Post by Jon on Nov 23, 2009 15:36:09 GMT -8
Folks - heres a gentle reminder to be careful when following the GPS. Your GPS is a tool that should never be trusted completely. It does not know snow levels or your vehicles capability.
www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_13841750
Alabama couple rescued from dangerous Ore. road
The Associated Press
Posted: 11/21/2009 03:01:15 PM PST
Updated: 11/21/2009 03:30:18 PM PST
GRANTS PASS, Ore.—An Alabama couple following directions from a GPS device got stuck and were rescued from the snowy, mountainous back road where a San Francisco man got lost and died in 2006, authorities say.
The Curry County sheriff's office says Charles and Karen Hill of Florence, Ala., didn't know what conditions lay ahead when they tried to take the narrow, twisty Bear Camp road through the Coast Range of Southern Oregon.
When the Hills got stuck Thursday in their two-wheel-drive pickup truck, they used a cell phone to call for help. Rescuers got to them about three hours later on four-wheel-drive vehicles and snowmobiles, the sheriff's office said.
In December 2006, James Kim died of hypothermia after getting stuck in a storm and trying to walk for help. His wife and two daughters stayed with the vehicle and were later rescued.
He was attempting to drive from Interstate 5 west to the Oregon coast. The Hills were driving east from coastal U.S. 101 to get to the interstate, the sheriff's office said.
At least 30 other people have gotten lost or stranded in the past 15 years on the twisty, narrow road. A Montana man died in 1994 after being stranded for several weeks.
After Kim's death, the state put up more signs and kiosks to give warnings and information. Federal agencies advise against using it in the winter.
The rescue of the Hills was at least the second of the year.
In April, a woman and her border collie were rescued after her car got stuck in snow. Deputies say the women stayed overnight in her car and then hiked seven miles to get within cell phone range to call for help.
www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_13841750
Alabama couple rescued from dangerous Ore. road
The Associated Press
Posted: 11/21/2009 03:01:15 PM PST
Updated: 11/21/2009 03:30:18 PM PST
GRANTS PASS, Ore.—An Alabama couple following directions from a GPS device got stuck and were rescued from the snowy, mountainous back road where a San Francisco man got lost and died in 2006, authorities say.
The Curry County sheriff's office says Charles and Karen Hill of Florence, Ala., didn't know what conditions lay ahead when they tried to take the narrow, twisty Bear Camp road through the Coast Range of Southern Oregon.
When the Hills got stuck Thursday in their two-wheel-drive pickup truck, they used a cell phone to call for help. Rescuers got to them about three hours later on four-wheel-drive vehicles and snowmobiles, the sheriff's office said.
In December 2006, James Kim died of hypothermia after getting stuck in a storm and trying to walk for help. His wife and two daughters stayed with the vehicle and were later rescued.
He was attempting to drive from Interstate 5 west to the Oregon coast. The Hills were driving east from coastal U.S. 101 to get to the interstate, the sheriff's office said.
At least 30 other people have gotten lost or stranded in the past 15 years on the twisty, narrow road. A Montana man died in 1994 after being stranded for several weeks.
After Kim's death, the state put up more signs and kiosks to give warnings and information. Federal agencies advise against using it in the winter.
The rescue of the Hills was at least the second of the year.
In April, a woman and her border collie were rescued after her car got stuck in snow. Deputies say the women stayed overnight in her car and then hiked seven miles to get within cell phone range to call for help.