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Friend told me to ditch the paper map and go all digital for a PCT section hike
He swore Gaia GPS would never fail, but my phone died on day 3 near Kennedy Meadows and I was totally screwed. Has anyone else had a paper map save them when tech let them down?
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calebm463d ago
Three years back I was doing the JMT and my Garmin went black right after Red's Meadow. I had a paper map from REI in my pack that my buddy laughed at me for carrying. That thing got me all the way to Whitney Portal with zero issues. Gaia is great when it works but batteries die, screens crack, and satellites drop out. I still bring paper maps on every trip and I don't care who calls me old school for it.
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troy_wilson83d ago
That buddy probably won't be laughing so hard when his Garmin takes a dive on some random ridge line in a whiteout. Bet he's the same guy who carries a titanium spork but forgets a fire starter. Red's Meadow to Whitney Portal is no joke even with a working GPS, let alone having to rely on a soggy piece of paper that somehow never lets you down. Paper maps don't need charging, don't crash, and don't care if you drop them in a puddle.
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