Almost got stranded on the Superior Hiking Trail last month because I trusted my phone GPS over a paper map

I was 4 miles out from the car near Gooseberry Falls when my battery died and I realized the trail split I took was wrong, had to backtrack in the dark for 2 hours because I didn't bring a backup compass - anyone else ever learned this lesson the hard way?

2 comments

2 Comments

sarah_brown10d ago

Was it really that serious though? The Superior Hiking Trail is pretty well marked with signs at major junctions, and most of the trail splits are obvious if you just stop and look around a bit. I've hiked that area for years without a phone or compass and never had an issue just paying attention to where I was going.

williamschmidt10d ago

Come on, is it really that big of a deal? I get that trails can get a bit tricky, but if you're paying half a mind, you can usually figure it out. The Superior Hiking Trail isn't some backcountry maze, it's a pretty standard, well-used path. I've got friends who go up there with just a printed map from the visitor center and they're totally fine. Seems like a lot of people just want an excuse to buy new gear instead of using their eyes.