My Sierra navigation mishap turned me into a paper map believer

I was totally set on using my phone for all my route planning, you know? But last fall in the Sierra, my GPS cut out at a key trail split and I was really stuck. I dug out an old paper map I had grabbed from a ranger, and following it manually got me back on track. Now I make a point to pack a real map and practice with it before any big trip, it just feels safer.

2 comments

2 Comments

patricia_harris693h ago

Hey, paper maps train your brain to spot landmarks, not just follow a line!

michael9901h ago

Exactly, it forces you to actually read the street names and notice what's around you, like that weird shaped church or the big red diner. You build a mental map instead of just waiting for the next turn command. It's like learning the neighborhood instead of just memorizing a list of instructions. You start to see how streets connect in a way GPS just doesn't show.