Hikers recently rescued from an extremely challenging trail in B.C. had planned their trip using Google Maps, prompting a warning about the perils of relying on that platform in the backcountry.
Lions Bay Search and Rescue posted a statement to social media along with photos of the directions the hikers had used, saying the recent incident was not the first or only time volunteer crews have encountered the issue.
The printout from said the hike along part of the Howe Sound Crest Trail would take a total of five hours and 13 minutes—involving a handful of right and left turns.
“On paper, it looked straightforward,” the statement from Lions Bay Search and Rescue said, adding that the terrain on the 18-kilometre hike includes “well over 1,300 metres of elevation gain, sustained alpine terrain, route finding, scrambling sections, loose rock, and countless ups and downs that Google simply doesn’t account for.”
The organization said a proper estimate of how long the trek the hikers were planning would take between 12 and 14 hours.
Having the wrong information about something as fundamental as how long a hike will take causes a cascade of consequences, according to Lions Bay SAR.
“It’s one of the reasons we regularly respond to hikers who become exhausted, benighted, injured, or unable to complete their objective safely,” the statement said.
Getting the timing wrong means miscalculating crucial things like when to leave,and how much food or water to pack and having incorrect or incomplete information about the terrain heightens safety risks.
Instead of Google Maps, Lions Bay SAR provided a list of free and paid hiking apps it recommends, including AllTrails, Granite, and Gaia GPS—which can be used as part of the process of properly researching and preparing for a hike or a trip into the backcountry
“Please don’t let Google Maps convince you that a serious hike is just another afternoon walk,” the post from Lions Bay SAR concluded.
Notably, the photos shared by Lions Bay SAR of the Google Maps printout include the caveat, “walking directions may not reflect real world conditions.”
A trail-specific safety video for the Howe Sound Crest Trail is also available online.
