SEATTLE, Wash. – Search and rescue teams across the region spent the weekend responding to hikers in trouble.

To read the original KOMO article by Kara Kostanich in its entirety, please click here.

Then, Tuesday afternoon a team was called to help three stranded hikers at Rattlesnake Ledge, but as the team was arriving the group was able to self-rescue.

“We’ve had several calls, almost every day over this weekend we’ve had several calls for service,” said Alan Labissoniere, a volunteer with King County Search and Rescue.

The Snohomish County Search and Rescue team has been on seven rescue missions since Saturday.

On Monday teams in King County rescued an injured hiker from Gem Lake area.

“I’ve definitely seen people hiking up into pretty remote areas in tennis shoes, cotton jeans and t-shirts,” said Steve Smith who is a Climbing Education Manager at the Mountaineers. “When that stuff gets wet up high it does not hold an insulating value at all.”

At the Snow Lake Trialhead near Snoqualmie Pass, hikers Jaime Siridakris and Ashley Daneker admitted lack of gear was their mistake on the trial.

“There a lot of snow,” said Daneker. “Nikes are not the appropriate foot wear – we fell a lot.”

Siridakris said she hiked Snow Lake this week one year ago with no problems. But on Tuesday, the girls made it two miles up the trail and snow forced them to turn around.

“Yeah it was not the best decision,” said Siridakris.

Bottom line Smith says: plan, have proper equipment, and learn about the dangers associated with back country travel.

“People are getting a false sense of security – it’s 80 degrees out and they get hiking and they hit snow and they aren’t ready for snow, they’re ready just for gravel and a path,” said Labissoniere.

That was the case for Siridakris and Daneker – who decided to head for Franklin Falls where the snow has melted.

“We’re hoping we can make it,” said Daneker

To read the original KOMO article by Kara Kostanich in its entirety, please click here.