It didn't end well for the people depending on Google Maps. A group of teen hikers relied on Google Maps. It was a disaster.
This story is from Canada, but similar things have happened in America.
A teen hiking group trusted Google Maps on a B.C. alpine trail. It ended in a helicopter rescue.
I don't know what the Canadian equivalent of a US Geological Survey Topographical Map might be, but I am sure they exist. If you're in Canada you should invest in some. If you're in the US use USGS Topo map. Not Google Maps, not Apple Maps, not Open Maps. A mapping system that understands topographical detail. And you might want to check on where flash flooding is an issue if you're in the US Southwest.
When a group of teenagers set out to hike British Columbia’s famed Howe Sound Crest Trail in early July, Google Maps suggested the trek would take about five hours.
Instead, the hike stretched deep into the night, leaving the group exhausted, dehydrated, injured and in need of a helicopter rescue.
This is the part where relying on Google Maps (just because you found it on the internet, doesn't mean it is true) which isn't really a good source.
The Howe Sound Crest Trail is one of British Columbia’s most iconic alpine trails, following a rugged ridgeline overlooking Howe Sound just north of Vancouver. Although the approximately 18-mile route with a 6,000-foot elevation gain can be completed by experienced trail runners in a day, search and rescue officials generally recommend hikers treat it as a two-day backpacking trip.
Click thru for the rest of the details. (Hat tip to Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony) Was this a Darwin Award near miss? Maybe not.
The last time I read a story like this, was in March of last year. Darwin Award Near Miss Times 2. Two groups, making the same mistake, in the same place in Utah, in January and February of 2025.
You can download USGS Topographical Maps online for free. If you want paper maps, there is a cost, which I have not been able to pin down. (It varies by map.) I doubt the cost of paper maps is prohibitive. Paper is always a good backup, since you don't need power, battery, internet, anything except light. But you can certainly do planning while connected to the internet.
Every map or chart that I have seen that is intended only for instruction is labled, Not For Navigation.
ReplyDeleteIf Google maps does not have this warning, then it is reasonable to expect the product is suitable for navigation.
I wonder the risk of liability to companies which provide faulty information. Of course, the general, Use At Own Risk which, to me, simply means that the maker does not vouch for accuracy. Therefore should be discard and not to be used even for planning purposes.
If such warning is there, but buried in the fine print of User Agreement should still result in culpability of the maker.
When venturing out, I have always used official government charting products. On land, sea, and air. That I have a love affair of maps and charts makes it natural for me.
echarts on a handheld electronic device adds a layer of complexity in the struggle through the. indescretion of ignorance.
Even government maps come with "use at your own risk" warnings.
DeleteBack before GPS was available to the masses, the best charts available for a lot of the Caribbean Islands had been produced by the British under sail. One island - I don't remember which - had a note that said something like, "It is reported that the actual position of the island is 3 miles north of its charted position." Once highly accurate GPS was available to everyone, the islands were re-charted by a commercial operation.
Not sure what the USGS maps say, but I would not be surprised if there was something along the lines of "Mudslides, earthquakes, etc. can change the topology of an area. You are responsible for your own safety in the wilderness."
Even USGS top maps have errors. I once found a marsh with over 60' of contour as shown. I know factually that not to be the case.
DeleteYears ago the widow of a pilot won her suit against the FAA for depicting the antenna tower he flew into charted a distance from the physical location.
Never mind that flying an altitude higher than tower elevations in that area, or hiking into rugged terrain which looks easy on the map, or taking the GPS road that doesn't actually exist, not you fault.
Pilots often kid about flying the magenta line all the while disregarding your own responsibility in the matter.
The Map is not the Territory, no matter what form it comes in.
ReplyDelete