Considered Europe’s toughest hiking trail, GR20 in Corsica takes trekkers through the spine of this Mediterranean island in a two-week escapade. The GR20 is a hiker’s Everest. As Paddy Dillon explains in “The GR20 Corsica,” “Its reputation precedes it, and most who trek the route describe it afterward as one of the toughest they have ever completed. Others find they are unable to complete it, having seriously underestimated its nature.” Even statistically it looks daunting. According to Expedition Wildlife, the route is 112 miles long with an elevation gain of over 41,000 feet, often on narrow ledges. Still, some 30,000 people a year try the route.

Deaths are frequent on this hike. One of the worst tragedies occurred in 2015 when, as reported by A Hikers Tale blog, seven trekkers were dragged down to their deaths in a landslide in the perilous Cirque de la Solitude. This section of the trail entails climbing down and then up a steep rock wall. Apparently these deaths may have been avoidable, but the chains, ladders, and ropes which had helped hikers in the past had been removed.

One of the most dramatic icons of the American West is Half Dome, found in Yosemite National Park. At nearly 5,000 feet, with sheer cliffs, it was first hiked in 1875 by George Anderson, who laid the groundwork for what is today a cable trail to the top.

The path to the top is between 14 to 16 miles and you need to be physically fit to make it. The way includes a very well-known and difficult cable ladder system which allows hikers to ascend the final 400 feet to the top without the need for technical mountaineering equipment. What makes the trek to Half Dome particularly treacherous is that it takes a long time to get to the top, and when you get there, the weather can turn suddenly. Then you are faced with being exposed to the elements on top of the rock or trying to make a dangerous descent. Also, there is just the sheer steepness, even in good conditions.

SFgate, for example, reported on a 2019 death in which a 29-year-old woman slipped beneath the cable handrails. Fellow hikers watched in horror as she slid down to her death. With that in mind, there have been relatively few deaths over the years but many injuries. Since 2005, there have been at least 13 deaths, 140 search and rescues operations, and 291 accidents.

The Kokoda Track in New Guinea is not just a dangerous hike, but it also has historical significance. According to the New York Times, this 60-mile trail that takes you through the jungles and mountains of Papua New Guinea was also used by Australian troops during World War II to fight a rearguard action against a larger Japanese force, finally halting them before Port Moresby.

The trail is not for the faint of heart. Filled with steep inclines and muddy bogs, the trek is a slog even though there are amenities along it and the jungle scenery is astounding. Still, it is clear you need to be physically fit to cut it since there have been multiple deaths due to heart attacks along the track. Even getting there can be hazardous. Thirteen people died in a plane crash in 2009 while en route to the trailhead. There are also other dangers. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported in 2016 that a British male and an American female were assaulted by local men on the trail. The man was beaten and the woman raped before they managed to escape. In 2013, two porters who were servicing an expedition were hacked to death by robbers.

One would think that a small mountain in New Hampshire would not present a dangerous hike, but Mount Washington has claimed many lives over the years. According to New Hampshire Magazine, as of 2019 there had been 161 known deaths on the trails around the mountain since they started counting in 1849. Aside from the usual falls and heart attacks, hikers who try to reach the top of this mountain often are not prepared for the sudden changes in weather and temperature. 

As Outside explains, this 6,288 foot mountain can have wind chills that drop to -100 degrees. The Mount Washington Observatory recorded a wind gust of 231 miles per hour on the mountain in 1934, a record that wasn’t broken until 1996. Meteorologists have determined that the mountain sits at the crossroads of the jet stream and north to south storm tracks. Also, the mountain’s geography lends itself to becoming a natural wind funnel. The summit of the mountain is bare, leaving inexperienced hikers exposed to the elements. Then to top it all, the whole area is full of boulders and rocks, making it a minefield of trip hazards. What makes the dangers of Mount Washington even more frustrating is that many hikers do not take it seriously. People come as part of day trips, ill equipped (flip flops) and poorly clothed (t-shirts), thus inviting the worst upon them.

Aonach Eagach takes you through the very heart of the Scottish Highlands by going over their very top. As explained in “Landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye,” Aonach Eagach runs along the ridges of the mountains, offering constant scrambles. Wired for Adventure describes how even though the hike itself is rather short at six miles, you are constantly scrambling and crawling in exposed conditions. This walk has seen its fair share of tragedy over the years with people falling off the ridge. One particularly troubling spot is the Clachaig Gully which, according to Walkhighlands, has led to multiple fatalities due to its eroded and precarious nature.

Then there are the meteorological conditions. In 2021, the Daily Record reported that a husband and wife who were hiking the ridge got lost in a sudden fog. He fell 33 feet and was injured. Meanwhile, the wife had dropped her phone. However, after the couple did not check in, a search was started. A friend activated the woman’s location finder on the cell phone. This allowed the rescue team to locate the phone, and then they were able to track down the couple who were wet and cold. They were successfully evacuated by helicopter.