Maybe I’m just a little old fashioned, but I still prefer maps to any electronic device. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the benefits of using technology, as well as the convenience. But it does amaze me that so many people can’t read a map, and have such poor navigation skills. And it’s astonishing how many just blindly follow GPS directions – even when they are wrong.
I’m not anti-GPS, but I do believe everyone should have a basic understanding of reading maps and navigating. This goes from reading the legend in the mall, and knowing, not only where the stores and bathrooms are, but the different ways out too, street and road maps from the phone book (If you can still find those) to Rand McNally or other road atlases, and topographical maps of any wilderness area you enter.
I’m fortunate that I learned how to read a map and navigate when I was young, and the skills were honed further when I served with the U.S. Army. These were useful when traveling in foreign countries as well. I was able to get around using maps and legends in languages I didn’t understand. (I understood just enough to get around.) But then again, I was doing all this before anyone had personal GPSs. I HAD to navigate that way if I wanted to get where I wanted to go.
Even though GPS devices are easily accessible, and many have them on their phones, learning to read a map, use a compass, and navigate the “old fashioned” way is still an important skill to have. So many people become lost using their GPSs, and what pray tell will those people do if their GPS breaks or battery dies? It is just ridiculous to put all your faith in an electronic device that isn’t always right. But that is what so many people do.
Once you become proficient at using maps, compasses, and navigating without an electronic device, it makes getting around so much easier. The awareness that is preached on many pages of this website is critical too. Paying attention and being aware helps you navigate by terrain association.
An Army Tale:
I remember a time in the Army while stationed with the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. The field exercise was over, and they told us we would go straight back to Camp Hovey and make it before the chow hall closed. Good motivation to pick up our pace for the 12 mile plus hike back. All of us wanted hot chow after eating MREs for the last few days. We were hiking along and the person navigating in front turned in a direction that seemed off to me. I bounded up the column to our Platoon Sergeant. I told him, “We’re going to the wrong way. We need to go that way (pointing) to make the chow hall before it closes.” Yes, I was thinking with my stomach. He asked if I was sure, and I told him I was.
He stopped the column and went to the Sgt. navigating in front. They were looking at the map as I walked up and pointed to a mountain in the distance. I told them where Camp Hovey was located in relation to that mountain and why we needed to go the direction I indicated to make it back in time for how food. They conferred a couple of minutes and concluded, “he’s right.” We headed the direction I’d pointed.
To be fair, I had a lot of extra land navigation as a sniper, and my time with Special Duty as an instructor at the 2nd Infantry Division Scout Sniper School allowed me to get to know the local terrain all around Camp Casey and Camp Hovey better than most. But this story does illustrate the importance of knowing where you are and how to get where you want to be. If I hadn’t of been, I’d have had to eaten MREs another night.
Another Consideration:
If a criminal has you under surveillance for some reason, which might be more common if you travel and work in certain areas of the world, he can watch and see you using a certain type of GPS and purchase the same model. This will aid them in determining the routes you are using. Yes, this is more for those who need higher security and are varying their routes and so forth to minimize the chances of being attacked by kidnappers and so on. Planning your routes and alternate routes with a map is a good skill to have, and it is critical if you work in the international security field.
Bottom Line: Having and knowing how to use a GPS is great. But also know how to read a map, use a compass, and navigate without the GPS. It’s an important skill for many reasons.