Overheard some hikers say they never bring a paper map anymore...

Last weekend at a trailhead in Colorado, I overheard these two guys talking about how they just use their phone for everything. One guy said he got lost for like 4 hours when his battery died and the offline map didn't load right. That made me think about my own setup. I've been backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail section for about 3 years now and I always carry a paper map plus a compass as backup. It only weighs like 3 ounces and takes no space. I still use my phone for quick checks but I feel way safer knowing I can navigate without any electronics. Has anyone else had their phone fail them on a route and had to fall back on old school navigation?

2 comments

2 Comments

jade22617d ago

Man, that hits close to home. I feel like people forget how fragile phones are in the backcountry. What really gets me is what happened to that guy - did he say if his phone died because of cold temps or just normal use? Cold kills batteries fast and folks don't plan for that. Also wondering if those two guys even had a backup plan at all, like a map stashed in their pack just in case. Seems like a lot of people rely on one system and that's it.

olivia_wilson17d ago

People treat their phones like they're invincible everywhere now, not just out in the woods.