The right way
Trail navigation using a smartphone app is very common these days, much to the chagrin of the seasoned adventurer. Unfortunately, some people think they are magical devices that keep people from getting lost. Nope!
Smartphones are undoubtedly useful tools but they shouldn’t be relied upon as primary navigation aids, particularly when the going gets tough. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Cold weather can also have disastrous effects and if your phone runs out of battery, gets wet or is damaged, then you’ll need to reach for a map and compass. So it’s a good idea to have them and know how to use them.
If you don’t know how to read a topographic map or use a compass and don’t plan on carrying them with you, then my advice is don’t go hiking. Relying on someone else in your group who knows how to use them isn’t good enough either. You might accidentally become separated.
So if your phone dies, and, to your dismay, the trail disappears or heads off in several different directions, what do you do? Stop, think and remain calm! The most common cause of ill-fated hiking trips is people getting lost and then panicking, so it’s important to know how NOT to get lost and what to do if you are.
The first thing you will need to do is determine where you are so you can plot where you need
