http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/ Engadget Comments for GPS leads couple into Oregon wilderness, snow and lack of common sense keep them there 3 days http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
there's a map for that]]>Dec 29th 2009 5:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 5:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
Simple, if you read the source article. They were driving in a snowy area and it just so happens that they got stuck in the snow and couldn't move for about 3 days. They weren't driving the 3 days like what Vladislav mistakenly says in his blog post. Of course, the couple could have planned ahead about what routes to take since the fastest route isn't always the safest.]]>Dec 29th 2009 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
Have a spotty GPS connection?

There's an idiot for that.]]>Dec 29th 2009 6:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/With Navigon's technology, everything is possible!
(I know, I own one!!!)]]>Dec 29th 2009 9:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 5:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 5:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/no. this is a feature of e-911. you know when you call 911 from your cell phone and it goes into "emergency" mode. ]]>Dec 29th 2009 5:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 5:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
The phone's GPS is what saved them apparently, as well as packing properly for winter travel with enough water, food, and warm clothing. I mean, read the article, Vladislav.]]>Dec 29th 2009 5:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 5:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/yes. people do trust their devices without second thought. and it's people like you that cant seem to realize what a problem that is. there was no need for emergency services to be dispatched for something that could have been avoided with just a little bit of independent thinking. ]]>Dec 29th 2009 5:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
Sure, this story is getting a little old, but that does not mean they're wrong in calling these people morons. Mr. Rhoads was not stupid for trusting his GPS, he was stupid for not being able to figure out when the thing has led him astray and remedy the situation. I can understand a couple hours lost due to inaccurate maps, but three days? Come on. That's pathetic.]]>Dec 29th 2009 7:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
"While traveling through Eastern Oregon last week, John Rhoads and Starry Bush-Rhoads became lost after a cell phone equipped with a GPS told them to turn off the highway and onto a forest service road"

Not a SUV GPS but a cellphone GPS.....No that it matters...but maybe they had trouble reading too.

]]>Dec 29th 2009 9:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 11:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 5:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 5:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yyKrS8jwSY]]>Dec 29th 2009 5:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 6:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
Last time I checked, Nevada is EAST of California and Oregon is NORTH of California. If you're heading north and you don't realize you're in Oregon, then you probably need to go back to school to learn some geography or how to know which way is north, east, west, and south.]]>Dec 29th 2009 5:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 7:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 7:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 7:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
Wow, did you really think that was okay to write? I honestly don't get some of these posters. I understand this is an AOL affiliate, but the level of ignorance is just astounding. Especially when it's wrapped in a tarp of indignation.]]>Dec 29th 2009 7:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 7:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
GPSSY: LOST IN THE FOREST III

Wow, that was inappropriate.

But I'm still gonna hit submit.]]>Dec 29th 2009 8:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 7:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
No one here is claiming they're perfect. But I'm hoping that most would realize after the first couple hours that something isn't quite going the way it should and maybe try to get back to civilization.... instead of being lost for 3 straight days in the wrong direction.]]>Dec 29th 2009 9:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
Does the part about them getting STUCK mean anything to anyone?

"In the town of Silver Lake, the unit told them to turn right on Forest Service Road 28, and they followed that and some spur roads nearly 35 miles before getting stuck in about 1 1/2 feet of snow near Thompson Reservoir, the sheriff said."

They were stuck, not driving around, for 3 days. I would say their only mistake was perhaps not seeking an alternate route that lead through areas where there are towns and paved roads,. But I don't know all the details and I will not judge. Perhaps that WAS the only way to get where they were going. Being unfamiliar with the area, why wouldn't they rely on their GPS?]]>Dec 29th 2009 9:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
- The couple was in Portland, Oregon and plotted a course home to Nevada.
- The GPS was connecting them to another major interstate via some farm roads and spur roads.
- They only drove 35 miles on the small roads and and got stuck in snow.
- They had no cell phone signal
- After 2 days they finally RECEIVED a weak signal that allowed them to call out for help (using two different phones) and send their coordnates to emergency personnel.
- They were stuck in the snow for 2.5 days before rescuers pulled their vehicle out with a wench.

I think the engadget author is exaggerating any mistakes by the couple.]]>Dec 29th 2009 7:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
Agreed. I'm not sure what the terrain looked like but I'm sure it's not like they were driving through a place that looked like NYC then turned left into a forest and drove around for 3 days. And when they were driving, I'm sure they felt a bit uneasy but pressed forward in hopes of seeing some sign of civilization.

They're obviously using GPS because they have no idea where they're going. I would sooner trust a GPS than my absolute dearth of knowledge in this regard.]]>Dec 29th 2009 8:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
The author overlooked the part about them being actually STUCK in snow, in favor of slanting the article.]]>Dec 29th 2009 8:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
I hope you meant "winch". I don't think the wife would have been very happy with a wench showing up. LOL]]>Dec 29th 2009 8:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
Chris, are you suggesting that Starry Bush is a woman of ill repute or are you just not sure about how to spell winch?]]>Dec 29th 2009 8:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Agreed. This Engadget article is terrible. The statements made in the article are not factual, and clearly misrepresented to make for better reading. If that is the case, I can make up some great stories too...

"At what point in the next three days of plowing deeper and deeper into snow-covered Oregon do you start suspecting that maybe something is amiss?"

They were stuck in the snow, not driving through it for days on end.]]>Dec 29th 2009 10:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 8:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Recently I bought a large paper, folding map of my state as backup. Yes, these people were foolish. But, can you imagine the conversation in their car? Wife: Honey, I think this is not the right turn.
Husband: Trust the GPS, dear.
Wife: Honey? Do you remember last time when it took us an hour to get back on the road?
and so on............

But, as a warning, yoru cell phone and GPS are all transmitting you location constantly back to an underground bunker in Langley Virginia. THEY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE at all times.]]>Dec 29th 2009 8:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 9:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 9:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
Before making a long drive in an unfamiliar area you should always look at a paper map to get a general idea of the route. Many GPS systems will pull you off the nice safe interstate and put you on a dirt road through the mountains because the route is two miles shorter.]]>Dec 29th 2009 9:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
Hm.. what does this make you?? im not sure what are you trying to tell us? im confused :)

just like someone saying oh my bf/gf is stupid....im like okie.then you are way .....S .....Per

alrite love me dont hate me hehe]]>Dec 29th 2009 9:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/On a positive note, it appears that the couple was at least prepared for the conditions. It was reported that they had blankets, food, and other emergency supplies in the vehicle. So, they might have been a bit dumb, but not stupid.

]]>Dec 29th 2009 10:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 29th 2009 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/sorry to jack this threat ]]>Dec 29th 2009 9:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 30th 2009 12:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
We have taken a side trip on a rocky and tiny desert road with a cliff, a summer road with a small bridge in the winter with 2 feet of snow, and small dark streets that nobody ever uses. In all cases the GPS thought it would be faster to get off the main road and take a shortcut, none of which were faster by the way.

We have had times when the GPS POI catalog was just bogus, taking us to wrong places.

I am now very wary of GPS in general, others should be too.]]>Dec 30th 2009 12:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 30th 2009 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 30th 2009 12:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/Dec 31st 2009 4:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/gps-leads-couple-into-oregon-wilderness-lack-of-common-sense-ke/
They clearly stated in interviews that they saw an old unkept road on the maps and decided that it was a more direct route to their destination and thus took it. Most everyone, one would think, would second guess that decision based on the snow storm, the size of the road, the fact that they were not near substantial cities and not take that road. It was not the fault of the technology, but human error.

GPS is there to assist a driver, not be their brain and logic center. I worked for the world leader of GPS technology for five years and some of the stories of morons that came in were just mind blowing; people clearly seeing that the road ended at the entrance of a lake yet kept driving, people almost following a route off a road, pilots flying in restricted airspace because they weren't using an aviation unit, etc. There are certainly errors in mapping and all mapping companies will admit that-- there is no perfect map-- but most accidents and mistakes are made by the person using the device, not the manufacturer or cartographer. Just my two cents.]]>Feb 10th 2010 10:05AM