Long ago I learned GPS isn’t magic and it’s essential to have a conventional map to supplement it. I’m 79
Map reading and land navigation are becoming lost arts in large segments of the population.
This is rather similar to that incident a few years ago with a Canadian couple who got into snow trouble at high elevation north of Elko NV, they were missing for six weeks, eventually ATV riders came across their stranded RV and found the woman alive, the husband had tried to hike through the snow-covered terrain to where he thought help could be found, and he froze to death up there. This was in the Jarbridge wilderness area and started in mid-March, ended in early May IIRC.
Also in their case, trusting GPS was the problem, and it was entirely unnecessary to make the turn, they basically thought it would be an interesting scenic side trip to get from one south-heading highway (the one that ends up in Wells) to another (the one that ends at Elko). They could have gotten to Elko in three hours otherwise.
In that case, a much longer wait for rescue, the woman was quite disoriented and dehydrated, had survived over a month on basically a few cookies and candies they happened to have along for the drive. They were headed for LV to attend a trade show and it was at least a week before anyone realized they were missing because nobody was expecting to hear from them. Also when it became apparent, nobody knew within a hundred miles where they could be, as their last known location was at a gas station in Baker City OR (which tells me having made the same trip that they were almost out of gas too, no idea why they didn’t fill up again but the RV was out of gas by the time the ATV people showed up). And all the time, unknown to either of them, there was a ranch house a few miles away over a hill. The guy should have tried walking back east and down into snow-free terrain, he would probably have made the highway if he didn’t run into somebody earlier. Going west just condemned him to a certain death, a thirty mile hike through deep snow.
I always have a few maps in my truck. My nephews look at maps and it’s like a foreign language to them. Right along with analog clocks and roman numerals. Sorcery.
Ain't that the truth! Several years ago, we were traveling through Lubbock, and I wanted to stop at the Llano Estacado winery.
Long story short, my GPS had the winery over a mile from where it was located. It was worth the trip.
Others pointed out that there is no substitute for paper maps and a compass. This is absolutely true. Purchase the USGS quadrangles for deep country travels.
and I love Nevada....when we drive to Las Vegas, I would just love to take some of those dirt and dusty roads to some "preserve".....