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.

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

Gaia GPS New Maps Offroading

Gaia Overland: One Map to Rule Them All

by Abby Levene May 24, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Ditch the crowds with our brand new overlanding map. Meet Gaia Overland, the best overlanding map you can put right on your vehicle’s dashboard. MVUM, USFS, public land boundaries – it’s all in here. Designed in-house for planning big routes, navigating tricky terrain, and rerouting on the fly, Gaia Overland is the definitive map for all of your overlanding, offroading, and motorized adventures.

Modeled after our proprietary Gaia Topo map, Gaia Overland comes with the same crystal-clear resolution and download efficiency you know and love from Gaia GPS. But it puts everything for motorized travel first. Whether you’re embarking on a multi-day expedition or just heading to a remote trailhead, use Gaia Overland to get you there efficiently and (relatively) effortlessly.

Our maps team worked closely with overlanding experts Chris Kracht and Wade May to carefully craft this map to your specific needs, both planning on the big screen at home and navigating from the dashboard, an iPad, or your phone on the road.

See every road, from major highways to unmaintained 4×4 tracks. Get all the info you need to make smart navigation decisions, from surface type to road closure dates, just by glancing at the map. Roads are emphasized, and trails closed to vehicles are deemphasized, to make it easier than ever to plan and navigate your motorized adventures. Find water sources, gas stations, and campsites. Take Gaia Overland offline for your entire trip so you can reroute on the fly and find your way home – even when you’re far from cell service.

See All Road Info on One Map

Gaia Overland puts all the roads, trails, public land boundaries, and all the other info you need on one map. Sourcing information from Open Street Map, US Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM), US Forest Service road and trail data, and BLM road and trail data, Gaia Overland covers the entire US to show you:

Road Surface Type

Road surface type is conveniently denoted by road styling. Paved, gravel, or dirt? Maintained or unmaintained? Just glance at the map to find everything from highways to forest service roads to double track.

Vehicle Constraints

Learn what kind of vehicles can access which roads just by glancing at the map.

Closure Info

See seasonal road closure information right on the map.

Road Numbers

Forest roads and trails are stamped with badges showing the number reflected on on-the-ground signage to make navigating even easier.

Permitted Vehicles

Icons right along the trail show what types of motorized vehicles are permitted. See if you can ATV or dirt bike on the trails around camp.

Mileage Markers

Distance to the next intersection is clearly marked on the map for quick reference. Eyeball the map to get a sense of how far until the gas station or your campsite.

High Vis for High Speeds

Gaia Overland is styled specifically for your planning needs at home and driving needs on the road. The map contains more roads at lower zooms so you can see the big picture while you plan on your desktop at home or iPad on the go.

High-contrast coloring and bold fonts help you see where you are, even with car glare or on the move. Roads and trails pop from the map, and exaggerated road surface styling means you’ll always know the road surface type.

Emphasized public land boundaries help you stay on legal ground. Bright colors show land ownership so you can easily tell if you’re on BLM or national forest land, for example.

Find Camping that Suits Your Style

Whether you want to enjoy the amenities of a designated campground or ditch the crowds with a secluded spot on public land, Gaia Overland is designed to help you find the best camping that suits your style.

If you’re looking for campgrounds with bathrooms, water, and outlets, peruse the map for official campgrounds and campsites. Campground symbols will show you both where to find campsites and often what amenities are available.

Refuel & Resupply

Gaia Overland puts all your potential stops and destinations right at your fingertips. We’ve added potable water stops, gas and charging stations, and grocery stores to the map to make it as seamless as possible for you to refuel and resupply on the go. Hotels, post offices, and other stops you may want to make along the way are also emphasized on the map.

Avoid Hazards & Bottlenecks

Gates, one-way roads, and many other key navigation points are marked right on the map to help you avoid getting stuck or in over your head.

Reroute on the Fly with Offline Maps

Explore without the worry of getting lost. Take Gaia Overland offline to efficiently problem solve on the move. Use Gaia GPS’s smart snap-to-trail route planning tool to reroute, explore side trails, and find your way back to the start.

Gaia Overland is designed with Gaia GPS’s prototypical file efficiency. This means you can take huge swaths of the map offline in a matter of minutes without hogging up your phone’s precious storage space. Download the map for your entire route, or even your entire state, and never be caught without a map again.

Offline maps let you see your location, even without cell service. Plus, check how much farther until camp, or how many more miles of technical descent you must maneuver before you can relax.

Navigate from your Dashboard with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

Gaia GPS connects with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can enjoy your favorite maps like Gaia Overland on your vehicle’s navigation screen. Plus, you can drop waypoints, follow turn-by-turn directions, and record tracks. Just connect your phone to the car display and store your phone away for safekeeping.

Learn more about connecting Gaia GPS to Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

Get Gaia Overland with Gaia GPS Premium

The best map for overlanding is available with a Gaia GPS Premium membership. Premium also unlocks our entire world-renowned map catalog, including high-resolution satellite imagery, USGS and USFS maps, and MVUM. Plus, get wildfire, air quality, weather, mining, and historical maps.

With Premium, you also get full map customization so you can take categorizing and organizing all your data to the next level. And take maps offline so you can always get yourself out of a pickle.

May 24, 2022

Monique Song, Overland Lady, Arctic Circle

Gaia GPS Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Offroading User Profiles

Monique Song: How a City Girl Became the Overland Lady

by Abby Levene April 7, 2022

written by Abby Levene

What do you do when you’re unhappy in your corporate job? You hit the road and drive…all the way to Australia. That’s how Monique Song found her way into offroading and eventually becoming the beloved Overland Lady. In a traditionally male-dominated pastime, Monique challenges gender, racial, and cultural norms on her solo adventures around the world.

Monique ended up spending a year traversing Australia’s remote landscapes with “Altar,” her Toyota Landcruiser. It was in the land Down Under that she started Overland Lady, a blog about her inspiring adventures.

Monique’s journey to traveling around the world on four wheels was far from given. Born and raised in China, she felt the heavy weight of expectations from her culture and her parents. And yet, Monique found she was happiest on her weekend getaways from her home in Vancouver, BC, to the mountains.

“On every trip, the part I dreaded most was coming back,” Monique says. “Looking at a city from afar I would think, ‘oh man, back to real life.’ That’s when I started to realize that maybe I liked the life out there on the mountain.”

When the opportunity to travel from Canada to Australia arose, she jumped on it. From Australia, Monique headed to the Arctic. Since then, she’s joined the rollover club and totaled her rig on Alaska’s Dempster Highway. While Monique is not afraid to get her hands dirty and her rig destroyed, she infuses her personal sense of femininity into her wild lifestyle. Monique attests it’s important to her to wear makeup and do her hair, even when hundreds of miles from another human.

“As an overlander, you tend to become a bum over time,” Monique explains. “You rarely shower. You don’t shave. And really over time you start to look sloppy. This is my way of keeping myself accountable in terms of hygiene.”

Get the full inside scoop on Monique’s makeup philosophy plus find out what rigs she’s eyeing next on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast. You’ll also get her best tips on how to ease yourself into traveling alone in new places. Follow along on Monique’s adventures by following her on Instagram and YouTube and by checking out her blog, Overland Lady.

April 7, 2022

Gaia GPS How-To

How to Check for Snow on the Trail

by Abby Levene March 10, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Spring is here and the trails are melting out. But conditions at the parking lot do not necessarily tell you what the trail looks like up ahead. Even well into the summer, snow can cling to high mountain passes. Lingering cornices and deep snow drifts can be onerous and present obstacles.

Plus, mountain weather can turn on a dime. A warm, sunny day can quickly escalate into a freezing cold white-out blizzard.

Thankfully, you can use Gaia GPS to help eliminate this guesswork of whether the trails will be sunny and snow-free. In this guide, you will learn how to use recent satellite imagery (FreshSat — Recent and Cloud Free layers), snow depth total estimates (Snow Depth layer), actual snowfall data (Snow Stations Daily layer), and Precipitation and Snow Forecasts to get a sense of how much snow may be on your hike or overlanding trip. And you’ll learn how to use these maps in conjunction with the best community resources to make informed decisions about where to go and what to bring.

All of the maps in this article are available with a Gaia GPS Premium Membership. Upgrade by clicking the button below to get our best discount.

Get a Bird’s Eye View with FreshSat – Recent & Cloud Free

A desktop screenshot shows the FreshSat layer.

If you’re wondering whether you need crampons and an ice axe to climb your next 14er, start by examining the FreshSat layers. These maps provide a near-in-time aerial view of conditions on the ground.

By nature of their source, these images are lower resolution than our other satellite maps. But they provide the most updated views of the terrain and conditions, which proves helpful if you want to see where snow lingers on remote mountain and forested areas. For a more crystal clear areal view, check out the high-resolution Satellite layers.

FreshSat – Recent and FreshSat – Cloud Free both give you a snapshot of relatively up-to-date ground conditions. FreshSat – Cloud Free shows a mostly unobstructed view of the earth’s surface. FreshSat – Recent provides an even more up-to-date picture of ground conditions, but clouds may obstruct some of the view.

Both maps are updated at least every 14 days, using data from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 government satellites. Date stamps on both FreshSat maps make it easy to identify how recently a location has been updated. Simply look at the corner of a map tile to see the date when that image was taken.

Layer these maps with your favorite base map, such as Gaia Topo, to examine the route for your trip. Start by scoping out FreshSat — Recent. If the area is obstructed by clouds, head over to FreshSat — Cloud Free. Zoom into the high points of your route, north-facing slopes, and forested areas to look for signs of snow.

Get FreshSat — Recent and FreshSat — Cloud Free.

Check Estimated Snow Depth Totals with the Snow Depth Layer

A desktop screenshot shows the Snow Depth layer.

Inspired by a thru-hiker looking to track snow depths along the Pacific Crest Trail with Gaia GPS, the Snow Depth overlay gives you an estimate of snow levels covering your next route. Outdoor adventurers can examine how many centimeters of snow most likely exist in specific areas by referencing color-coded indicators of coverage.

In fact, thru-hiker Joe “Stringbean” McConaughy used this map religiously on his recent record-setting Arizona Trail “run.” Stringbean referenced this layer to get a sense of when he might encounter snow on the high-elevation sections of the trail. To do this for your next trip, just place this overlay on top of your basemap. Tweak the opacity to get a picture of how much snow may be on the trail.

When referencing snow depths, remember that estimates are not based on actual observations, but product model output. However, snow depth totals are updated every 24 hours by both NOAA and Gaia GPS. Data for snow depth values come from the NOAA National Weather Service’s National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS).

If you’re looking to find snow totals for a storm in the western U.S. or Canada, reference the Snow Stations (Daily) map — see below. You can also get actual snow data by checking your local climate center or weather source. SNODAS recommends the American Association of State Climatologists, NOAA Regional Climate Centers, and NOAA National Climatic Data Center.

Get the Snow Depth overlay.

See if it Snowed Overnight with Snow Stations (Daily)

iPhone screenshots show the Snow Stations (Daily) layer.

Snow chains on or off? If you’re heading out on an overlanding or backpacking trip through the mountain west, pair the Snow Depth overlay (above) with real-time snow data found in the Snow Stations (Daily) layer to get an even more accurate sense of conditions.

The Snow Stations map taps into hundreds of remote SNOTEL and Canadian weather sensors to show just how much snow fell — or melted — over the last 24 hours in mountain zones around the west. The map also provides water density readings to give you a sense of how heavy and wet this new snow may be. Readings are updated once every hour.

To use this layer, look for color-coded snowflake icons on the map. Each snowflake represents a remote weather station and the color of the snowflake indicates how much snow has fallen or melted in the last 24-hour reporting period. Click the icon for more info.

Get the Snow Stations (Daily) map.

Check for Incoming Storms with Precipitation and Snow Forecasts

An iPad screenshot shows the 48-hour Precipitation Forecast layer.

Don’t underestimate what weather may be coming your way. Check the forecast so you’re prepared, and so you know when to reroute or stay home. Get a quick weather reading right in Gaia GPS with Precipitation and Snow Forecast overlays.

Three Precipitation Forecast overlays give you the 24-, 48-, and 72-hour forecasts. Each taps directly into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasting data. The NOAA Weather Prediction Center (WPC) researches and releases short-term forecasts twice a day, based on predictive models and satellite imagery. Their reports can forecast heavy rain, snow, and flash flooding up to seven days in advance.

Find out if that rain will turn to snow by looking at the Snow Forecast layers. Gaining a sense of whether you simply need a raincoat or could benefit from warmer layers and heftier footwear could make or break the safety and comfort of your trip. Like the Precipitation Forecast, the Snow Forecast comes in 24-, 48-, and 72-hour options.

Choose the best day to head out on the trail by referencing the right weather overlay. Heading out for a weekend backpacking trip? Check out the 72- or 48-hour forecasts to get a view of overall precipitation. Use the 24-hour forecast to get a quick and accurate prediction for the weather today and tomorrow. You must be connected to the internet to view the Precipitation and Snow Forecast maps.

Get the 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour Precipitation Forecasts. And get the 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour Snow Forecasts.

Watch: Discover if the Trails Are Melted Out

Talk to People!

Maps provide invaluable tools — but they don’t replace first-hand beta. Talk to people who have recently visited the area to get as up-to-date trip reports as possible. In addition to your friends and local community, check out Facebook groups, subreddits for the area, local trail organizations and park websites, and Backpacking Light forums. And of course, there’s the good old-fashioned telephone; you can use it to call the ranger’s station to get the latest trail conditions report.

For example, mountain athlete Kyle Richardson has summited Longs Peak (Neníisótoyóú’u) in Rocky Mountain National Park 52 times, during all seasons. He even set a speed record on it last summer. Despite his intimate familiarity with the 14er, he never assumes to know what the mountain may have in store that day. When deciding whether to attempt Longs (and what gear to bring), Richardson checks the Rocky Mountain National Park webcam, mountain-forecast.com, and 14ers.com for recent trip reports.

Look at the photos other visitors have posted. In addition to forums, you can find recent photos by checking relevant hashtags on Instagram and Twitter. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. And once you’ve gone on your trip, do the community a favor and drop a line on the conditions you encountered.

A Note on Safety

You can use these resources and maps as a planning tool to help you pack, plan your route, and be ready for the weather and trail conditions ahead. Know the terrain and alternate routes ahead of time. Plan for inclement weather, even if none appears in the forecast. Gaia GPS provides map layers to help prepare, but making wise decisions remains with you.

March 10, 2022

Gaia GPS New Maps

Discover Snowmobile Trails Across the Globe

by Abby Levene February 9, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Planning snowmobile routes and navigating across the snow has never been easier. Find sledding trails across the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia with our new Snowmobile Trails map. We’ve pulled together trail data from local, state, and federal sources to bring you some of the most comprehensive sledding coverage in the world.

Easily spy trail networks to build routes and find your way in the field. When available, see key details like trail width, grooming status, restricted access areas, and difficulty ratings. Plus, find warming huts, gas stations, and snowmobile shops.

Snowmobile Trails Map Provides Coverage Around the World

No need to rifle through various guidebooks, websites, and maps on your next snow machine adventure. Enjoy trail coverage from local, state, and federal organizations all in one place with the Snowmobile Trails map on gaiagps.com or in the Gaia GPS app.

The Snowmobile Trails map provides comprehensive coverage across many northern states of the US. You’ll also find limited coverage in Canada, Europe, and Australia. If you don’t see the trails near you on the map, hang in there. We’re working hard to expand coverage as quickly as we can.

Styled for Hi-Vis at High Speed

Our cartographers designed the Snowmobile Trails map to make finding trails a snap. The purple trails pop out from the map, helping ensure you see them while flying across the snow. Plus, trails appear at relatively high zoom levels so you can easily discover new networks.

As the key illustrates, trail type is designated right on the map. Trail closures are indicated directly on the map as well.

Get Key Trail Details like Difficulty, Width, & Direction

In addition to all the info you get directly on the map, click on a trail, junction, trailhead, or waypoint to get everything from the difficulty rating to grooming status. Find out which directions of travel are permitted and the width of the trail, when this information is available.

Find Warming Huts, Fuel, & Food

In addition to the designated snowmobile trails themselves, the Snow Mobile Trails map provides all the info you need for a full day of adventure. See key points of interest, parking lots, warming huts, and even where to fill the tank, when this information is available. Plus, easily decipher where you can and can’t go. The map indicates winter closure areas and restricted access areas.

How to Use the Snowmobile Trails Map

To use the Snowmobile Trails map, start by adding Gaia Winter as your base map. Our cartographers designed Gaia Winter specifically for cold weather activities. Key winter points of interest like ski resorts are emphasized on the map. Best of all, the Snowmobile Trails map overlay is designed to pair perfectly with Gaia Winter. The purple snowmobile trails pop against Gaia Winter’s blue-grey palette.

Once you’ve added Gaia Winter as your base map, add the Snowmobile Trails overlay on top of it. Now you’re ready to build a route on your desktop using gaiagps.com or on your phone or tablet using the app. Make sure to download your maps so you can use them deep in the backcountry without cell service.

If you’re worried about finding your way home, record your tracks to leave a breadcrumb trail. Drop waypoints and photos to mark down trees, river crossings, moose sightings, or whatever else you like.

Snowmobile Trails Map is Available with a Premium Membership

The Snowmobile Trails map is available with a Gaia GPS Premium membership. To access this map, visit the layers menu and search for “Snowmobile Trails.” Or from the layers menu, select “Feature/Weather Overlays.” Scroll down and tap “Snowmobile Trails.” Tap the “Add Layer” button. Learn how to add and manage overlays here.

Premium also grants you access to our entire map catalog, including Gaia Winter, avalanche maps like slope angle and avalanche forecast, and weather maps like snow depth and snow forecasts. With Premium, you can also download your maps for use without cell service. And print maps so you always have a paper backup.

February 9, 2022

Android Auto on a car navigation screen.

Gaia GPS New Features Offroading

Navigate from the Dashboard with Improved Android Auto

by Abby Levene February 4, 2022

written by Abby Levene

We’ve revamped Gaia GPS on Android Auto so you can manipulate the map, record tracks, and drop waypoints all from your dashboard. Just connect your phone to your car display and navigate with your favorite Gaia GPS maps like MVUMs, hi-res global satellite imagery, and National Geographic Trails Illustrated — all from the luxury of the wide screen.

From expanded map controls to clearer visibility, here are the major updates:

Pan around and Zoom In and Out on the Map

Put your phone in the console and relax. Now you can engage with more of the map right from your dashboard. View other parts of the map by panning around from dashboard screen. Pinch your fingers on the map to zoom in and out.

Navigate Along Routes — and Off Them

Follow a route you’ve already built on Gaia GPS. Or forge your own trail by navigating to a waypoint or the start of a track.

Add Waypoints to Mark Key Locations

Mark landmarks, campsites, and water crossings in real time. Just drop a waypoint right from your navigation screen onto the map.

Start and Stop Recording Tracks

Leave a breadcrumb trail by recording your tracks in Gaia GPS, right from your dashboard. Just hit “Record Track” when you start, and “End” when you arrive. Your track will automatically sync on your phone, laptop, tablet, or wherever else you use Gaia GPS.

Search and Filter to Quickly Find Routes, Waypoints, and Tracks

Easily find the waypoint, track, or route you want with our brand new filtering and sorting system. Hit the search bar and then filter by object type. Or sort items by alphabetical title, distance from you, or time created.

Clearly See Where You’re Going

We’ve enhanced the navigation line to make it easier to see where you’re going as you whiz down the highway or maneuver technical off-road routes. New icons give Gaia GPS on Android Auto a crisper look so you can keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Take advantage of these improvements by updating your Android Auto app. Learn even more about Gaia GPS on Android Auto over here. And become a Premium member to access our full map catalog.

February 4, 2022

Screenshot of the Ski Resort Reports map in Gaia GPS.

Gaia GPS New Maps

Get Worldwide Ski Resort Reports in Gaia GPS

by Abby Levene January 25, 2022

written by Abby Levene

From Aspen to Zermatt, get conditions for ski resorts around the globe in Gaia GPS. Ski areas with fresh snow light up on our brand new Ski Resort Reports map. See snow totals and weather readings. Find out how many trails are open. Even read the resort’s daily report, all right within the app and on gaiagps.com.

Checking the conditions en route to your home hill. Or find the best place to ski in a new area. The Ski Resort Reports map lets you do it all with just a tap.

See the Latest and Most Accurate Ski Resort Conditions

The Ski Resort Reports map layer sources its information from OnTheSnow, a leading database for ski resort reports and conditions worldwide. OnTheSnow taps information from the ski resorts themselves, ensuring you get the latest and most accurate information available.

View Snow Depth and Terrain Status

Ski resorts from around the world can be found in this map overlay. Simply click on a blue skier icon to see the entire ski resort report. You’ll find the ski area’s name and whether it’s open. Discover if it’s a powder day with new snow readings from the last 24 and 72 hours.

Wondering if you need your rock skis? See the snow depth for the base, mid mountain, and the summit. You’ll also see snow depth totals. Plus, get a sense of how big the resort is and how much terrain is open. See the total number of runs and how many of them are currently good to go.

Track Resort Weather including Wind Speed

Dress appropriately thanks to temperature readings at the base and the summit. And see that all-too critical factor in determining your comfort: wind speed. If you’re not into downhill skiing, no problem. Find out if the resort offers nordic skiing right in this map. You’ll also see how many kilometers of trails are groomed for both classic and skate skiing.

Maybe the weather looks iffy and you just want to double check that the resort is open. Or perhaps you’re hemming and hawing over which resort to go to this weekend. Either way, just glance at the Ski Resort Reports map to get the info you need.

Find the Freshies with the Ski Resort Reports Map

No matter where you’re trying to ski in the world, find the closest resorts and the freshest snow with Ski Resort Reports. See ski areas at even the most zoomed out levels on the map to quickly access conditions. Most importantly, find the best snow in one glance: ski areas that have received snow in the past 24 hours glow neon blue on the map.

How to use the Ski Resort Reports Map

Ski Resort Reports is a map overlay. This means it is designed to work in conjunction with one of our base maps. We recommend pairing Ski Resort Reports with Gaia Winter or Gaia Topo. Both of these base maps were designed-in house specifically for your adventures. Gaia Winter shows all the ski resort maps in the US and Canada. Add this map to your arsenal and never get lost on the mountain again.

To use Ski Resort Reports, start by adding Gaia Winter or Gaia Topo as your base map. Add the Ski Resorts Map on top. Now you can see where ski resorts exist all over the world, as signified by the light blue skier icon. Zoom in or click on a skier icon to see the name of the resort.

Tips for Getting Condition Updates in a Snap

To see the snow conditions and daily resort report, click on the skier icon. The info will appear right in the sidebar if you’re on gaiagps.com. There’s one extra step in the app. First, click on the skier icon in the app. The Ski Resort Reports tile will appear as an option in the tap drawer. If you don’t see it, keep scrolling down through the options in the tap drawer. Next, click on the Ski Resort Reports tile to see the snow conditions and resort report.

Still need more info? You’ll find links to the resort’s website, as well as the original report from onthesnow.com.

Pro tip: turn on dark mode in the app to make the ski resorts pop out from the map even more.

Ski Resort Reports is Available with a Premium Membership

The Ski Resort Reports map is available in the Gaia GPS app and on gaiagps.com with a Gaia GPS Premium membership. To access this map, visit the layers menu and search for “Ski Resort Reports.” Or from the layers menu, select “Feature/Weather Overlays.” Scroll down and tap “Ski Resort Reports.” 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 Gaia Winter and a suite of avalanche safety maps such as Slope Angle, Avalanche Forecast, hi-res satellite imagery, recent satellite imagery, Snow Stations (Daily), Snow Depth, and snow forecast maps. Plus, with Premium you can download your maps for use without cell service. And print maps so you always have a backup.

January 25, 2022

Gaia GPS How-To

How to Keep Your Phone Alive in Cold Weather

by Abby Levene January 25, 2022

written by Abby Levene

From following snow-swept trails to keeping an eye on ever-changing avalanche conditions, navigating with Gaia GPS proves even more useful during winter. But there’s a catch: keeping your phone alive in frigid air can be tricky. If you’ve ever pulled out your phone in freezing temperatures only to discover that the phone’s battery has suddenly and unexpectedly died, you know how frustrating and even dangerous this predicament can be.

Phones and cold weather generally don’t get along too well. Low temperatures can rapidly drain your phone’s battery life, and — as you’ve probably experienced — cause your phone to shut down altogether. Thankfully, you can take tried and true measures to prevent this from happening. Here’s what you need to know to keep your phone alive when the temperature drops.

Why Cold Weather Zaps Phone Battery

Three backcountry skiers skin up a track on a cloudy winter day. A snowy peak looms in the distance.

As irritating as cold weather battery drain may be, it can easily be explained by science. Most smartphones use lithium-ion batteries. A chemical reaction within the battery sends charged particles through the phone’s circuitry, and this charge powers the phone. Cold temperatures slow this reaction down; charged particles encounter more resistance as they move throughout the battery to charge the phone. As these charged particles get stuck, the battery life plummets.

Unfortunately, scientists don’t entirely understand the delicate balance of chemicals required to keep your phone alive. This is why sometimes it may seem like your phone’s battery indicator lies to you. If exposed to the frosty air, your phone may say it has 50% battery one minute and it’s completely dead the next.

Cold weather affects other parts of your phone, too. LCD screens can grow glitchy and blurry. Onboard sensors can lose accuracy because they’re calibrated to work within a specific temperature range.

How to Prevent Battery Drain

Person holds a phone with Cold Case Gear case attached to pack.

In the backcountry, your phone can serve as an invaluable tool for everything from checking the slope angle to staying on course. Plus, those snowy sunrise photos are not going to take themselves. Keeping your phone alive in cold weather boils down to two tasks, minimize battery use and keeping your phone toasty warm. Here’s how to do both:

Know Before You Go

Look up your device’s operating temperature range. Most smartphones are designed to operate between 32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range also applies to the Apple Watch. Many GPS watches can withstand temperates far lower — generally to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. If ambient temperatures or wild chill temperatures drop below your device’s operating range, take steps to insulate it from the cold.

Charge Your Phone Beforehand

Sounds obvious, but don’t forget to charge your phone before you head out the door. That extra cushion will help prevent the battery from draining immediately.

Change Your Phone Settings to Save Battery

Now that your phone is fully charged, you want to use up as little charge as possible while out in the backcountry. A few simple tricks can help preserve battery life:

Turn off location services in apps other than your navigation tool, such as Gaia GPS.
Make sure you have closed as many apps as possible.
Download maps ahead of time so your can operate your phone in airplane mode.
Keep your phone in low power mode.

You may want to consider not recording a track on these cold outings, since doing so uses battery life as well. Check out even more tips and tricks to save phone battery life in the backcountry.

Turn Your Phone Off

If you’re worried about battery, turn your phone off and keep it in a warm place near your body so that it is ready to power on and use when you need it to.

Consider Investing in a Smart Watch

If you plan on regularly checking your place on the map or reading and sending texts, you can also consider investing in a smart watch. A smart watch lets you navigate and communicate from your wrist, and you will still have your phone as a backup if needed.

Keep Your Phone Close and Covered

The real key to keeping your phone alive in cold weather comes with keeping it warm. Carry your phone in an interior jacket pocket close to your body, and try covering your smartwatch with a glove or jacket sleeve. That way, your body heat will keep the device warm and the garment’s insulation will block out the cold.

Note that a phone can interfere with an avalanche beacon’s ability to find a buried partner, and you should follow these so these precautions to minimize this interference:

Keep your phone at least eight inches away from your beacon.
Keep your phone in airplane mode if possible.
While conducting a search, extend your arm to bring your beacon about one and a half feet away from your electronic devices.

This interference mostly happens when beacons are in search mode. If you are the person your partner is trying to find, you should be fine. But you can keep your phone at least eight inches away from your beacon just to be safe.

Use an Insulating Case

You can go a step further and purchase a thermal case for your phone. The West Slope Case from Cold Case Gear uses aerogel insulation, the same material used to insulate space suits and space shuttles, to provide thermal, physical, and weather protection. An airtight magnetic closure also helps keep the cold weather out and makes the case 100% waterproof down to six feet.

Don’t want to shell out the extra bucks for a new case? A beer coozy works as a do-it-yourself alternative. Some people have success with tucking a hand warmer inside the coozy along with their phone.

Use your Phone Wisely and Sparingly

No matter how many measures you take to keep your phone warm while it’s not in use, they won’t do you much good if your phone gets cold while you’re using it. If you need to use your phone, turn your back to the wind and keep your phone tucked close to your body when viewing it in cold weather. Stop moving, and take your phone out for as little time as possible. Looking at your phone while skiing downhill, for example, exposes your phone to wind chill and cools it off much faster than still air.

How to Warm Up Your Phone if it Dies

A backcountry skier smiles while looking at her phone. She stands in front of a row of snow-covered coniferous trees.

Once your phone shuts off due to the cold, it will take a little extra time to work again. But there’s no need to worry. Your phone shutting off is simply its defense mechanism against extreme temps. Let your device warm up slowly. A slow thaw will help prevent condensation from building up in the battery, which could cause water damage.

If you really need to use your phone, you can ever so slightly expedite the warming process by placing your phone near (not directly on) a warm surface, such as the dash of your car once you turn the heat on. Do not place your phone in the oven, microwave, or on a hot plate. If you need to send a text or check your location while still in the field, try placing your phone next to your body. Your body heat will help warm your up device.

Finally, do not charge your phone until it has returned to a normal temperature. Charging your phone while it’s ice cold could permanently damage the battery. Warmer temps will usually restore normal battery life anyway.

A good rule of thumb to follow this winter: treat your phone like a part of your body. Make sure it’s protected from snow and moisture, and make sure it stays warm. That way, it’ll be there when you need it.

Michael Charboneau contributed to reporting.

January 25, 2022

desktop and iphone showing Trailforks in Gaia GPS.

Gaia GPS New Features New Maps

Discover Your Dream Ride with the Trailforks MTB Map

by Abby Levene January 13, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Trailforks’ coveted mountain bike trail database is now in Gaia GPS! The sum is greater than its parts: marrying Trailforks’ premier collection of trails with Gaia GPS’s world-class maps and tools unlocks new levels of two-wheeled adventure. Discover brand new routes, get the beta on trail conditions, and easily spy trails based on type and difficulty level with this new map overlay.

Trailforks, a trail management system, catalogs trail networks around the world. The crowd-sourced database and moderated site provides the most accurate and comprehensive trail data in the world. Trailforks community members can access all of this data both on the web and in the Trailforks app. And now you can get all 361,392 Trailforks mountain bike trails around the globe right in the Gaia GPS app and on gaiagps.com. This Trailforks MTB map layer is available with a Gaia GPS Premium or Gaia GPS Premium with Outside+ Membership.

While we’re stoked about this new map (even in winter!), we’re even more psyched about what it represents in our quest to make Gaia GPS even better for you. This collaboration with Trailforks is just the start of a bright future working with our sibling company as part of the Outside Interactive, Inc. network.

Global Coverage of the Best Mountain Bike Trails

Life for downhillers, endurance junkies, gravel enthusiasts, and bike commuters just got a whole lot better. The Trailforks MTB layer in Gaia GPS shows all 361,392 mountain bike trails on the Trailforks website and in the Trailforks app. If you’re familiar with Trailforks already, the Trailforks MTB map layer in Gaia GPS will look familiar:

Mountain bike trails pop out from the map, color-coded by difficulty. Easy trails are represented by green lines on the map. Intermediate trails are blue, and very difficult trails are black. Red and orange signify “double black diamond” and “extremely difficult & dangerous, pros only!”

Distinguish trails primarily used for mountain biking from those where mountain biking is permitted (but not the primary use) right on the map, represented by lines and dotted lines, respectively. Roads come in shades of purple, while double green lines show paved paths.

If you’re wondering what trail you’re on, just zoom in on the map. The trail name will appear right in line with the trail. Click or tap on a trail to get more information, including trail type, use (both primary use and all allowed uses), direction, and closure status. You can also see the trail direction and closure status directly on the map. Little arrows on the trail indicate which direction you can go, if only one direction is permitted. Red “x”s appear if the trail is currently closed.

Layer Trailforks MTB on Gaia Topo Lite for Optimal Visibility

Trailforks MTB is a trail overlay, meaning you need to pair it with a base map to see the underlying terrain. This gives you the ultimate freedom to let your map visualization dreams run wild. You can layer Trailforks MTB on any base map you like, including our suite of in-house topo maps, satellite imagery, and USFS maps.

We highly suggest pairing Trailforks MTB with Gaia Topo Lite. A slimmed-down version of our proprietary Gaia Topo map, Gaia Topo Lite is designed to pair with trail overlays like Trailforks MTB. Gaia Topo Lite takes advantage of the beautiful styling and efficient download sizes of our flagship Gaia Topo map. It simply contains fewer trail details, meaning the Trailforks trails really pop from the map for optimal visibility.

Gaia Topo Lite is available with a Premium or Outside+ membership, which also grant you access to Trailforks MTB and the ability to layer these and other maps together.

Adventure Further and Wiser with Trailforks MTB in Gaia GPS

Whether you’re lapping the resort, linking up trail systems, or simply looking for a new dirt route for your gravel bike, check out Trailforks MTB to tap into a whole new level of trail curation in Gaia GPS. Discover bike paths in new cities — they pop out in purple on the map. Find out whether that forest road you’ve always wanted to explore is maintained. Get beta on where to find the sweetest bike parks.

Take advantage of Gaia GPS’s world-class route planning tools to link up new trail systems or to plan the bikepacking trip of your dreams. Download the Trailforks MTB layer like any other Gaia GPS map so you can always find the trail, see where you are, and create plan B on the fly.

We’re Just Getting Started

We are proud to say that integrating Trailforks MTB trails into Gaia GPS is just the tip of the iceberg for great things to come between our two world-class apps. We know that many loyal Gaia GPS users also love using Trailforks for mountain biking. Trailforks now contains our proprietary map, Gaia Topo. So if you’re a mountain biker, hopefully we’ve simplified life just a little bit for you. Use just Gaia GPS, just Trailforks, or continue on with a combination of both — it’s totally up to you.

If you do enjoy using both Gaia GPS and Trailforks, you can get Gaia GPS Premium and Trailforks Pro (plus Outside TV and a suite of other awesome outdoor content) with an Outside+ membership. And if you’re eager to help Trailforks build out its trail systems for other activities, hop over there to get involved.

Trailforks MTB is Available with a Premium Membership

Add the Trailforks MTB map to your arsenal with a Gaia GPS Premium membership. Premium gives you access to our entire map catalog, including Gaia Topo and Gaia Topo Lite (perfect for pairing with Trailforks MTB). Scout out trail conditions with our recent satellite imagery maps, see where you can camp using the public and private lands maps, and get our extensive suite of weather maps, along with the rest of our deep map catalog. You can also download maps to avoid getting lost, and take advantage of our offline route planning tools so you can always re-route on the fly. Premium also lets you print maps so you have a paper backup.

You can also get Gaia GPS Premium, Trailforks Pro, and the brand-new Outside App with an Outside+ membership.

January 13, 2022

Gaia GPS Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Out and Back Podcast

The Best Advice We Received in 2021

by Abby Levene December 26, 2021

written by Abby Levene

As the world remained in flux, the Out and Back podcast continued bringing you the best advice, insight, and thrilling tales from the backcountry. Hosts Shanty, Mary, and Abby delved into the worlds of wildfire management and avalanche forecasting. They dissected thru-hiking’s deepest secrets, and even explored the mysterious connection between owls and UFOs.

Thank you, dear listeners, for embarking on this journey into the inner recesses of adventurers and experts’ minds with us. To ring out Out and Back’s second year, we’ve rounded up the top performing episodes — and top pieces of advice — from 2021. They include how to train for high altitude expeditions in the city to finding the absolute best cup of backcountry coffee.

Don’t see your favorite episode on this list? Drop us a review on iTunes or a message on Instagram to let us know what it was! We’d also love to hear what you’d like to learn about in 2022. And if you’re eager for more Out and Back content, check out our roundup of the best episodes from 2020.

Get 40% Off Gaia GPS Premium

How to Train for Hiking Season with Backcountry Fitness

How can you train for backcountry adventures from the city…during a pandemic? Billy Gawron of aptly named Backcountry Fitness is here with answers. A personal trainer, Gawron expertly trains himself and his clients for high altitude objectives, backpacking trips, and all-around hiking fitness from his hometown of Boston, MA. No mountains and no gym membership required.

Gawron equates getting in shape to building a house. You have to start with the foundation.

“If you try to build a house on top of a really crappy foundation, the house is not gonna last very long,” Billy says. “So you want to make sure that you solidify not only your core stability, but your stability around all your joints.”

Gawron shares the number one thing we should all start working on right now and gives us the key to balancing strength work with endurance training. He breaks down some pervasive myths about training, including if you actually need to train at all. He also answers the most pressing hiker questions, like how to train your feet and ankles to withstand long days with a heavy pack, how to prevent pesky and debilitating knee pain, and how to prepare for altitude while at sea level.

If you’re dreaming up some big plans for the summer, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Thru-Hiking Secrets with Halfway Anywhere

A self-proclaimed random guy on the internet, Mac of Halfway Anywhere and his famous PCT and CDT thru-hiker surveys have turned him into a hiker legend.

In this episode of Out and Back, Mac, who has thru-hiked the PCT and CDT himself, weaves his eight years of PCT and CDT survey data together with his first hand observations to illuminate key pain points along the trails, how much a thru-hike will really cost you, and how these long trails have evolved over the past decade. Hint: he doesn’t think it’s all been for the better. Mac dishes his controversial view of trail angels and trail magic. Plus, Mac spills the tea on the key reasons hikers quit the trail.

“Money is a big factor that sneaks up on people,” Mac says. “They don’t realize it is going to be as big of an issue as it ends up being.

Mac has not thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail and does not conduct an AT survey. In fact, Mac swears he will never hike the east’s longest trail. Tune in to this episode to hear AT thru-hike veteran Shanty try and change his mind.

Backcountry Coffee with the Pros

Coffee is life for many of us. It’s our morning ritual, a jolt that shakes us out of the afternoon doldrums, and a pick-me-up when we need to burn the midnight oil. But in the backcountry, brewing the perfect cup can be complicated. A pour-over leaves you with messy grounds to haul out, and instant coffee often falls short on taste. We turned to some of our favorite professional hikers — Heather “Anish” Anderson, the Hiking Viking, Adventure Alan Dixon, and Liz “Snorkel” Thomas — to unmask the secrets to brewing the best cup of coffee in camp.

Turns out their methods for making coffee on trail are as wild and varied as their personalities. Learn how Anish found a food coffee substitute on her record-breaking AT thru-hike. Get Hiking Viking’s hilarious take on why fast and cheap coffee is his pro move. Get Adventure Alan’s superior backcountry brew setup, and find out the results to Snorkel’s scientific, blind study on 14 brands of instant coffee by tuning into this episode.

Amanda Monthei on Life with Fire

Amanda smiles for the camera in a hardhat.

Former wildland firefighter Amanda Monthei lifts up the curtain on fire management and misperceptions on this episode of the Out and Back podcast. Armed with four years of experience working on engine and hotshot crews in Idaho and Oregon as well as her experience as a wildfire Public Information Officer, Monthei unearths why wildfire seasons seem to escalate in duration and severity year after year.

“You can’t just exist superficially within the landscape,” Amanda says. “You have to be an active member of it. We’ve been suppressing fire for too long. We need to like recognize that fire very much belongs in these places.”

Monthei explains why wildfires remain vital for ecosystem health, and how humans misunderstand this life force. She gets into the history of wildfire management in the U.S. and how we’ve primed conditions for fires of unprecedented scope. Amanda dives into what we can learn from indigenous fire management practices, and how we can better coexist with fire going forward.

Learn how you can make the most of new life teeming in burn scars, and how you can fold fire into your life on this episode.

How to Avoid Another Deadly Avalanche Season

Avalanches killed 37 people in the U.S. last winter, making it the most deadly season in modern history. Why was 2020-2021 so dangerous and how can we avoid avalanches this winter? Get the answers to these burning questions in Out and Back’s winter safety series.

In this four-part series, avalanche forecasters expose the factors that played into last season’s tragic fatalities. Tune in to hear the details of one of the most chilling avalanche accidents in Utah’s history. Learn how seasoned ski mountaineers make the tough decision to turn around just shy of the summit. And get a crash course on how to read an avalanche forecast so you can be plan safer routes on your next tour.

Listen to all four binge-worthy episodes at once, or pick them up in a random order. Tune into the Winter Safety Series here.

Bonus: Top 5 Episodes of the Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast

We also started a brand new podcast for overlanders this year! The Gaia GPS Offroad podcast brings you conversations with experienced offroaders and overlanders from around the world. Listen in as host, fighter jet pilot, and experienced overlander Wade May dives deep under the hood with experts in the field. International travelers and backyard explorers alike transport you to their most harrowing encounters, biggest lessons, and most epic adventures on the trail.

Here are the top five episodes from the podcast’s inaugural year. Let us know what you think by dropping us a line on Instagram or by leaving us a review on iTunes!

Casey Kaiser: Jeep on Fire
Casey Kaiser was on a solo trip in Eastern Oregon’s remote backcountry when all of the sudden his yellow Jeep Wrangler burst into flames. Tune in to hear the harrowing story.

Mountain State Overland: The Perfect Build
Building out your dream overlanding vehicle can be an overwhelming task, leaving you in a state of “analysis by paralysis.” But don’t worry, Jason Specht of Mountain State Overland is here to help. Jason recently built out a Toyota Tacoma and a couple of 4Runners. He walks us through what he learned from that process and how to dump your hard earned cash into the upgrades you need instead of the upgrades you want.

Dirt Sunrise: Offroad Recovery Gear
Tim and Kelsey Huber of Dirt Sunrise Adventures quit their jobs a few years ago and sold almost everything they own to pursue overland travel on a full-time basis. Their first major adventure took them to South America on the Pan-American Trail. After two years plus on the road, Dirt Sunrise is back in the states and ready to talk about their adventures abroad.

Marco Hernandez: Camp Cooking with Ovrlndx
Is overlanding really just eating your way through the beautiful places in the backcountry? Marco Hernandez of Ovrlndx discusses everything camp cooking. Author of The Overland Cook, Hernandez is best known for his spicy hot, south-of-the-border cuisine. Everything from his traditional birria tacos to fresh, homemade salsa, Marco delivers his best tips for gourmet cooking from the back of the Jeep.

The Rimrocker Trail with Trails Offroad
John Lumia of Trails Offroad gives us a complete report of the Rimrocker Trail, a classic route in America’s southwest. Lumia gives away all the trail’s little secrets, including the best time to go, trail ratings, and things to see along the way. Tune in to get all the details you need to make a successful run on the Rimrocker — even if it’s your first time overlanding.

December 26, 2021

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