By Sonia Isaacs
FRESH concerns have been raised over dangerous climbing incidents across the Glass House Mountains, with calls for stronger public warnings as rescue crews continue responding to a growing number of accidents involving inexperienced hikers.
The renewed safety push follows GC&M News reporting in April which revealed mountain rescues had surged dramatically over the past decade, with emergency responders warning social media-fuelled adventurism was encouraging people to attempt hazardous summit climbs beyond their capabilities.
Glasshouse Mountains Ecolodge owner Chris Pires has now joined calls for greater awareness around the risks of climbing peaks including Mount Tibrogargan and Mount Beerwah, urging hiking platforms and social media influencers to better explain the dangers involved. Mr Pires said he had approached Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, online platforms, and media organisations in recent months seeking clearer public descriptions of climbs including Mount Tibrogargan and Mount Beerwah.
However, he said the online community particularly influencers and hiking content creators also needed to play a stronger role in promoting safety awareness. Mr Pires said too many visitors were being drawn to the mountains by spectacular summit photos without understanding the technical and hazardous nature of the terrain. “This isn’t a typical trail – it’s a scramble,” he said. “You’re using your hands and feet all the way up. It’s slippery, and you don’t go in the wet.”
He said he was prompted to act after another serious fall earlier this year on one of the mountains, part of a growing number of incidents requiring emergency rescue crews and helicopters. Shaken by the accident, which occurred near his property, Mr Pires recorded a video last month calling for greater awareness around mountain safety. He said the clip attracted more than 300,000 online views and helped spark broader public discussion about the issue.
As part of the campaign, Mr Pires said he was pleased some trail classifications on major hiking platforms had already been updated to better reflect the difficulty and danger of certain routes. However, he said warning signs and government messaging alone would not solve the problem. “It’s up to all of us to create clear communication – especially content creators,” he said.
“If you’re posting that perfect summit shot, you should also be warning people this is a dangerous scramble, not just an Instagram moment.”
Mr Pires said the campaign aimed to reduce future fatalities and serious injuries by ensuring accurate safety messaging reached visitors before they set foot on the mountains.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service currently classifies the summit routes on both Mount Tibrogargan and Mount Beerwah as Grade 5 tracks – its highest difficulty rating warning they are not traditional walking trails but steep, challenging scrambles requiring advanced rock-climbing and route-finding skills.
A Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation spokesperson said the mountains carried real risks and should never be climbed in wet conditions. “Mount Beerwah and Mount Tibrogargan are natural places that carry real risks. These are not walking tracks; they are steep climbs that require rock scrambling and climbing skills, and people are encouraged to pay attention to these signs for their own safety,” the spokesperson said. “It is vital that visitors follow safety advice, including never climbing in wet conditions.”
When deciding whether to climb the summit routes, consider respecting the Jinibara and Kabi Kabi peoples request not to climb the culturally-sacred Beerwah and Tibrogargan peaks.
Glasshouse Mountains Ecolodge Owner Chris Pires. Photo credit: Sheldon Bowers.
