Earlier this week we wrote about RVers Ronnie and Bev Barker. The Indiana couple went missing, along with their motorhome, on a trip from Oregon to Arizona. As we posted, the couple were lost and stranded in the desert hills of Nevada. Since that initial post, more details have come into focus regarding the Barker’s tragic final trip together. Now it seems the couple’s GPS is taking some of the blame for the tragic outcome.
“SOS”
When searchers found the Barker’s motorhome on Tuesday, April 6, it was abandoned, stuck in the sand on a desert road. The family’s toad car, a Kia, was gone, presumably used by the couple after the motorhome got stuck. Searchers then worked on following the intermittent tracks left on the dusty roadway. After a couple of hours, they heard a car horn. It was signaling out “SOS.” The Barkers were found.
Beverly Barker was sitting in the front seat of the Kia, following some of the last instructions her husband, Ronnie, had given. With their cell phones out of range, he had told her to keep tooting the horn. Three short, three long, three short. Repeat.
GPS was their guide
Bev Barker was airlifted to a Reno hospital, and was able to physically recover in a fairly short time. She was able to speak to the details of their disastrous trip. On Sunday, March 27, they had been heading south out of Coaldale, Nevada, a small community on U.S. Highway 95. Their motorhome’s GPS was their guidance system, and neither Ronnie nor Bev had any qualms about following the instructions it gave. One post by a family member suggests that a setting on the GPS allowed for off-highway direction. His feeling was this was where the problem really set in.
The Barkers continued on following the GPS’ directions. After her rescue, Bev Barker commented that the couple had seen other vehicles, including at least one motorhome, and so felt comfortable with where they were headed. That is, apparently, until the motorhome got stranded in sand that night. With no cell service, Ronnie and Bev decided their best course of action was to get up on Monday, the next morning, disconnect the toad car, and use it to go find help to get the motorhome freed from the sand.
Agonizing days
On Monday, March 28, that’s exactly what the Barkers did. They got into the Kia and headed off down the road in what they hoped was the direction that would get them help. Instead, just about two miles from the motorhome, their toad car, too, got stuck in sand—and they were still out of cell phone range.
What followed were several agonizing days. Neither Ronnie nor Bev was in particularly good health. Ronnie was a cancer survivor, and both he and Bev were diabetics. They hadn’t thought to take blankets nor food or water with them when they left the motorhome. With temperatures in the 20s by night, it didn’t take long for Ronnie to fall seriously ill.
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Staving off the inevitable
The Barkers’ nephew, Travis Peters, related some of the details his aunt shared with him of the ordeal. His story was published as an interview by WTHR, a TV station in the Barker’s hometown of Indianapolis.
“As the days and the nights passed, my Uncle Ronnie told her he was dying. And she said, ‘I know.’ They knew it was dehydration,” Peters said. To try and stave off the seeming inevitable, Bev, who is limited to the use of a wheelchair or walker, managed to get out of the car and up a hillside. There, using bags, she was able to collect winter snow, bring it back to the car, and melt it for the two to share.
Sadly, despite the water from snow, time was getting the upper hand. Travis Peters relates, “All along, he would ask her to read the Bible and he finally passed away Monday.” Just two days later, rescuers heard Bev’s repeated SOS horn toots and found the couple, still together in their Kia.
A gofundme page has been established to help the family with expenses.
##RVT1047b
can i ask what brand was the gps that they had????
I don’t think it has been reported, William. If it does get reported, we’ll update our article. But I have a feeling it could have been any GPS, considering other instances of them directing people incorrectly. Such a tragedy. Take care. –Diane
You’re correct, that natural blonde that’s in every GPS only knows what some millennials have entered into the computer without verifying with a map if that route is feasible. A few years ago coming across the southern edge of MO we were directed to turn left in 2 miles. Wondering why I cautiously turned onto a county road turn from east to north. Finally finding a place to pull over I got the map, instead of going home to TN we were now heading toward St.Louis. Several miles later I found a recently combined wheat field to turn around in and got back on route under the protests of the blonde. After getting back on U.S.60 she shut up and continued on course the rest of the trip. Never put your trust in GPS, they’re a handy tool, but not the Bible of travel.
BTW – I’m a natural blonde, Bob. Just sayin’. –Diane
Every one of the 6 GPS units I have has a ‘gear’ icon for settings. I can choose shortest route, fastest route or avoid major highways among other user choices.
As someone already said … “Look in the mirror to see who is ultimately responsible.”
Why do you have to be so insulting?
My heart aches for this couple and their family.
We had a similar, yet much less tragic, experience. The worst we suffered was having to disconnect the toad and back out of a road that dead-ended in a lake. We use GPS still, but not exclusively. I keep current maps on board and navigate old-school.
My wife and I are “new” to Rv life, having only been involved for the past 4 years. Early on we used GPS, until we had a similar experience. Fortunately, our experience was not catastrophic, other than running out of gas within sight of a station. We were traveling through Mississippi following the GPS. We wound up in large Cotton Fields along the river, At no time did we pass another vehicle, a farmhouse or road signs. When the road became dirt, we got concerned, as darkness was unfolding. We are fine, nothing untoward happened, but we learned a valuable lesson. The GPS is not infallible, we carry a current Rand McNally now. One more point, no cell service in that part of Mississippi.
Unfortunately GPS manufacturers by default turn on settings that can have serious consequences as is the case here. A setting that allows for “Off-Road” installed in a motorhome is rediculous to say the least, the RV manufacturer should have specified to the GPS manufacturer to turn off by default certain settings or the RV manufacturer should have done it themselves. Settings by default should be ultra conservative and let the owner turn on settings that may allow for more adventure in driving. I hope the RV manufactuer and GPS manufacture get called on the carpet for this one. I run two well programmed GPS units when traveling and compare the directions to make sure one hasn’t lost it’s mind.
Unfortunately following GPS only can get u in real trouble. In most cases it gives you the shortest route which is not always the best. Anytime it takes me off a main highway I question what it tells me. Unfortunately they never should have left hwy 95 but I have no doubt Google maps would have taken them thru the desert on a dirt road jus to save a few miles. Very sad story… but an excellent example of GPS leading you to disaster.
Some friends of ours, about 10 years ago, were directed by their GPS down a single lane road..which became a dirt path. It ended at a barricade 20feet from the highway. Trees everywhere, so extemely difficult to turn around. He was able to back up the trailer, with great difficulty, until he could turn around. Back down the road they went. Sitting on a front porch was an older couple who waved and smiled. They must have enjoyed watching his antics.
I am old-school and love paper maps. Don’t own a GPS. Not likely to, especially after reading stories such as these.
To be clear, it’s not the “GPS” that got them into trouble, it’s the software/app that uses GPS that got them there. From personal experience I don’t trust any of the major routing software, Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps for an off-roading unless I’ve done some research on the area where I’m going.
I have a ham radio license and always have a decent transceiver and antenna when I travel. It will often get out, in places where there is no cell phone signal…
APRS can also be your friend. 2m/440 HT might help. HF is the cure,
A gps is a great tool but it has its limitations. Using one well is a learning experience and there is probably no one who hasn’t ended up in a less than ideal situation in a car or RV. A cell phone is another great tool but can’t always be depended on. When I was in Alaska I was out of cell phone range for 3 days. Since I started RV traveling 7 years ago I carry a satellite transmitter (Spot Gen3). If I ever got into a difficult situation out of cell phone range, I could always send out a signal that I needed help. It is set to lay a bread crumb every 5 minutes. My children could always follow my tracks and see where I was. It’s another tool to insure safe travels.
On a planned trip to an unknown area , my gps misbehaved
So i went in a local store and bought 2 new units
I wanted an extra one for my gf
Same brand
Same version
Both reset at the same time
At a traffic light
One said turn left
The other said turn right
I stopped
Reset both again
Put latest version
Started again , still the same
One would say left
The other said right
I returned both units and have always doubted these gizmos ever since
What a sad story, I was in the exact same location 3 years ago, using Garmin GPS. The signal for me also got confused, or lost. I knew which way to go from studying my route and followed my instincts. Since then, I now use only Google GPS with my phone connected to my RV receiver.
So sorry for the family.
How anyone can blame the GPS – what happened to common sense? We were riding motorcycles with another AF vet who followed a GPS to a dead end. I asked him why he ignored the real life sign that pointed to the highway we were looking for. The GPS is a picture, programmed by humans that are not perfect. Much of the software is programmed for city folks. And, cell phone service is available where enough folks will use it to pay the cost of structure support – that’s not remote areas. I’m a big fan of paper maps, even though they can get outdated and be wrong as well. That’s when you must make smart decisions – driving an RV with a towed vehicle to such a remote area? I was fortunate to have lived at 8,000 feet in a desert growing up. So I learned you don’t go anywhere without water and trail mix. The main problem is folks have been taught to expect someone to rescue them.
We were headed to Devil’s Tower, in Eastern Wyo. You get off I-90, and drive a few blocks to get to the turn off to go North, to drive to the Tower. There are HUGE BIG GREEN highway signs, RIGHT NEXT TO THE ROAD, in the small town of Moorcroft, telling tourists where to turn. Our teenager was using the directions off his phone. He was our “Navigator”. He missed the BIG GREEN SIGNS, cuz he was too busy looking at his phone. He asked me how I knew where to turn. I actually turned the car around to drive past the BIG GREEN SIGNS, so he could see what I had seen. It remains a family joke for us.
I love GPS-guided travel, especially on busier highways where I have enough to worry about without wondering how many more miles I have to get into the correct lane. But we *also* always use paper maps to maintain a bigger-picture view of where we are and how we want to get somewhere else. A satellite communication/SOS device like a Zoleo, Spot, or InReach isn’t a bad idea, either, but they, too, are electronic devices subject to error, from programming mistakes to dead batteries. Which is why the crux of this tragedy has nothing to do with GPS or any other gadget. It is this: “They hadn’t thought to take blankets nor food or water with them.” Have that thought, folks. Every time.
+1 on having paper road maps plus more detailed Print-outs from Google maps of various sections of your route. I love my GPS but I always compare the voice instructions to my desired route on paper! The maps used by GPS have LOTs of errors. I’ve reported several and it took months to get fixed.
How terribly sad. I know there are lessons to be learned from this, but a couple in their golden years just wanting to be together and see some of our beautiful country but instead experienced this terrible tragedy.
Sad story to be sure, but why does no one regardless of age look in the mirror to see who is really to blame?
I use an RV GPS, a truck GPS, Google maps, and a Trucker road atlas. I always use at least two to verify instructions for where we go, but ultimately if I make a wrong turn, only I am accountable.
This is certainly not to diminish the tragedy that unfolded, but there are options to prevent this from happening to you.
Let the haters begin their comments on my thoughts!
I have had trouble with my Garmin RV660 trying to run us through a one way bridge from Niagara falls, had just been updated before the trip (2 days ) so I have very little trust in them.
So very sad and so needless. For such tech savvy Seniors, it’s surprising they didn’t have an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). It would have had emergency responders at their site within hours. If you want to be sure you can get help if you still get lost and/or injured with no cell signal, get an EPIRB. It’s satellite based. All you need is a view to the sky. Summons EMS anywhere in N. America. Most also let you send/receive text updates with your contacts. Many options are available including Garmin, Zoleo, ACR and others.
Yes, there is usually a subscription fee, but some offer the option to suspend service while remaining activated. How much is your life worth?
Great to know!
I was just looking at a ‘findmespot’, and the “Gen 4 GPS Messenger” is definitely going on my X-Mas shopping list! Even on the Interstate, it’s always good to have a backup plan.
Thank you. I just added the ZOLEO EPIRB to my Amazon wish list. I’ll review the specs later but it seems like a good deal. Suscription starts at $20/month, and you can suspend service and pay only $4/month. Good for someone like me who only gets out once a year.
Our very first trip (before our Garmin) with our rig had us on narrow river levies because android auto had mysteriously set itself to “avoid highways”. There is no real time indication of the setting. It would be pretty difficult to accidently enable that setting. We think it must have happened during an update. BTW – Garmin has to be regularly updated (sometimes it takes hours) or it becomes inaccurate.
What is a GPS but a large database full of numbers from which it constructs a map. I can’t imagine the kind of program that can convert all those numbers into directions from Point A to Point B. The fact that it manages to do it most of the time amazes me. The fact that it gets it wrong occasionally should be no surprise at all. It never hurts to double-check once in a while.
Sad, what a tragedy. Those GPS’s can get you in trouble sometimes. Always take a bug out bag when you leave the main quarters in terrain like that.
I am not a huge fan of GPS. Especially, setting a destination and then just following it. I try to look at my route, on the computer, using Google Maps, so I know the general route and directions. I’ve always been very good with maps and directions, almost a second sense for it. Then if I am driving and following the GPS, as least I have an idea if it may be sending me astray. When I don’t take the time to do that, is when I have had problems.
This is the key. Put your destination into your Garmin, Waze, or Google maps etc. then look at the route it has created. Make sure it makes sense and does not have you going down any questionable routes.
Double/triple check directions when going anywhere new, even well established RV parks. Just bought new Garmin to replace Rand McNally that isn’t updating their “Lifetime” maps anymore. Used both. Since we were traveling same winter route we always travel (CA to FL) it was interesting to see disparity between the 2. Took a page of notes on the Garmin that I need to send to them. Turning exits before needed. Turning left instead of right. There were more. The RM was more accurate than the Garmin except in one instance. On the way home had reservations at a new to us campground in Louisiana. It was 5 miles off interstate & went through farm areas w/lots of turns. Garmin was perfect. RM totally confused. However, we needed to visit a CAT service/parts dealer. Since it was so good at getting us to the RV park we took it with us. We had a nice tour of a number of towns in the Lafayette area. Ridiculous. Once we find the CAT place realize we were just a few miles from I-10.
Such a sad story. As has happened to others, our GPS set itself to “Avoid Highways” when we were traveling through western Wyoming. Neither one of us were really paying attention, we just followed the verbal GPS directions. Then it started directing us to dirt roads which I knew was wrong. Eventually we found a truck stop and asked directions. We added at least an hour to our trip. I now take a map with us.
When avoiding any type of dirt road, should we have it set to avoid highways?
Or use highways?
I don’t have GPS nor have plans to ever get it. I know too many people, including RVers that it takes down dead end roads or way out of the way. Give me my paper map. If I need more details I can google to get them.
Same here! I was driving my granddaughter and a friend to a volleyball meet, and my granddaughter held up my map and asked her friend if she knew what it was. They had a good laugh! My son’s GPS got me so lost in Boston (the city is laid out crazy from pioneer days) that I vowed I would never rely on one. I still print out paper directions. Works for me because I know I can trust myself!
You can only Google if you have coverage. As we age, our rule is no dirt roads. Period. We will turn around and go down the road a ways, or take a longer route, to avoid off-roading.
Actually you can download offline maps so that it can be used without having cell or Wifi service.
Fish Lake Valley (Dyer, Nv) is to the west of the rescue site. Highways 6 runs east from the California border to Coaldale Junction and 95 from Fernley south to Tonopah, Lida Junction and Beatty/Las Vegas. I studied the back roads and *4×4 tracks* on caltopo.com to understand why their GPS would have put them at the rescue location the relative reported on the news:
…… “Red Mountain” Nevada
…… 37.757753, -117.809568
caltopo.com actually shows that location at the west base of “Silver Peak” (the mountain), which is about 5 “road” miles south of Cave Spring / Coyote Road, which runs between Fisk Lake Valley Hot Wells, a popular, free hot spring to the west, and the TOWN of “Silver Peak” to the east.
There is probably very limited or no cell signals in most of the area, away from paved roads, except MAYBE from peaks or high passes.
One horrifying possibility is that the GPS confused “Silver Peak” (the mountain) with “Silver Peak” (the town), about 10 miles apart.
The “GPS” isn’t anymore to blame than a paper map that someone looks up upside down and goes the wrong way. There seems to be something strange about this story, leaving a major highway in the remote Nevada desert for unknown backroads, dirt roads and then 4×4 type jeep trails is very strange, IMO.
The road from Coaldale Junction to Fish Lake Valley (the Hot Wells and Dyer area) might have a few RVs, but I have a hard time imagining many RVs on the Cave Spring / Coyote Road (presumably dirt BLM road) that goes over an extremely remote mountain plateau and Coyote Pass to the east.
Turning off a dirt road like that onto what are presumably 4×4 jeep trails that led to the rescue location is even more incomprehensible.
caltopo.com (and google satellite maps) does show one or more 4×4/jeep trail connections to McAfee road to the south. McAfee road is probably a standard desert dirt road, not a 4×4 track/jeep trail, but I’m just guessing. It eventually leads south and east to Oasis Divide
If they had made it to McAfee road and then to “Silver Peak – Oasis Divide” road, turning left would go north to the town of Silver Peak and a paved road to 95 south of Tonopah.
Turning right from McAfee road onto “Silver Peak – Oasis Divide” road leads south/SW to what appears to be “State Line” road and highway 266, but there are several other remote dirt roads that split away from “Silver Peak – Oasis Divide” road and go a little more east to the “town” of Lida or to Railroad Pass/Railroad Springs (also highway 266).
I, too, have been in the same location where these folks made a bad decision based on their GPS navigator. US 95 was temporarily closed to repair earthquake damage and we were sent to Rt. 6 for a detour. We never found another detour sign to direct us back to 95, but our GPS wanted us to make a turn that looked sketchy to me. I decided we would just continue on to Bishop and take 395 north. All was well. Yesterday we were discussing this couple’s misadventures and I insisted the same could happen to us, because I do massive research before we travel, but then depend on GPS for turn by turn directions. Sure enough, on our way to a campground we had never been to before, we followed directions down a road that turned into dirt, and our “navigator” said we had arrived when we were in the middle of nowhere. It’s not easy turning a 41′ 5th wheel around, but we found an off road trail we could barely back into, got ourselves turned around, and found the campground using a different GPS.
My husband can’t seem to live without his GPS. I use my iPhone and Google (before and during the trip). Usually I print out the directions or at least take a photo on my phone of the computer screen (in case I have no cell coverage, I can still see files).
We have on numerous occasions been sent in the wrong direction. Settings are different on our car vs. RV units (and even different brand GPS). As we get older, those things can be confusing.
While we still want to travel, we no longer take long trips alone. We travel in pairs. Sometimes one will venture off to see something not of interest to the other, but we always meet up for dinner or at the camp site and keep in touch so that if something happens, we have a head start at locating one another or can send help.
Having had several on-the-road medical emergencies as well, it is reassuring to know someone has your back.
An ounce of prevention saves 98 metric tons of cure. Always, and I can’t stress this enough, A-L-W-A-Y-S use Google Street View/Earth to double check a new route you are taking. When I first took US 93/SR318 from Twin Falls, ID to Vegas in 2016, I spent an hour clicking my way along that stretch, seeing the rise, fall and turns in the terrain.
Ironically, on a reverse route trip last month, RV Life Pro sent us the ‘long way’ through Caliente along US93 to Ely, bypassing SR318. We had cell coverage the whole way, mostly 5G, but our data service for Waze was garbage.
You should also go over the route with everyone who drives. My mistake on this last trip was not verifying what turns to make with the wife, as if we had a paper map or AAA ‘Trip-Tik’. This incident definitely makes me glad I have a Jeep as a ‘toad’, but I’m now going to put together a ‘go-bag’ for it, in case of emergencies for when we go on long trips. I don’t want to become a cautionary tale!
Unfortunately street view doesn’t allow you to see the signs, such as “no trucks/RVs/propane allowed”. Do you think RV Life Pro sent you that way because of a restriction on the way you went that you were unaware of? (Doesn’t seem possible, but asking because I am trying to find the most reliable GPS for RVs…)
About 10 years ago, I followed the directions of a GPS, which caused me to end up in a blizzard, at night, on one of the most treacherous mountain passes in Oregon, with no place to turn around. I had to drive by observing the magenta line on the GPS monitor because I could barely see the road.
Needless to say, I will never put 100% confidence in a GPS again, and will utilize a good old-fashioned map in addition to the GPS before venturing into unfamiliar territory. It’s important to be mindful of GPS limitations, and make sure you know your route before heading out. Getting input from other RV’ers is a valuable resource as well.
It is truly sad what happened to those folks. I think every one of us has made mistakes from time to time and I do not find fault with them. All gps units should be equipped with a lock out control on certain features like “avoid highways” or “avoid tolls” that might take people off main roads.
We belong to AAA and carry maps of any area we intend to travel. We stick to paved highways and would never allow any gps to send us off pavement. And if we can’t see the pavement on a main highway (ie. snow), we have no business being there in the first place imo.
Our newest truck came equipped with garmin in the dash. But, because we can’t speak to it, we find it inconvenient for navigation, though it displays a very usable map. Consequently, we use google maps from our phones for navigation via android auto cast onto our screen. Yes, you have to pay attention to where you are going and verify if turn instructions don’t look quite right.
Google maps and other forms of finding your way are useless when in an rv or towing a travel trailer. They don’t indicate roads with low bridges, or where RVs or propane are not allowed, like tunnels (or the wrong directions … ended up on snowmobile track and needless side trips that came right back out on the main road I was on originally) etc. I found that out on a trip to NY city! There is a tunnel that goes from Chincoteague to Virginia that I have checked out that says RVs and propane are ok so long as the propane is turned off. I hope that is correct as otherwise I will have to backtrack quite a distance to be able to get to SC. I am plotting out the trip using Google maps on my computer, then using the trucker’s map book to check the routes it is sending me on…I already see something labelled “Parkway” – with NO NAME – so I have to assume that it is like other parkways that don’t allow RVs. I always check a map before trip even in my car.
In the 50’s parkways were built so drivers could drive down a long peaceful road lined with trees. Cars were not as numerous and after the WWII and Korean conflict, people were still accustomed to not driving but walking and public transportation due to gas rationing during the conflict times. But as families grew in populated areas, the parkways and other main roads became glutted with vehicles during morning and afternoon rush traffic hours, The beltways (main roads around cities) were built to reduce through traffic (and traffic jams) through the cities, However, they are clogged even longer during the day due to the higher volume of vehicles.
Lots of interest in this topic, for obvious reasons. Maybe someone on the RV Travel staff could research & review “locator” systems and publish it in a future issue.
Hi, Diane. Here’s a link to an article Dave Helgeson wrote about this topic last summer: “Camper’s death could have been prevented with a satellite messenger. Don’t let it happen to you!” https://www.rvtravel.com/campers-death-prevented-satellite-messenger-save-life/ Dave not only writes for us, and runs some of the local RV shows (like the Seattle RV Show), but he’s also a very longtime boondocker as well as a member of the local search and rescue. So this is some good information from him. Take care. 🙂 –(another) Diane
Thank you. Should have known & done a search🙄
You’re welcome, Diane. I had thought about putting a link in the article but changed my mind because I didn’t think it was appropriate. Such a very tragic story. But I think responding to a comment about it is ok, so thank you. Have a good night. 🙂 –Diane
It’s not totally the GPS. I have been 4 wheeling since the 1990’s (before GPS). The maps I used a lot of times would indicate a drivable road and I would see non 4 wheel vehicles driving on the road which at the beginning said 4 wheel drive or high clearance recommended. People would say the map indicated it was drivable. I have even written some of the mapping companies about the particular roads. They are city folks who live in an office building looking at satellite pictures and digitizing roads in to maps. They do not get them right all the time. Even now I still get sent off on some wierd roads even if I am not looking for a 4 wheel drive road following the GPS/maps in my truck. Since I have 4 wheel drive (and lifted truck) I can get back out (or go enjoy). do not trust hard maps or GPS drawn maps (even forest maps can be wrong)
Gps told me make sharp right which was on a bridge
Over a gorge with a river nope stop listening to it and got out the atlas map. Book.
Bless their hearts. I think at sometime it doesn’t matter the age or the knowledge of driving a RV, car, truck etc.. I clearly do not see this couple with so many health issues driving. This could have been avoided. Be thankful that they didn’t have a accident involving other people. We bought into an over 50 RV park in Southfork Colorado years ago, and we were watching this 80 year old man park his 40 plus foot class A and he did a great job. Once he got out he could barely walk, talk, or stand up. And I asked him where did you drive in from today and he said San Antonio, Texas. End of story.
Didn’t read ALL the comments, but if no one else mentioned it: you can dial 911 on your cell phone even if you have no service! we are guides with an atv jamboree in Utah and have actually used this to summon emergency help out in the boondocks (accident. required Life Flight) where there was NO cell service!
Not quite true. If you truly have no coverage, then no, a 911 call will not go through. What does work is if you have, say, T-Mobile, and there is no T-Mobile coverage but their is AT&T coverage, then yes, you should be able to make an emergency / 911 call using AT&T even through you don’t have service with AT&T. Here is a more detailed explanation: https://www.scienceabc.com/innovation/how-can-mobile-phones-make-emergency-calls-when-theres-no-network-coverage.html
If you do not have an active service plan this is true. They were in an area where there was no cell signal. It is impossible to make any type of call under those conditions.
If there is no signal that means no connection so no 911. There are items for hiking with a 911 for emergencies. There are hand held direction finders that have an emergency frequency with monthly fees. I believe they are satellite.
In my first experience with a GPS, it mapped out a route that added about 250 extra miles to our destination. I do just fine using a paper map. GPS frisbee anyone?
A satellite communicator could have saved his life. My Garmin inReach goes with me on all trips.
What a horrible tragedy. I had used the Google maps for years until one day suddenly it changed. I did not change anything on the app. What should have been a 25 minute turnpike drive took was out of the way not even using the turnpike that was the easiest way. It directed me so far out of the way through neighborhoods that I have never been through it was just crazy. That simple trip took me well over an hour out of my way. I did nothing to change anything in the app. I now use WAZE and would not change that for anything. It is easy and precise. However, things can happen and once I did go to the wrong address. Still can’t figure that one out.
So sorry for that couple. But if I was taken to dirt-sandy roads I would have turned around.
Apple Maps also messed me up one day so I guess none of these direction finders are 100%.
Such a heartbreaking tragedy. Prayers to the family.
All GPS are computer / chip / memory based. Before leaving on a trip: clear memory, clear history, reboot to refresh phones, tablets, laptops, Garmins, etc, etc. Mapping uses up resources like crazy and will become unreliable. If you’re traveling into remote areas or along the Mexico border, take a satellite phone or messaging device with you. Let people know your planned route. Ask about areas on RV / Travel forums to get experienced advice. Call State Police ahead of time to inquire about areas (like along the Mexico border).