Google Maps ‘routes’ could guide hillwalkers into potentially fatal terrain – mountaineering experts warn
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MOUNTAINEERING experts are warning people against trying to follow potentially fatal online routes on the UK’s highest mountain and other popular Munros.
The John Muir Trust, which looks after the upper reaches of Ben Nevis, is concerned over a rising number of visitors using Google Maps to direct them to a route up Ben Nevis.
Depending on how someone searches for the route, Google Maps may direct them to the car park nearest the summit as the crow flies, indicating a route described by experts as "highly dangerous, even for experienced climbers".
John Muir Trust Nevis conservation officer Nathan Berrie said: "The problem is that Google Maps directs some visitors to the Upper Falls car park, presumably because it is the closest car park to the summit. But this is not the correct route and we often come across groups of inexperienced walkers heading towards Steall Falls or up the south slopes of Ben Nevis believing it is the route to the summit."
Heather Morning, Mountaineering Scotland’s mountain safety adviser, said: "For those new to hillwalking, it would seem perfectly logical to check out Google Maps for information on how to get to your chosen mountain. But when you input Ben Nevis and click on the 'car' icon, up pops a map of your route, taking you to the car park at the head of Glen Nevis, followed by a dotted line appearing to show a route to the summit.
"Even the most experienced mountaineer would have difficulty following this route. The line goes through very steep, rocky and pathless terrain where even in good visibility it would be challenging to find a safe line. Add in low cloud and rain and the suggested Google line is potentially fatal."
The trust says many other popular Munros have fallen foul of the same, likely computer-generated, line luring the unwary into life-threatening terrain. For An Teallach in the north-west, a "walking" route was input into the search engine and the line offered would take people over a cliff.
Heather added: "It’s all too easy these days to assume that information on the internet is all good stuff, correct, up to date and safe. Sadly, experience shows this is not the case and there have been a number of incidents recently where following routes downloaded off the internet have resulted in injury or worse.
"Modern navigation technology brings some amazing advantages for hillwalkers, but this example is clearly not one of them. Walkers and climbers with even a little experience will know to read information from a map, whether digital or paper, and if they are looking for downloadable routes know to use reputable sources and check several sources to ensure the information they are accessing is the right route for their level of experience and ability.
"But, especially on Ben Nevis, many people are not aware of where to get reliable information and may quite naturally assume that Google Maps, which got them from their home to the foot of the mountain, can carry on and do the job right to the top. This is not the case."
Mountaineering Scotland and the John Muir Trust are appealing to Google to consult with them to remove the routes.
They advise anyone thinking of walking Ben Nevis, or any other mountain or hill, to cross-check information on a map or consult a local guide.
