Old school paper maps vs GPS on the Pacific Crest

For years I swore by paper maps and refused to use GPS on backpacking trips. Felt like cheating, you know? But last summer on a section of the PCT near Yosemite, I hit a fog bank that rolled in fast and couldn't see 20 feet ahead. My paper map was useless without a landmark to orient on. A hiker I met let me borrow her Garmin for 10 minutes to get back on track. Now I carry both, just in case. Anyone else made the switch reluctantly after a close call?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_claire2mo ago

Totally changed my mind after getting fogged in on a trail near Mt. Whitney. Tech saved me.

james6612mo agoMost Upvoted

Dude yeah I saw a piece about how GPS basically saved a whole group in the Smokies last year lol.

nina1801mo ago

Did you catch that NPR story about the guy who tracked his lost dog using a GPS collar in like five miles of forest? It was wild, the dog had wandered off chasing a deer and they found him within an hour (way better than the old days of posting fliers everywhere). I mean, it's not just for people getting lost anymore, it's for keeping track of everything from your cat to your car keys. Honestly, I used to think GPS was just for cars and phones, but now I'm kinda amazed at how much it's changed stuff like search and rescue. Makes you wonder what we'd do without that little satellite magic, right?