Lost Hikers Found Using New Tech After GPS Fails

Two hikers who got lost on a Massachusetts mountain made it home safely Saturday night, thanks to rescuers who used a creative solution when their usual tools failed.

The Westfield Fire Department received a call around 7:20 p.m. about hikers stranded in rugged terrain between Reservoir Road in Westfield and Pitcher Street in Montgomery. Traditional GPS technology couldn't pinpoint where the hikers were in the steep, challenging landscape.

That's when rescuers turned to what3words, a web-based service that divides the entire world into 10-foot squares and gives each one a unique three-word address. The system worked where GPS had failed, helping the team locate the hikers by 9 p.m.

Captain Keith Supinski led the Technical Rescue Team on foot through the difficult terrain. The steep elevation made the rescue tricky, but the team managed to get a utility task vehicle within 200 feet of the stranded hikers.

From there, rescuers guided both hikers back to the vehicle on foot. Despite challenging weather conditions throughout the operation, both hikers made it off the mountain without any injuries.

Why This Inspires

This rescue highlights how emergency responders constantly adapt and find new ways to keep people safe. When one technology fails, they don't give up. They problem solve and reach for better tools.

The what3words system is gaining traction with emergency services worldwide because it works even in remote areas where street addresses don't exist. A lost hiker only needs to share three simple words instead of trying to describe their surroundings or read off complex coordinates.

The Westfield Fire Department's willingness to embrace this newer technology likely made the difference between a quick rescue and a much longer, more dangerous search in the dark. Their Technical Rescue Team trains for exactly these scenarios, ready to tackle steep terrain and adverse conditions to bring people home.

For the two hikers, Saturday night could have ended very differently. Instead, they're safe because a team of dedicated firefighters refused to let technology limitations stand in their way.

Every outdoor emergency that ends well is a reminder of the skilled people who train for worst-case scenarios and the constant innovations making rescues faster and safer.