Most rescues don’t begin with drama. They begin with a small deviation: a wrong turn, a late start, a water miscalculation, heat load that quietly builds, or a minor injury that changes your pace. The hikers involved are often competent, experienced, and well-equipped. So why do they still get stuck? Because self-rescue is rarely a gear or toughness problem. It’s a decision problem under stress—and the first few decisions are where most outcomes are won or lost.
