You Still Need a Map and Compass—You Really Do!
Updated July 2024
I know you think that all you really need is your phone—but you’re wrong. Tech can fail. Coverage can be spotty in the backcountry. Dead spots abound. Map and compass—and the ability to use them together—comprise one of the Ten Essentials that old folks harp on and on about. A map will not fail. Nor will a compass.
I was recently approached by a couple in Goat Rocks Wilderness, at about 6500 feet. The fellow told me that the instructions he was getting from his phone told him that they should take a left just a few yards behind them. But there was a cliff in that direction. He asked me if I had a map (he got points for asking for help with directions—a lot of us guys have trouble with that).
I countered with, “I do. You got any chocolate?”
I left them some, and let them pore over my maps, and helped them orient themselves to their surroundings. Before they left I asked them if they might start carrying a map now. They shrugged and said they’d just continue to use their phones.
“Might not be here next time…” I encouraged them to continue to bring extra chocolate anyway, just in case.
A map might not keep you from getting lost, but it will aid you immensely in figuring out a way out of your lostness (Whaddya’ know—WordCorrect didn’t even challenge "lostness" as an actual word. Just goes to show—tech has its flaws!)
The one time I got really lost for an afternoon. I hate to admit this: I went on a day trip, with food and water, but without map or compass. Walked out onto snow, figuring I’d simply follow my footsteps back out… and learned that, once the sun moves a bit, footsteps in snow become invisible…
Didn’t panic. Sat down, ate about half the food, figured out a possible solution. It took a couple hours, but I solved it. Back at camp, looking at the map, I realized that if I’d had it with me, the solution would’ve been obvious. Any hard lesson that you survive is a good one.
Another of the joys of carrying a map (besides getting free chocolate!) is scrambling up to a high point—any place where there’s a good overlook—sitting down, spreading out your map… and figuring out just where the hell you are, and what’s around you. ‘What's that mountain over there? How ‘bout that ridge? What’s that river over there? That looks cool—I can see a safe route over there from here.’ That kind of thing.
So when you return to civilization and someone asks, “Where did you go?” you might have a better grasp where you had been.
Having and knowing how to use map and compass doesn’t make you lost-proof. Shit happens. But it enables you to methodically work your way back out of that dangerous condition—so you can get back home and decide whether you’ll actually tell anyone about it.
When I joined the Mountaineers in the ’80’s (dang!) I just did day trips. The Mountaineers, as an organization, required that every group member carry each of The Ten Essentials with them on every trip. It seemed like overkill and redundancy, but no one wanted to get left behind at the trailhead parking lot (that was reputedly threatened, but I never saw it actually done). In retrospect, it was a good habit to develop.
So the group would hike up to a peak, sit down for lunch, and take in the view. Sooner or later, a couple of the old farts in the group would start rattling off the names the peaks surrounding us, arguing over a few, of course, but showing a good knowledge of where they were. It seemed like something to aspire to. Still does.