Two separate yet remarkably similar rescues that occurred within a very tight timeframe of each other late last month and early this month have sparked a warning from Vancouver’s North Shore Rescue as GPS/map apps led two hikers to non-existent trails.
The first hiker wound up stranded on Rector Peak past Mt. Elsay in the Seymour backcountry. The individual, from overseas, learned of the supposed route through an online hiking app and decided to give it a shot, underestimating the route’s full mountaineering conditions that exist during the winter. After 8 hours on the trail, the man was tired, soaked, and hypothermic, and the day was coming to an end.
He was able to call 911 and North Shore Rescue responded, dropping a rescue team through a hover exit with Talon Helicopters. The team brought the man to the helicopter and he was flown out of the area. Had he not been able to call for help, it seems unlikely that he would have survived the night.
The second hiker found two routes, Kennedy Falls and Goat Mtn/Ridge, on a hiking trail/GPS app and decided to attempt to connect them. Unfortunately he did not realize that there was no trail or any route between the two. The man eventually found himself cold, wet, exhausted, and low on supplies, but he was fortunately able to get a signal and call 911 for help.
North Shore Rescue deployed a crew along the Grouse alpine trail system, trekking for several hours before reaching the man. When they finally got to him, they helped him warm up and began the slow and long hike out of the woods.
Both situations illustrate a significantly important message for hikers and outdoor recreators. Do your research and be prepared. In both cases, research beyond the trail apps would have shown that these routes were either non-existent or deeply difficult during the winter. Neither hiker was prepared for the snow, wearing cotton and improper shoes, and both hikers nearly drained the batteries of their phones while navigating.
“As mentioned, he had discovered these two particular trails on a mapping/GPS app. Unfortunately, he had not done any further research about it. Had he, he would have learned there is no trail whatsoever, and a proper interpretation of the contour lines would have revealed extremely steep terrain. Compounding his problems, he was using his phone and this app to navigate, though he stopped part way through his trip to conserve battery life (regardless, he was still running quite low by the time he called 911). Cold weather zaps battery life, not to mention being on the edge/out of cell range (which causes your cell to boost power to try and lock on to a cell signal, which zaps battery life further). This is why we always recommend that recreationalists carry an external battery pack for their cell, and not rely on it exclusively for navigation.” – North Shore Rescue