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.
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.