Two hikers in Wales required urgent rescue last week after mistaking Strava’s heat trail map for a footpath. On November 18, a father and son duo were hiking the 3,261ft Glyder Fach Mountain in Eryri National Park, , when they attempted to follow the heat trail map back down. Realizing the error of their ways, the pair called for help, and a team from the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organization was quickly dispatched.
Braving heavy snowfall and temperatures down to 16°F (-9°C), three rescuers ascended the mountain to aid the stranded pair. “After supplying warm clothing and some fresh head torches, they were led back up to the summit, and then confidence-roped down Bristley Screes to Bwlch Tryfan,” the OVMRO offers hikers a visual representation of ground covered. It can be used to display how far you’ve traveled personally or offer a glimpse at the well-worn routes of other users.
While the heat maps function can be used to trace your steps, it's not an accurate depiction of footpaths or official walking routes. The function is also prone to issues that affect its usefulness as a navigation aid, such as disappearing when users are offline. While mobile phones may sometimes suffice, especially if you have an iPhone with the , specialist GPS devices like the are the safer choice for mountain .
Typically durable with long-lasting battery lives, these devices aren’t reliant on phone signals and can be used to call for help in the case of an emergency. At the same t.
