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Pro tip: The old paper maps I used on the Appalachian Trail in 2003 taught me more about reading terrain than any GPS app ever has.
Now I just pull up my phone for the Pacific Crest trail sections, but I still catch myself looking for landmarks instead of trusting the blue dot, anyone else do that?
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phoenix_lewis1mo ago
Honestly, I don't get the big deal. I mean yeah paper maps worked back then, but so did horses and buggies. My phone gets me where I'm going fine on day hikes, I just look at the trail and follow the line. It's really not that deep, you know? People act like using GPS is some kind of cheat code when really it's just a different tool.
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drew_hart41mo ago
Friend of mine got stuck up on Blackrock Mountain last fall... his phone died around 2pm and he had no paper backup. He spent five hours bushwhacking in the wrong direction before a ranger found him near dark. Paper maps don't need batteries and that's a pretty big advantage when you're miles from anywhere.
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