Is anyone here familiar with that area? I wonder if they could have called for help had they brought their cell phones.

Clearly, a GPS with their hotel or car location saved would have made all the difference for them.

Yesterday I was using both an older non SiRF GPS model (Garmin Gecko 301) and a newer SiRF GPS model (Garmin GPSMAP 60csx), and the difference in their abilities to lock on to satellite is stunning. The 60csx could get a lock from inside my house! If the couple were in deep woods, I assume a newer GPS could get a lock.

Does anyone know if a modern smartphone GPS has the newer SiRF type GPS that provides the same kind of fast lock capability?

I now live (retired) in a very rural area of NE Wisconsin that has poor cell service (spotty 3G or 4G), and I need to start testing my smartphone's GPS capabilities for this very reason. Getting lost is a real possibility here.

I'm glad the couple was found. I thought they both look very young for their age.