So, apparently it’s 2025 and my smartphone still hasn’t learned how to keep me from accidentally wandering into a mud pit every five minutes. Anyone else using one of these fancy new “hiking apps” that apparently doubles as a crystal ball for predicting trail mishaps? I’ve tried one that promises to help me avoid grizzly bears and yet never warns me about that one steep slope that turned my morning hike into an impromptu bungee jump.
I’m starting to think that these apps are more interested in quirky features like AR-infused virtual squirrels than in actually guiding my feet safely along the trail. Is there any app out there that actually understands the art of “map, warn, and avoid embarrassing myself,” or are we all doomed to be led off the path in a glorified treasure hunt for the nearest emergency hotline?
Please share your horror stories or surprisingly useful apps—preferably ones that can save my dignity on my next “adventure.”