Alternate question: do any of you (maybe a bit older than 35) remember the last time you bought an updated paper map for your area, or one for a road trip? They used to be at most checkout lanes in many stores.
I can already hear the “maps on paper? How could you find anything?”
Yes, I get paper maps of my area. For hiking, but I think it still counts.
The last time I used a paper map for driving? Probably early aughts
I would guess that hiking or trail maps are probably much more detailed than a road map, so that makes sense that it would still be a thing, although certainly digital versions have made some dent in them. Electronics are a bit more susceptible to the environment and the need for power though, so maybe not as much for those reasons.
Yep, right on. For a day hike or simple trail, I’ll trust my phone maps and Garmin GPS. Anything beyond that, I’m bringing a map and compass as a backup because they don’t require power and the good ones still work even if wet.
Even for a simple day hike, I’ll usually print out a map because it’s quicker than using my phone.
I bought a couple usgs maps of the local mountains about 8 years ago, but that was the last time. Used to buy the map book for Michigan every few years when I lived there. Had pretty detailed prints of all the roads, waterways, state lands, and even marked hiking trails. Great for finding streams for fishing and places to camp. But now printed maps seem hard to find. Local gas stations don’t have them, and I’ve noticed that rest stops on the highway don’t give them out anymore either. Used to hit rest stops in every state I drove through when traveling to get new ones for the glove box.
