Google Maps corrects dangerous North Shore backcountry trail route

North Shore Rescue (NSR) says it is grateful Google Maps has corrected an “erroneous” trail that had some hikers wandering into a dangerous area of local mountains.

Search Manager Dave Barnett tells CityNews NSR was made aware that the tech giant had made the correction to a Mount Fromme trail Monday morning.

“Hopefully it will keep other people from wandering into that dangerous area and want to thank all the people that helped publicize this issue to get the change done,” he said.

While Mount Fromme has been the site of multiple rescues and even deaths, Barnett says it’s not “completely clear” whether the incorrect Google Maps directions were to blame in those cases. 

On Saturday, NSR rescued a hiker who was stuck on a cliff on the backside of Mount Fromme.

The second-most recent rescue from the area was in September, when a hiker called 911 after getting stuck on a cliff, telling operators, “he was hanging on and wasn’t sure how long he could hold on.” This hiker was rescued successfully. However, in May 2021, another person had gotten lost while in the same area, and was later found dead.

Barnett tells CityNews that the rescue service has been in communication with the tech giant in the last month or two, however, he says “all the activity over the weekend certainly helped as well.”