PSA: My GPS died halfway up the West Coast Trail and I had to use a paper map for the first time

I was on day three near the Logan Creek ladders when my phone battery gave out completely, leaving me with just the old topographic map from the trailhead kiosk. I ended up adding two extra miles by missing a turnoff marked only on the digital overlay, but honestly, finding my way back felt way more rewarding. Do you guys still carry a physical map as a backup, or is that just being overly cautious now?

2 comments

2 Comments

evanh2712d ago

You said finding your way back felt more rewarding and that is SO true. Getting lost and then figuring it out with a paper map makes you actually learn the land. Screens just turn your brain off. I keep a folded map in my pack no matter what, it's not about being cautious, it's about staying connected to the trip. Batteries die, phones break, but that map will always work if you know how to read it. That extra two miles you did is now a real story, not just a blue line you followed.

mia_scott7712d ago

But do you ever worry that skill is just dying out for most people?