Mac of Halfway Anywhere has been conducting surveys on the PCT for eight years, and on the CDT for four. Get the inside scoop on what makes people quit the trail, why he dislikes trail magic, and why he swears he’ll never hike the AT.
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Never miss a turn on the trail again. Turn-by-turn directions are now available in both iOS and Android. Enjoy visual and voice directions on your next hike, run, or ride. Plus, iOS users can see where they stand along their route’s elevation profile.
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Gaia GPS has joined forces with Outside Inc. to bring you not only the best backcountry navigation tools, but also leading outdoor journalism from our award-winning titles like Outside Magazine, BACKPACKER, Trail Runner, SKI, Climbing, and more. Learn how you can take advantage of all of these perks, or keep your Gaia GPS account just as it is.
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Don’t let your weekend plans go up in smoke. Gaia GPS’s robust collection of weather maps can help you avoid current wildfires and find smoke-free skies. Learn how to use these (free!) wildfire, smoke, and air quality maps to find out if it’s safe to hike, bike, or camp at your next destination.
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Learn how to overcome your backpacking fears this week on the Out and Back podcast. Allison Boyle, the face behind the ultra-popular blog and hiking resource She Dreams of Alpine, lays out the big three fears newbie backpackers feel. She shares her tried and true strategies for overcoming them, as well as why almost everyone wants to back out of their trip right before they start. Plus, learn how she turned her passion for the outdoors into a career.
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Create snap-to-trail routes on the fly with offline routing. Our intelligent route planning tool you know and love is now available without cell service or wifi. Just download the route data along with the map, and plan new routes from the road, your tent, or the trail.
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No more guessing whether your activity is permitted on the trail. Discover the best trails for biking, four wheel travel, and horseback riding with the all new color-coded trails in Gaia Topo. Plus, hikers looking for peaceful trails unencumbered by other activities can see which trails only permit foot travel. Learn how to use the color-coded system to find your next trail anywhere in the world.
Fifteen years ago, an owl swooped down to Mike Clelland with a message. That event changed the trajectory of his life, leading Mike to become a leading historian and author on the connection between highly charged owl encounters and UFO abduction. Yes, you read that correctly. Tune in to the newest episode of the Out and Back podcast and be prepared to never look at the world the same way again.
As wildfires derail recreation plans across the West, how can we account for longer and fiercer fire seasons? Former wildland firefighter Amanda Monthei lifts the curtain on fire misperceptions this week on the Out and Back podcast. Tune in to learn how we can work with — rather than against — fire, and how to take advantage of burn scars on your next trip.
Burning eyes, runny nose, and hazy skies indicate that it’s wildfire season. Steer clear of smokey, polluted air on your next adventure with three brand new Smoke Forecast maps. Smoke Forecast (today), Smoke Forecast (24h), and Smoke Forecast (48h) give you a sense of smoke levels all over the continental U.S. for today, tomorrow, and an entire weekend. All three maps are free for Gaia GPS users. Learn how to use them to make informed decisions in the backcountry.