Pro tip: I used to just wing it on my Polaris trail maps, but after getting stuck overnight near Lake Superior last winter, I now always pack a Garmin Montana 700i.

Has anyone else had a close call that completely changed their gear checklist?

3 comments

3 Comments

That's a sobering story, and it really drives the point home. A simple day trip in the White Mountains went sideways for me once when a spring storm rolled in out of nowhere. The trail vanished under fresh snow, and my phone was just a dead brick in the cold. Ever since that long, cold walk out, a good paper map and a backup battery pack are non-negotiable in my bag, no matter how short the hike is supposed to be.

abbychen21d ago

Ugh that sounds so scary, glad you got out okay. Did the map actually help you figure out the way back?

tarac166h ago

A paper map is basically a get out of jail free card.