How to use Turn-by-Turn Directions for Simple Backpacking Navigation

[Rex Sanders]

Companion forum thread to: How to use Turn-by-Turn Directions for Simple Backpacking Navigation

Simple backpacking navigation: turn-by-turn hiking directions aren’t for everybody, but try them before you scoff and proclaim “Never!”

[Todd T]

Never!

[John S.]

Some bikepackers use the voice turn by turn. Last fall a friend had that for a pecos nm backpack.

[Todd T]

I posted my “Never!” comment earlier just because Rex said not to.  :)  But I was serious, and Rex’s #1 on the list of disadvantages is reason enough.  Hiking is more rewarding and fun when you know where you are, when to look in what direction to catch a subtle view, what your options are if you’re feeling your oats or tire early, what direction you’re moving if it’s overcast or foggy, etc.

[Adam G]

As someone who has as a terrible sense of direction, I disagree with this. It’s great to know where you’re going but terrible to know where you are. The reason this works on Google Maps is that it automatically reroutes you once you’ve screwed up, which I do often.

Knowing where you are is the most important part of staying found. What I’ve found is useful is to draw your route on the map. At each junction, spend the 20 seconds to orient your map, look at the route to your next junction, make note of what you will see along the way, and then go. It doesn’t take *that* long.

In this setting, having a list of what you will see would be quite useful. If you know that you should cross a stream 1 mile away and you’ve been hiking for an hour and haven’t seen it, that should raise red flags. But navigating primarily based on the list can really get you into trouble.

[David Thomas]

I resisted turn-by-turn directions in my car, using the mapping app for a long time.  Mostly on the basis that I wanted to have that situational awareness from looking at the overall route.

OTOH, I can pay more attention to the driving, lane position, other vehicles, etc if my eyes and brain are focused out the window and not at a screen.  And I’ve found the pace of announcements and reminders to be about right (enough to move into the correct lane leisurely).

What I haven’t ever tried doing is using voice commands for a walking trip.  My mapping app has driving / walking / transit options and shows routes for all of those.  I should try it for spoken walking directions sometime.

[Jerry Adams]

I love car turn by turn directions

The best thing is to not follow her directions

I’d like one “with an attitude”.  Swear at me when I don’t follow directions for example.

To be serious for a second, the directions are just one suggested route.  I still have to use my judgement.  For example, if she says to take a dirt road over the mountains when there’s snow, don’t do that.

Or, I wanted to go from Portland to Madras.  She told me to go over the mountains by Government Camp.  Trip Check showed snow on the road.  I was in no hurry.  I went via The Dalles.  Eventually she figured it out and started giving me directions via The Dalles.

I like that it shows distance and time to destination.

None of that applies to hiking.  I’m usually into hiking around, checking things out, not really into point A to point B via shortest distance.  I don’t necessarily go on trails.  I like the GPS map though.  I’m sort of ADD following it, sort of like a computer game.

[Cameron M]

Many PCT hikers are hiking essentially turn by turn, following their linear iPhone apps which tell them where to camp, where there is water, etc. Disconnected from maps, but also disconnected from the experience. They are in turbo mode, and I often hear them say: “the JMT portion looked really nice, I will have to go back sometime to enjoy it”.

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