An Edmonton man was led nearly to his death in the local backcountry by an inaccurate GPS unit. A hunting guide on a rare visit to the same wilderness area was the man's salvation.
The 45-year-old Albertan was on his way to Lowhee Campground near Wells-Barkerville when his GPS machine indicated a shortcut down Purden Lake Road. Although the route technically exists, it is impassible to the likes of this man's Hyundai Sante Fe.
The man came to this conclusion one wheel-turn too late. He got high-centred. The area had no cell phone service and he had few provisions.
"He slept in his vehicle overnight [Friday] and was able to free his vehicle on Saturday morning," said RCMP spokeswoman Const. Krista Vrolyk. "Realizing that the road was not a passable route, the man turned around in an attempt to return to the highway. While turning around, the vehicle got stuck again leaving him once again stranded.
"The man spent the next 24-plus hours hauling gravel from a nearby river which he used in attempts to provide traction to his wheels to free the vehicle," Vrolyk added. "His efforts seemed futile and he began constructing an SOS sign in hopes that a search was underway for him and his vehicle. After spending two nights in his vehicle, stranded and without food, the man was located by a local hunting guide who happened upon him when he was in the area checking on remote hunting cabins."
It was 8 p.m. Sunday before he was back to civilization again. Vrolyk said the traveller was "lucky to be alive" and the coincidental trek by the hunting guide "was extremely fortunate."
It was only a five months ago that Penticton/Terrace couple Rita and Albert Chretien followed similar off-road GPS instructions to cut short a trip in the mountains of Nevada and Idaho while on their way to Las Vegas. In mid-March They became stranded in a web of muddy, snowy mountain roads far from any town. Seven weeks later, Rita was found barely alive by hunters who had themselves taken a wrong turn. Albert, who set off on foot with the GPS unit to get help, is still missing.
Following Rita's emergence, Associated Press reported warnings by Mike Ferguson, author of the backcountry guidebook GPS Land Navigation, putting too much trust in the satellite mapping devises was dangerous.
"Unless you're prepared for it...when it sends you off into remote terrain, it can surely get you into big trouble," Ferguson said.
"These routes are remote and outside cellular phone service, leaving travellers particularly vulnerable," Vrolyk agreed.
She advised travellers to use GPS directions only in conjunction with printed maps, follow road signs, and stick to established routes as much as possible. All travel should include a detailed route plan explained to loved ones prior to your departure, and do not deviate once underway.
