As a technology professional, I think it’s important to reiterate that technology is no substitute for planning, preparedness, and a common sense. Yes, take full advantage of available technology, but know its limits and don't let it dull your common sense to the point that you rely solely on it. Technology that automates things for us has a terrible tendency to make us stupid rather than smart.
Two sadly fatal errors in judgment were made; gauge the conditions and be willing to turn back, and don’t separate.
Never start out on a trip of any length without giving thought to “what if something happens, what will I/we need, what will I/we do?”.
Hopefully this story will have a positive impact on at least a few peoples preparedness mentality when traveling.
You are totally right. And that is true many times more when you are on the water, because then you have that added factor of possibly SINKING in addition to starving and freezing. At least your car on land is not going to sink, so why would you abandon "ship".
Based upon this thread, I would say that people need to be educated more about this, both for land and water situations.
