[LINK] limits of technology in finding someone

[Chris Maltby]

On Fri, Dec 08, 2006 at 09:46:51AM +1100, Jan Whitaker wrote:
> Family found by mobile triangulation, but father dies. story slant: 
> lack of GPS. I don't think that's correct.

Quite...

GPS wouldn't have helped - this was just the result of lack of
caution. I've driven through that area myself and it's pretty
wild - there would have been snow around if not blocking the
road. If you're not prepared for the road or the conditions,
you need to turn back. The route choice was clearly based on
a roadmap, not mapquest or any GPS...

I also don't understand how anyone driving north on I5 could
miss the 101N turnoff - and then think to recover from that
mistake by driving another hundred km before taking an exit
onto a narrow and winding backroad over a serious mountain
range in the winter. My guess is that the road was sign posted
as closed or likely to be closed in winter.

And why would emergency services choose to look there. It's
a wonder there was any cellphone coverage at all, let alone
triangulation.

It's sad about the outcome.