A 45-year-old man is lucky to be alive after spending two nights stranded in his vehicle on a logging road near Wells.
Wells RCMP warn travellers to stick to major travel routes and not blindly follow directions offered by GPS units and other computer mapping programs.
Shortly after noon Aug. 5, the 45-year-old man left Edmonton enroute to Lowhee Campground near Wells when he consulted a GPS unit and discovered an alternate route to his destination.
Instead of travelling by highway, the man took Purden Lake Road – a poorly maintained logging road which was not passable by the average vehicle.
Early that evening the man found his 2010 Hyundai Sante Fe high centered and stuck in a remote area not covered by cellular phone reception.
He slept in his vehicle overnight and was able to free his vehicle the following morning.
Realizing the road was not a passable route, the man turned around in an attempt to return to the highway. While turning around, the vehicle got stuck again leaving him once again stranded.
He then spent the next 24 hours hauling gravel from a nearby river which he used in attempts to provide traction to his wheels to free the vehicle. His efforts seemed futile and he began constructing an SOS sign in hopes a search was underway for him and his vehicle.
After spending two nights in his vehicle, stranded and without food, the man was located by a local hunting guide who happened upon him when he was in the area checking on remote hunting cabins. The man was reunited with his family Aug. 7, later in the evening.
RCMP would like to remind the public not to rely solely on GPS units and computer generated map programs to establish travel routes.
While alternate routes may be enticing in that they reportedly reduce travel time, too often, the suggested routes include roads that are not well maintained and are not recommended or passable for small vehicle traffic. These routes are remote and outside cellular phone service leaving travelers particularly vulnerable.
RCMP encourage travelers to ensure that they advise family or friends of their travel routes and anticipated arrival time so that police have a concentrated area to search in the event that they do not arrive at their destination. RCMP recommend that travelers consult a highway map and road signage and stick to major routes and highways which are well maintained and easily passable by all vehicle traffic.
