That one time in the Wind River Range when I realized my map was wrong

I was on day four of a loop near Cirque of the Towers, Wyoming, following a trail that looked clear on my paper map. The map showed a solid line, but on the ground it just faded into a huge boulder field. I spent two hours trying to find a way through before I had to admit I was lost. I finally pulled out my phone, even though I had no service, and the offline topo map on it showed a completely different, more recent route about a quarter mile east. I backtracked, found the actual trail marker, and made camp way later than planned. Now I always cross-check my paper maps with a digital source I've downloaded before any trip, no matter how 'reliable' the paper one seems. Has anyone else had a trusted map lead them totally astray in a remote area?

2 comments

2 Comments

wyatt_green1d agoMost Upvoted

Ever try a gps watch with pre-loaded maps?

grant_palmer1d ago

Actually used to think they were overkill for most hikes. Having a full map on your wrist during a wrong turn in thick fog totally changed my view. It just makes a lot of sense for staying found.