how you’d manage them.
Delayed Rescue in the Wilderness
Unlike urban emergency services, which typically arrive within minutes, mountain rescue teams must travel to trailheads and hike in, which can take several hours or days depending on location and terrain.
“In the backcountry, most of the rescue teams have to drive to the trailhead and start hiking in,” McCall said. “Depending on how far a person is, it can take some time. Always be prepared to wait, especially as the days get colder or the weather suddenly changes.”
Cell phones are convenient but can also be unreliable. If a phone screen breaks, the device is essentially useless. McCall said hikers should bring a GPS system independent of their phone and paper maps to navigate if tech fails.
Limited Search-and-Rescue Resources
Extended searches and recovery operations take a significant toll on both the victims’ families and the rescue personnel involved.
“Any loss in the mountains or in the backcountry is devastating to the family and friends, and also to the climbers and rescue teams,” McCall said.
Most mountain rescue teams in the U.S. are comprised of volunteers who donate their time and rely heavily on donor funding to operate.
“I’m lucky I get to do this and it’s just a way of giving back to our community,” McCall said. “We know that accidents can happen, and it’s nice to know that there are mountain rescue teams and volunteers across the country who are willing to put their afternoons aside to help when needed.”
Keep Getting Outside
Rescuers like McCall and Brewer say they don’t want to discourage outdoor recreation, but rather hope to encourage safer, better-prepared experiences.
“There are so many beautiful places in our country to get out and recreate and enjoy,” Brewer said. “Get out there, be prepared, and do it safely.”
Being outdoors is vital for well-being, and fear shouldn’t prevent people from enjoying nature.
“Being outside is crucial to our mental health,” McCall said. “Fall hiking is a beautiful time to get out and enjoy the mountains. Just be ready for weather changes, and be OK with turning around.”
