Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
15 results for "hikers"
Las Vegas Metro Police Search and Rescue teams successfully rescued multiple hikers in distress at Red Rock Canyon this weekend. The lifesaving operations showcase the dedication of first responders keeping outdoor adventurers safe.
Two women stranded in Montana's backcountry during a massive snowstorm were found safe after a family's desperate rescue attempt. Lewis and Clark County Search and Rescue brought them home without a scratch.
Community volunteers in Benton County are learning helicopter rescue techniques to help find missing hikers and save lives in remote areas. The nine-week academy, supported by the Oregon National Guard, prepares everyday citizens to respond to outdoor emergencies around the clock.
Engineers in China have created a wearable robot with two mechanical legs that walks behind you like a centaur, carrying heavy loads so you don't have to. The invention could help workers, hikers, and anyone who needs to transport heavy items across stairs and rough terrain.
Two young women walked away unharmed after elite rescue crews spent 24 hours navigating treacherous cliffs, 80 km/h winds, and horizontal rain in Australia's Snowy Mountains. The successful mission showcases the skill and determination of volunteer alpine rescue teams who risk their lives to bring others home safely.
A mountain rescue team in the Scottish Highlands saved a five-year-old spaniel who survived a freezing night alone after falling through snow into a hollow below a summit. The dramatic rescue flipped the usual script of dogs saving humans in the mountains.
A 5-year-old spaniel spent a freezing night 3,000 feet up a Scottish mountain after falling through a snow ledge, but rescuers brought her home safe and sound. In a heartwarming twist on the usual tale, it was the humans who saved the dog instead of the other way around.
Wearable robotics are moving from labs into everyday life, helping ordinary people walk farther and climb higher without exhausting themselves. Companies like Nike, Hypershell, and WIRobotics are bringing powered footwear and lightweight exoskeletons to hikers, older adults, and anyone who wants to move without wearing out.
A hiker who fell from a cliff in Hong Kong held onto a tree branch for hours until rescuers airlifted him to safety. Quick-thinking hikers and a coordinated rescue effort brought him home safely.
Two unprepared hikers walked away alive after one plunged 400 meters down an icy mountain gully in Poland's Tatra Mountains. Twenty rescuers used drones and thermal imaging to locate and save both men in a dramatic nine-hour nighttime operation.
Winter trails offer stunning beauty, but shorter days and icy conditions require smart preparation. Outdoor experts share essential safety tips that let hikers safely enjoy snow-covered landscapes.
Two of the world's most popular fitness apps just freed athletes from carrying their phones on outdoor adventures. Offline maps on Apple Watch mean cyclists, hikers, and runners can finally navigate trails with just their wrist.
A 69-year-old hiker survived a treacherous descent through Mount Seymour's Suicide Gully after getting lost, thanks to North Shore Rescue volunteers who guided him to safety. His rescue highlights life-saving lessons that could help other hikers avoid similar dangers.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F33%2Ff1%2F33f1a755-2013-47c1-807e-ad6482c9b647%2Fimg_7749-1200x900.jpeg)
For the first time in a century, hikers can explore a stunning 547-acre stretch of California's coast that was once a private ranch. The Estero Americano Coast Preserve now offers five miles of free trails, wildflower meadows, and rare wildlife habitats just south of Bodega Bay.
Two soaked hikers trapped in darkness near Switzer Falls used quick thinking and the right gear to stay alive until rescuers arrived. Their preparation turned a potential tragedy into a rescue success story.