Backpacking health risks?

The other day I stepped over (and nearly stepped on) a baby rattlesnake crossing the trail. I didn't even notice until my friend behind me pointed it out.

While not directly related to hiking/backpacking the Accidents in North American Mountaineering books and the statistical breakdowns from 1951 to 2007 make for interesting reading. Slips/falls on rock are the leading cause of death followed by slips and falls on snow/ice. Avalanches are surprisingly far down the list.

Exposure to falls seems to be the #1 killer in the backcountry if the other data in the thread are valid.

Stats tables:

http://c535846.r46.cf2.rackcdn.com/anam_2007.pdf

"Of course there is the chance of an accident — especially if you are in over your head — which skilled and experienced hikers don't do."

+1 with the caveat that in the life of almost every experienced hiker comes that time when sh!t happens. ;o)

"Of course there is the chance of an accident — especially if you are in over your head — which skilled and experienced hikers don't do."

Hmmm… methinks that begs the question how skilled and experienced hikers get that way?? Sure, we can learn from others. But we also learn by taking risks — by being over our head. The trick is to balance between pushing ourselves some — but not too much — to enhance our knowledge and skills — but still be around to put them to good use in future trips. :)

Ben is so right.
Alexander McCandles died in alaska most likely because he hitch hiked there. if he had of walked to alaska, he would have along the way learned the difference between break up and run off, and thusly he would have know what he was facing when he tried to egress and the river was in flood stage.

that's my spin on his loss.

v.

…but backpacking in likely to be no more risky than daily life at home and work depending on your individual lifestyle and choices.

…

"Hmmm… methinks that begs the question how skilled and experienced hikers get that way??"

Probably by hiking a lot and being observant on every hike to learn about wild places.

Skill is developed by doing something over and over.

"Actually falls are one of my biggest fears, especially on solo trips. "

In 2005, my buddy apparently slipped and fell a short distance, probably while trying to get water out of a stream in the Sequoia NP, but he hit his head on a rock, ended up face down in the water without me to pull him out, and drowned. So I guess a very unlucky combo of #1 and #3.

Made worse in that I planned the trip, but was not able to go at the last minute because I was too ill. I drove him to the trail head, and reported him missing when he didn't show up. He was in an area very near where folks take their 10 year olds on their first backpacking trip, about 7-8 miles from the road with designated camping areas and so on, but no one saw him slip. So I definitely worry about falling all the time. I usually go solo and have a fused ankle. Definitely tends to focus ones attention when scrambling and alone.

Rattlesnakes are always a hazard on the trail! Just be smart on how you approach and avoid them.