Skip to content

➝ Smartphones and GPS in the hills

Alex Roddie
Alex Roddie
2 min read

There was some interesting chat on Twitter this morning about the perennially controversial topic of whether it’s best to use a GPS or good old map and compass in the hills. I get the impression this debate isn’t quite so heated as it was a few years ago – technology has come on a long way – but it was interesting to see a wide range of views, some of them clearly very deeply felt.

My own opinion is that the belt-and-braces approach is best. By all means, navigate using only a (mapping) GPS or only a map and compass, but in most circumstances it’s a good idea to have the other system in your rucksack ready to be (competently) deployed if needed. Is GPS inherently dangerous? Absolutely not – but like any outdoor tool, user error can result in almighty cock-ups. If you’re using a non-mapping GPS, and try to navigate from waypoint to waypoint over complex terrain in a straight line, then you only have yourself to blame if your GPS sends you over a cliff. Almost all of the disadvantages of GPS and smartphone mapping can be easily overcome with experience and common sense.

As I recently discussed, I don’t think tech is quite ready for us to completely abandon paper maps, but the opposite is also true – in 2016 there is really no reason not to have some form of GPS on you when you go into the hills. If you have a smartphone, then you have an incredibly powerful GPS-equipped nav computer in your pocket.

Chris Townsend linked to his comprehensive and sensible article on the topic from 2012, which still holds true today.

Here’s a selection of tweets from this morning’s very interesting discussion.

https://twitter.com/benjamin4peace/status/740479403809996800

https://twitter.com/KatherineRennie/status/740503984788676608

And finally, a lighthearted poll I posted to settle the matter once and for all.

https://twitter.com/alex_roddie/status/740458936625704965

Notes

Alex Roddie

Happiest on a mountain. Writer, story-wrangler, digital and film photographer. Editor of Sidetracked magazine (I make the words come out good).

Comments


Related Posts

Members Public

The late 2023 social media burnout

At this time of year I typically start to feel pretty burnt out regarding social media, and 2023 is no different.

The late 2023 social media burnout
Members Public

An idea has come out of nowhere

Yes, I am now working on *two* novels.

An idea has come out of nowhere
Members Public

Threads: first impressions and thoughts about the future of the new app

A new Twitter competitor has emerged, and I have thoughts.

Threads: first impressions and thoughts about the future of the new app

Mastodon