My map reading skills got a real test during a power outage in Portland

I was trying to find a friend's new apartment (which is on a weird little crescent street) when the whole neighborhood's power went out, so my phone died and I had to rely on a paper map I keep in the glove box. After about 20 minutes of turning the map around and squinting at street signs, a guy walking his dog saw me and said, 'You're holding it upside down, you know.' What's your best trick for not getting totally lost without a screen?

2 comments

2 Comments

gray_gibson1mo ago

Honestly, my best trick is to always look for a major landmark before you even start moving. Find a water tower, a tall building, or a big intersection you can see from far away. That way, if you get turned around, you can just head back to that spot and start over. I also trace my route on the paper map with my finger before I take a step, saying the street names out loud. It sounds silly, but it sticks in your head better. What kind of landmarks are easy to spot in your area?

michael8801mo ago

Tracing the route and saying street names out loud is a solid method, gray_gibson. I just work the opposite way. I find if I plan too much, I stop paying attention to what's actually around me. My best moves happen when I'm a little lost. I'll pick a direction and go, using stuff like a weirdly painted fence or a specific kind of tree as my breadcrumbs. For me, the big obvious landmark is just where I end up, not where I start.