This article is from the program “Here and Now” on NPR on August 17, 2021. You can alleviate your app woes by ordering the BATCO map here.

by Robin Young and Camila Beiner

If you’re planning to hike this summer, experts say to consider bringing a paper map. That’s because hiking organizations and rescuers around the country are seeing an increase in injuries and rescues.

One of the reasons for the additional mayhem on the trails is sheer numbers. Hikers logging treks into the popular AllTrails website increased by 171% in 2020.

The other reason though is the one causing concern: More people are relying on GPS programs — like Google Maps — for directions.

One problem with using these apps is unreliable data, says Wesley Trimble with the American Hiking Society.

“Most trail applications out there use a variety of base layer maps,” Trimble says. “These layers are crowdsourced a lot of times, and then people upload GPS tracks of places that they’ve been when there’s really no way to verify whether or not those uploaded tracks are on designated trails.”

More reliable maps can be found on National Park Service applications. Though these can still be downloaded, the trails are verified. But because cell phones can lose reception, or end up wet, dropped, or damaged, these should be used in combination with paper maps or printed before the hikers depart.

Another issue with cell phone reliance is the small screen, which makes it difficult for hikers to understand their larger environment. One New Hampshire rescuer explains that the small screen also makes it difficult for rescuers to find lost hikers since the hikers can’t see enough territory to describe where they are.

And Trimble, an avid hiker, has also had his share of personal experiences using GPS directions — including ending up on nonexistent trails.

“I was checking out trails and I had been on two sections of trail before,” he says. “When I was using one of these trail apps, it said there was a connection between them but when I got to where they said these two trails connected, there was absolutely no trail connection.”

The person who uploaded the information, he says, hiked up a 35-degree slope which could have led other hikers to fall. Ascending that type of slope with no trail can also create erosion and destroy fragile ecosystems.

On another occasion, Trimble realized the map he thought he’d downloaded wasn’t there at all.

“I was pretty positive I had downloaded the map before I left cellphone reception,” Trimble says. “Then when I was on the hike and pulled the app up… there was no data or map saved so luckily I was able to rely on a print version.”

The best way to stay safe on trails is to use multiple sources for directions, he says. People can talk to locals in the area, outdoor retailers or the park visitors centers.

In addition to paper maps, the American Hiking Society recommends compasses. But there’s a caveat: People need the skills to use the device properly, Trimble says.

New Hampshire rescue and trail conservation workers say they’ve been busy this summer, reporting about one GPS-user rescue a week.

Still, Trimble says that with a few simple precautions hiking can be safe and enjoyable. He cites an Outdoor Foundation report that says there was an increase of more than 7 million people on the trails from 2019 to 2020 as a good thing.

“The more people who are connected to these special places, the more people who value those spaces that want to advocate and protect those places,” Trimble says. “But it also does mean that there’s an added impact.”

Mount Evans slated to open June 4, Brainard June 11

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (May 25, 2021) – Visitors to Mount Evans and Brainard Lake, two popular locations on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, will be required to make reservations through Recreation.gov this season. Visitors can preview the reservation sites now and are encouraged to establish a Recreation.gov account in advance.

Mount Evans Recreation Area is tentatively scheduled to open June 4, weather dependent. Reservations for Mount Evans can be made on recreation.gov starting June 2 and reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance.

Brainard Lake Recreation Area is tentatively scheduled to open June 11, weather dependent. The upper elevations lots typically open in early July. Reservations for Brainard Lake can be made on recreation.gov starting May 27 and can be made up to 14 days in advance.

“Our goal is to reduce crowding and improve the overall experience, which will also benefit the wildlife, like mountain goats, that call Mount Evans home,” said Reid Armstrong, public affairs specialist with the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. “It will take some advance planning, and visitors will need to make some extra time to learn about the areas and secure a reservation. We also recommend that before heading out, check the forests Know Before You Go page for all the latest updates and alerts.”

These two iconic locations are among the Forests’ most visited recreation areas, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. The reservation system is aimed at reducing wait times, lines, and crowding at these areas’ welcome stations, visitors’ centers, and attractions. Dispersing visitors across the days and weeks will reduce impacts on wildlife and improve available parking. The new system should reduce crowding, allowing for proper social distancing and creating a more enjoyable and safer outdoor experience.

Mount Evans Recreation Area features the highest paved road in North America, which leads to the summit one of Colorado’s famous 14ers. Along the way are stops that offer glances into life in the high alpine environment, including Mount Goliath and its demonstration garden managed by Denver Botanic Gardens. Mount Evans is managed in partnership with Colorado Department of Transportation, which oversees the road, and Denver Mountain Parks, which runs Summit Lake Park. CDOT maintenance crews started plowing the highway on May 17, and crews will work into early June clearing snow along the highway from the gates at Echo Mount Lake Lodge to the summit of Mount Evans.

Brainard Lake Recreation Area is a portal to Indian Peaks Wilderness Area with hiking trails that lead into some of the area’s most rugged, high alpine terrain. The lake itself offers opportunities to picnic, fish and view wildlife within the stunning backdrop of the Continental Divide. The general area is open year-round but in the summer is managed by American Lands and Leisure, a private concessionaire contracted to provide daily maintenance and operations. Visitors with a campground reservation at Pawnee Campground will not need an additional reservation.

At each location, visitors will be able to select a reservation time slot from multiple windows throughout the day and decide on details about where they want to go (e.g. which parking area at Brainard and which sites on Mount Evans). While the base costs will not change, customers will be charged a $2 reservation fee by recreation.gov. Reservations are not required for biking and hiking into these areas. Annual and lifetime passholders will still need to make reservations and will only pay the $2 reservation fee. People who arrive without a reservation will need to return to a place where they can get a cell phone signal to secure a timed entry ticket.