Latest news with #Calkin
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
AI Chatbots Are Putting Clueless Hikers in Danger, Search and Rescue Groups Warn
Two hikers trying to tackle Unnecessary Mountain near Vancouver, British Columbia, had to call in a rescue team after they stumbled into snow. The pair were only wearing flat-soled sneakers, unaware that the higher altitudes of a mountain range only some 15 degrees of latitude south of the Arctic Circle might still be snowy in the spring. "We ended up going up there with boots for them," Brent Calkin, leader of the Lions Bay Search and Rescue team, told the Vancouver Sun. "We asked them their boot size and brought up boots and ski poles." It turns out that to plan their ill-fated expedition, the hikers heedlessly followed the advice given to them by Google Maps and the AI chatbot ChatGPT. Now, Calkin and his rescue team are warning that maybe you shouldn't rely on dodgy apps and AI chatbots — a piece of technology known for lying and being wrong all the time — to plan a grueling excursion through the wilderness. "With the amount of information available online, it's really easy for people to get in way over their heads, very quickly," Calkin told the Vancouver Sun. Across the pond, a recent report from Mountain Rescue England and Wales blamed social media and bad navigation apps for a historic surge in rescue teams being called out, the newspaper noted. Stephen Hui, author of the book "105 Hikes," echoed that warning and cautioned that getting reliable information is one of the biggest challenges presented by AI chatbots and apps. With AI in particular, Hui told the Vancouver Sun, it's not always easy to tell if it's giving you outdated information from an obscure source or if it's pulling from a reliable one. From his testing of ChatGPT, Hui wasn't too impressed. Sure, it can give you "decent directions" on the popular trails, he said, but it struggles with the obscure ones. Most of all, AI chatbots struggle with giving you relevant real-time information. "Time of year is a big deal in [British Columbia]," Hui told the Vancouver Sun. "The most sought-after view is the mountain top, but that's really only accessible to hikers from July to October. In winter, people may still be seeking those views and not realize that there's going to be snow." When Calkin tested ChatGPT, he found that a "good input" made a big difference in terms of the quality of the answers he got. Of course, the type of person asking a chatbot for hiking advice probably won't know the right questions to ask. Instead of an AI chatbot, you might, for instance, try asking a human being with experience in the area you're looking at for advice, Calkin suggested, who you can find on indispensable founts of wisdom like Reddit forums and Facebook groups. "Someone might tell you there's a storm coming in this week," Calkin told the Vancouver Sun. "Or I was just up there Wednesday and it looks good. Or you're out of your mind, don't take your six-year-old on that trail." More on AI: Elon Musk's AI Just Went There
Vancouver Sun
18-05-2025
- Vancouver Sun
After a 'really horrible month,' B.C. search-and-rescue groups warn about relying too much on AI and apps
A recent rescue on the slopes of Unnecessary Mountain prompted Lions Bay Search and Rescue team leader Brent Calkin to run some test questions through an AI chatbot. 'A snow-free hike I can do in May near Vancouver,' led to Buntzen Lake and Quarry Rock, two reasonable options accompanied by a warning to check trail conditions and bring appropriate gear. A more vague query — 'a mountain I can climb near Vancouver' — suggested the Lions or Panorama Ridge in Garibaldi Provincial Park, both of which require more advanced skills and remain blanketed in snow mid-spring. Calkin noted a 'good input' made a significant difference in the type of answers he received. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. After a 'really horrible month' in which several hikers ran into trouble in terrain beyond their abilities, B.C. rescue groups are warning about the risk of relying too heavily on technology, including chatbot and apps, when venturing into the wilderness. In a recent case, Calkin and his team were called to Unnecessary Mountain after two hikers used ChatGPT and Google Maps to select a trail, unaware they would encounter snow. Wearing flat-soled shoes, the men soon realized their mistake and turned around, but became unsteady on the descent. 'We ended up going up there with boots for them,' he said. 'We asked them their boot size and brought up boots and ski poles.' The call prompted Lions Bay Search and Rescue to remind people that chatbots and apps are 'not always best for backcountry navigation.' North Shore Rescue issued a similar warning in December after hikers in two separate incidents three days apart were stranded in snowy conditions after following trails they found on a hiking app. 'All you had to do was look at the top of the mountains from Vancouver and know there's snow up there,' searcher Allan McMordie told Postmedia News at the time. 'To be in running shoes and not even expecting any snow was pretty naive.' The issue isn't limited to B.C. A recent report by Mountain Rescue England and Wales blamed social media and navigation apps for a record rise in call-outs last year, particularly among the 18 to 24 age group. Mountain Rescue attributed the increase to interest in 'honeypot' locations that show up on social media, as well as increased reliance on apps that lack detail or don't work offline, according to an article in The Guardian. Calkin said that while technology can be incredibly helpful in the backcountry, it doesn't replace trip planning, skills or experience. 'With the amount of information available online, it's really easy for people to get in way over their heads, very quickly,' he said. Technology has helped reduce some of the barriers to getting into the wilderness, which is generally a good thing, said Ryan Stuart, a mountain biker and community engagement coordinator with the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C. But increased access sometimes comes at the expense of education and experience. Instead of finding out about a great trail by joining a hiking club, for example, more people are finding routes through apps and simply heading out. 'There isn't always that awareness of the risks,' he said. Stuart said hikers need to be aware of potential pitfalls around the use of technology and prepare for them both while trip planning and on the adventure itself. A paper map is always in Stephen Hui's backpack. For the author of 105 Hikes, a popular B.C. guidebook with a second edition coming out later this month, obtaining reliable information is one of the biggest challenges presented by chatbots and apps. It can be difficult to know if AI has given you outdated information from an obscure blog or if it's coming from a reliable source, he said: 'You want to have a few different points of information to ensure it's correct.' Hui has seen incorrect trail distances on apps, as well as comments about difficulty that could be misleading. Like Calkin, he's tested ChatGPT's trip planning ability and admits it's good at coming up with suggestions and even 'decent directions' to many popular trailheads. But he's seen it struggle with more obscure routes. The lack of real-time information is also a problem during trip planning. 'Time of year is a big deal in B.C.,' he said. 'The most sought-after view is the mountain top, but that's really only accessible to hikers from July to October. In winter, people may still be seeking those views and not realize that there's going to be snow.' B.C. AdventureSmart executive director Sandra Riches said apps might give outdated or generalized information without the 'local knowledge' that's necessary to plan a trip. That includes trail conditions, weather and changes to the route. Calkin said Facebook groups and Reddit hiking forums can be one of the best places to get current information. It's common to see people asking for updates on trail conditions or whether a trail is appropriate given their fitness level. 'Someone might tell you there's a storm coming in this week. Or I was just up there Wednesday and it looks good. Or you're out of your mind, don't take your six-year-old on that trail.' Calkin said you might also learn that there's a bear denning on the side of the trail you were planning to do. In addition to being a planning tool, technology is also making an appearance on the trail, where it can both save and imperil lives. Stuart said mapping apps like Gaia GPS, onX, All Trail and Trail Forks provide high-quality trail maps, while Google Maps isn't a good backcountry navigation tool. 'When you stop off the road, turn off Google and turn on something else,' he advised. He stressed that it's important to know how to use whatever app you choose, as well as its limits. Don't count on cell reception in the backcountry and download any maps before you go. Carry a backup battery. 'It's about what you're most comfortable with and most proficient at using,' Stuart said. Stuart said redundancy is key. A phone can be a great tool for navigation or to call for help, but if the battery dies, the screen cracks or it falls in a creek, 'now what?' Many wilderness trails are also out of cellphone range. He also emphasized the need to be aware of your surroundings when using a device. 'If you're stuck in your phone, you might not notice that big storm cloud hanging over the summit.' Riches agreed technology can sometimes impart a 'false sense of security.' When out of cell range, she recommends carrying some kind of satellite communication device or beacon for emergencies, like ZOLEO or inReach. It's also important to understand how to use a topographical map and compass, which won't run out of batteries and have reliably helped people navigate wilderness terrain for years. 'North isn't changing any time soon,' she said. gluymes@ As Squamish Search and Rescue member Christine Strub says: 'Technology is great, but do not solely rely on it.' AdventureSmart recommends three T's for ensuring a safe trip. Trip planning: Plan a travel route, know the terrain and conditions, check the weather, and fill out a trip plan and leave it with a friend. The trip plan should include names and a description of who is in your party, where you're going and when you plan to be back. B.C. AventureSmart has a trip-planning app that can help people through this process. Training: Obtain the knowledge and skills you need before heading out, and know and stay within those limits. Taking the essentials: Often known as the 10 essentials, it's recommended to carry several items on every trip. This includes a flashlight (including spare batteries and a bulb); a fire-making kit with waterproof matches; a signalling device like a whistle or a mirror; extra food and water; extra clothing (rain, wind, water protection and a toque); navigation and communication aids with extra batteries or a backup battery; a first-aid kit; an emergency shelter tarp; a pocket knife; and sun protection, including glasses, sunscreen and a hat. B.C. AdventureSmart executive director Sandra Riches said it's also important to think about personal, seasonal and sport specific needs, as a snowmobiler will need to take different equipment than a rock climber to be safe on a trip. In an emergency, AdventureSmart advises people to follow the STOP acronym: Stop, think, observe, plan and then act, which highlights the importance of a 'survival attitude' based on planned actions rather than 'irrational behaviour based on fear.'
