Paper Maps

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Tacitus

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My kids are all GPS slaves. And, so, they often have no idea how to get anywhere. It turns out, when you are just waiting for your GPS app to tell you to turn, you aren't really paying attention to where you are going, and you don't even have to plan the route. You go wherever the device tells you.

Nonetheless, I always get paper maps before every trip from AAA. I have multiple copies of maps of my state and surrounding states, and several of my metro area.

Even my kids will look at them sometimes. They come in handy when we need to detour to avoid an accident, etc.

Also, you can create your own topographical map of your area at this web site: My Topo.
 
My kids are all GPS slaves. And, so, they often have no idea how to get anywhere. It turns out, when you are just waiting for your GPS app to tell you to turn, you aren't really paying attention to where you are going, and you don't even have to plan the route. You go wherever the device tells you.

Nonetheless, I always get paper maps before every trip from AAA. I have multiple copies of maps of my state and surrounding states, and several of my metro area.

Even my kids will look at them sometimes. They come in handy when we need to detour to avoid an accident, etc.

Also, you can create your own topographical map of your area at this web site: My Topo.

Thanks for the link. Looks like a cool site.
 
Back when I was more into hiking in the mountains, I would always take my topo maps and compass and stop every so often and triangulate my position. Then I'd pull out my GPS and see how accurately I had pinned my current whereabouts. That kept me in practice using map and compass rather than a battery powered gadget prone to fail. Nothing wrong with GPS, but you should know how to use map and compass too. I have also learned how to do celestial navigation with a sextant and sight reduction tables ... just in case I ever end up stranded out in the middle of the ocean with a sextant and the appropriate lookup tables. No practical use really, but a good brain exercise to learn how to do it.

It's all kind of the same reasoning (backup and redundancy): like why I just signed up for a HAM course, when I have a cellphone. And why I carry a ferro rod when hiking, when I have a Bic lighter.
 
It used to be that GPS could be "turned off" or degraded to less accuracy by the US government. For example, in time of war, they didn't want other countries using GPS against the US. But, I'm not sure if that is the case anymore. Probably still is the case.

So, if you do want a satellite-based radio-navigation system for difficult times, you may want to look for one which works with the non-US systems as well, such as GLONASS, Galileo or Beidou. I've never looked for these, but I assume they exist.

But, depending on what the difficult times are, all of them may be switched off, leaving only paper maps. It would be good to know how to read and use a paper map.
 
I keep topographic and road maps en mass. State, county, recreational areas, cities are all important. I don't use GPS - never have because a solar flare or out of date information can leave you not knowing where you are.
 
I grew up on paper maps and much prefer them. GPS was a real luxury while crossing the Atlantic but I do very well without it on a daily basis. As a tool for the military or to keep ships on the most direct route and therefore the fastest and least expensive, it is fantastic.
 
I hated the dead reckoning courses. I liked it better when they allowed you to reckon off of the land: Look at the map...I need to go to the far side of the second hill...easiest to take that road and cut away here...but if I need cover, I can follow this valley...etc., etc., etc.

Cutting straight across land directly, hitting every trap and obstacle in the worst possible way, then counting paces to the side and back...that just didn't make sense to me. I'd rather keep my head on a swivel than focus on a tree ahead while counting paces.
 
Rand McNally road atlas under the passenger seat. GHB have laminated maps of my state and surrounding states.
The laminated map books are great. I wonder how often a person has to upgrade a map book because of them being outdated? I would think that basic information would remain the same, but those changes in exits can bite you!

I keep a collection of paper maps and atlases in a former laptop bag in the trunk of my car.

I used to use Mapquest and print out maps for places I was going and not familiar with.

Now I use Wayz and Google Maps, but have those paper maps for backup.
 
The laminated map books are great. I wonder how often a person has to upgrade a map book because of them being outdated? I would think that basic information would remain the same, but those changes in exits can bite you!

I keep a collection of paper maps and atlases in a former laptop bag in the trunk of my car.

I do too , sometimes the navigator forgets where its at. Told me to turn into a hay field. So I got out my paper map. Thy don't make em like they use to but thats because nobody buys em. So not as detailed anymore.
 
My wife, her Mom and her sisters drove from Seattle to TX. This was way before GPS so they had a map.
My SIL could not read a map but she was in charge of navigation. They drove 3 hours in the wrong direction before my wife took the map away from her.
I have a laminated map of the Columbia river I use for fishing but other than that I very seldom go anywhere I don't already know.
Headed to Seaside Oregon next week and I will use my GPS to find a Cracker Barrel restaurant but I know how to get to Seaside so no map is needed.,
 
My wife, her Mom and her sisters drove from Seattle to TX. This was way before GPS so they had a map.
My SIL could not read a map but she was in charge of navigation. They drove 3 hours in the wrong direction before my wife took the map away from her.
I have a laminated map of the Columbia river I use for fishing but other than that I very seldom go anywhere I don't already know.
Headed to Seaside Oregon next week and I will use my GPS to find a Cracker Barrel restaurant but I know how to get to Seaside so no map is needed.,
Some people really do have difficulty with directions. I know a few people who have no idea which direction is which at any time. "Go west." "I have no idea which direction is west."

I know people who can only drive somewhere where they have been previously. They will not go somewhere new by themselves.

I have a thing about knowing that people who are doing a particular task are correct.I have little trust in other people making decisions when I cannot double check it and it has an affect on me. I suppose I am annoying.

I would not have let SIL be in charge of navigation. Maybe it seems controlling on my part, but that amounted to 6 hours off track. I would not have been happy. But there are signs all along the road that help you to know what is ahead.
 
I'm old school I guess. Maps for certain IMO. Growing up as a boy scout, that and really basic first aid was the primary focus at least once each year, and almost every camping trip we took.
I have state maps in both vehicles for our state and any state we go to regularly. I also have a few of the full state topo books. I have found them very useful, even to a detailed track. I'm even such a map hound I pick up maps for place I've never been and in some cases will never go to just to check out. We even have a couple large maps framed and hung on the wall.
I have had a few GPS units and have yet to find one that didn't lie to me. Not one. They would get me more lost than I ever did myself. Even have apps on my phone, don't like them either.
 
Some people really do have difficulty with directions. I know a few people who have no idea which direction is which at any time. "Go west." "I have no idea which direction is west."

I know people who can only drive somewhere where they have been previously. They will not go somewhere new by themselves.

I have a thing about knowing that people who are doing a particular task are correct.I have little trust in other people making decisions when I cannot double check it and it has an affect on me. I suppose I am annoying.

I would not have let SIL be in charge of navigation. Maybe it seems controlling on my part, but that amounted to 6 hours off track. I would not have been happy. But there are signs all along the road that help you to know what is ahead.

If the sun is shining I'm ok with east,west,north and south,but if its cloudy I'm lost too. We do have a compas now I take with us but seldom go anywhere I'd need it.
 
I forgot to add, the wife and I love taking road trip. Don't matter where to, somewhere we've been, or somewhere totally new. When we first got together years ago she couldn't read a map to save her life. After a while I started just handing her the map and make her plan the route from point A to point B. As time has went on she has gotten good at it.
 
I forgot to add, the wife and I love taking road trip. Don't matter where to, somewhere we've been, or somewhere totally new. When we first got together years ago she couldn't read a map to save her life. After a while I started just handing her the map and make her plan the route from point A to point B. As time has went on she has gotten good at it.

It is good that she knows how to use one ,good for her. We got lost in Atlanta and I'm from there but it has changed so much now. And like you said that navigator got me lost too.
 
It helps me out when we travel. Traffic gets bad or backed up on the interstate, what a good alternate to go past it? We've done that several times.
She also took a trip with one of her sisters. Sister wouldn't listen to my wife about what exit to take and ended up running out of interstate in a ghetto in Indianapolis and started freaking out. Wife got her turned around and back on right path in just a few turns and back on the way home.
 
I don't have GPS or "sat nav" as we call it here and I never will, I prefer paper maps and have ones for everywhere we have ever been.
 

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