North Shore Rescue (NSR) says three young hikers learned a few difficult lessons after getting caught out on a trail after dark Tuesday night.
The trio set out on a trail to St. Mark’s Summit without water, food, or lights, NSR says. After temporarily getting lost, they reached the summit just before sunset and found themselves “attempting to navigate by cell phone light” as well as using Google Maps for trail information.
They reportedly called for help after two out of three of their phones ran out of battery.
“The search team was able to quickly access their location, provide food/water/warm clothing/headlamps, and escort them back to the parking lot,” said a post to social media Wednesday.
NSR says the incident is a good illustration of how errors and oversights can compound.
The volunteer service says a flashlight or headlamp is one of a few essential pieces of safety gear to take on hikes.
“Even if you are not intending to be out after dark, as it helps you find your way back to the trailhead (and stay on trial while doing so).”
It says cell phone battery power is critical when in areas of limited network reception, and Google Maps is “not appropriate” for wilderness navigation.
“Your phone will increase power to its antenna, leading to even quicker battery drain… You want every per cent you can get in case you must call 911 and communicate with rescue crews.”
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NSR says the three were “mildly hypothermic” when rescue crews finally found them, despite 20-degree weather on the mountain.
“You may not think about it when it’s hot during the day, but taking extra layers of clothing is essential, even in the middle of summer.”
Finally, the North Shore Rescue praised the group for staying put after calling for help.
“Had they moved, and had we lost contact with them, this simple rescue could have become exponentially more complex.”
