Google Gemini error leaves California climbers stranded Mount Shasta
climbers admit we relied too much on AI' after ascent went horribly wrong

Date:
Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:01:23 +0000

Description:
Many of us are relying more and more on AI for answers, but it's always worth double-checking.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Gemini AI gave three hikers bad advice about a mountain ascent The trip took much longer than Gemini had said US officials and volunteers eventually rescued the stranded group A
cautionary tale from California if you often find yourself using AI bots to plan your outdoor adventures: a gang of climbers had to be rescued from Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County after Google Gemini gave them inaccurate
information about the scale of the challenge ahead of them.

As reported by the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office (via Engadget ), Google
's AI breezily told the three inexperienced hikers that they should prepare for an eight-hour trip to the peak, and to pack simple carbohydrates instead of fats because fats "take too long to digest". More than 16 hours and a serious knee injury later, off course on their return trip and in the dark, the group was no doubt regretting the decision to seek advice from a disembodied AI rather than a human being that had actually been up Mount Shasta. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

Thankfully, the hikers were recovered the next morning by a team made up of staff from the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, rescue volunteers, and the
US Forest Service climbing rangers. The unlucky trio did have to spend a
night in a makeshift camp in the Mud Creek Canyon part of the mountain, however. A lesson learned Always be wary of what AI bots tell you (Image credit: Apple / Shutterstock / mundissima) "It is always advisable to call
the local USFS Mount Shasta Ranger station ahead of your trip to ensure you have the most accurate information, and to never rely solely on AI for your trip planning," read a statement from the Sheriff's Office, which also emphasized the importance of the 12pm turnaround time for those attempting an ascent. You may like Fitbit users are getting unhinged workout advice from Geminis AI coach Gemini will tell you if food is still good, but not before another important warning Google Gemini was down for many here's what we
know about the outage

The hikers had set off at 3am expecting to reach the peak by 11am, but they didn't actually make it all the way up until 7pm. On the descent in the dark, they went off-route into the canyon, with one group member sustaining an injury, and called for help.

While one hiker did have AllTrails on their phone, that device died on the trip. We relied too much on AI rather than our own critical thinking," the climbers told rangers after the ordeal, as reported by SFGate . Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

As useful as AI can undoubtedly be when searching the web for information, bots like Gemini have never been up mountains, treated injuries, managed finances, or changed electrical wiring. For any important queries, you should always double-check linked sources and other references to verify the information you're getting back. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/gemini/google-gemini-error-l eaves-california-climbers-stranded-mount-shasta-climbers-admit-we-relied-too-m uch-on-ai-after-ascent-went-horribly-wrong


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