Read a forum post saying thru-hikers should never use phone GPS, is that outdated thinking?

Saw someone in the PCT Facebook group swear paper maps are the only way and that phones fail in rain or cold. But I did 60 miles on the Uinta Highline last August with just Gaia on airplane mode, battery lasted 4 days with a power bank. Anyone else think the old school purist take ignores how far tech has come, or is redundancy still the real answer?

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laura_black18d ago

Ha! People really get worked up over this. I mean, carrying a paper map as a backup is smart, but acting like GPS is a crutch is just gatekeeping. My buddy did the whole Colorado Trail with just his phone and one spare battery, and he was fine. If you're worried about rain, put it in a ziplock, it's not that complicated. Seems like some folks just need a reason to feel superior about their gear choices.