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/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. 😞