The Unreliability of Rescue: Lessons from a Harrowing Ordeal The recent story of Stanislav Volo, who survived five nights in British Columbia's Coast Mountains after his phone died and he became lost, raises more questions than answers about the role of technology in wilderness exploration.
On one hand, it's heartening to see Volo emerge from this ordeal with a newfound appreciation for preparedness and self reliance. However, Volo's experience underscores the fallibility of even well planned excursions.
A 43 year old man reasonably fit and experienced enough to tackle such terrain still managed to become lost and injured in a short period. This is a sobering reminder that technology can ultimately fail us.