Switching from paper maps to a GPS watch on the PCT was a game changer

I used to swear by my paper maps and compass, but after a foggy stretch on the PCT near Crater Lake last summer, I kept second guessing my turns. A buddy let me try his Garmin for a day and I never looked back. has anyone else found tech makes them less likely to miss a junction?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor9578d ago

I hear you on not missing junctions, but I actually think GPS watches can make you pay less attention to your surroundings. I stuck with paper maps and a compass on the PCT, and that foggy stretch near Crater Lake? That's exactly when I slowed down, double checked my bearings, and really looked at the terrain around me. Tech can fail when you need it most, like dead batteries or a cracked screen, but my map and compass always work. Missing a junction isn't the end of the world either, it can lead to a good unintended adventure. I'd rather be engaged with the trail than staring at a watch.

singh.harper8d ago

Damn, you actually changed my mind on this. I was all about the GPS watch hype but your foggy Crater Lake story makes total sense - having something that literally can't die on you sounds way more solid.

thea6028d ago

Respect the old school approach but honestly I gotta disagree. I used a GPS watch for my entire Colorado Trail thru and it never let me down once. The battery lasted 5 days on a single charge and I just clipped it to my pack strap not even on my wrist. Map and compass are fine but they slow you down when you're trying to make miles and the weather is shifting. Missing a junction can be a fun detour until it's not, like when you're low on water and the next source is miles away in the wrong direction. I'd rather be efficient and know exactly where I am so I can actually enjoy the views instead of stopping every half hour to triangulate my position.