California hikers rescued from mountain after using AI route planner
A trio of hikers were rescued from a California mountain after using A.I. to plan their route.
The three men, each from Roseville, a city located in the Sacramento metropolitan area, were rescued on Monday after becoming stranded on Mount Shasta’s Clear Creek Route.
Upon being found by USFS Climbing Rangers, the men revealed that they had relied on Google’s Gemini A.I. to prepare for the trip.
“At the conclusion of the rescue, the men told a Sheriff’s Deputy on scene that they had relied heavily on Google’s Gemini AI to provide them with information about the route as well as what to pack for their trip,” the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The statement continued, “This was a critical misstep, as they were advised by Gemini to bring far less food and water than their group required, especially when their planned 8 hour (sic) ascent became a multi-day ordeal.”
The Independent has contacted Google for comment.
The group had initially made camp on Saturday before heading for the summit at about 3 am on Sunday. They reached the summit at 7 p.m. that evening, despite officials warning that hikers should turn back if they do not reach that top by midday.
While descending, the group contacted the sheriff’s office for help but eventually veered into Mud Creek Canyon, where they became stranded. Later that night, one of the hikers fell and suffered a knee injury.
Eventually, USFS Climbing Rangers found the group the next morning.
Located just 60 miles south of the Oregon border and standing at 14,179 feet, Mount Shasta is the fifth-highest peak in California.
According to the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center, the Clear Creek Route is the easiest way of reaching the summit. While climbing, hikers can see views of the Konwakiton Glacier and the Wintun Glacier, as well as Mud Creek Canyon.
The sheriff’s office warns that the route requires climbers to be “physically fit” and prepared for all weather conditions and a potential overnight stay.
“Serious accidents and fatalities occur on the Clear Creek route when individuals become lost and wander into more dangerous terrain, such as the Mud Creek drainage,” the office says. “It is always advisable to call the local USFS Mount Shasta Ranger station ahead of your trip to ensure you have the most accurate information, and to never rely solely on AI for your trip planning.”
The hikers’ rescue after using Google’s Gemini A.I. for their climb came just days before Google announced that it had announced a new partnership designed to show off examples of “surviving harsh environments with Gemini”.
