Author

Abby Levene

Abby Levene is a writer, editor, and podcast producer for Gaia GPS. She's also a professional endurance athlete based in Boulder, Colorado. In her free time you can find her sweating in the mountains by foot, bike, and skis, or at home painting or curled up with a book.

Our 2023 Travel Bucket List

by Abby Levene November 21, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Happiness experts say that it’s better to receive an experience than something material. So we rounded up the trips we’re dreaming of taking to gift your loved ones this holiday season.

Outside editors have ambitious travel bucket lists and are always on the move. When asked what trips they’d most like to receive as gifts this year, our colleagues knew exactly what to say.

1. Svalbard

Sightseeing in Svalbard (Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand/Getty)

I can’t think of a more festive holiday gift than a trip to Svalbard, the northernmost settlement on the planet, just 650 miles from the North Pole. Although I’ve seen headlines about this arctic archipelago for years, when Outside columnist Emily Pennington wrote to me about her recent trip there this fall, I immediately added it to my bucket list. (Of course, I’d postpone my trip until summer when temperatures hover around 40 degrees.)

I’d spend at least a couple nights in a tent at Longyearbyen Camping (from $17)—you can rent camping gear right on site!—taking polar plunges in the Advent Fjord and exploring glaciers by hiking Sarkofagen Mountain. A trip to Svalbard wouldn’’t be complete without a dog sledding adventure; Green Dog offers tours by sled and wheels, along the snow and sea, depending on when you visit (from $95). After a few days of roughing it, I’d book a stay at the Funken Lodge (from $200), complete with a sauna, champagne tasting, and an old mining-cafeteria-turned-restaurant.

Key gear: I wouldn’t make this trip without my Women’s Intraknit Merino Fleece hoodie ($240), a cozy, wool zip-up with ample airflow that makes it perform for hiking, but cute enough that it’ll blend in around town. — Abigail Wise, digital managing director

2. Japan

The snow-capped Mount Yotei, a dormant volcano in Niseko, Japan (Photo: Stefan Irvine/Getty)

I recently got married, and in lieu of a traditional gift registry, we asked for guests to contribute to our dream, once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon trip to Japan in February. We’ll start out in Tokyo, where we plan to visit multiple vintage clothing stores and cookware shops. (I hope to procure a nice, Japanese-made chef’s knife at the latter.) After that, it’s a bullet train to Kyoto to visit some temples and shrines and enjoy the (relative) tranquility of the city after bustling Tokyo. Lastly, we’ll be flying to Niseko, where we hope to catch one of the country’s famous snow festivals and—of course—ski the famous Japanese powder at Niseko United.

We’ll be eating and drinking our way through the country, making sure to block out plenty of time for tasting sake, regional dishes, and konbini snacks in each city.

You don’t need a newly minted marriage license to enjoy this trip, though: Gift it to yourself by buying two tickets to Tokyo (around $1,200 from Denver), four nights at the Hoshino Resorts OMO5 Tokyo Otsuka hotel (around $130/night), four nights at Ace Hotel Kyoto (around $170/night), three nights at The Green Leaf Niseko Village (around $130/night) and two, $105 two-day passes at Niseko United (or you can use your Ikon pass, as we plan on doing). — Kelsey Lindsey, senior editor

3. Salmon River, Idaho

Whitewater rafting, Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho, United States (Photo: Merrill Images/Getty)

I want to go on a rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho with the outfitter Oars (from $3399) and its expert guides so that I don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ve been craving being out in stunning wilderness on water, to get a breather from the relentless grind of Slack, social media, and bad news.

The Middle Fork is a classic trip. I’ve seen photos from friends’ outings on it over the years and can’t believe how serene and gorgeous it looks. You need to get yourself to Stanley, Idaho, and from there you take a bush flight with Oars to the put-in on the river. There are Class III to IV rapids, gorgeous riverside sandy beaches to camp on, hiking, hot springs, and historic stops along the way.

Key Gear: I’d definitely pack a pair of sunglasses that will protect my eyes from the sun and water’s glare, like the Costa Caletas. — Mary Turner, deputy editor

4. Coastal Maine

The rocky shores of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine (Photo: John Greim/Getty)

The trip I’d most like to be given in 2023 is a journey home. I spent my formative years on the coast of Maine, and developed a love for the outdoors in the Pine Tree State’s woods and waterways. I haven’t spent time on those trails, rivers and bays for over twenty years. I miss the crash of waves against the shore, the smell of fresh, salty air, and the rugged beauty of the rocky shores.

I’d cover my airfare to Portland, and the rental car to drive up the coast, if someone will gift me my lodging and equipment rentals. I’d love two nights at Camden’s Grand Harbor Inn (from $200 a night), where I’d run the trails of Camden Hills State Park and rent a kayak ($60 an hour from Maine Sport Outfitters) to explore the harbor and islands in the afternoon. Then on to my youthful home town of Bucksport, where I’d run the rolling, wooded 10-mile loop of Verona Island where I first learned my love of going long, before driving on to Mount Desert Island.

I’d need three to four nights at the Bar Harbor Inn (from $240/night for ocean view) to get in all the activities: biking Acadia National Park’s loop road above granite cliffs ($35/day from Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop), canoeing on Great Long Pond ($38/ 3 hours at National Park Canoe Rental), climbing Cadillac Mountain, and running the miles of groomed carriage roads around the park’s lakes and hills.

Key gear: Since my running surfaces on the trip will range from paved roads to gravel paths, with a few rocky trails, I’ll need to pack a versatile pair of shoes like the Reebok Floatride Energy 4 Adventure. — Jonathan Beverly, senior running gear editor

5. Marin County, California

There are SoCal beach-goers and then there are NorCal ones; my family falls into the latter group, happily. Which is why we’re gifting ourselves a trip to Marin County for a long weekend next fall, when the weather is glorious. We’ll split our time between residential Stinson Beach, where my husband can surf-cast while my teenage daughter and I relax and roam the wide, 3.5-mile-long beach or spend an afternoon hiking the lush Dipsea Trail, and Marshall, another scenic outpost just 30 minutes from the choice clamming grounds of Bodega Bay (a daily permit of $17.50 is required for fishing or clamming).

In Stinson, we’ll stay at the century-old Sandpiper Lodge (from $280 for three people); it’s steps from the shore, trailhead, and a neighboring café with hearty hot breakfasts. In Marshall, up the coast on Tomales Bay, I’ve been eyeing the recently renovated Nick’s Cove, with 12 cabins overlooking the water (from $375 per night) and a sweet little restaurant at the end of a pier featuring a seasonal menu that will have your mouth watering if you’re in the area for seafood (and who’s not?). Four days of sandy beaches, salty air, and shells and fog and seaweed never seem like enough—but they’re all solid reasons for many returns.

Key gear: Mud boots, for both surf-casting and clamming, are a must. My family likes Bogs—my husband for its simple lines and my daughter for the colorful patterns. — Tasha Zemke, associate managing editor

6. The Ozarks, Arkansas

The Boston Mountains in the Ozarks (Photo: Paul Knightly/Getty)

Covered with hardwood forests and split by sheer sandstone river bluffs and quiet valleys, Arkansas’ Ozarks are a world away from the Appalachians or the Sierra, but they’re every bit as compelling. I’ve dreamed about hiking the Ozark Highlands Trail ever since the first time I set foot in those woods. Parts of the trail are still roadwalks or bushwhacks, but if you have 10 to 14 days free, you can get a taste of the best the path has to offer on the 164-mile Boston Mountains segment, which covers the trail’s most rugged peaks.

Start at the trail’s western terminus at Lake Fort Smith (closest airport: Fort Smith, which has daily flights from Dallas-Fort Worth; $380-450 at the time of writing). From there, meander east through deep hollows and over forested peaks, tagging the 2,382-foot summit of Hare Mountain, the trail’s high point, along the way. Your journey ends with a bang by traversing Richland Creek Wilderness, home to more than 30 waterfalls, including the 78-foot-high Terry Keefe Falls.

Tip: Camping is easy—you can pitch a tent (I’d want to bring an ultralight model like the Zpacks Duplex, starting at $699, along with a quilt like the REI Co-op Magma Trail Quilt 30, $329 and a good old Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite Sol, $55) along most of the trail, as long as you’re 200 feet away from the treadpath or any water source—but resupplying is not. With few to no grocery stores within walking distance, your best bet is to mail food to post offices along the trail.

Key gear: Ask a friend or family member to send you resupply boxes. My gourmet wishlist includes a few nice meals from Stowaway Gourmet, $16 each, and vegan jerky from Beyond Meat, $4 for a 3 ounce bag. — Adam Roy, executive editor of Backpacker

7. Tuscany, Italy

Gravel biking in Tuscany (Photo: Zodebala/Getty)

Every spring, just as winter is loosening its grip, something magical happens in Central Italy. Emerging from hibernation, the pro cycling peloton winds through the olive groves and 1,000-year-old vineyards of Tuscany in a spectacular one-day race known as Strade Bianche. Surging up and down the eponymous “white roads” of the Bel Paese, the hilly course is a romantic’s dream—a throwback to the days when all races took place on gravel and ended with a heaping bowl of pasta, a hunk of crusty bread, and a bottle of Montepulciano or Chianti.

In my version of the dream, I join a guided 7-day tour with InGamba, a boutique operator founded and staffed by former pros who love fine food and conversation almost as much as they adore two-wheeled adventures. I’d draft behind Tour de France legend (and lead guide) Eros Poli as our small group of 8-10 riders rolled out of Florence, threading our way day-by-day through small villages and ancient ruins on cypress-lined roads.

Supported by a team of mechanics who tune and wash InGamba’s top-of-the-line fleet of Pinarello Grevils every morning, I’d dine on local delicacies each night, laughing with riders from all over the world around rustic tables in small, family-operated restaurants. And of course I’d show off the coating of fine white dust that’s the best souvenir of a Strade Bianche experience.

InGamba trips aren’t cheap—$6,950 for this one—but they’re worth every penny for the team’s local knowledge, impeccable attention to detail, and first-class food, drink, and lodging. Each rider receives a custom kit (which is washed and returned to you every night), but since a bike is provided there’s little gear to worry about.

Key gear: A broken-in pair of quality gravel shoes like the Specialized S-Works Recon Vent Evo. Oh, and a bottle of ibuprofen for the morning after all that Chianti. — Jon Dorn, VP of strategy at Outside, Inc.

This article was originally published on Outside Online.

November 21, 2022

Gaia GPS New Features

OpenSnow Weather Now Available at-a-Tap on the Map

by Abby Levene November 9, 2022

written by Abby Levene

There’s no such thing as bad weather, just poor planning. The problem is, you need to know what the weather will be so you can plan accordingly. Predicting the weather grows particularly challenging as the days grow shorter, colder, and wetter.

We have a solution.

While we can’t supply a crystal ball, we can supply the weather for exactly where you’re going, exactly where you need it—right on the map. We partnered with OpenSnow, the leading resource for backcountry weather, to bring you hyper-localized weather forecasts that you can access at a tap.

Just tap anywhere on the map, anywhere in the world, and get the current weather plus the forecast right in Gaia GPS. Read on to get the full weather-at-a-tap lowdown.

Forecasts from a Trusted Source

We worked hard with our friends over at OpenSnow to bring you the best global weather data for your adventures. Founded by meteorologist and skier Joel Gratz, OpenSnow delivers high-quality weather forecasts worldwide.

As its name suggests, OpenSnow started as a ski-focused forecasting and snow-reporting website. Its scope has expanded over the past decade to provide high-quality backcountry weather forecasts for all seasons. Now, millions trust OpenSnow for weather forecasting year-round.

Weather At-A-Tap on the Map

Equally important to forecast quality is accessibility. That’s why we put the forecast right on the map. No more guesstimating the zip codes of your next backcountry skiing zone, four-wheeled desert escape, or ridge line traverse. Get the forecast as you plan your adventures on the map.

Just tap the map in the app or on gaiagps.com, and the weather appears at the top of the tap drawer just under the location coordinates. Notice how the forecast changes as you tap around the map. Get a sense of how the temperature plummets as you move up the mountain, and rises as you descend into canyons.

All the Forecasts You Need, in One Place

Tap anywhere on the map to get all the current weather information you need, including the temperature, cloud cover, chance of precipitation, and wind.

Whether you’re hitting the slopes or setting out on a cross-country cruise, you need more than the current weather. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Click the arrow next to the current weather to get the expanded three-day forecast, as well as a link to the 10-day forecast.

Get Even More Weather Data by Upgrading to Premium with Outside+

Weather at-a-tap is available to all Gaia GPS users. Get even more weather data, including our suite of precipitation and snow forecast maps, by upgrading to Gaia GPS Premium with Outside+.

Premium gives you access to the entire map catalog, including all the maps you need for winter, such as the Avalanche Forecast, Snow Depth, weather reports from snow stations around the west, and ski resort reports. Plus, with Premium you can take your maps offline so you can navigate without cell service.

November 9, 2022

Earl Shaffer stands next to the sign on top of Mount Katahdin. He wears binoculars, a long sleeve tee and jeans. His pack sits on a rock in front of him.

Gaia GPS Hikes

Walking off the War on the Appalachian Trail

by Abby Levene November 7, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Photo: Earl Shaffer at the northern end of the Appalachian Trail, Mount Katahdin, Maine. Photographer by an unknown hiker. Courtesy of the Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Origin: Earl Shaffer “Walks off the War”

Around 1:30 pm on August 5, 1948, a weary Earl V. Shaffer reached the summit of Mount Katahdin. Someone took his photo by the sign, he talked with several others on the summit, and he made his way back down. His outing looked pretty similar to that of thousands of hikers who had reached the rocky pinnacle before him. Shaffer, however, had just walked the entire length of the 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail. And records show he was the first person to do so since the long trail was completed in 1937.

Shaffer had started his hike 123 days previously at the base of Mount Oglethorpe, which served as the southern terminus of the AT until 1958. He travelled alone, walking around 17 miles a day. Shaffer packed light. He nixed a tent when he realized his poncho could double as a shelter. He mended his clothes, and cooked cornbread in a pan over an open fire. Shaffer made it over the rocks, roots, and rubble in just one pair of Russell Moccasin Company “Birdshooter” boots. He resoled them twice, and they were in tatters by the end.

Despite Shaffer’s militancy for packing light, another heaviness weighed on his shoulders. Shaffer’s impetus for his unprecedented journey was to “walk the war out of my system.” The 29-year-old had served as a radar equipment technician in the South Pacific for four years during World War II. He saw the vestiges of war everywhere across the bucolic trail. In his “little black book,” a six-ring notebook he used as a diary, Shaffer perfunctorily makes note of military memorials, encountering fellow vets, and clouds resembling military carriers. He writes about a farmer’s son who “was psycho from [the] army” and a mother grouse who exploded from the underbrush like “an A-bomb.”

Twice, Shaffer mentions his childhood friend, Walter Winemiller, who passed away in the Battle of Iwo Jima. They had planned on hiking the trail together.

64 Years Later: Veteran Sean Gobin Thru-Hikes the AT

Sean Gobin stands in full combat gear in front of a military tank in the desert of south west Afghanistan. — Marine Sean Gobin in South West Afghanistan, 2011. Courtesy of Sean Gobin

Thru-hiking has exploded in popularity since Shaffer’s inaugural walk. About 20,000 people have completed the AT. Yet the tradition of “walking off the war” continues. Sixty-four years after Shaffer embarked on his 2,000 mile quest, marine veteran Sean Gobin did the same. Like Shaffer, Gobin had dreamed of thru-hiking the AT long before serving three deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As a kid, Gobin and his family spent summer vacations traveling around the country in an RV.

“I remember visiting Shenandoah National Park and noticing this trail that went all the way from Georgia to Maine,” Gobin recalls. “I was fascinated that people actually hiked the whole thing. I always wanted to do it.”

On his last day in the Marine Corps, Gobin drove out the back gate of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and beelined 500 miles due west to Springer Valley, Georgia. He started his thru-hike the next day.

“It was this really personal, cathartic experience.”

Gobin set out from Springer Mountain simply hoping to defy a statistic. He knew nothing about Shaffer, nature therapy, or even thru-hiking. But Gobin did know that of those who attempt to thru-hike the AT, only about 20 percent make it all the way.

“As a Marine,” Gobin says, “You’re like, ‘okay challenge accepted.’”

Sean Gobin sits on a rock painted with an American Flag. He's wearing his backpacking pack and holding poles. — Sean Gobin above Lehigh Gap, PA on the AT. Courtesy of Sean Gobin

Gobin wanted an extreme physical challenge. He got that — and an experience that shifted the trajectory of his life. The first month on the trail was a “complete mess.” Gobin made all of your typical beginner thru-hiker mistakes, and gave himself a slew of overuse injuries. But he was a fast learner, and by the time the shin splints, knee strains, blisters, and lost toenails recovered, Gobin had figured thru-hiking out.

“Once I figured everything out, it was really this incredible experience where I was able to focus outwardly and really appreciate the trail, nature, and the serenity of it all,” Gobin says.

Gobin settled into the rhythm of hiking eight to 12 hours a day. Immersed in nature and with nothing to distract him, he started processing his past, and planning for the future.

“Your brain really has nothing to do but start to focus on your life experiences and what you’ve gone through,” Gobin says. “You come to terms with it, and then start focusing on the future and what you want to do with your life; what’s really important to you. It was this really personal, cathartic experience.”

By the time Gobin finished the trail, he realized he had gone through an incredibly therapeutic, life-changing journey. He felt called to provide fellow vets with a similar experience — many needed it.

The early 2010s marked the height of the Veterans Association struggling to deal with an onslaught of vets coming home with mental health issues. Since 2001, over three million vets have returned home from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many never transition from their experiences. In fact, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that over 15 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan vets suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“The VA was prescribing a lot of medications, and some of the side effects are even worse than the effects of post-traumatic stress,” Gobin says.

To make matters worse, many vets would come home and give up the daily structure of working out and keeping up with military standards of fitness. Their physical health faded with their mental health. Gobin knew thru-hiking could help with both.

Warrior Expeditions: Walking Off War Together

A group of Warrior Expeditions Vets stand on top of McAfee Knob. Green mountains ripple into the distance under a cloudy sky. — A Warrior Expeditions group at McAfee Knob, VA on the AT. Courtesy of Warrior Expeditions

Almost instantly, puzzle pieces started falling into place. Gobin met an Appalachian Trail Conservancy board member, who introduced Gobin to the history of Earl Shaffer and veterans walking off the war. Gobin was intrigued. Together, Gobin and the ATC started putting together a vet outreach program to help vets transition from their wartime experiences by thru-hiking the trail.

Gobin used his MBA classes at the University of Virginia that winter to put Warrior Expeditions together. He made the website during finals week. Gobin called every outdoor company he could think of. Companies began donating gear. The ATC announced the program, and applications flooded in. Gobin organized a community of supporters all the way up the AT who would take vets in for a meal and a place to sleep every few days up the trail.

“And their eyes — wow, it was like someone turned the lights on.”

That spring, Gobin met his first class of vets in Georgia. He distributed gear, gave an orientation talk about how to thru-hike, and told them what to expect. Gobin shadowed them up the trail for a week, and departed in Hiawassee, GA. Six months later, Gobin met the group at Katahdin. He couldn’t believe the transformation that had occurred along the trail.

“The people I met in Maine were not the same people who started in Georgia,” Gobin says. “Physically, they had lost tons of weight. The pudgy vets who started up the trail no longer had an ounce of body fat. And their eyes — wow, it was like someone turned the lights on.”

By the time Gobin met the group in Maine, the previously depressive, introverted, and sullen vets were beaming, laughing, and talking. Gobin realized he had found his life’s calling. Warrior Expeditions rapidly expanded, organizing thru-hikes for vets on eight different long trails across the country, plus a 3,700-mile cross-country cycling expedition and paddling trip along the 2,320-mile Mississippi River.

A Magical Formula: Building a Routine in Nature as a Team

Sean Gobin smiles while standing on a rocky trail. He's wearing a backpack and button-down shorts sleeve shirt. — Sean Gobin. Courtesy of Sean Gobin.

Gobin says Warrior Expeditions works because of three elements: the therapeutic benefits of living in tune with nature, the structure of purpose and routine, and the social element of traveling together.

Hiking with a heavy pack all day, every day helps burn off anxiety. The physical toll and time in nature alleviates depression. The routine puts hikers on a normal sleep schedule where they’re up with the sun and sleep when the sun sets. Plus, they’re so tired that they actually get a good night’s sleep.

“It’s very structured,” Gobin says. “It strips away all the things in life that are unnecessary. It breaks life down to its most basic elements.”

Traveling along the trail in a group and interacting with community hosts and other hikers on the trail builds connection and a sense of camaraderie.

“All of those things are the magical ingredients that go into what makes it such a transformational experience, both physically and mentally” Gobin says.

These qualitative benefits have been backed up with quantitative data. For the past seven years, Warrior Expeditions has partnered with psychologists Dr. Shauna Joye (an Air Force veteran) and Dr. Zachary Dietrich (a Marine Corps veteran) to research the effects of long-term wilderness experiences on combat veterans. Their results show that participants benefit from significantly lower levels of post traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression after finishing a wilderness program.

A New Nature-Based Life

A Warrior Expeditions group stands on top of Mount Katahdin. They are posing and smiling around the sign, and two people are holding an American flag. — A Warrior Expeditions group reaches the end of their AT thru-hike. Courtesy of Sean Gobin.

Back on his first thru-hike in 1948, Earl Shaffer quickly misplaced his maps. Unfortunately for him, smart phones and digital maps did not yet exist. So Shaffer was forced to rely on a compass and instinct to find his way. He recounts getting lost numerous times. Yet Shaffer seems to have found himself along the way. After descending Katahdin, Shaffer shouldered the nickname “The Crazy One” and moved to a cabin in rural Idaville, PA — just five miles off the AT. Surrounded by cats and goats and forgoing running water and refrigeration, Shaffer coexisted with nature on his own terms.

Thru-hiking remained another constant in Shaffer’s life. He went on to hike the entire length of the AT two more times. In 1998 at age 79, he became the oldest person to do so. It took him 173 days.

Shaffer passed away in 2002 at the age of 83. But his legacy lives on through the veterans who embark on the same transformative journey each year. After their expeditions, most vets continue to hike. Some, like Gobin, buy an RV and travel. And some even move to the wilderness and go on to start their own small farms.

“It’s therapeutic for everybody, no matter who you are and what you’re dealing with at the moment. It’s just this incredible transformation all the way around.”

Veterans hold a special place in both the history and meaning of thru-hiking in America. Yet Gobin says that part of a trail’s magic lies in its ability to lighten the lives of anyone.

“The trail is full of all different types of people and demographics and reasons for being out there,” Gobin says. “And it’s therapeutic for everybody, no matter who you are and what you’re dealing with at the moment. It’s just this incredible transformation all the way around.”

Although the pandemic has placed Warrior Expeditions trips on hold, you can get involved by applying to serve as a community host along a trail. You can also contribute with donations. Gobin says they’re always seeking outdoor gear with which to equip vets on their trips. Follow along with Warrior Expeditions on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

November 7, 2022

Gaia GPS New Maps

Activate Snow Mode with Gaia Winter

by Abby Levene October 26, 2022

written by Abby Levene

The world’s best backcountry navigation app is now available in winter mode! Ride the lifts, tour the backcountry, and explore nordic, fat bike, and snowshoe trails with confidence thanks to the all-new Gaia Winter topographic map.

Our in-house cartographers designed this new base map specifically for your favorite winter activities. A stronger emphasis on terrain, tree cover, and contours make it easy to navigate in an endless world of white. A special “winter” color palette pairs perfectly with our suite of winter maps, including Avalanche Forecast, Slope Angle, Snow Depth, Snow Stations (Daily), and 24, 48, and 72-hour Snow Forecast maps. Plus, see every run at the ski resort, along with nordic, snowshoe, fat bike, and uphill trails.

Just like our original Gaia Topo, Gaia Winter comes with industry-leading download efficiency. A tiny file size and lightning-quick download speeds let you save your entire state so you can always have a map on hand, even when you lose cell service. Whether you’re riding the lifts, sliding into the side country, or touring untouched terrain, bring Gaia Winter along with you so that you can always find your location — and your way back.

Get All the Ski Resort Maps in One Place

You always have the ski resort map in your pocket with Gaia Winter. If you get lost on the trails, just pull up the map to see exactly where you are. Zoom in to any ski resort to see all the ski trails, represented by thick, partially transparent lines.

Runs are color-coded by the corresponding difficulty level: green for easiest, blue for intermediate, and black for difficult. The most difficult and “extreme” terrain (double black diamonds) is shaded in orange. You’ll also see the names of the trails.

Whether you’re trying to avoid getting stuck on the cat tracks or want to stay off the bumps, use Gaia Winter to pick your best line down the hill. Chairlifts are easy to spot in red. We’ve added the chairlift names to make it even easier to place yourself on the map.

When you’re ready for lunch, consult Gaia Winter to find a lodge nearby. Easily spot major hotels, highlighted on the map in blue. Check out the best après ski options in town, as well as gas stations and grocery stores, all highlighted in orange. Record your tracks in the app so you can relive the day’s adventures. Pro tip: check out your tracks in 3D mode on gaiagps.com!

Explore Nordic, Snowshoe, and Fat Bike Trails

In addition to downhill ski resorts, Gaia Winter shows other trails designed for snow travel. Nordic trails are represented as thinner solid lines. They’re also color-coded by the corresponding difficulty level. Zoom in or click on a trail to see its name.

Dotted trails with highlighting denote snowshoe, fat bike, and uphill trails. Click on a trail to get more details, including distance and elevation gain.

Designed for the Demands of Winter

Gaia Winter immediately sets a seasonal tone with a winter-themed color scheme. The blue-grey palette also makes Gaia Winter easy to distinguish from the greens and browns of our classic base map, Gaia Topo.

At a zoomed-out level, the landscape appears pale blue, with mountainous and forested areas in shades of pale mint green. Once you zoom in, tree shading appears in a pale mint green, while exposed surfaces look white. Rivers and bodies of water appear ice blue.

Tour the backcountry with confidence thanks to a stronger emphasis on terrain, tree cover, and contour lines. The mountains pop out of the map, helping you scout the best uphill and ski lines. See exactly where treeline ends so you can find powdery bowls and untracked glades. Hiking, mountain bike, and other three-season trails are deemphasized to make it even easier to see ski, snowshoe, and fat bike trails.

Streamlined Integration with Winter Maps

Gaia Winter showing Jackson Hole overlayed with the Slope Angle map.

This less-diverse color palette also serves a functional purpose. Gaia Winter is expertly styled to pair perfectly with our suite of winter maps. Whether you’re accessing the side country from the resort or going out for an all-day backcountry tour, layer the Slope Angle map over Gaia Winter to find low-angle terrain. Pair the Avalanche Forecast maps over Gaia Winter to clearly see which zones are green, signifying the lowest rating for avalanche risk.

And of course, don’t forget to check out our snowfall map layers, including Snow Stations (Daily), to get 24-hour snowfall reports for remote mountain areas in the western US and British Columbia. View water density readings to see if the snow is light like Wasatch powder or heavy like Sierra cement. Get more information on snow conditions in the Lower 48 and find areas holding the deepest snow with the Snow Depth layer. Plus, check the snow forecast straight from NOAA with 24-, 48-, and 72-hour Snowfall Forecast overlays.

Navigate at Night with Dark Mode

Just like Gaia Topo, Gaia Winter also comes in Dark Mode. Save your eyes and your battery life by switching to Dark mode at night. Dark Mode inverts the traditional color scheme, giving you a gorgeous aesthetic that produces less ambient light. The map appears dark grey, while trails and icons pop in fluorescent colors.

For an even better viewing experience, enable the Dark Mode responsive Gaia Topo map and your eyes will thank you. To turn on this feature, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Appearance. Then, tap “Dark” to set the display to Dark Mode. Gaia GPS will automatically adjust its own display settings to match. To ensure that your screen settings are always suited to your environment, tap “Automatic” under “Display & Brightness” to sync up Dark Mode with sunset and sunrise. You can also set it to adjust according to a schedule of your own choosing.

Gaia Winter is Available with a Premium Membership

Gaia Winter is available on the web and in the Gaia GPS app with a Gaia GPS Premium membership. To access this map, visit the layers menu and search for “Gaia Winter.” Or from the layers menu, select “Topo Maps.” Scroll down and tap “Gaia Winter.” Tap the “Add Layer” button. Learn how to add and manage overlays here.

A Premium Membership also gives you access to Gaia GPS’s entire map catalog, including a suite of avalanche safety maps. These include Slope Angle, Avalanche Forecast, recent satellite imagery, Snow Stations (Daily), Snow Depth, and snow forecast maps. Read up on how to use maps to help avoid avalanche danger.

Plus, with Premium, you can layer maps together. For example, you can place the Slope Angle map on top of Gaia Winter to find the best low-angle terrain. And you can download your maps (including Gaia Winter) for use without cell service, as well as print maps so you always have a backup.

October 26, 2022

Two people look at Gaia GPS on their phone while standing in front of mountains.

Gaia GPS How-To

Unlock the Full Power of Gaia GPS with Our New Advanced Online Course

by Abby Levene October 25, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Gaia GPS is a great tool to have in your back pocket for when sh*t hits the fan. But also proves invaluable for taking adventuring into your own hands. By unlocking the full power of Gaia GPS, you unlock the power within yourself to create – and go on – your own adventures.

Our new online course from Outside Learn, Gaia GPS Advanced, teaches you how to use every feature of the app and gaiagps.com to the fullest. Plus, get the insider tour of our 300+ map catalog, as well as how to layer maps together to reveal even more terrain features. And learn how to tap into our curated collection of map packs, as well as how to build your own so you can put your favorite map combinations in your hands at any moment.

Whether you are just getting started with Gaia GPS, or you’re looking to use more advanced tools, this seven-part course will help you quickly hone your skills.

You’ll learn:

How to take your maps offline so you can navigate without cell service
How to modify your route or create a new one while on the trail
How to find the perfect campsite using the Gaia GPS
How to customize your maps with adventure-specific details
How to organize and share your maps and routes
Our best, top-secret tips and tricks

Take Gaia GPS Advanced with Gaia GPS Premium powered by Outside+, the one subscription to fuel all of your adventures.

p.s. If you’re just getting started, check out Gaia GPS 101 on Outside Learn or Youtube!

October 25, 2022

Hiker looks at phone in front of Lake Tahoe.

Gaia GPS How-To

Master the Fundamentals of Gaia GPS with Our New Course

by Abby Levene October 12, 2022

written by Abby Levene

From exploring out the front door to adventuring around the deepest corners of the backcountry, Gaia GPS unlocks a new world of opportunity. You just need to know how to use it.

And here’s the thing: Gaia GPS is such a powerful mapping and navigation tool that even we’ll admit there’s a little bit of a learning curve to mastering its breadth and depth. That’s why we teamed up with our friends over at Outside Learn to create Gaia GPS 101, our brand new course designed to save you time and help you get the most out of the app.

Whether you’re just getting into hiking, backpacking around the world, or navigating tricky mountain passes in your rig, this course is for you. Follow along with our seven short lessons and you’ll be fully equipped to plan your own adventures on foot, skis, boats, or wheels.

In this course, professional ultra runner and Gaia GPS team member Abby Levene teaches you the fundamentals of the app. Learn how to find your way if you lose the trail, use waypoints to enhance your adventures, stay safer with weather and terrain features, and plan and navigate along your own routes.

Watch the full course below for free and grow empowered to explore. Outside+ members can also take the course on Outside Learn.

Gaia GPS 101 covers:

Customizing your app
Orienting yourself on the map
Checking localized weather
Creating your own routes
Navigating along a route
Free map layers and how to use them

Pssst if you want to take your skills to the next level, stay tuned for Gaia GPS Advanced, coming soon!

October 12, 2022

Gaia GPS How-To

Avoid Smoky Skies and Wildfires with Our Suite of Weather Maps

by Abby Levene September 13, 2022

written by Abby Levene

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. These real-time maps are available for free with a Gaia GPS account. Read on to learn how to use wildfire, smoke, and air quality maps to stay safe hiking, biking, or camping at your next destination.

Wildfires (Current): See Where Wildfires are Burning Now

Check where fires are currently burning with the Wildfires (Current) layer. This map shows the perimeter of fires burning throughout the U.S. and Canada. Click a fire on the map to get more information, such as its name, size, and perimeter date.

The Wildfire (Current) map is updated daily. Data comes from the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Province of British Columbia, Alberta Wildfire, and the Government of Saskatchewan.

Wildfires (Satellite Detections): See Wildfire Hotspots Worldwide

See hotspots around the world with the Wildfires (Sat e llite Detections) layer. This global map detects and displays heat on the earth’s surface. While most of the hot spots on the map indicate heat from fire, the map also detects other heat sources such as geothermal activity and lava flows.

Tap on the purple shading to get more information about the heat source. The Wildfire (Satellite Detections) layer is updated several times a day as new data is made available by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Use the Wildfires (Satellite Detections) layer in conjunction with the Wildfires (Current) layer to see where a fire is still burning hot within the fire perimeter. You can also use the Wildfires (Satellite Detections) map to see fires not yet on the Wildfire (Current) map. Some wildfires remain undetected by the Wildfires (Current) layer, especially when the fire is brand new, in a remote area, or not being actively fought. However, both detected and undetected fires will appear on the Wildfires (Satellite Detections) layer in purple shading if they are still hot and actively burning.

Smoke (Current, 24h, 48h): Check the Smoke Forecast

Not surprisingly, wildfires generate tremendous amounts of smoke. Surprisingly, that smoke can blow hundreds (and even thousands) of miles away. A wildfire in Oregon may make for hazy skies in Montana — or even Massachusetts. Even if you can’t smell smoke, the fine particulate matter hanging in the air can lead to adverse health effects and even premature death.

So don’t trust your nose to sniff out bad air. Use the Smoke Forecast maps to check detected levels of smoke in the area you plan to visit. Gaia GPS offers three Smoke Forecast layers: Current, 24-hour, and 48-hour to give you a picture of upcoming smoke trends. Each shows smoke concentrations on a color-coded scale. Click a region to see the smoke concentration and when that forecast was recorded. Keep in mind that these maps are forecasts from NOAA’s High Resolution Rapid Refresh model, and may not always be accurate.

Air Quality (Current, Tomorrow): Check the Air Quality Index from the EPA

Get an even more comprehensive sense of the air quality by consulting the Air Quality layers. These maps show the EPA’s Air Quality forecast right in your Gaia GPS account, and are updated daily. The Air Quality layer uses color-coding to indicate the Air Quality Index (AQI). AQI reports levels of some of the most common air pollutants: ozone (smog), particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

Consult this map to get an index rating with which you are familiar; colors on map are analogous to those used by the EPA. Choose from either the Air Quality (Current) or Air Quality (Tomorrow) map depending on when you’re planning to take off on your trip. Once again, keep in mind that these are forecast layers and may not be accurate.

Wildfires (Historical): See Burn Zones Across the U.S.

Check to see if you’ll be traveling through a burn zone using the Wildfires (Historical) layer. This map shows where previous wildfires have burned across the U.S. More recent fires appear bright red, fading to paler shades as time passes by.

Use this map to get a sense of whether you’ll be traveling through barren burn zones with high sun exposure that also afford sweeping views. Foragers flock to burn scars to find an abundance of mushrooms and other edible and medicinal plants. Tap on a burn zone in the map to learn the name of the fire, the date of the burn, and the acreage affected. This map is available with a Gaia GPS Premium Membership.

How to Get the Wildfires, Smoke, and Air Quality Maps

To add the Wildfire, Smoke Forecast, and Air Quality maps to your Gaia GPS account:

Go to map layers icon.
Tap the “Add Map Layers” button.
Select “Weather Feature Overlays.”
Click on the maps you want to see.

With a Gaia GPS Premium membership, you can select several maps and layer them together to get a complete picture of the air pollution and active fires in your area. Use the opacity controls to further customize the map view.

Watch: How to Check for Wildfires and Smoke

Access More Maps with a Premium Membership

Gaia GPS gives you access to hundreds of maps, from high-resolution satellite layers to topo maps for around the world. With a Gaia GPS Premium Membership, you can layer weather and feature maps on top of your basemaps to customize information you need for your upcoming trip.

A Premium Membership also lets you download maps for offline use. Keep in mind, though, that many maps are regularly updated and cannot be downloaded. Check those weather and feature maps before you leave wifi or cell service.

Wildfires, Smoke, and Air Quality Maps are available with a free account, sign up here.

September 13, 2022

Gaia GPS New Features

New Edit Tools: Creating Your Own Routes Just Got Even Easier

by Abby Levene September 1, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Expert route builders and route planning-curious alike, we have great news for you. Creating your own adventures in Gaia GPS just got even easier — and more fun. Meet our new route editing tools, here to let you quickly fix any mistakes or changes of heart, automatically out-and-back any one-way route, send your route back to the start, and reverse your route direction.

You asked, and we listened. We added these route editing tools so that you can explore our maps with even more abandon, knowing you can painlessly erase any route-building mistakes and let our planning tools handle the tedious tasks. Enjoy these tools on Android and on the big screen at gaiagps.com. To put the cherry on top of this route creation cake, we’ve added keyboard shortcuts to the web so you can perform any of these tasks without even touching your mouse, making it even easier to carry on route building with our smart snap-to-trail planning tools.

Turn Your Dream into Do with Route Planning

two people look out at the mountains, one is holding up a Gaia GPS map on their phone.

Whether you’re planning a day hike with your family, looking for a backpacking overnighter away from the crowds, or embarking on the international overlanding trip of your dreams, building the route sits at the heart of your adventure. Route building is also more than a necessity. It’s an art form, a way of life for those of us who love to explore our backyards and beyond.

Route planning also means peace of mind. You’ll be able to answer the age-old question, “how much further?” And it means you’ll know where to go at every turn. When it comes to building your own routes, the sky is the limit in Gaia GPS. Plan on the big screen and tap into 3D mode using your computer at home. Your route will automatically synch to the app on your phone for seamless navigation in the backcountry. Or if you’re planning from your tent late at night, route on the fly with your phone.

If you’re ready to take your route planning to the next level, read on to learn about our new route editing tools. Once you try them you probably won’t be able to live without them.

Erase Mistakes and Redo Routes In One Tap

And for our first magic trick, we’ll make your mistakes disappear! Let’s face it, we all make mistakes — even when mapping out our adventures. In addition to those accidental taps and clicks though, making “mistakes” is actually a vital part of the map exploration and the route-building process. Maybe you send your backpacking route up and over another mountain, only to realize you won’t have time for that extra 6,000 feet of climbing. Perhaps you really want to stop for burritos on your bike ride, only to realize you’ve mapped your route in the wrong direction. Or maybe you’re planning on offroading expedition and realize you like the first way you built your route better, before you went ahead and erased it all.

No matter the case, do not fear! Undo and redo buttons are here. Correct any mistakes simply by hitting the back arrow. Or go back to the first, better way you built your route by tapping the forward arrow.

Crunched For Time? Get Back ASAP

Sometimes, we’re on a mission to get to a certain destination — that turquoise alpine lake, the world-renowned ice cream shop, the spooky ghost town — and we don’t care how we go home we just want to get back ASAP. When these scenarios arise, plot out your route to your destination, and just click “Back to Start.” Gaia GPS’s smart snap-to-trail planning tools will send you the shortest way back to where you began.

Back to Start also comes in handy when you’ve completed most of your route and just want to close the loop without much fuss. If you’ve got a better idea in mind than the way our planning tools routed you back, just hit Undo!

Automatically Create Out-and-Back Routes

Whether you’re tagging a peak, venturing out to an alpine lake for a frigid dip, or running along the beach, a lot of adventures are “out and backs,” meaning you return from whence you came. For these types of outings, all you have to do is map out one direction of your trip. Then just press “Out and Back” and our planning tools will retrace your line back to the start for you.

Reverse Route Direction

Have you planned a multi-day overlanding loop, only to realize you actually want to go clockwise, not counterclockwise like you mapped it? Or maybe you’re planning a hike up a mountain, and instead of mapping from the trailhead to the summit, you started at the summit and mapped down to the trailhead?

Either way, reversing a route solves your problem. As the name implies, “Reverse” lets you reverse the direction of any route. This function also proves useful if you’re planning a loop and can’t decide if you would prefer to go clockwise or counterclockwise. Map the route in one direction, and then hit reverse to compare and contrast the elevation profiles, viewpoints, resupply stops, and any other points of interest in both directions to see which way works best with your style.

Give Your Mouse a Break with Keyboard Shortcuts

Many Gaia GPS users turn to gaiagps.com to enjoy route planning on the big screen of their computer. That’s why we added keyboard shortcuts to make it even easier to create your routes on the web. Not into shortcuts? No sweat. You can access the same route editing tools through the buttons on the bottom of the map.

Route Building (and Editing) is Available to Everyone

someone looks at Gaia GPS from their tent

Anyone can create – and edit – routes using Gaia GPS, all you need to do is sign up for a free account. Unlock the full power of the app, including taking your maps offline so you can follow and edit your route without cell service, with a Premium membership. Going Premium comes with the ability to layer maps on top of each other, so you can spy incoming weather over your route, view today’s air quality, or look at public and private land boundaries to ensure you’re not trespassing. You also get Gaia GPS’s entire map catalog. Download hundreds of maps, including National Geographic Trails Illustrated, high-resolution satellite maps, weather overlays, and government-issued topo maps like USFS topo, all the USGS quad maps, and MVUMs.

September 1, 2022

Gaia team plus the Staples at Overland Expo

Gaia GPS Offroading

Feedback, Friends, and Fuel at Overland Expo Mountain West

by Abby Levene August 31, 2022

written by Abby Levene

From August 26 to 28, a contingent of the Gaia GPS team camped out in Loveland, Colorado, where we filled our souls with joy, brains with knowledge, and shoes with the enormous amounts of dust blowing across the plains at Overland Expo Mountain West. As one of the premier overlanding event series in the world, Mountain West brings the overlanding community together for a weekend of learning, ogling rigs, connecting, and spending time outside.

Learning from the Pros

Huge thank you to our partners who helped out at the booth and taught top-level lessons on using Gaia GPS. Sonya and Necota Staples of Staples InTents held “how to get started with Gaia GPS” sessions in which they covered app navigation, how to find the most useful map layers for overlanding, and how to download maps for offline use. We loved hearing their story about how Gaia GPS powered their overlanding adventures around Africa. It’s so cool to see our hard work behind the screen being put into action around the globe!

Matt, Cara, and Goose of Ozark Overland Adventures also conducted powerful lessons on using Gaia. They told an incredible story about how our new Gaia Overland map helped them discover one of the best campsites they’ve ever seen. Feeling some expo FOMO? Check out Staples InTents and Ozark Overland Adventures Youtube channels to catch up on all the action and to learn how they take their adventures to the next level with Gaia GPS.

Now we’re back to work, incorporating your feedback on how to make Gaia GPS even better for your adventures. Stay tuned for product improvements, new features and maps, and upcoming lessons on how to get the most out of the app and gaiagps.com. In the meantime, keep in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Feature photo courtesy of the Staples.

August 31, 2022

Gaia GPS How-To New Features

Top 10 Ways to Use Waypoints

by Abby Levene August 30, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Whether you’re marking water sources, saving prime camping spots, or capturing breathtaking views, waypoints provide an invaluable tool for navigating and documenting your adventures. That’s why we provide some of the most advanced waypoint technology on the planet to go along with our world-class maps.

We’ve incorporated your feedback to make waypoints even more customizable and easy to use than ever before. You can now color-code waypoints based on opened/closed, good/bad, by type, trip, time — you name it. There are no limits when it comes to how you can use waypoints.

To get your creative juices flowing, here are our top 10 ways to use waypoints on our adventures.

But first, what are waypoints?

A waypoint is a reference point that helps you determine where you are and how to navigate to your destination. Whether you’re hiking, bikepacking, overlanding, or fly fishing, waypoints can help you find your way. In Gaia GPS, a waypoint is a marker you place on the map to signify a feature, your location, or any other spot on the planet. That may be a flag marking a key turn, a photo showing a sublime alpine lake, or a tent emoji illustrating the best camp spot so you can find it again later.

Here are the top 10 ways we use waypoints on our adventures and even in daily life.

1. Plan Adventures on the Big Screen

As you map out new routes on your desktop at home, drop waypoints to mark the parking lot, key turns, and where you plan to stop for lunch. Don’t worry, your waypoints will automatically sync to the Gaia GPS app on your phone or tablet.

2. Navigate to Detours & Destinations

Gaia GPS’s powerful navigation tools allow you to get turn-by-turn directions to any waypoint with just the press of a button. Want to take a detour to the mining ruins? Just drop a waypoint on the map on your phone and Gaia GPS can guide you directly there. This feature also comes in handy for navigating to the summit, or making your way back to the trailhead. Just drop a waypoint for where you want to go and tap “Guide Me” (iOS/Android).

You can drop a waypoint at your exact location, place it anywhere on the map, or type in the coordinates — up to you!

3. Add Photos to the Map

Gaia GPS hack: you can make photo waypoints! Immortalize that breathtaking view, chronicle a burn field, or remember where that avalanche slid across the trail. Take a photo of your current location (iOS/Android), and it will automatically show up on the map, geotagged to that exact spot. Just hit the + button on the top bar of the app, and tap “Take Picture.” A camera waypoint will show up on the map. Tap it to see your photo, along with the time stamp for when it was taken.

4. Mark Campsites for Later

Whether you’re reserving a campsite through recreation.gov on Gaia Topo or happen to come across a prime dispersed camp spot on your adventures, drop a tent emoji on the map to mark it forever. Gaia GPS pro mountain athlete Kyle Richardson uses waypoints on multi-day bikepacking and running adventures.

“Before I leave for a trip, I mark potential bivvy spots with waypoints as I plan my route on Gaia GPS at home,” Kyle says. “I then drop waypoints at my exact camp spots so I can find them again next time.”

With your campsites marked on the map, you can find them even in the dead of night.

5. See Mile Markers

Break your route into manageable chunks by dropping a mile marker in 1-, 10-, or 50-mile increments, or whatever makes sense for your adventure. Likewise, drop a waypoint at each checkpoint along the route. For endurance events like ultra running races, many race organizers use Gaia GPS to share the race route with participants and they drop waypoints to signify aid stations along the course.

In fact, many trail and gravel riding races post GPX files of the course and aid stations on their website. Whether the file is on Gaia GPS or not, you can download the file and upload it to your Gaia GPS account (web/iOS/Android). That way, you can train and race along the course and know exactly where you are, when the aid stations are coming up, and ensure you’re on the right route.

6. Label Water Sources

From water sources to water crossings, water can play an integral role in every type of adventure. Make your life a little easier for yourself by dropping a waypoint when you come across a stream, lake, or water cache. (And of course, if you’re caching your own water, make sure you leave a waypoint so you can find it on route!)

You can even color-code water sources based on their status thanks to our new colorized waypoint feature. Mark good water sources in green and bad ones in red. If you have to ford a river or if you find a refreshing lake for a swim, mark it on the map!

7. Avoid Hazards

Drop waypoints to mark washed-out bridges, downed trees, or whatever impedes you on the trail. Document where you saw that big scary snake with a photo waypoint. Same goes with bottlenecks on route: add a waypoint to remember where there’s a locked gate or a “no trespassing” sign so you can easily reroute next time.

8. Note Trail Status

Is the trail open or closed? Mark it with a green circle, a red X, or use the new colorized waypoints to create your own color-coded system for closures and trail conditions. Drop a yellow pin if the trail is muddy, or a green one if it’s dry and good to go.

9. Add Reminders

Say goodbye to forgetting where you parked your car. Next time you leave your car in a hectic trailhead parking lot, at the airport, or tucked into a parking garage, drop a waypoint as you exit your vehicle so you can find it stress-free when it’s time to go home.

We recommend you pick up after your dog in the moment. But if you MUST leave a doggy wag bag on the trail, make sure you drop a waypoint so you remember where it is so you can — and will— pick it up. Same goes with stashed water bottles, extra layers, or whatever else you may have tucked away behind a tree to snag on your way home.

You can also drop waypoints for cool zones you want to come back and explore. That’s what Kyle does when he stumbles across climbing and bouldering areas: “If I’m out on a run and I find a sweet rock, I’ll drop a waypoint so I can come back with the right gear.”

10. Document Memories

You can use Gaia GPS as a memory book for your adventures, with waypoints marking the locations of key memories on your trips.

That’s what Denver-based teacher Ian Silberman did as he reflected on his relationship with Phoebe Novitsky. He added waypoints to mark their first hike, where they bonked a gravel ride, and where he texted Phoebe from his tent late at night. On top of Monarch Mountain one winter morning, Ian pulled out his phone to show her each waypoint on the map, pointing to the real-life locations in the distance. After reminiscing over their adventures outside, he pointed to the star on the map, directly where they were standing, before getting down on one knee.

As you mark memories on the map, remember that you can add notes to each waypoint to chronicle even more information. Just tap on the waypoint, and scroll down in the pop-up drawer until you see “Add Notes.”

Customize Waypoints Even More with a Premium Membership

Everyone can use waypoints on both gaiagps.com and in the app. To level up your adventures with custom waypoint border colors, upgrade to a Gaia GPS Premium M embership .

Gaia GPS Premium unlocks all of the maps, including the suite of National Geographic Trails Illustrated titles, MVUM, USFS, and weather maps. Plus, you can navigate offline and print your maps so you can find your way if you lose cell signal or if your phone dies.

August 30, 2022

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