Switched my whole route planning approach after a bad night in the Sierras

Last month I was hiking the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon and my GPS battery died on day 2. I used to rely SOLELY on digital maps and apps, but after that I sat down with paper maps by the fire and realized how much I was missing. Now I always carry a topo map and compass even if my phone is charged. Anyone else ditch the gadgets in favor of paper on certain trips?

2 comments

2 Comments

lisa_brown29d ago

That bad night in the Sierras" got me thinking. I mean, I had a similar thing happen but in a totally different way. I was out in the White Mountains and my phone screen just went black from the cold, couldn't get it to turn back on for hours. So I pulled out this old compass my grandpa gave me, felt kind of dumb at first because I barely remembered how to use it. Now I keep a paper map in my pack even on short day hikes, just feels like a backup that actually works.

cora56226d ago

Most people forget the battery is the real failure point, not just the cold. I had a friend die in a car accident because his GPS died and he tried to walk out. His phone had 40% left, but the screen froze and the battery drained in like twenty minutes. A paper map doesn't need power, and a compass doesn't lie. I also started writing down trailhead coordinates in a small notebook, since even a charged phone can crack or get wet. It's not about being old school, it's about having a second system that doesn't depend on a lithium cell.