As the weather warms up, more people will head outdoors to hiking spots throughout Southern California. However, more people outdoors means more mountain rescues.

“Last year our eight-volunteer Search and Rescue teams had a record 684 missions. In 2016, we had 593 and there has been a fairly steady rise over the last few years,” said Mike Leum, assistant director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the department’s SAR group leader.

Hikers climb parallel to a waterfall, beyond a hazardous warning, at Forest Falls, Calif. on Saturday, March 31, 2018. This popular Forest Falls, unincorporated San Bernardino County, location is the site of several sheriff rescue missions. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG)

People picnic near the base of a waterfall Saturday, March 31, 2018. This popular Forest Fall, unincorporated San Bernardino County, hiking area has been a rescue mission location for sheriff’s agencies. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG)

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Hikers climb to the top of a waterfall at Forest Falls, Calif. on Saturday, March 31, 2018. This popular unincorporated San Bernardino County location is the site of many sheriff rescue missions. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG)

Joel Hernandez with son Joel is photographed by wife Vanessa at a popular Forest Falls, Calif. spot Saturday, March 31, 2018. This unincorporated San Bernardino County spot is the site of many sheriff rescue missions. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG)

Raymond Barcena, 9, of Forest Falls, Calif. crosses the base of a waterfall Saturday, March 31, 2018. This Forest Falls area is one of many popular locations where sheriff’s agencies have done rescue missions. Photographed at the unincorporated San Bernardino County hiking spot. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG)



Owner Rodel Santos, 22, of Wyoming, needs to pull Rufus by the collar with both hands to get him down a trail that runs parallel to a waterfall. The popular Forest Falls, Calif. hiking area is one of many popular spots where sheriff’s agencies have done rescue missions. Photographed at the unincorporated San Bernardino County spot Saturday, March 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG)

Rufus hiked to the top of a waterfall with master Rodel Santos, 22, of Wyoming, but appears reluctant to hike back down at Forest Falls, Calif. on Saturday, March 31, 2018. This is one of many popular locations where sheriff’s agencies have done rescue missions. Photographed at Forest Falls in unincorporated San Bernardino County. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG)

Anthony Martinez, 13 of Forest Falls, Calif. pumps his fists after successfully running on wet rocks in crossing a stream at Forest Falls, unincorporated San Bernardino County. on Saturday, March 31, 2018. This popular location, near the base of a waterfall, is one of several locations where rescue missions where done by sheriff’s agencies. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG)

Anthony Martinez, 13 of Forest Falls, Calif. charges on rocks to avoid waterfall runoff. This is one of many popular locations where sheriff’s agencies enforced rescue missions. Photographed at Forest Falls, unincorporated San Bernardino County, on Saturday, March 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG)

Other departments in the region saw a similar increase in rescues.

In 2016, Orange County SAR teams were called to 32 rescues involving a hoist, Sheriff’s Department data shows. That number nearly doubled to 58 in 2017 and in the first four months of 2018, teams have already conducted 17 missions.

Riverside County search crews see between 150 and 170 lost hiker rescues each year, according to Deputy Mike Vasquez. That number ebbs and flows over the years, he said.

In San Bernardino County, crews worked 371 rescues in 2017 compared to 265 in 2016, according to sheriff’s officials. That included a jump in helicopter hoist missions from 55 in 2016 to 73 last year.

This year, there have already been at least two deaths in Southern California wilderness areas.

In March, experienced rock climber Joy Welling, 33, of Montclair died near Blue Jay Campground in Cleveland National Forest. A few days prior to her death, Xiangfeng Ma, 41, of Anaheim died near the Devil’s Backbone on Mt. Baldy.

‘Perfect selfie isn’t everything’

While it’s hard to pinpoint why there’s been such a dramatic increase in rescues and deaths, several law enforcement officials have see one common denominator: Social media.

“There are a few areas which we have more rescues than others,” Leum said. “Some of these areas are fueled in popularity by social media across various platforms. Between YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and SnapChat, people post hundreds of videos involving adventure-seeking in our local mountains.”

Dozens of YouTube videos racking up thousands of views each, show people jumping from the rocky outcrops surrounding Hermit Falls in Chantry Flats above Arcadia. Hermit and Eaton Canyon falls are both areas known for hiker rescues, according to L.A. County sheriff’s officials.

“Sometimes the perfect selfie isn’t everything,” said Rodel Santos, 22, of Wyoming, while out on a recent hike with his dog, Rufus, in Forest Falls. Rescue teams are regularly called out to that area for injured hikers who tumble trying to get to the top of Big Falls.

Thousands of photos, videos, snaps and boomerangs on social media of people in lush, natural surroundings, coupled with successful social media campaigns — like REI’s #optoutside — may be why more people are heading into the wilderness.

Attendance at the United State’s ational and state parks has increased over the years. In Spring 2017, the number of people who went hiking and backpacking in the U.S. was 47.2 million, according to the online statistics, market research and business intelligence portal, Statista.

Plan ahead

But those in the hiking community want novices and adventure seekers to know getting to the perfect spot takes planning — lots of it.

“Everyone creates these posts on social media and others think, ‘If that person can do it. … I can do,’” said Phillip Stinis, a Cal State Fullerton alum and co-founder of 52 Hike Challenge. The online community helps introduce people to safe hiking and the benefits of getting outdoors throughout the nation and the world.

“I can see how seeing those pictures could make you want to come out here, but it’s also about preparation,” said Andrea Mendez, 24, a Beaumont resident who was out recently on a weekend hike with friend, Marissa Cervantes, 23, also of Beaumont. “People don’t know what they’re getting into. Once a friend of mine and I went on a hike we’d never been on and he’s in his flip flops and I’m in my regular shoes because we wanted to go find a waterfall. We definitely weren’t prepared.”

Education and safety

While photos and videos can be enticing, experts said blaming technology is not entirely fair.

“If we take a technology deterministic view then we will build a causation out of a correlation and it’s not necessarily the case,” said Ahlam Muhtaseb, professor and graduate coordinator of Communication Studies at Cal State San Bernardino. “It’s not necessarily the technology that is making people participate in risky behaviors. It’s a reflection of a person’s own personality and behaviors and how they employ the technology in their day to day lives.”

Muhtaseb points out someone who generally isn’t a risk-taker wouldn’t be lured to climb a waterfall for a selfie.

“People have to be careful and educated on the appropriate uses on technology,” she said. “As with any new technology, the negative impacts might overshadow the positive.”

Instead, Muhtaseb and others in the hiking community say the emphasis should always remain on preparation.

A major component of the 52 Hike Challenge is dedicated to safety, co-founder Karla Amador said.

“We actually use social media to help people learn about safety when hiking,” she said. “We tell people to prepare for the conditions. Here is what you do and don’t do.”

Those who sign up for any of the challenges are immediately pointed to the group’s safety page and encouraged to participate in a safety class before even lacing up their hiking boots, but both are aware of the allure of the perfect shared photo.

Their Instagram page is full of gorgeous shots of pristine waterfalls, gasp-inducing vistas and lush forest scenes, but they are careful about how they share photos of their journeys.

“We are very conscious, we don’t want to depict anything dangerous,” Stinis said. “We want to be stewards of safe outdoor travel. We are all about learning a healthy lifestyle and want to make sure we’re doing it in the safest way.”

Hiking safety tips

Hike with a friend or family member.

Take plenty of drinking water and extra food.

Share hiking plans and location with someone back home.

Take a mobile phone for emergencies.

Don’t walk off-trail.

Carry a map and compass and know how to use them.

Pack a pocket knife, whistle, first-aid kit, fire-starting supplies in a water-proof container and a headlamp in case the hike takes longer than planned.

Assume the weather will change — bring sun protection, rain gear and extra layers for sudden cold.

Source: Wilderness.org and the California Dept of Parks and Recreation