"Help Us"... Novice Hikers Underestimate 4,000m Trail, Ultimately Call for Rescue

Miscalculating Hiking Duration
Stranded Without Food or Water

Three novice hikers from the United States became stranded at an altitude of 4,000 meters on Mount Shasta after planning their hike solely based on advice from artificial intelligence (AI).

Mount Shasta, USA. Photo by AP Yonhap News

On September 4 (local time), ABC and other outlets reported that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) mountain rescue team had rescued three young hikers who became stranded after leaving the trail on Mount Shasta, California, on August 31. These individuals, who were beginner hikers, relied on the recommendations of Gemini, Google's AI model, to plan their hiking route and gather supplies for the trip.

Previously, on August 29, they set up a base camp at an altitude of 8,400 feet (about 2,560 meters) and set out for the summit at 3:00 a.m. the next day carrying only daypacks. They initially estimated it would take eight hours to reach the summit and departed at 3 a.m. Although they discussed turning back around 1 p.m., they decided to press on, and as novice hikers, they were only able to reach the peak after approximately 16 hours.

Having reached the summit at 7 p.m., they were forced to descend in the dark. To make matters worse, the hiking application they were using, AllTrails, became unusable after their phone batteries died. Ultimately, they left the official trail and became lost in the Mud Creek canyon. One of them injured his knee while trying to save battery on his headlamp by relying on the headlamps of the other two. With no warm clothing or emergency food, they were left to camp and wait for rescue.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office emphasized, "The climb they initially planned to take eight hours turned into a grueling ordeal lasting several days," cautioning that "you should never rely solely on AI to plan a trip." The office added, "If you get lost and enter dangerous terrain like Mud Creek, it can lead to serious accidents or even death," further warning against relying on devices such as mobile phones or GPS alone.

Experts advised, "Use reliable sources of information, carry paper maps and a compass, and establish and adhere to turnaround times." They also stressed that novice hikers should prepare adequate food, water, and warm clothing to be ready for unexpected situations, such as hiking at night.

Mount Shasta, a volcano with its last recorded eruption in 1786, stands at 14,179 feet (about 4,322 meters). The area is renowned for its waterfalls, wildflower meadows, and ski resorts. The rugged terrain requires thorough preparation for those intending to hike the mountain.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.