Good weather this past weekend led to an increase in visitors at the Marin Headlands, prompting rescues due to unsafe hiking practices near cliff edges. Lt. Mariano Elias from the San Francisco Fire Department emphasized that off-trail excursions can be perilous, with steep cliffs and overgrown trails. Changing tides also contribute to danger, as visitors unaware of their surroundings may try to scale cliffs when tides rise. Additionally, intoxication from drugs or alcohol is a frequent factor in rescues, highlighting the need for informed outdoor engagement.
"Anytime there is good weather and a clear view across the bay, people want to get ... right to the edge to find their safe, happy place, and then it becomes unsafe," said Lt. Mariano Elias of the SF Fire Department.
"The cliffs aren't just steep here - trails are also overgrown, oftentimes with poison oak, and it can be hard to tell where, if anywhere, they lead," Elias noted.
"Sometimes the tide is low and people start walking and meandering around the rocks and the water, and then the tide starts coming in and then they can't walk on the beach any longer," Elias explained.
"A common factor in rescues is intoxication from drugs or alcohol," added Lt. Elias, emphasizing another risk during outdoor activities.
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