There has been lots of speculation that the Kim family were led to the single-lane Bear Camp Road with impassable snowdrifts since it is offered as the preferred route by several mapping Web sites and also by some in-car navigation systems and GPS mapping units. Local authorities say this road should absolutely be avoided in the Winter.
Yahoo! and MapQuest offer Highways 199 and 101 as the preferred route. However, several news reports stated that Google Maps suggested the Bear Camp route and a series of federal forest roads only used in the summer.
Frankly, I’m not surprised about the shortcomings of online mapping and GPS navigational systems. I have yet to find a mapping site or navigation system that reliably and consistently routed trips on safe and passable Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine roads 100% of the time. And as this case with the Kim’s illustrates, anything less than 100% is unacceptable.
In my usage, Google Earth tends to do a better job than the others but it would still be careless to blindly follow its directions. In-car navigation systems have been the worst offenders as their maps seem to be out of date by years before they even leave the factory! Then there are programs like DeLorme’s Street Atlas which is about as helpful as any diner’s place mat map… you know the kind that have cute sea monsters drawn in the lakes.
I hope and pray that James is found alive soon and also that he is able to trash all these negligent services and devices on CNET as soon as possible. It surely will be entertaining and well deserved.
[tags]maps, gps, mapquest, James Kim, CNET, techtv, missing person[/tags]