>> For starters, figuring out where you are with a map and compass takes skill in the best circumstances—
Indeed it does. I grew up hiking in mountains and acquired this skill (thanks boy scouts). We would regularly traverse mountains which had no trails around all. Or go from here to there making use of some trails, and some free walking. Understanding contours, water, vegetation comes with training and experience.
Hiking is also a peculiar sport. It's very safe to the prepared, but can be very dangerous in unexpected ways to the inexperienced. The barrier to entry is basically zero, and with phones/GPS gets ever lower.
Outcomes when things go wrong are usually OK. Wrong clothing, getting lost, you might get cold, hungry and tired. But mostly it's inconsequential. Until you get unlucky in the mix. Then the penalty for failure can be death.
Of course a bit of training covers a lot of ground. Scouts did a lot of that, not least I suppose because we were all kids who tend to make bad decisions. Proper footware, warm clothing, spare water and food, and most of all the ability to recognise when things are bad to Stop, hunker down, and wait for better weather or help.
My recommendation is that if you want to go hiking, join a club or find some training on how to Be Prepared (tips hat) and how to manage increasing danger levels.
I always find it odd when people say you should have a paper map, or a low tech way of making fire, or something like that.
People always frame it as "Old tech is better", but having the skill to actually use it seems like the important part.
I doubt I'd know what to do with a paper map in an emergency, but I do know that I probably shouldn't go to places where lack of skill or equipment is likely to kill me.
It's better in that if say your phone fails, it makes a good fall-back position.
Of course if you can't read a map (and that's a learned skill) or use a compass, then having that kit is of marginal usefulness.
Carrying a little "survival kit" , lighter, compass, map, survival bag (basically a big plastic bag that you can sleep in), pen-knife etc is a really good idea. Weighs very little, and can quite literally save your life.
Having both a map and a phone is obviously better than just a phone, but having only a paper map seems like a pretty bad idea unless you're a real expert.
I don't drive and rarely do more than "You can still hear traffic" stuff, but I do have some first aid stuff, a multi tool, an arc lighter(Since I need one anyway for heat sealing webbing and the like), and an emergency blanket.
But I have no business going anywhere where actually needing any of it is likely, without actually having the appropriate skills.
Indeed it does. I grew up hiking in mountains and acquired this skill (thanks boy scouts). We would regularly traverse mountains which had no trails around all. Or go from here to there making use of some trails, and some free walking. Understanding contours, water, vegetation comes with training and experience.
Hiking is also a peculiar sport. It's very safe to the prepared, but can be very dangerous in unexpected ways to the inexperienced. The barrier to entry is basically zero, and with phones/GPS gets ever lower.
Outcomes when things go wrong are usually OK. Wrong clothing, getting lost, you might get cold, hungry and tired. But mostly it's inconsequential. Until you get unlucky in the mix. Then the penalty for failure can be death.
Of course a bit of training covers a lot of ground. Scouts did a lot of that, not least I suppose because we were all kids who tend to make bad decisions. Proper footware, warm clothing, spare water and food, and most of all the ability to recognise when things are bad to Stop, hunker down, and wait for better weather or help.
My recommendation is that if you want to go hiking, join a club or find some training on how to Be Prepared (tips hat) and how to manage increasing danger levels.