Heard two guys at an REI arguing about whether paper maps are obsolete or essential on trails like the JMT, which side are you on?

One guy was saying GPS apps save weight and battery banks are light enough now, the other swore his phone died on day 3 of a 10 day trip and he had to backtrack 8 miles to a ranger station, has anyone else dealt with a failed phone mid route and wished they had a backup?

2 comments

2 Comments

wendysmith4d ago

Oh man, that's rough. I'd be lost without paper maps after my phone died halfway through a week long trip in the Sierras last summer.

susanm224d ago

Did you have any trouble reading the paper maps at night, or did you just camp before dark? I feel like that's the part that would get me, trying to find a trailhead or campsite in the dark without a phone light. I've always relied on a good headlamp for that, but the maps themselves can be a pain to read in low light. Your mileage may vary, but I'm always curious how people handle that specific scenario.