GPS Device Leads Group to Edge of Cliff

[workinwifdakids]

CANNONVILLE, Utah (AP) - A GPS device led a convoy of tourists astray, finally stranding them on the edge of a sheer cliff.

With little food or water, the group of 10 children and 16 adults from California had to spend a night in their cars deep inside the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

They used a global positioning device to plot out a backcountry route Saturday from Bryce Canyon National Park to the Grand Canyon.

But the device couldn’t tell how rough the roads were.

More...

We’ve said this before, but some people haven’t heard the message: GPS can pinpoint your location with startling precision, but it cannot make up for a current topographic map and compass, and even that won’t work without a strong skill set. If you’re heading into back country, check in with the ranger station and let them know where you’ll be, and for how long. Ask them about the route you plan to take. Is it safe this time of year? Will it accomodate the type of vehicle you’re driving?

As well, your vehicle needs to be stocked with supplies that will help you live if you become stranded.

[Highspeed]

Honestly, I can't see how a GPS would be of much use except for under pretty horrid weather conditions (and then, would you even get reception?)

They have their uses, especially if you are unsure of your position ( lost ) in a location that doesn't lend itself to shooting bearings. Assuming you can get a signal - my GPS is an older type Garmin which doesn't receive well under tree canopy for example.

I doubt anyone involved in that excursion had any map reading skills - if they had then the closeness of the contour lines on the proposed route would have told them straight away about the cliff.

[drice]

Doesn't GPS units do elevation coordinates, too? I've actually never used one, or even really seen one except for a couple in vehicles for driving.

Yes, they can, but the precision confidence is lower. Accuracy for x/y (Lat/Long) is +/- a few meters. It's double or triple that for z (altitude). Still plenty good enough for wandering about.

Honestly, I can't see how a GPS would be of much use except for under pretty horrid weather conditions (and then, would you even get reception?).

Yep, they're good for that as well. Weather should not impact a decent GPS signal reception.

[Erik]

From what I can tell, they were driving and using a car GPS to get from one point to another. Basically, you tell it where you want to go, and the GPS plots out which is the best way to get there. They're great to use, especially if you're not familiar with an area, since you can follow the GPS and not have to stop at every crossing to consult a map. And should you miss a turn, the GPS will find a new route to where you're going.

The problem with them is that they are computers, and just follow the maps they are programmed with. So they take what they consider the closest or quickest route, and that can sometimes be the wrong route, or if their map is wrong, a dead end. I've had mine suggest taking a right turn off of a bridge, and drive through a forrest on a small road that ended with a large rock blocking it.
So they should be combined with a map and common sense.

I usually check a map first, so I have some idea of how to get there. Then I let the GPS guide me along the way, and only stop to check the map if I feel I'm going the wrong way, or the road I go seems too bad.

[drice]

From what I can tell, they were driving and using a car GPS to get from one point to another. Basically, you tell it where you want to go, and the GPS plots out which is the best way to get there. They're great to use, especially if you're not familiar with an area, since you can follow the GPS and not have to stop at every crossing to consult a map. And should you miss a turn, the GPS will find a new route to where you're going.

The problem with them is that they are computers, and just follow the maps they are programmed with. So they take what they consider the closest or quickest route, and that can sometimes be the wrong route, or if their map is wrong, a dead end. I've had mine suggest taking a right turn off of a bridge, and drive through a forrest on a small road that ended with a large rock blocking it..

I have not seen any of them that will suggest you go off-road. They will however, often display off-road trails, but they are NOT labeled with streed names, and usually have some kind of faded statement over the entire area that says "not mapped" or something to that effect. To consider them driveable options speaks directly to the stupidity of this group.

[Highspeed]

I remember when I was taking flying lessons one of the newly qualified pilots arrived with a GPS and was extolling it's virtues. The hairy old CFI ( chief flying instructor ) who always used an E2B mechanical computer challenged him to a nav exercise, the twist being that before it commenced each of their navigation devices were to be dropped onto the runway from 500ft

I thought at the time " Does that also include your stopwatch CFI ? " but wisely kept my mouth shut

[Erik]

I have not seen any of them that will suggest you go off-road. They will however, often display off-road trails, but they are NOT labeled with streed names, and usually have some kind of faded statement over the entire area that says "not mapped" or something to that effect. To consider them driveable options speaks directly to the stupidity of this group.

Mine has. The bridge it wants me to turn right on (over the edge) is not far from where I live.
If the map in the GPS says it's a road there, it will suggest you take it, even if there is no road there in reality. And if you drive in rural areas around here, most roads dont have names, and there really isn't anything in the GPS that can tell you if you are going on a bad road or a better road, just that the GPS consider the chosen road to be the best option. So I can see this happening.
The mistake they made was placing their unconditional trust in a small computer, and not verify it with a map or use common sense. That was stupid.

[drice]

HS, I was in England in 2006 for 10 days. 4 hours of that was for a meeting with a vendor, the rest was spent out on the open roads, avoiding major metropolitan centers and no "M's". Absolutely the time of my life. Brits are 476% better drivers than 99.728% of the American populace. /offtopic

I was surprised though that none of the rental agencies there offered cars with GPS, whereas you can get them from any rental agency here in the states.

As it was, I had a map. Up was North. So I went Up until I got the Aisle of Skye, hung a right to Loch Ness, then went down until I hit the Cliffs of Dover. No planning. Just drive until 1400, look around for a place to stay, then hit a pub and drink/eat until...well...whenever. Get up at 0800 and repeat.

Best vacation ever.

[mekender]

Brits are 476% better drivers than 99.728% of the American populace.

After delivering pizza for about 4 years in the tourist areas of Orlando, I can say with out a doubt that you are wrong about that one. The only ones worse than the Brits are the Brazilians.

[Erik]

Sounds pretty much like my vacation in the States this summer. (I actually did have a GPS, but used it sparingly)

I totally agree, that kind of vacations are the best kind. Ever.