A group of friendly Canadian hikers accidentally prompted search and rescue operations on a 14,265-foot mountain peak near Breckenridge earlier this week.

According to the Summit County Rescue Group, three teams of six rescuers hit the trail with rope gear after receiving a report from another hiker who spotted two men waving and yelling from about a half-mile away. It appeared the distressed hiking party “cliffed out” on the north ridge of Quandary Peak.

After hearing from other hikers descending the east trail, rescue teams eventually figured out the cheerful wave coming from the Canadians was simply mistaken for a signal of distress. It turns out the friendly hikers were just saying hello.

Despite the cost and effort involved with launching a search effort, Summit County Rescue Group was relieved that no one was in danger. They also took the opportunity to remind hikers to be aware of signals they might be sending out while on the mountain. Make sure your wave doesn’t look like a call for help.

Quandary Peak is a Colorado fourteener located near Breckenridge and is the highest summit of the Tenmile Range. Quandary Peak’s standard route is beginner-friendly, running 6.7 miles-out-and-back with an elevation gain of nearly 3,400 feet. Here’s a look at where the 14,265-foot peak is located on the map.

Climbing a Colorado 14er is no joke. The dangers include altitude sickness, exposure, and inclement weather – all of which can be  deadly. Never assume the mountains are safe for hiking or climbing. Always research the route and check the mountain forecast before you go. 14ers.com is your best resource for trail conditions, weather, trailhead accessibility, maps, photographs, and more. Here are a few extra tips for climbing Colorado’s tallest peaks, click here.

Editor’s Note: Help fund search and rescue missions across the state of Colorado by purchasing a CORSAR card at ihelpsearch.org. This is not an insurance card. By purchasing a card, you are helping reimburse teams for costs incurred in providing help to lost and injured hikers, climbers, mountain bikers, hunters, ATV riders, skiers, snowboarders, and more.