Debate: Did switching from paper maps to GPS apps make you a better backpacker or just lazier?

I used to spend hours tracing routes on USGS quads before a trip, but now I just pull up Gaia on my phone and go. Have you noticed your trail memory getting worse since you stopped reading paper maps, or is the convenience worth it?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_elizabeth20d ago

I did the JMT last year with just my phone and got lost twice cause I couldn't read the trail on the screen in bright sun. Now I carry a paper map as backup and use the app for quick checks. Honestly I think using both is the sweet spot for me.

terrywilson19d ago

Isn't that always how it goes, relying too much on one thing and then paying for it?