A hiker in British Columbia was led to a dangerous cliff by a nonexistent trail on Google Maps and had to be rescued by helicopter.
This was the third recorded incident of hikers needing rescue due to a phantom trail. Errors in Google Maps have also resulted in fatalities as a man in North Carolina drove off a collapsed bridge. Mountain rescue experts and outdoor publications recommend that hikers switch to apps designed for wilderness navigation, such as Topo Maps and Outdooractive.
As a safety measure, it is advised to carry traditional navigation tools like a paper map and compass while hiking.
