GPS Tracking Saves a Hiker – My Story

By Jonathan Tipton

One of my favorite things to do in the early spring is go up to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park in the North-western section of Ontario. Sleeping Giant has many trails and is an amazing source for seeing wildlife up close. My story is about nature getting too close and how my GPS tracking device allowed me to survive. I have been going to “the Giant” for some years now, and I like to go off-trail to see what I can discover.

Two summers ago, what I found was a bear cub unattended. I stupidly thought this would make an ideal photo and began snapping away. The cub was happily playing alone across a clearing in the woods while I took my pictures. Unfortunately, I didn’t pay attention to the wind until I heard a bellowing roar from the other side and saw the mother bear charging at me. Have you ever heard the joke about how you only have to outrun your companions? Well, when you’re alone, you have to outrun the bear!

I fled for my life, running blindly away from the 700 lb. killing machine that was in hot pursuit. Zigzagging may be what is recommended by the experts, but I found that afternoon that it slows your escape and allows the bear to close the distance much too quickly. In my dash, I didn’t notice that I was coming close to the sheer cliffs until it was too late. I was forced into a skidding turn to avoid plunging over the edge, only to trip and fall into a deep fissure in the top of the cliff. This probably saved my life. I got banged up pretty badly from the fall, but wasn’t seriously hurt and the bear couldn’t get to me. She tried, she kept trying to swat at me for what seemed like an eternity until she gave up and returned to her baby.

I stayed stuck in my hole for a few hours, too afraid to move. But as the sun began to go down, I knew that I had to get out of the park or else I could freeze during the night. My escape had taken me a long way from where I was and I didn’t recognize any of the landmarks when I emerged. Luckily one of the things I always carry with me is a GPS tracking device. I like to use it with google maps to see where I have been in the park. I called the 1-800 number that came with the device and asked to speak to an operator. The young lady who came on the line was pleasant and very helpful.

I explained my predicament and asked if she would be able to use my GPS tracking device to help me navigate out of the woods. With her assistance I was able to determine my current location and began the slow process of finding my way to the ranger’s station. I don’t know what the standard procedure is in these situations, but she called ahead to the park wardens to inform them I was coming and promised to call me every 20 minutes to check on my progress. Her updates helped me to make course corrections and allowed me to get to the safety of the station in good time, without suffering through the cold night. My GPS tracking device was a lifesaver! For more informaiton about tracking devices, call Rocky Mountain Tracking at 888-242-0500.

Tags: emergency, help, running, safety