(… trying to tie-in a Valentine’s Day theme. Pitiful.)
The “dangers of hiking” are almost always exaggerated in my opinion. Not so the dangers of coastal hiking.
I have a friend who was once caught in a surge channel, lucky to survive.
Uncooped has a good post on the hazards of California coastal hiking including this warning:
Never turn your back on the ocean. I have a good friend who got slammed by a freak wave while hiking on a coastal trail. When she regained consciousness, she needed over a hundred stitches in her face to repair the damage. Now she’s got hella cool scars, but still – that’s no fun. So watch your back.
more tips – Uncooped
Reminds me of the terrible Lost Coast Trail school trip where two students and a parent chaperone drowned in 2000.
Coastal hiking can be VERY dangerous. Experienced hikers need educate the general public. And boneheads like the guy in the photos below:
close-up screenshot
a photographer risking his life at the inland side of the jetty to get a close shot… rogue waves at this time of the year can completely cover the spot where he is standing.
original – flickr – Mike Baird
besthike.com 