Google Maps Fails Hikers on Treacherous Trails
Search and rescue teams are warning hikers to avoid relying on Google Maps for planning backcountry excursions, citing inaccuracies in route planning and time estimates.
A recent incident in British Columbia's Howe Sound Trail involved a group of teenage hikers who used Google Maps to plan their 18-kilometer trek. The app estimated the trip would take 5 hours and 13 minutes, but the actual time was around 12-14 hours due to the trail's rugged terrain.
The teens were forced to turn back halfway through the hike when they realized their mistake, but one member of the group injured his tailbone falling off a boulder. They had to call for help and one of them was airlifted out.
Experts point out that Google Maps' data may not be up-to-date, including trails that are no longer navigable. The app also doesn't account for technical scrambling, switchbacks, or difficult sections of tread path, which can add significant time to a hike.