Tourists stranded in N.S. highlands after GPS gives them bad directions:

Flag of Nova Scotia (Photo By Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

HUNTERS MOUNTAIN, N.S., Canada — Police in Nova Scotia say two stranded tourists are safe after their GPS led them astray in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

RCMP say they received a call Saturday from a man and woman who said they were stranded in their car in freezing temperatures and were running low on fuel, food, water and cellphone battery.

Police didn’t say how long the pair had been there.

Officers say they arrived at the scene to find the road blocked by nearly two metres of snow buildup in some places.

They say a front-end loader was brought in to clear a pathway for the vehicle, which took almost two and a half hours.

They say the tourists were uninjured and their car was towed to safety.

Police say they learned the tourists had been following the “shortest route” recommended by their GPS and couldn’t turn back because of the snow.

They are reminding drivers to use their GPS with caution when navigating unfamiliar roads and to bring plenty of supplies for long-distance travelling.