We've always tried to prepare and at least once it's really saved us from true misery.
Ten essentials is really a thing.
We were hiking in the Smokies a few years ago. There’s a 1 mile trail that goes deep into a valley to a waterfall. It’s heavily traveled. we were prepped with water, food etc. So many people wearing flip flops, maybe a 16 oz water bottle, carrying a baby, 90 degrees, high humidity.
The walk down was fun, the walk back not so much.
Years back, I was on a hike and we crossed paths with 3-4 teenage boys, Again, very hot day. I was almost out of water but the end of our hike was 1/4 mile or so. One of the boys we passed was looking pretty rough and had an empty water bottle. I offered mine to him several times and he refused.
Found out later he ended up in the hospital that evening. Since then, I’ve become more forceful at offering help.