A group of hikers were cold and embarrassed but otherwise unharmed after getting lost on the trails at Harold Town Conservation Area for over two hours on Tuesday night (January 13).
Just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to the popular conservation area off Old Norwood Road, which is operated by Otonabee Conservation and features about 10 kilometres of wooded trails for hiking and cycling.
Police said the group had decided to take a visiting friend for a hike but, after being dropped off by a ride-share service, they quickly became disoriented on the trails and were unable to find their way back to the trailhead.
Officers who arrived on scene were able to contact the caller by phone, who said they could hear the police sirens but couldn’t determine what direction the sirens were coming from. Police then instructed the caller to use the What3words mobile application, which allowed officers to obtain precise coordinates for their location.
Members of the OPP Emergency Response Team and canine unit were also dispatched, but prior to their arrival, the hikers managed to emerge from the woods on their own at around 9:15 p.m. Police said the hikers were not dressed appropriately for the winter weather, including wearing running shoes instead of winter boots.
“EMS was on scene and assessed everyone who, other than being cold and embarrassed, were in good health,” reads a police media release.
The OPP is advising trail users to be prepared when hiking in wooded areas, and to avoid hiking at night on unfamiliar trails as it is easy to become disoriented in wooded areas.
Police also recommend wearing appropriate clothing and footwear, carrying a fully charged cellphone, bringing items such as water and a flashlight, and downloading the What3words app ahead of time in case navigation assistance is needed.
What3words is a global addressing system that divides the world into three-metre squares, assigning each square a unique and easy-to-remember three-word address, which is converted into latitude and longitude coordinates that first responders can use to respond in emergencies. The free app for iPhone and Android devices works offline, making it useful in areas with poor data connections.
