TIL about the crazy paper maps rangers used to hand out for park hikes

I was cleaning out my attic and found a stack of old national park maps from the 80s. They were all folded up and had handwritten notes from my parents' trips. Comparing them to the app I use now, the detail is INSANE but in a different way. Back then, you had to rely on ranger tips and physical landmarks. Now, with GPS, it's easier but part of the adventure feels lost.

3 comments

3 Comments

ruby_lane1mo ago

Mocked those paper maps as a kid, lol. Always figured GPS was way better and made hiking simple. But then my phone died on a trail last summer and I had no clue where I was. Pulling out an old paper map from my pack totally saved me, and I finally got what my dad meant about the adventure part. Now I miss those ranger tips and feeling like you're actually finding your own way.

the_alice1mo ago

Your phone DIED?! That's so scary!

daniel_walker81mo ago

Right, because phones never run out of batteries, it's basically magic. Guess paper doesn't need a charger, what a concept.