GAIA is all I use. I don’t carry a compass or map; phone has both. Been doing it since 2008 and never a failure. Sure, it could fail. But I do study the route on maps (on my computer) and study the route on google earth before each trip. Plus, 99% of my hikes are day trips. I’m never far from a road.
I still have my Silva Ranger compass. It’s a beautiful piece of kit. But I don’t carry it.
I usually do SOTA activations during the week and most other walkers I see are older. But when I activate at the weekend I do see a lot of younger people out. And if it’s a popular area such as the Yorkshire Three Peaks (G/NP-004, G/NP-005 and G/NP-010) then there are usually lots of younger walkers out. Again, it’s the honeypot phenomenon.
Last time I had reason to check, there was no vaccine available for Lyme disease. There used to be, but it was discontinued.
I was only aware of the TBE jab.
Interesting though - if there was one for Lyme disease, why would it be withdrawn?
Either it didn’t work well or had dangerous side-effects.
I think it was a commercial decision based on lack of sales. It was mentioned in one of my professional journals years ago but not home currently so can’t check.
I wince when I see people in shorts on the hills. I’ve pulled more than a dozen ticks of our three dogs in the last four weeks hillbagging in England and Scotland.
Paul,
The only place where knowing the direction of the North Pole isn’t helpful is at the South Pole.
If it’s overcast or at night and I can’t see the Sun knowing the way to the N Pole certainly helps me decide which way to go. I have a sort of map in my head having prepared before I depart but sometimes whether to go left or right needs a prompt.
Using the moss growing on the Southern side of tree trunks is pretty broad in terms of direction. In thick forest the moss can pretty much circle the trunk. A compass is much more definitive.
Having a phone with my position spotted on a map with geographic features and North marked is pretty luxurious. The screen map doesn’t get torn or blow away or disintegrate with a bit of moisture.
The screen map is always better than the one in my head for new or infrequently visited places.
73
Ron
VK3AFW
This pup could have done with a compass. 
If you don’t know which way is North, do what those 3 wise blokes did 2025 years ago and use the stars?
