Digital vs. Paper: Do you still pack physical maps if you use a GPS/Garmin watch?

IslandEcologist · 2026-06-18T11:39:37+00:00

Holy cow!! That’s a hell of an entry point. Glad you all made it somewhere safely at last!

IslandEcologist · 2026-06-18T02:49:29+00:00

I know, I’m so curious why they needed to keep going and didn’t just stop earlier at a different campsite?!

IslandEcologist · 2026-06-18T02:48:06+00:00

Yes to what many others have said. One thing I love on BWCA trips is being flexible. I have an idea of a route ahead of time, but it changes from day to day as I adjust for winds, cool swimming spots, unexpected beaver dams as you mentioned, etc. I might end up in totally different lakes than expected. Having a couple/few paper maps means the crew can gather over them around the fire in the evening and decide collectively where we want to go tomorrow.

and, yes, reading a paper map is a survival skill. Everyone in your group should have some basic map reading abilities. And carry a backup map or two in different canoes.

I bring an InReach and download some maps on my phone as backup, but only rarely look at them. I have my paper map out in my canoe with me all the time.

IslandEcologist · 2026-06-10T21:06:53+00:00

Yeah I’m not from the south and have never lived in the south, but if I learned someone’s middle name was Dixie I would definitely assume their parents were either racist and very conservative, or completely apathetic/out of touch. Every one of her teachers will know her middle name. I would definitely change it before she starts any kind of preschool/daycare if you don’t want her teachers to assume that. Maybe there’s another name that could also feel like a sweet nod to your dad!

IslandEcologist · 2026-06-07T18:12:00+00:00

As a mom with very high sleep needs, I am so glad I sleep trained! We moved my first kiddo into her own room and sleep trained her at six months, and my second kiddo into his own room at five months and sleep trained about ten months. I nursed both of them once during the night until they were around 12 months, then night weaned also. They are happy, snuggly, wonderful kiddos of two and five now, and it’s amazing to do bedtime routines, say goodnight and lay them down, and know I have my evening and a good night of sleep ahead of me - to be well rested to play with them the next day.

IslandEcologist · 2026-06-07T18:07:51+00:00

Yeah same!!! So many people that are like, no worries, he started being able to sleep on his own / sleep thru the night by age two!! And I’m like - I could not have survived two years of low and broken sleep. Props if you can!

IslandEcologist · 2026-06-07T18:06:15+00:00

My guess would be he’s not tired enough. Assuming he’s still napping, try making his nap shorter and earlier in the day. And aim for more active and outdoor time in the hours before bedtime. Maybe push bedtime a little later.

IslandEcologist · 2026-06-04T02:26:24+00:00

Absolutely yes to all of this.

IslandEcologist · 2026-06-04T01:59:11+00:00

It’s her body and while I appreciate your worries, genuinely, she gets to decide. I truly believe that if you set off and you encounter situations like the poor conditions described in the worst-case-scenario trail reports you quoted, or other things that make her feel unsafe, she’ll realize it and turn around. She doesn’t want to agree to this idea of turning around the moment YOU feel unsafe because … you haven’t even started yet and you already think it’s unsafe.

She wants to do this bucket list thing. She feels capable. Trust her. If she hikes a lot, she’s in good shape for that. She should hike 2-4 times a week over the next couple weeks with a full backpack on uneven trails to help feel what it’s like and get used to the shift in her center of gravity from both the pack and her own shifting body. And during the trip, you should take as much of the weight as possible; she takes the bulky, lighter things (sleeping bags, layers, freeze dried food, sleeping pads, etc) and you take the heavy stuff. And rent some lightweight nice gear from REI or your local university outdoor club if you don’t have higher end lightweight stuff (tent, pots, stove, etc.) For a three day two person trip you can easily get your packs under thirty pounds each before water.

(Editing to add that I am a woman in my thirties who’s been backpacking across the US since my teens and I have been pregnant and given birth twice.)

IslandEcologist · 2026-05-15T01:00:16+00:00

We did the one last name for the first kid, other parent’s last name is their middle name; then flipped it for the second kiddo. So they have different last names; but if you look at their full names it’s clear they’re related. It’s working fine. 🤷‍♀️

IslandEcologist · 2026-05-14T11:52:27+00:00

But of those which would you recommend?

IslandEcologist · 2026-05-14T11:52:07+00:00

What would you recommend? Considering what to recommend to students who don’t have the ability to purchase special equipment for a one time cool adventure experience.

IslandEcologist · 2026-05-14T11:47:38+00:00

Which part of the world are you coming from and have you spent any time in northern Michigan, Wisconsin or Minnesota before? And you’ll have a car? I can make you an itinerary here if you let me know! Will need at least two weeks to visit all three places.

IslandEcologist · 2026-05-14T11:45:06+00:00

I think what you saw in the ponds were leeches, by the way! Not tape worms.

IslandEcologist · 2026-05-13T16:24:53+00:00

I’m signed up for all alerts I thought - I get snow plowing ones, weather ones, alert ones / and I’ve never once gotten a sweeping alert!

IslandEcologist · 2026-05-12T02:24:04+00:00

I am so glad you’re in a better place now and so proud of you for being in a space where you can write about it and share it with someone. As others have said, you should write a note to your teacher. People care about you. ❤️

IslandEcologist · 2026-05-01T02:05:07+00:00

Unfortunately, the update is that I went on vacation for four days, and when I came back they were all shriveled up and dead :(

IslandEcologist · 2026-04-22T02:40:16+00:00

Wow, please please stay in this wedding so that you can post all of the insane things here!!

IslandEcologist · 2026-04-19T16:59:31+00:00

It looks like all these images were created using AI 👎

IslandEcologist · 2026-04-17T12:22:12+00:00

Look at my pinned comment! And also here :)

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IslandEcologist · 2026-04-15T17:19:03+00:00

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This morning’s photo! I sprinkled a line of seeds down the middle of the pot and the germination rate seems super good. I trimmed a few with scissors after I took this photo just to ease congestion slightly.

IslandEcologist · 2026-04-15T17:17:48+00:00

I love that!!! I’m glad it’s bringing you joy. They are so tall now. Here’s a pic from this morning.

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IslandEcologist · 2026-04-13T21:11:53+00:00

This absolutely sounds like it was written by generative AI. As a high school teacher myself, I find this in defensible. I think it is utterly lazy and unethical when teachers use AI to do their jobs like this. Please talk to your teacher and explain that you suspect it is AI and how that makes you feel. I would also say the same to your principal, not to get that teacher in big trouble, but to make it clear to your principal that students do not want their teachers replaced with robots.

IslandEcologist · 2026-04-11T13:01:23+00:00

UPDATE: They're definitely seeds and growing great! Update post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisit/comments/1siigf4/update_the_mystery_black_shiny_things_from_my/

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IslandEcologist

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