Maybe this hiker should have googled where he can buy a paper map.
A hiker had to be rescued by helicopter in British Columbia after he got lost — because he was following a made-up trail on Google Maps.
It was the second time in two months that a hiker had gotten lost relying on a high-tech map app, authorities said.
Vancouver-based North Shore Rescue shared in a Facebook post that an unnamed hiker found himself stranded on a cliff at the back of Mt. Fromme, just north of Vancouver, after trying to reach the summit.
A pair of rescuers were airlifted in and dropped into a dense forest area during the Nov. 4 rescue.
After locating the missing hiker, who NSR said had minimal equipment, no flashlights and bad shoes for his hike, rescuers brought him down to an area where the helicopter could pick up the trio.
NSR said the rescue was the second in two months for hikers trapped on Mt. Fromme, both of which appear to be the result of people following fake trails displayed on Google Maps.
A hiker found himself lost north of Vancouver after he followed a made-up trail on Google Maps.NorthShoreRescue/Facebook
In reality, the area – which is very steep – does not have any trails.
In an update Monday, NSR said Google Maps had deleted non-existent tracks after learning about the dangerous glitch.
North Shore Rescue says this is the second rescue in two months from the NorthShoreRescue/Facebook area
NSR advises would-be hikers to avoid using Google Maps for hiking and instead use apps designed for outdoor activities such as CalTopo or Gaia or paper maps and compasses.
It also urges people who rely on phones for hiking navigation to pack backup batteries, and that they research the area where they plan to hike to make sure they know the terrain and whether trails are available.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
