PRESS RELEASE
Most hiking incidents don’t start with a mistake — new book explains why
Most hiking incidents don’t begin with a dramatic mistake. They begin quietly, with small, often unnoticed changes that place pressure on other parts of the system.
A new two-volume work by Darren Edwards, founder of Trail Hiking Australia, examines how incidents actually develop in Australian conditions. Rather than focusing on gear lists or isolated hazards, Hiking Australia: Volume 1 — Before You Go and Volume 2 — On the Trail introduce a structured way of understanding how decisions, conditions and human factors interact over time.
The books are grounded in the Hiking Safety Systems Framework (HSSF), a model developed to explain how pressure builds across interconnected systems such as navigation, hydration, environment, load, communication and decision-making. The framework shifts attention from what hikers carry to how they think, respond and adapt under changing conditions.
“In many environments, problems announce themselves early,” Edwards said. “In Australia, they often don’t. People continue making reasonable decisions in a system that is already degrading.”
The first volume focuses on preparation. It examines how route choice, weather interpretation, load, water planning and group dynamics shape the conditions that hikers step into. The second volume moves onto the trail, exploring how those decisions play out in real time, and how small changes in pace, attention and judgement begin to interact.
Together, the two volumes present a consistent argument: incidents are rarely the result of a single failure. They emerge from the accumulation of pressure across multiple systems.
The release builds on Edwards’ broader body of work through Trail Hiking Australia, which includes a range of planning tools, scenario-based learning, and the HSSF Foundations training program. These resources aim to help hikers recognise early signals, understand system interaction, and respond before situations escalate.
The full framework is outlined in the HSSF publication and supporting materials available online, providing a structured model for both individual hikers and organisations working in outdoor safety.
Hiking Australia: Volume 1 — Before You Go and Volume 2 — On the Trail are now available →
About the author
Darren Edwards is the founder of Trail Hiking Australia and the developer of the Hiking Safety Systems Framework (HSSF). His work focuses on how hiking incidents actually develop, and how early signals can be recognised before they become difficult to manage.
About Trail Hiking Australia
Trail Hiking Australia is a comprehensive online resource for hikers, providing access to over 3,800 trails across Australia, along with practical guides, planning tools, and safety resources.
The platform includes a growing suite of hiking calculators and the Hiking Safety Systems Framework, a structured model designed to help hikers better understand risk and decision-making in the field.
Learn more
Hiking Safety Systems Framework (HSSF) →
Media and Enquiries
Darren Edwards
Founder, Trail Hiking Australia
Melbourne, Australia
www.trailhiking.com.au
