A reminder has been issued by Keswick Mountain Rescue Team about the “serious limitations” of some mapping apps.
It follows recent two incidents when callouts were required to walkers who had become disorientated in the darkness while following apps.
Three women and their dog who were following a circular walk to Lord’s Seat from the parking area around Powter How using the AllTrails app. It recommended a route via the steep face of Barf.
“There is no path via this route, only lines of scree, which also requires the walker to negotiate the rocky outcrop of Slape Crag, which has been the scene of previous callouts,” a spokesman for Keswick Mountain Rescue Team said.
The three women were descending their route from the top of Barf and had negotiated the difficult down climb of Slape Crag, but with fading light and poor visibility they became cragfast and dialled 999 to request mountain rescue help.
A small team was dispatched and began a search by ascending the slope from the bottom of Barf. The party were soon found and were given harnesses and helmets before being tied-in to short ropes to help them descend the scree to the parking area.
Successfully down and uninjured, the three and their dog were able to return home in their own vehicle.
The day before team members had been called out to help a man who had been following a recommended walk around the tops above Braithwaite using the AllTrails mapping software app.
As it was getting dark he decided to take a shortcut back to his start point by following a path on this app, from the summit of Causey Pike northwards to Stonycroft Beck.
With increasing darkness he became confused and subsequently lost as he could not find the path even with his head torch. He called 999 and mountain rescue for help.
After he messaged a screenshot of his map showing his position the cause of his confusion became apparent. “There is no path in this location, the mapping software was incorrect,” said a mountain rescue spokesman. “This was another reminder that some mapping apps have serious limitations.”
The man was guided over the phone to the correct path and he made his way down to be met by a small Keswick team to ensure he made his way to safety.
