Skiers on the Schoolmarm trail at Keystone Resort on Monday, January 6, encountered an unexpected obstacle: an abandoned Audi sports car. The unusual sight was the result of a GPS error that led the vehicle’s driver onto the ski trail late Sunday night.
According to Sgt. Mike Schilling of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office who spoke with Summit Daily, a Colorado-based newspaper, the driver, a Boulder resident, was using GPS to locate the Sagebrush employee housing complex when the app directed them onto the ski resort property. Following the directions, the driver found themselves stuck in deep snow on the ski trail. Recognizing the predicament, the driver left the car overnight and placed a note on the windshield with a phone number for authorities to contact them.
Keystone Resort staff roped off the vehicle during daylight hours to ensure skier safety and removed it after the resort closed Monday. No injuries or damage to the resort’s property occurred, Max Winter, Keystone Resort’s communications manager, told Summit Daily. The Sheriff’s Office opted not to issue a citation or tow the vehicle, as it was located on ski-area-permitted property. The driver was able to retrieve the vehicle without issue and no further action will be taken on their behalf.
The potential to over-rely on GPS navigation in unfamiliar areas is especially possible in mountain regions where roadways and ski trails may intersect on mapping applications. Keystone Resort and local authorities encourage drivers to exercise caution and verify their routes when traveling near ski areas.
