Went hiking with two friends (one was experienced, the other was not) up a mountain. It took us forever to get up because we took a ridge trail and missed the direct trail. My friend said he had gone hiking on the other side of the mountain range (toward the coast), and he was pretty sure he recognized the area. He said it would be quicker if we just trailblazed down the mountain and made it to another parking lot on the other side of the range where we could call someone to pick us up. We tried it. He was wrong. We were not near the coast, but kept trailblazing till we reached a trail that led us to the coast (ocean in sight, not ocean level). By the time we reached the coast, it was getting dark and our cell phones were dying. We eventually made it to the parking lot in the dark and barely had enough reception to call my brother to pick us up. Our other friend will never go hiking with us again.

The other most dangerous story is an unofficial ridge trail I have gone on 3 or 4 times. It's like if humans decided to follow a mountain goat trail to a cool cliff jumping spot. There are some minor bouldering sections, a few places you can get lost (you have to follow spraypainted markers), very steep portions and a few places with crumbly rock you could slip on. I've brought (experienced) friends and it has always been tough (not safe), but we have always made it back safe. I have even done the trail in flip-flops (removing them at bouldering sections). I have since found out that it is a very dangerous trail and several people die on it each year. I have one friend will always remember the time a put his wife's life at risk by taking her on that trail. I'll never do it again.