The search and rescue organization for Metro Vancouver鈥檚 North Shore mountains is warning people to do their research after two international visitors became stranded while relying on hiking apps to plan their routes.

Allan McMordie with North Shore Rescue managed the Sunday night rescue of a man from Goat Ridge, a backcountry area behind Grouse Mountain.

He said the man told rescuers he had not been expecting snow, despite two of the local ski hills opening with fresh powder last month.

鈥淎ll you had to do was look at the top of the mountains from Vancouver and know there鈥檚 snow up there,鈥� he said in an interview.

鈥淭o be in running shoes and not even expecting any snow was pretty naive.鈥�

The man from France had set out on a marked route, then decided to make his way through very rough, steep terrain to a separate trail at significantly higher elevation.

鈥淭his is rugged backcountry,鈥� McMordie said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost impassable.鈥�

McMordie could not confirm which apps the hikers in both recent rescues were using, but said a lack of any marked route or trail reports is a good indication not to use the application.

In any case, he said trip planning should involve multiple sources for information.

If the man from France had done any research, McMordie said he would have discovered the backcountry area where he was rescued is closed for the winter.

In both recent cases, he said there are signs at each trailhead with maps showing trails and topography, along with reminders about key steps in trip planning, he said.

Both men were lucky to have been able to make 911 calls, McMordie added, as service is patchy in the area and their phone batteries had nearly run out.

Above all, he said hikers should tell someone else where they鈥檙e going and when they expect to return, so that person can alert local authorities if necessary.

鈥淎bsolutely nobody knew where this person was and what he was doing that day,鈥� McMordie said of the man from France.

鈥淚f he had not been able to get that (911) call out, he would still be there.鈥�

Sunday鈥檚 rescue on Goat Ridge came three days after a similar call, when another man鈥漵eriously underestimated the difficulty鈥� of a route marked in an online hiking app, North Shore Rescue said in a statement posted to social media.

The group said there is 鈥渂arely a trail鈥� in the summer and 鈥渘othing whatsoever鈥� in the winter, making for 鈥渇ull mountaineering conditions鈥� at this time of year.

The man called for help after hiking for eight hours that left him 鈥渢ired, soaked (and) hypothermic鈥� as the sun was setting,鈥� it said.

It鈥檚 doubtful the man would have survived the night in the Mount Seymour backcountry if he hadn鈥檛 been able to make the call, the rescue group added.

The man had been staying in a short-term accommodation and had taken an Uber to the trailhead. Only his girlfriend in Norway knew where he was, and he was not wearing or carrying adequate gear for the conditions, McMordie said.

Vancouver-based Stephen Hui, the author of several B.C. hiking guidebooks, said the rough, mountainous terrain steps away from urban Metro Vancouver and the extent of the snowpack in winter is a surprise for many visiting hikers.

Hui said online apps can be helpful and often provide commentary about trail conditions from other hikers, but it鈥檚 crucial to look at additional sources of information, including complete maps and provincial and national park websites.

He said local authorities and outdoor groups have some responsibility for people heading into the backcountry, and there is room for more signage and education.

Ultimately, though, he said people must be responsible for themselves.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 handhold everybody,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always going to be dangers in hiking.鈥�