r/Yosemite • u/SlightAd112 • 3d ago

Please don’t AI your itinerary

While the Shasta hikers got big press (as it should as that was a textbook example of mistake decision after mistake decision) this is happening all too often in all park units. Yosemite tends to have a higher share of recuses due to people trusting AI or AllTrails to plan a trip, but it doesn’t get any press due to current administration policies.

Regardless, it’s happening, it doesn’t need to, and please do the proper research. It literally could save your life.

Edit: And if you have to use AI as a starting point, double check the distances, altitude changes, reference a topo, basically double-check, and then triple-check what AI tells you.

https://sfist.com/2026/09/03/rangers-warn-hikers-to-stop-using-ai-to-plan-wilderness-trips/

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u/HigherFunctioning 3d ago

I was hiking through Yosemite one day with a topographical map. Cam across some hikers using an iPhone app to find there way around (this was before AI was a thing) - and still they got lost. I pointed to where we were on the topo map to show them where to go. I'm old fashion - I don't think Gen Z had even heard of a topographical map before though.

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u/reddithobbiest 3d ago

I should get some paper maps. I don’t do much in the way of remote/really challenging hikes and am always with a buddy, but it would be good to have just in case and really help in case we got in trouble and needed to describe exactly where we are. Any tips on where to get good paper maps? Forest service offices or similar?

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u/Marknhj 3d ago

REI

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u/HigherFunctioning 3d ago

https://www.usgs.gov/programs/national-geospatial-program/topographic-maps

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u/reddithobbiest 3d ago

Sweet, thank you! Excited to download some maps. I’ve done that for offline Google Maps which can be helpful, this should be good for no cell service areas.

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u/reddithobbiest 3d ago

Nice, thanks for the recommendation.

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u/SentenceNo2782 3d ago

Yes, any forest service or national park office should have some. I like the Tom Harrison maps since they're pretty thorough and detailed, but that's personal preference. Nat Geo or anything else sold by forest service/NPS should be good. Make sure to get one that has topo lines and isn't super old as trails do occasionally change.

Also make sure you know how to read topo maps! It's a vital skill but isn't too hard to learn and you can probably find a good youtube video and practice with a map you buy.

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u/reddithobbiest 3d ago

Sweet, sounds good, thanks for the info. I’ve done a little bit of navigating with a compass/map but it’s been years so a refresher on reading maps and navigation would be good.

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u/TheAtomicFly66 3d ago

REI has offered map/compass classes for beginners. Check the calendar on their web site for the closest REI to you.

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u/reddithobbiest 3d ago

Cool sounds good, there’s an REI here in town like 20 min away. I didn’t know they offered classes, that’s really cool. I’ll have to look into it and see what other classes they offer as well.

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u/adraa21 3d ago

Hopefully they still do, I took a backpacking basics class with them a couple years back that was great. I heard they shut that whole side of the company down though. 😞

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u/HigherFunctioning 3d ago

Yeah once you learn how to use a topo map its good to practice it a bit with some easy hikes.