By Rajwa Quasim
Recently, an AI-planned hiking trip left three novice hikers stranded overnight after they became lost on a mountain. The incident occurred when three hikers from Roseville, California, attempted to climb Mount Shasta using an itinerary provided by Google Gemini. The incident has sparked debate over the use of AI for safety-critical outdoor activities.
The three men set out to climb Mount Shasta using the Clear Creek Route recommended by Gemini on Aug. 29, expecting the climb to take around eight hours. They reached a campsite at roughly 8,400 feet. The real journey began the next day at 3 a.m. local time, when the trio set off for the summit.
Although the group did not reach the summit, its decision to begin the descent came much later than the recommended turnaround time. The hikers started heading down at around 7 p.m. on Aug. 30, while the actual recommended turnaround time was noon. Things became more difficult from there.
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As darkness approached, the group faced a difficult descent with limited supplies of food and water. One of the hikers also injured his knee. About an hour after beginning their descent, the hikers contacted the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office. They subsequently moved off their intended route and entered the Mud Creek Canyon area, which has much more difficult terrain. The hikers spent the night in a steep drainage area at around 11,000 feet.
U.S. Forest Service climbing rangers reached the group at around 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 31. They treated the injured climber and provided the group with food and water before assisting them with their descent.
According to officials, the descent was not simple. Strong winds prevented two helicopter attempts, delaying the rescue operation. The climbers and rangers had to descend the mountain on foot and reached the base camp at around 3 p.m. Siskiyou County Search and Rescue personnel then helped the three hikers return to the Clear Creek Trailhead. The rescue operation was reportedly concluded at 6:30 p.m.
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While speaking to NBC Bay Area, Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said Gemini had downplayed the situation and warned people against relying too heavily on AI to plan hikes in areas where weather and terrain can be unpredictable. He further pointed out that AI could help with basic preparations, but it cannot provide reliable information about a route or determine how prepared hikers are for a particular type of terrain, as that depends on the hikers’ experience and abilities.
Officials warned that if climbers could not reach the summit of Mount Shasta by noon, they should turn around to avoid facing a difficult descent after darkness fell. They also noted that the route the climbers chose, the Clear Creek Route, has seen serious accidents and fatalities in the past, including instances in which hikers became lost and entered the Mud Creek area.
Officials suggested contacting the local Mount Shasta ranger station before starting the hike, becoming familiar with the route, carrying enough food and water, and preparing for unexpected events during the hike.