As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map?
I've been looking into learning how to mountaineer and noticed that the local mountaineering society still requires a training in navigation as part of the prerequisites for most of their basic courses. As part of this training, people are supposed to learn how to use paper maps and a compass, only then moving on to using various electronic apps.
But as of 2019, what's the point of ever touching a paper map and a compass? Aren't there now amazingly reliable devices that have capabilities far exceeding anything you can do with a paper map? Given the low price and weight of electronics, you could even bring multiple backup devices on the hike if required. Are there some considerations that I'm not taking into account?
A GPS can tell you with reasonable precision where you are. So far as I am aware, they don't tell you if you are about t …
5y ago
Many excellent answers have detailed how you need to learn reading paper maps for various practical reasons involving yo …
5y ago
The most important reasons have already been given in other highly upvoted answers. Planning, coverage, resolution, etc …
5y ago
There have already been quite some answers but I have the feeling that these answers are a bit one-sided towards paper m …
5y ago
I can't believe the convoluted answers. The answer is simple. A Map and compass WILL always work. The electronic device …
5y ago
Have you ever heard of the Uyuni salt flat? 10,000 km2 of almost perfectly flat surface, 3 km above sea level. 0 GPS s …
5y ago
A massive advantage of paper maps over electronic is the combination of area and resolution. You can take a bearing to a …
5y ago
The default expedition map in the UK is Ordnance Survey. The apparent most popular GPS map app for walking in the mounta …
5y ago
Maps and compasses are independent of any power source, so it is usually recommended to take them with you. GPS devices …
5y ago
Paper map screens are more flexible and they handle drops better. A paper map keeps power for longer, stays on for longe …
5y ago
Probably the simplest answer to my mind is that if you're going to have redundant methods for just about anything, they …
5y ago
Digital content is no substitute for skill Here. Describe to me how to fly the go-around on a Runway 13L approach to Mi …
5y ago
Among the great answers above, some touched on the price of electronic maps and their inadequacy for hiking (e.g. lack o …
5y ago
I have a very practical example of the value of paper maps: I found a waterproof, tear resistant map of my usual mounta …
5y ago
Paper maps do not run out of power. In an emergency situation you may only have that as an option
5y ago
Jonathan. I think the other answers miss the fundamental point. The GPS course just tells about GPS devices and how to …
5y ago
Ultimately a map is a map is a map. Regardless of the media it's presented on, whether that be digital or paper. You s …
5y ago
Aren't there now amazingly reliable devices that have capabilities far exceeding anything you can do with a paper map …
5y ago
I'll answer both as a geomatician who makes maps (both paper and digital) and deals with GIS data for a living. I'm also …
5y ago
The Map is not the Terrain Doubtless you've heard this aphorism, and perhaps it seems out of place for your question bu …
5y ago
The reason is that it is irrelevant if the map is on an electronic device or on paper - if you misinterpret the informat …
5y ago
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/24498. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
21 answers
Among the great answers above, some touched on the price of electronic maps and their inadequacy for hiking (e.g. lack of topographical data). To this point, I'd like to highlight the Mapy.cz project (mobile app at https://en.mapy.cz/zakladni?mobilepromo=1 link) which may have started as a regional Czech app, but now covers most of the world with freely downloadable maps.
While it lacks somewhat in features like car navigation, it is indispensible for walks and hikes, knowing the majority of official trails and many smaller forest roads, as well as heights, so you can for example profile the planned route in terms of ups and downs you are going to take. From version to version it is less reliant on the internet availability to find things and plan the routes, though I don't think it is fully autonomous yet.
All that said, I wouldn't trust my phones of the past decade to navigate me for more than a daytime's walk: their batteries only last as you commute from home to work or back; much less so in cold weather (like under +15 deg C, 100% to 0% in 40 minutes if the phone is not touching my stomach) or in hot summers (+35 degC outside, under sunlight, it wants to shut everything off because the CPU is at 50 degC).
So you still need to take a look at the map (digital or not) before the trip and expect that this memory of your main route, and nearby alternatives, and notable points to orienteer by (mountains, valleys, towers, bridges, etc.) would save your hide if you don't take a paper map (or lose it, or it is too dark/rainy/... to read it when you need it). You don't have to be in the mountains or wild outback to get lost, can do so in a city too ;p Do assume the worst, to be ready for it. And hope it does not happen too often :)
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/24535. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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