(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
Officers from the Peterborough County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to assist a group of people lost in a wooded area.
On Tuesday January 13, 2026, just prior to 7:00pm, officers from the Peterborough County OPP were dispatched to the Harold Town Conservation Area off Old Norwood Road where a group of people who were hiking had become lost. The caller advised that they had decided to take a visiting friend hiking and had a ride-share drop them at the conservation area. Once in the wooded area, they quickly became disoriented and were unable to find their way back.
OPP officers arrived on scene and were able to contact the caller who said they could hear the sirens but were unable to make out the direction. The caller was instructed to use the ‘What3words’ app which allowed for an exact location to be provided.
Members from the Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Canine were also dispatched but at 9:15pm, prior to their arrival, the individuals emerged from the trails. The individuals were not dressed appropriately for the weather and only had running shoes for footwear. EMS was on scene and assessed everyone who, other than being cold and embarrassed, were in good health.
The OPP strongly suggests being prepared when hiking in wooded areas. Ensure you have adequate clothing and footwear, a fully charged cell phone, a flashlight and water. Download the What3words app ahead of hiking in case you become lost. Wooded areas are easy to become disoriented in, so if you’re not familiar with the trails, don’t venture out on them when it is getting dark.
What3words is a free application for iPhones and Android devices that works off the cellphone’s Global Positioning System (GPS) or offline without mobile data if the caller already has the mobile app downloaded on their cellular device. Through it’s global mapping system, the app labels every three squared meters with a unique three-word location string which can be converted into latitude and longitude coordinates
To serve our province by protecting its citizens, upholding the law and preserving public safety.
Peterborough County OPP values your contribution to building safe communities. If you have information about suspected unlawful activity, please visit Crime Stoppers at: stopcrimehere.ca or call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
