Shoutout to the paper map at the ranger station, my phone died and it saved the hike

Alex Ellis · 2026-10-03T13:35:05.262052+00:00

Last Saturday I hiked the Eagle Creek trail near Portland and my phone battery hit zero about 2 miles in. I had been relying on a trail app for the last 6 months and never once printed anything. The ranger at the station handed me a free paper map, and honestly it was faster to use than my phone ever was. I could see the whole loop at once and didn't have to stop and squint at a tiny screen. I finished the 7 mile loop without getting lost once, which is more than I can say for my last two trips. Anyone else still carry paper backup or am I just old school now?

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Shoutout to the paper map at the ranger station, my phone died and it saved the hike | Daily Surprises Log - Thought Shares