We went on family road trip this weekend and it shed a little light on this problem. DH and SD depended on their smart phone GPS systems for navigation. Because we never left the pavement, set out with a general idea of how to get where we were going, stayed on major highways and roads we got there, despite both systems failing. One stop to ask a guy for directions and one called to a relative for back-up directions cleared things up, but I couldn't resist saying "I told you so" when I reminded them that if it were up to me, we would have used a good 'ol paper map.

It seems that too many people take the same approach when they go off-roading or to remote areas. In this scenario, we had lots of options but sometimes those disappear quickly. Technology can be great but it can also fail you. Put too much faith in it and you can get in trouble but if you still have the cel signal you can call in the calvary.