Experts link social media-driven hiking trends to rise in mountain emergencies

The tendency among some hikers to underestimate mountainous terrain - driven in part by social media visibility - has been a factor behind the rising number of missing-person cases and emergency incidents in forested areas.

Mountain Medicine Society Malaysia president Muhamad Aliff Abdullah said that while participation in outdoor recreational activities has increased, safety awareness has not kept pace with the growing popularity of hiking.

He said the abundance of aesthetic content on digital platforms has contributed to the rise of “express hikers” who are focused on chasing summit views and ticking off peaks, often driven by fear of missing out (Fomo).

“Many people see hiking as a low-risk activity, while the mountain environment can change very quickly and unpredictably. Problems arise when social media doesn’t reflect the reality of the challenge, but only shows the beautiful end result.

“As a result, many go for challenging category trails without basic experience, proper physical training, and without honestly assessing their own abilities. This can lead to a reduced ability to make rational decisions due to extreme fatigue, hypothermia, or acute mountain sickness (AMS),” he told Bernama recently.

Aliff, a wilderness medicine and high-altitude hiking and climbing expert, said mountain emergencies are typically the result of a chain of compounding weaknesses, including inadequate preparation, fitness levels, terrain conditions, and psychological readiness.

He said common critical mistakes in the field include poor team discipline, refusing to turn back during adverse weather, and overreliance on digital devices without basic navigation and survival skills.

Commenting on beliefs surrounding missing hiker cases and mystical explanations or forest taboos, Aliff, who is also president of the 7 Continents Exploration Club of Malaysia (KE7B), said traditional beliefs should be respected as cultural heritage, but modern scientific understanding must take precedence.

“Many traditional taboos, such as not speaking loudly or not leaving the group, actually carry important safety elements. However, scientifically, what is often seen as ‘mystical disturbances’ is usually caused by dehydration, panic, lack of sleep, reduced oxygen to the brain, or high-altitude cerebral oedema (Hace),” he said.

He suggested that hiking safety management in Malaysia be strengthened through a more structured and modern risk-management framework.

Aliff proposed a standardised mountain risk-rating classification system, alongside mandatory digital registration mechanisms such as QR codes, live tracking, or emergency beacon systems for high-risk trails.

He also called for stricter enforcement against hiking activities conducted without permits, as well as the development of a national outdoor recreation safety education module to strengthen rescue capability.

“Mountains cannot be challenged with ego. The best reform lies not only in law enforcement, but in building a more mature safety culture within the outdoor recreation community,” he said.

Focusing on content, neglecting safety

Meanwhile, Norimah Abd Karim of Persatuan Malim Gunung Perhutanan (MGP) Selangor said breaches of standard operating procedures - such as ignoring team discipline and abandoning the buddy system in the rush to reach summits - remain among the biggest challenges faced by mountain guides.

With more than 10 years of experience, including completing the Trans Titiwangsa expedition, she warned that hikers who minimise equipment to appear like professional trail runners on social media are exposing themselves to unnecessary risk.

“There are hikers who focus more on getting interesting content that they are willing to take risks and neglect their own safety. In fact, there is a trend where they go on ‘Trans’ trips (covering several peaks in one expedition) without enough preparation.

“Going with friends on what is expected to be a leisurely hiking experience often turns out differently when faced with the real situation in the field,” said the private sector worker, who has been doing mountain guiding since 2022.

She said that to reduce future risks, she supports the Forestry Department’s proposal to make MGP services mandatory for hiking activities above 500 metres above sea level, as well as the use of digital tracking applications and continuous safety education campaigns.

Series of tragedies

Forest and hiking safety issues have again come under scrutiny following a series of tragedies, including the case of Jaslinda Saludin, 49, who went missing at Gunung Batu Putih in Tapah last Saturday, with search and rescue operations still ongoing.

Nur Izzati Humaira Azizul, 19, went missing on May 23 while descending Bukit Changkat Asa in Hulu Bernam, Selangor, before her body was recovered four days later by search teams.

In October last year, 34-year-old Mustaqqeem Mansoor died from hypothermia during an expedition at Gunung Liang Barat in Perak.

These incidents add to the case of Mohammad Ashraf Hassan, 29, who went missing during the Gopeng Ultra Trail event at Bukit Batu Putih, Gopeng, in March 2019, a case that remains unresolved to this day.

- Bernama

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