Are paper maps an outdated technology?
The Maps v. Apps challenge
Maps Team - On The Trail
By Matthäus Bridge
Damp and misty weather greeted us as we stepped off the train onto Caerphilly station, matching the aesthetic of the town.
The spirit of the group was hopeful and filled with excitement; this was a new challenge and a chance to step out of the office together. I was less optimistic.
My team believed I was a confident map reader. In reality, the last time I read a map I was half a foot smaller, covered in spots and wearing a blue striped Scouts neckerchief.
We began on the west side of the mountain, and as we made our way into the forest reality hit us like a ton of bricks. What seemed like a small excursion is now an uphill soaking-wet endeavour into no man's land.
The team spends time taking photos and immersing themselves with their surroundings; it’s a real sense of peace and solitude. Although the weather wasn’t on our side, it didn’t matter. You get used to the mud seeping into your boots, eventually.
Instead of following the trail northwest of the starting point we continued east, eventually stumbling upon an older walking group. Without Google maps on our side, we had to socialise with strangers and ask for directions. They were more than happy to help.
Socialising with others remained a constant as we voyaged through the forest, perhaps they took pity on us. Soaking wet and helplessly holding a map while covered in mud doesn’t give the impression of a confident group on the right path.
The Result
Nevertheless, after an hour, we made it. Time flew by, and if I’m being honest, I wish it lasted longer.
Without our smartphones, the group was vulnerable to mistakes and forced to confront our dilemmas head-on. We were forced to live in the moment and work together as a team to get back on track.
Distractions hit us, but it wasn’t our socials or notifications. We stumbled upon horses, spoke to walking groups, found remains of tree houses, and tried our best to avoid sinking in mud holes.
Try saying this without sounding ridiculous: “I will turn off my phone for a couple of hours, buy a map and go for a walk with my friends into the forest.” I bet you can, and you’ll feel much better for doing it.
Apps Team - On The Trail
By Almha Murphy
My hiking experience has been sporadic. The last time I climbed anything it was hot, I was very hungover and had only a vague notion of where I was. I struggle to use Google Maps when navigating a well-signposted city.
I can only assume as I stand at the beginning of the trail with a lukewarm Greggs coffee that I will fare better with my phone than I would without it.
From the offset, we were presented with two options. One path looked like a more straightforward route. The other looked more rugged and scenic, with a dense bluff of deep green oaks and a narrow mud-track. We ventured this way.
The app’s blue dot appeared to be obediently guiding us, like a benevolent woodland spirit. There was a soft sheen of mist-like rain in the air and the sweet, clear sounds of bird-call. There was a certain sense of timelessness.
I had spent so much of the past few months in an urban humdrum (study, Lidl, gym) that I had forgotten how numbing the monotony of concrete could be. We saw a robin redbreast. We passed quaint, babbling streams. There was a notion of being lost in the most romantic way. Until we actually got lost.
We had been given only two clues before embarking upon our quest: When you see a fallen tree, walk straight through, and that the path was going to be a bit muddy. When we reached a path with a tree stooped over it we were feeling confident.
With my Greggs cup still in one hand and the other outstretched for balance, I attempted (unsuccessfully) to hop across the thick muddy path in front of us. I then rounded the corner and was met with a near-vertical climb over wet rock. It was a dead end.
We squelched our way back down the track, trying to regain signal. Ten, twenty minutes later and we were having no more luck. It was clear that Google maps was not tracking our exact location.
A small feeling of panic began to settle in. Suddenly the forest did not seem like a magical, tranquil space anymore. We were hungry and our feet were soaking.
In a feat of desperation, we took out Snapchat maps. To our surprise, it actually displayed the route we were on in far better detail. We made the tentative decision to follow one of the paths displayed on its interface. Five minutes later we were at the meeting point.
The Result
Apparently it took us 47 minutes to walk what should’ve been a 20 minute journey.
However, I didn’t regret taking the more unorthodox route, due to the amount of beautiful scenery we encountered. I did slightly regret ruining my gym shoes following Google Maps up a muddy stream. The moral of the story: I guess Snapchat should consider rebranding itself as a hiking app?
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