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Author

Mary Cochenour

Mary Cochenour

Mary Cochenour worked on the marketing team at Gaia GPS from 2020 to 2022. She enjoys backpacking, skiing, and mountain biking in the mountains near her home in Montana.

Two rafters float down rapids.
Gaia GPSOut and Back Podcast

How Tragedy Turned Luc Mehl into a Packrafting Expert

by Mary Cochenour May 6, 2021
written by Mary Cochenour

How to listen: iTunes | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox

Adventurer Luc Mehl has spent decades exploring Alaska in the most creative ways. He’s skied from Haines to Juneau; ice-skated a 100+ mile route on frozen lakes and seashores above the Arctic Circle, and bikepacked portions of the Iditarod Trail. In 2006, he discovered a much more efficient way to cover miles in the mountains: packrafting. He’s taken floating down Alaskan rivers to a new level ever since.

Don’t miss episode 31 of the Out and Back podcast as Luc takes us on his incredible Alaskan journey. His story starts with growing up in a tiny, landlocked village. Yet it took moving to the city for Luc to find joy playing outside in Alaska’s great expanses.

Profile image of Luc Mehl. He's smiling at the camera, wearing a trucker hat and a raincoat.

Luc’s adventures on foot, bike, ice skates, skis, and packraft can seem extreme to most people. But he swears he’s not in it for the thrill. Taking on new sports is just Luc’s way to keep growing.

“Part of what I am after is the learning curve,” Luc says on the podcast. “Every day I go out and I’m a little better than I was yesterday. I’ve done that with all these sports: skiing, biking, packrafting. As soon as the learning curve flattens out, I start to get a little restless. I’ll embrace learning even if it means giving up being an expert and I’ll pick up something new.”

Luc used the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic — a punishing adventure challenge across 100+ miles of rugged terrain — to test his limits and learn new things. The Wilderness Classic felt like a safe place for Luc to experiment with his gear, food, and sleep deprivation. Sometimes he stayed up all night to rack up extra miles.

Luc’s goal in the Wilderness Classic was to see just how minimally he could survive. Until one day, cutting corners resulted in tragedy.

In 2014, Luc’s friend drowned in a packrafting accident in the middle of the race course. Though Luc was not on the scene, the loss of his friend changed his perspective on decision-making in the mountains. Suddenly, his history of many close calls came into sharp focus.

Book jacket of Luc's book, "The Packraft Handbook."

Looking at his skill level through the lens of tragedy, Luc realized he was boating on water way over his head. It was a tough pill to swallow, but he dialed back and started learning the sport all over again. The result seven years later is Luc’s brand new book, “The Packraft Handbook.”

Due out at the end of May, “The Packraft Handbook” captures Luc’s knowledge about backcountry river travel. Everything from reading water to river hazards, packraft gear and safety equipment, “The Packraft Handbook” reaches both beginners and expert paddlers.

Learn more about Luc Mehl and his Alaskan adventures on his website. Follow him on Instagram. And pick up a copy of “The Packraft Handbook” to get the best tips for staying safe on moving water. Pre-orders are available now and will be shipped in June.

Last Episode: The Pacific Crest Trail with Barney “Scout” Mann

Barney at his computer, with book cases on either side. His back is to the camera.

Tune in to the last episode of Out and Back podcast for a chat with Barney “Scout” Mann. Since 2006, Scout and his wife “Frodo” have been hosting Pacific Crest Trail hikers at their suburban San Diego home.

The ultimate trail angles, the Manns offer to pick up arriving PCT hikers from the airport, bring them to their five-bedroom house, feed them dinner, entertain them with music, and teach them the ways of the trail. The next morning, the Manns shuttle the hopeful thru-hikers some 60 miles to the Mexico border. With a hug and a smile, they send their new hiking friends off to Canada. The Manns don’t charge a penny for their services.

In this episode, Scout describes how running their famous hiker hostel kept Scout and Frodo connected to the PCT even after their own thru-hike in 2007. Scout reflects on how the pandemic forced them to close up shop in 2020, and why they decided not to host PCT hikers in 2021. Listen through to the very end to hear why Scout and Frodo will consider hosting in 2022.

Find out about the release of Scout’s new book, Journeys North, which chronicles his own PCT thru-hike with Frodo. Give Scout a follow on Instagram — he’s on the Arizona Trail right now and posting pictures of his trip along the way. Learn more about Scout and Frodo’s hiker hostel on the Mann’s website.

May 6, 2021
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Barney and Scout stand with their arms around each other's shoulders at the pole signifying the southern terminus of the PCT.
Gaia GPSOut and Back Podcast

Meet Scout and Frodo: the Ultimate PCT Trail Angels

by Mary Cochenour April 22, 2021
written by Mary Cochenour

How to listen: iTunes | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox

Since 2006, thousands of Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers have started their 2,660-mile journey from Barney and Sandy Mann’s suburban San Diego home. The ultimate trail angles, the Manns offer to pick up arriving PCT hikers from San Diego’s airport, bring them to their five-bedroom house, feed them dinner, entertain them with music, and teach them the ways of the trail.

The next morning, the Manns shuttle the hopeful thru-hikers some 60 miles to the Mexico border. With a hug and a smile, they send their new hiking friends off to Canada, rested and well prepared for the miles ahead.

A large group of thru-hikers sit in a big circle in Scout's backyward.

Hosting hikers — sometimes 40 per night — gets expensive and takes a lot of time and energy. Yet the Manns don’t charge a penny for their hospitality. Helping hikers start their long, arduous PCT journey is their ultimate joy in life.

Tune in to the next episode of Out and Back for a chat with Barney “Scout” Mann. A triple crown hiker himself, Scout describes how running their famous hiker hostel kept them connected to the PCT even after their own thru-hike in 2007. Learn about the changes Scout has seen as the PCT grew in popularity after the release of Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild.

Cover of Scout's book, "Journey's North: The Pacific Crest Trail." Cover image is a watercolor of a lake with mountains in the background.

Mann discusses the release of his new book, Journeys North, which chronicles the PCT thru-hike he did with Sandy (trail name Frodo). Plus, find out what it’s like to hang out in the Manns’ hostel as hikers prepare for the first miles of their PCT trek.

Scout reflects on how the pandemic forced them to close up shop in 2020 and why they decided not to host PCT hikers in 2021. Listen through to the very end to hear why Scout and Frodo will consider hosting in 2022.

Give Scout a follow on Instagram — he’s on the Arizona Trail right now and posting pictures of his trip along the way. Learn more about Scout and Frodo’s hiker hostel on the Mann’s website. Stay tuned for their announcement about whether they will host hikers in 2022.

Next Episode: How Tragedy Turned Luc Mehl into a Packrafting Expert

Luc smiles for the camera in a portrait.

Adventurer Luc Mehl has spent decades exploring Alaska in the most creative ways. He’s skied from Haines to Juneau; ice-skated a hundred-mile route on frozen lakes and seashores above the Arctic Circle, and bikepacked portions of the Iditarod Trail. In 2006, he discovered a much more efficient way to click off miles in mountains: packrafting. He’s taken floating down Alaskan rivers to a new level ever since.

Don’t miss episode 31 of the Out and Back podcast as Luc takes us on his incredible Alaskan journey, from growing up in a tiny, landlocked village to discovering the freedom of the outdoors later in his life. While Luc’s adventures on foot, bike, ice skates, skis, and packraft, can seem extreme to most people, he rejects being labeled a “thrill seeker.” Taking on new sports is just a way for Luc to master a new craft, and to keep climbing the learning curve.

Luc has used the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic — a punishing adventure race across 100+ miles of rugged terrain — to test his limits and hone his wilderness skills. The race has always felt like a safe place for Luc to experiment with his food choices and sleep deprivation, sometimes staying up all night to make extra miles. The goal was to see just how minimally he could live out there.

Until one day, cutting corners resulted in tragedy.

In 2014, Luc’s friend drowned in a packrafting accident in the middle of the race. Though Luc was not on the scene, the loss of his friend changed his perspective on decision-making in the mountains. Suddenly, his history of many close came into focus.

Looking at his skill level through the lens of tragedy, Luc realized that he was boating on water that was way over his head. It was a tough pill to swallow but he dialed back, and started learning the sport all over again — this time from the very beginning. Seven years later, the result is the release of Luc’s brand new book: The Packraft Handbook — “the definitive instructional resource for packrafting.”

Learn more about Luc Mehl and his Alaskan adventures on his website. Follow him on Instagram. And pick up a copy of The Packraft Handbook to get the best tips for staying safe on moving water.

Last Episode: Ninjasticking Through the Backcountry with Vasu Sojitra

Vasu Sojitra is one of the most accomplished adaptive athletes on Earth. He’s notched first independent adaptive ascents and descents on everything from the Grand Teton in Grand Teton National Park to Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mount Washington in New Hampshire. This winter, he summited Wyoming’s formidable Mount Moran and skied its infamous Skillet Glacier.

He’s done all of this with one leg.

But focusing on Vasu’s leg difference, though, doesn’t do him justice. Rather, Vasu has leveraged his disability to cultivate courage, resiliency, and compassion.

“That’s the thing about disability culture — we are one of the most resilient communities on this [expletive] planet, which is awesome to be a part of,” Vasu recounts on Out and Back. “People think we’re fragile. People think you have to tiptoe around our disability. You don’t. We’re still here. We’re still kicking ass and we’re still making sure our voices are heard no matter what our voices are.”

Go back and listen to the last episode of Out and Back as Vasu recounts going from feeling like an outsider as a kid growing up in Glastonbury, CT and Gujarat, India, to finding belonging on the ski slopes. As Indian immigrants, Vasu’s parents were not entirely sold on their two sons’ newfound passion — or the price to entry. Adaptive ski equipment is particularly expensive. But Vasu and his brother (and number one supporter) Amir found their way to the bunny slopes of CT, and later, the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Appalachians, and beyond.

Vasu’s accomplishments in the mountains are extraordinary. But his story is really one of finding strength within yourself. He’s on a mission to make the outdoors accessible to all, so everyone can experience the liberation of moving their bodies through the landscape.

Follow Vasu on Instagram. Read first-hand accounts of Vasu’s adventures on his website, and watch his film Out on the Limb.

April 22, 2021
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iPhone with screen displaying new Gaia GPS app icons
App UpdatesGaia GPSiOSNew Features

Spice Up Your Gaia GPS App Icon with 14 New Designs in iOS

by Mary Cochenour March 31, 2021
written by Mary Cochenour

Spice up your Gaia GPS app icon with 14 new stylish icon options available in iOS. Select an app icon to match the season, reflect your mood, or show your community pride. With a tap on the screen, switch out the classic Gaia GPS icon and bring a little extra personality to your favorite backcountry navigation app.

Change Your Gaia GPS Icon to Match the Seasons, Celebrate Community, or Reflect Your Mood

You can update your app icon to mirror the change of the seasons. Choose the classic, evergreen-inspired icon for the blossoming spring months. Change to a fiery red icon for the heat of the summer. When fall colors arrive, switch to the orange and yellow icon to complement the changing leaves. Select the icy blue-toned icon for the depths of winter. The camouflaged-colored icon is a perfect addition for hunting season.

Seasonal.png

Show your LGBTQ Pride with the rainbow-enhanced LGBTQ Pride Flag icon. Select the Pan-African Flag icon with a red, black, and green motif to celebrate the Black community.

Choose a purple color-scheme for a groovy VaporWave style or make the classic Gaia GPS icon pop with a new 3D design. Tone the style down with grayscale options in the granite-colored icon or choose a “blackout” backdrop for a metallic look on top of jet black styling.

Pan-African.png

Get the Original, Start-Up Gaia GPS App Icons

Get the original, colorful Gaia GPS icon designs from 2009, 2012, and 2014. These artful, original designs harken back to the early days when Gaia GPS was just getting started.

Stick with the Classic Gaia GPS Icon

Gaia-GPS_Logo-Promo_4C.png

Of course, you can never go wrong by sticking with the classic Gaia GPS icon. Designed in 2016 by our creative director Nick Botner, the classic Gaia GPS icon mimics the shapes and hues of nature. Botner crafted the classic Gaia GPS icon in the shape of a towering mountain peak, backdropped behind layers of maps. He then painted the avatar in the deep, rich green palette of a mountain pine forest and brushed in bright green accents of freshly budding evergreen needles.

From hiking a quiet trail in your neighborhood to exploring overland routes deep off the grid, the classic Gaia GPS design logo symbolizes and inspires backcountry adventures of every kind.

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How to Change Your Gaia GPS App Icon

Changing your Gaia GPS icon in the iOS app is simple. Open up the Gaia GPS in the iOS app. Tap the Settings icon in the lower, right side of the main screen. Select “Appearance” and “App Icon” to get to the list of icon styles. Tap any of the 14 icon designs to customize your Gaia GPS app icon.

Get started with Gaia GPS at gaiagps.com and download the app for free on iOS and Android. Get a Premium Membership to access the entire Gaia GPS map catalog and download maps to navigate offline.

March 31, 2021
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A screenshot of a Gaia GPS desktop map shows color-coded by use trails on the updated USFS map layer.
Gaia GPSNew FeaturesNew Maps

Find Trails for Hiking, Biking, and Offroading with the USFS Roads and Trails Layer

by Mary Cochenour March 30, 2021
written by Mary Cochenour

Pursue Your Favorite Activities with Color-Coded Trails in the USFS Roads and Trail Layer

The USFS Roads and Trails layer displays color-coded trails for different activities so you can see if your favorite outdoor activities, like hiking, biking, motorcycling, and horseback riding, are allowed on your next trail destination. Each color on the map signifies which activity is allowed on the trail. Click on the trail and a pop-up displays even more information, including the name of the trail, all of the allowed uses for that trail, and trail specifications and characteristics.

Whether you are wondering where to ride your mountain bike or looking to avoid areas that allow bikes and motor vehicles, this layer makes it easy to find the right trail for your next adventure.

The USFS Roads and Trails Layer

The USFS Roads and Trails layer shows maintained routes, 4×4 trails, backroads, and little-known paths across U.S. national forests and grasslands. This map contains many routes unavailable in any other map in Gaia GPS, including water routes, winter-only routes, and canoe trails. Road labels indicate the level of maintenance and accessibility by passenger vehicles.

The new color-coded trails in this updated layer display the permitted uses on the trails. Trails colored with a dashed black line indicate trails open to hiking. Green indicates a trail open to horseback riding, red open to mountain biking, and purple open to motorcycles and ATV use. A blue dotted line signifies a water route and light blue shows a winter-use trail. Gray double-dashed lines display 4×4 routes and dirt roads.

Two mobile phone screen shots of the updated USFS layer in Gaia GPS show the allowed uses for trails in Helena National Forest, as well as the surface material and tread width needed for vehicles.

Tap the trail and a pop-up displays the trail name, the trail number, all the allowed uses for that specific trail, the grade of the trail, and the trail’s surface material and tread width.

The USFS Roads and Trails layer is designed to lay on top of your favorite base map. Pair it with Gaia Topo, USGS Topo, or Open Cycle Maps HD, just to name a few, to find the best trails for your next adventure.

How to Add the USFS Roads and Trails Layer

Access the USFS Roads and Trails layer with a Premium Membership. Add the layer by clicking the layers icon, select Add Map Layer, tap Feature/Weather Overlays, scroll down and add the USFS Roads and Trails layer. Layer it on top of Gaia Topo or use it with your favorite base map. For tips on adding the USFS Roads and Trails and any other layer on Gaia GPS, visit this help center article.

March 30, 2021
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computer screen displaying Gaia Topo map
Gaia GPS

All New Gaia Topo: The Best Backcountry Map Just Got Even Better

by Mary Cochenour March 25, 2021
written by Mary Cochenour

Gaia Topo, the world’s best backcountry navigation map, just got even better! Today, we rolled out a whole new version of our flagship map, chock-full of ground-breaking updates. Gaia Topo now includes more than 150,000 miles of additional National Forest 4×4 roads and trails, brand new worldwide tree cover and relief shading, and point-to-point mileage markers that show distances between trail segments. Dovetailed with a complete overhaul to the map’s style and design, these improvements make Gaia Topo the best map for planning and navigating on your next backcountry adventure.

Best of all, these updates won’t compromise Gaia Topo’s bedrock feature — downloading efficiency. You can expect the same industry-leading download speeds and tiny sizes that you’re used to seeing from Gaia Topo’s revolutionary design. Whether you’re overlanding across multiple states, sightseeing in a vast national park, or backpacking across hundreds of miles of wilderness, you can still download one huge section of the Gaia Topo map to cover your entire journey.

More than 150,000 Miles of Additional 4×4 Roads and Trails

Gaia Topo now has more 4×4 roads and trail networks than ever before. Create new hiking loops and link up endless miles of dirt roads with the addition of 150,000+ miles of USFS 4×4 roads and trails on the map. The new roads and trails connect seamlessly with existing ones on the map so you can build custom routes using Gaia GPS’s signature snap-to-trail planning tools. This update gives you a more complete picture of USFS roads and trails, letting you explore deeper into forest lands across the U.S.

Get Point-to-Point Mileage Markers on 4×4 Road and Trail Segments

No more guessing how far it is to the next trail junction. Gaia Topo now displays distances between all non-urban trails and 4×4 road segments to the nearest tenth of a mile or kilometer. These new point-to-point distance markers take the guesswork out of trip planning in the field. Simply glance at the map to get an accurate distance on 4×4 road and trail segments all around the world.

Use Gaia Topo (Meters) to get the same great mapping experience but with distances shown in kilometers and contours displayed in meters.

mile-markers-iphones.png

See Landscape Details with Shaded Relief on the Map

Mountains, valleys, plateaus, and canyons come to life with our brand new shaded relief feature on Gaia Topo. Built in-house, the new shaded relief adds depth to landscape features, letting you get a quick read on the terrain with just a glance at the map. Get tons of useful information about the earth’s surface from this new version of Gaia Topo, so you’ll know what to expect on your next backcountry adventure.

Find the Alpine with New Tree Cover Shading

Whether you’re backcountry skiing, overlanding to new heights, or hiking over mountain passes, you’ll be able to quickly spot the alpine with Gaia Topo’s new tree cover shading. The new tree cover shading shows you areas on the map that lie above treeline. Use Gaia Topo to find protected campsites under the forest canopy and get a sense of where you’ll be exposed to the elements on your next adventure anywhere in the world.

Tree Cover-PCT.png

The new tree cover shading also distinguishes vegetation types. Subtle, verdant coloring on the map signifies mature forests, while a greenish-brown color depicts young, sparse forests and shrubs. Areas without shading indicate a lack of sizeable vegetation and could indicate grassy meadows, fields of talus, slick rock, sandy deserts, and more.

Trails, 4×4 Roads, Urban Streets, and Recreation Amenities Stand Out on the Map

New styling improvements give Gaia Topo a clean and crisp appearance that call attention to the map’s most important features. Find 4×4 roads and trails in a flash with a new emphasis on styling that makes these features pop on the map. The new updates also make transportation and recreational opportunities on public lands come into focus sooner so you won’t miss important stops along the way. Plus, new styling helps distinguish land ownership, making it easier to see if you’re on public or private lands.

The upgrades don’t stop at the city limits either. Urban areas now emphasize main thoroughfares and city streets, making it easier than ever to find your way from your driveway to the trailhead. The map showcases urban amenities, too. Gas stations and resupply spots stand out on the map as you roll into town after a long trip.

With style improvements to both road and trail features, Gaia Topo is the gold standard map for both urban and backcountry settings.

moab-streets-2.png

Gaia Topo is Available to Everyone

Access Gaia Topo on the web at www.gaiagps.com/map/ and in the Gaia GPS app on both Android and iOS. With Gaia Topo you can search for hikes in your area, record tracks in the field, and create a custom route on the map for free. Create a free account to save your routes and tracks so you can revisit them later.

Get a premium membership to download Gaia Topo and take the map offline with you in areas without cell service. A Premium Membership also gives you access to 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.

The new version of Gaia Topo appears automatically on the map. However, if you’ve downloaded previous versions of Gaia Topo, you will need to download the map again to see the updates on your offline map. You’ll be reminded to download the latest version when you open the “Saved” tab in the Gaia GPS app. Look for a prompt at the bottom of the screen, letting you know that a new version of Gaia Topo is available.

March 25, 2021
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two mobile phones showing public tracks on the Gaia GPS map on the screen
AndroidApp UpdatesGaia GPSiOSNew FeaturesNew Maps

Discover Millions of Routes with the New Public Tracks Overlay

by Mary Cochenour March 24, 2021
written by Mary Cochenour

Wondering if a route goes? See if anyone’s blazed the trail before you with the Public Tracks layer in Gaia GPS. Available on both gaiagps.com and in the app, the Public Tracks layer shows the two million public tracks Gaia GPS users have recorded all over the world. You can choose to make your tracks public and make them available for others to access, too. Turn on this layer to discover new hiking routes, connect 4×4 roads, and plan backcountry trips with information from people who made the journey before you.

Use public tracks to enhance your own creative route planning. Whether linking up remote roads for your next overlanding adventure or connecting trails for a new loop to hike, the new public tracks overlay offers deep insights on what’s humanly possible in the outdoors.

Public tracks can be viewed online in any Gaia GPS map, including Gaia Topo, USGS quad maps, MVUMS, satellite maps, and more. Click on any public track on the map to see the distance traveled, elevation gain and loss during the trip, and the total time it took that user to complete the journey. When you’ve found the track you want to explore, save it to your account and follow it in the field — even when you are miles away from cell service.

delicate-arch.png

Get Detailed Trip Stats from Any Public Track

Public Tracks give you all the information you need to get ideas for new routes and to plan a successful backcountry trip. Click on any track on the map to see the total distance traveled. Check the track’s time so you can estimate how long it will take you to complete the same journey. See the total elevation gain and loss on a track to know how much climbing to expect if you follow the same path.

Trip stats also show the date and time the track was recorded so you can account for varying weather conditions when viewing the track. For example, if someone recorded the track in the winter months, you can consider whether the track was likely recorded in snowy conditions. If the user selected the mode of travel, you will be able to see whether they recorded their track on foot, bike, skis, or motorized vehicle. Also, keep an eye out for trip notes, giving you personalized, first-hand information from the user who recorded the track.

track example .png

Save, Share, Follow, and Get Turn-by-Turn Directions to Any Public Track

Once you find the perfect public track for your next adventure, you can save it to your account and pull it up on your map even when you’re offline. Share the track with your adventure partners and the people who are staying home so they know your backcountry plan. Use the “Get Directions” button within the app to get turn-by-turn directions to the beginning of the track. When you’re set to begin the journey, press the “Guide Me” button to stay on course.

To access these features, click on the public track and tap the “i” icon to get more information. A new screen will open, showing all the stats of the track and all the buttons to save, share, follow, and get directions to the track.

How to Turn On Public Tracks in the App

Public tracks have always been a key planning tool on the web. Now you can access the same public tracks layer in the field on your iOS and Android devices online. To add public tracks in the app, tap the layers icon on the top right of your screen and select “Map Overlay” at the top of the list of options. Toggle on “Public Tracks” and public tracks will appear on the map in light green.

Make Your Own Public Tracks to Contribute to the Map

You can contribute to the bank of information on the map by simply recording tracks on your own adventures and sharing them with the public. When you record a track on Gaia GPS, your track is set, by default, as a private track. You can choose to manually set your track to public to share it to the map. Making your track public allows other outdoor enthusiasts to access your trip data to enhance their own trip planning.

The Public Tracks Overlay is Available to Everyone on Gaia GPS

Everyone can view public tracks in the app on iOS and Android and on the web at www.gaiagps.com/map/. However, you will need an account to save public tracks for use offline. Visit www.gaiagps.com to create a free account or purchase the premium membership to see all the public tracks on your favorite maps in Gaia GPS’s expansive catalog.

March 24, 2021
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Adrien smiles while on top of a snowy mountain. He's got his arms raised and is holding an ice axe in one hand.
Gaia GPSOut and Back Podcast

Mountain Climber Adrian Ballinger Finds Love and his Limits on Mount Everest

by Mary Cochenour March 4, 2021
written by Mary Cochenour

How to listen: iTunes | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox

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Alpinist Adrian Ballinger has made a career of climbing the Himalaya’s 8,000-meter giants. Since 2008, he’s summited Mount Everest eight times, including once without supplemental oxygen. He has also climbed other lofty and daring peaks in the region like K2, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Manaslu. But perhaps the biggest hurdle Ballinger has surmounted has been overcoming family and societal pressure to live a life outside of what’s true to himself.

In this episode of the Out and Back, Ballinger takes hosts Shanty and Mary all the way back to his first experiences with the outdoors in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts. Ballinger didn’t grow up in an outdoorsy family, but he lucked into a group of friends and mentors who showed him the way. A friend’s dad offered to teach him to rock climb. And while Ballinger’s parents didn’t approve of this new activity, Ballinger found a quiet ally in his mother.

“My mom had this great dichotomy. On one side, if I was going rock climbing, I couldn’t tell her. I had to tell her I was going to the library. But she knew that meant I was going climbing. But she didn’t want to talk about it,” Ballinger explains. “But every couple of weeks or once a month, another cam would show up my bed. She had gone to the local Eastern Mountaineering Sports shop to figure out what I needed and she helped build my rack, but it was never something that she wanted credit for or necessarily encouraged out loud. It was pretty cool.”

Though he loved climbing, nobody ever thought he’d make a job of it. In fact, an undercurrent of pressure to study medicine swept him away to college. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and was accepted to the Georgetown’s medical school. But Ballinger deferred enrollment to indulge in one glorious gap year to “get the mountains out of his system.” One year turned into two years, and, well, let’s just say his parents weren’t impressed. Decades later, and well into his 40s, Ballinger is still scrambling up mountains on his “break” between undergraduate and graduate school.

Adrian and Emily Harrington pose in a selfie. Emily's arm is wrapped around Adrien's shoulder.

In this fun and lighthearted chat, Ballinger speaks openly about the challenges and realities of guiding clients up the world’s highest mountains. But it’s not all earthquakes, avalanches, mountain politics, and climate change. Ballinger takes us to that fateful encounter on the side of Mount Everest, where he met the love of his life, professional climber Emily Harrington. The couple got engaged last year, and are looking at a December 2021 wedding. Ballinger gives us a peak of what “normal” life is like for these two climbing celebrities.

Tune in to learn more about how you can explore in the mountains with Ballinger’s company Alpenglow Expeditions. Follow Ballinger on his Instagram page and watch the couple’s YouTube channel DangerstikTV for some real-life Adrian/Emily entertainment. Watch Breathtaking, a documentary about Ballinger’s climb on K2 without supplemental oxygen.

Episode Highlights:

4:05: Adrian was born in England and grew up in Massachusetts.
5:15: Adrian credits luck, mentors, and his cool mom for getting him into climbing.
7:00: His parents taught him and his sister to be willing to try anything, but they weren’t too excited about Ballinger taking up rock climbing at a young age. Even still, Ballinger’s mom bought him his first rack.
9:45: Adrian graduated from Georgetown University and was poised to go to medical school, when he put the breaks on and took a gap year, to get the “mountains out of his system.”
13:10: He never went back to school, picked up some sponsors, and kept climbing mountains.
15:15: Mount Everest caught Adrian’s attention when he was a teenager, and he read everything about it and was totally obsessed.
17:10: Guiding was the only way Adrian could afford to summit Everest, and he has now summited Mount Everest eight times — once without oxygen supplementation.
21:00: Many challenges can interrupt an Everest expedition, including icefall, earthquakes, politics, and even the Olympics.
23:45: It costs $85,000 to go to Everest with Adrian Ballinger and his qualified guides with Alpenglow Expeditions.
25:15: Cheaper trips skimp on experienced guides, safety equipment, and extra oxygen.
28:20: The crux of Everest lies in the sustained effort it takes to climb the mountain over 30 days.
31:30: Adrian wasn’t sure if he could summit Everest without supplemental oxygen, and that unknown drew him to try.
33:45: The first attempt without oxygen didn’t go well and Adrian had to retreat just 600 feet from the summit.
37:40: Adrian went back and summited without oxygen, but doesn’t remember it because he was blacked out from the lack of oxygen.
38:22: Adrian went on to summit K2 without supplemental oxygen, and just being 600 feet lower made all the difference.
41:30: K2 is a more remote, technical, and dangerous climb that it’s taller sister Everest. The team ran into all kinds of troubles, but pushed through and summitted in perfect conditions.
51:20: Adrian describes the effects of climate change on the world’s tallest mountains, and here’s what we can do to make a difference.
57:15: Adrian Ballinger is engaged to professional climber Emily Harrington.
57: 45: Last fall, Emily became the first woman to climb El Capitan’s Golden Gate route in a 24-hour period. She joins the very short list of climbers — Tommy Caldwell, the late Brad Golight, and Alex Honnold — who have accomplished this feat.
59:00: Adrian had the honor to belay Emily on a portion of the route, and he describes a big fall she took and how she got through that and pushed on.
1:04:30: Emily and Adrian manage the risks of being professional climbers by talking through their objectives very carefully.
1:06:20: When Adrian and Emily are home in Tahoe City, Calif., life is filled with laundry and chores, and they cherish the “normal” times because they rarely get them.
1:07:15: Adrian tells the story about how he first met Emily at 21,000 feet on Mount Everest. He offered her a coffee.
1:10:05: What’s next? Adrian Ballinger and Emily Harrington are planning a wedding in December.

Next Episode: Get Ready for Your Summer Adventures with Backcountry Fitness

Billy hikes up near the top of Mount Washington, he's holding poles and wearing a big backpack.

The days are getting longer and warmer, and the summer hiking season is well on its way! But for many of us, nearby trails are still covered in ice and snow. And for many more, we’re cooped up in the cities or geographical regions that are flat as a pancake. How can we gear up for summer mountain adventures given these limitations?

Personal trainer Billy Gawron of Backcountry Fitness is here with answers. Next time on Out and Back, Shanty and Abby chat with Gawron about training for hiking, backpacking, and thru-hiking adventures.

Whether you’ve spent a little too much time on the couch this winter, are confined to the city, or don’t have access to a gym, don’t worry! Gawron walks you through how to build a strong body and mind right at home. Gawron, who has backpacked all over the world and specializes in training his clients to get ready for all types of backcountry trips, delivers his keen insight into training for big mountain days while confined to small spaces and flat cities.

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 also breaks down some pervasive myths about training, including how realistic, or unrealistic, it may be to “hike yourself into shape.”

If you’re dreaming up some big plans for the summer, this episode will help you prepare for those physical challenges on the horizon. In the meantime, check out Backcountry Fitness on the web, where you can find free training plans and can hire Gawron as a coach. Also, follow Backcountry Fitness on Instagram for training tips.

Last Episode: Climber Matt Segal Balances Entrepreneurship and Climbing

An ice climber hangs from an overhanging rock wall with a frozen waterfall beside him.

Professional rock climber Matt Segal knew that climbing would never be enough for him. Plus, he was fed up with drinking bad coffee in the mountains. One fortuitous morning in a tent, Segal declared that he could make better backcountry coffee than what he was drinking. The concept for Alpine Start, an artisan instant coffee company, was born.

In this episode of the Out and Back, Abby and Shanty catch up with Segal to learn how he juggles climbing with running his business. Segal quickly established himself as one of the best trad and sport climbers in the country, setting first ascents on the Iron Monkey (5.14) in Eldorado Canyon, the Orangutan Overhang (5.14-) in Independence Pass, Colorado, and Air China (5.13d R) in Liming, China. But he knew he needed more than climbing in his life.

“There’s going to be a time when climbing doesn’t really work for me,” Segal recalls on the podcast. “Some of the allure with climbing was starting to fade a little bit. I was starting to get into other sports like paragliding. I just had this idea of, here I am, it’s a rainy day in my tent. I was drinking Starbucks Via. I was like, man, this kind of sucks. And I hate Starbucks. There’s nobody making a good instant coffee out there. Part of me was like, well, if I could make an instant coffee that even tastes just as good as Starbucks, I’m way cooler than Starbucks. Maybe people would buy it.”

Segal walks us through how a near-death paragliding accident inspired him to take Alpine Start to the next level. And he shares how he used climbing expertise combined with degrees in Psychology and Religious Studies with an emphasis in Tibetan Buddhism to assist on archaeological explorations of 800-year-old man-made caves high on rock faces in the Mustang region of Nepal.

Whether you live at the crag or seek insight into pursuing your dreams, you’re not going to want to miss this episode. Tune in to feed off of Segal’s passion for getting outside and protecting the places we love to play through his work with Protect Our Winters and 1% for the Planet. Keep up with Segal on Instagram. Read more about Segal’s Nat Geo trips to the Mustang Valley here and watch the documentary here.

March 4, 2021
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An Apple Watch is visible on a backcountry skier's wrist. It shows how far they are into a route (0.9 miles), pace (4'53'') and total time (1:02). Snowy trees and mountains are visible in the background.
App UpdatesGaia GPS

Gaia GPS Brings Backcountry Navigation to your Apple Watch

by Mary Cochenour March 2, 2021
written by Mary Cochenour

Record a track, drop waypoints, and get turn-by-turn directions using Gaia GPS on your Apple Watch. The totally redesigned Gaia GPS Apple Watch app turns your watch into a convenient backcountry navigation tool that works offline and independently of your phone. Use your Apple Watch to experience Gaia GPS’s signature navigation features even when you’re off the grid and far beyond the reach of cell service.

With Gaia GPS on your Apple Watch you can also collect trip details and health stats without having to interact with your phone. The watch will record your moving speed, elevation gain, distance travelled, and more when you use Gaia GPS to record your track. Gaia GPS also integrates with Apple Health to keep tabs on your heart rate, steps, and how many calories you burned on your latest adventure.

Whether heading out on a long trek or squeezing in an afternoon trail run, use your Apple Watch to navigate and record your adventure with Gaia GPS conveniently on your wrist.

Get Turn-by-Turn Navigation on Saved Routes in Apple Watch

No more constantly checking in on your phone to see if you’re staying on-route during your trail runs. Keep your phone tucked away in a pocket or inside your hydration pack and let the watch guide you along the trail. The watch will give you turn-by-turn directions anywhere in the world when you follow a saved route.

Saved routes will automatically download and display Gaia Topo on the watch face, so you can navigate with the map even when you are offline. The watch will vibrate to notify you of upcoming turns on your route or, more importantly, if you’ve strayed off your planned course. The vibrations grab your attention to let you know when you need to check in with the watch, helping you stay focused on the trail instead of always looking at the watch to see if you’re on track.

When you follow a route, the watch will record a track too. Save the track at the end of the trip to see how fast and how far you travelled. Link it all up with Apple Health to see your fitness metrics. Learn more about how to get started with turn-by-turn directions in this article from the Gaia GPS help center.

View Gaia Topo on Apple Watch with Saved Routes

Gaia Topo automatically downloads to your Apple Watch when you send a saved route from the Gaia GPS app to the watch. This automatic download lets you see your exact location on the map on the watch screen — even when you are out of range of cell service. Zoom in on Gaia Topo to see terrain features in more detail or zoom out to get a bigger picture of the landscape around you. Follow your progress on the map as you travel along your saved route.

Person in red flannel holds up Apple Watch with Gaia GPS displaying position on watch route.

Record a Gaia GPS Track on Apple Watch

On your next hike or ski up the mountain, use the Apple Watch to record your trip stats in Gaia GPS. The watch will record a track, showing you how many feet of elevation you climbed on your trip, your average speed, the total distance, and the time you spent moving along the track.

When you save the track from your watch, the track will automatically sync with your phone. View your track on any basemap within the Gaia GPS app on your phone or in your account on the web. Click on the track to see trip details and share the track with friends to give them beta on the trail you just hiked.

Get step-by-step instruction on how to record a track on the Apple Watch in this article.

A screenshot of the Gaia GPS Apple Watch app shows the time of day in the top right corner of the screen; distance covered in the middle, pace in the bottom left corner, and total time in the bottom right corner.

Drop Waypoints on Tracks and Routes on the Apple Watch

Every adventure outside seems to reveal those special spots that you’ll want to remember forever. Now you can drop waypoints directly from your Apple Watch to mark these locations on your saved routes and tracks. Add waypoints to flag places like trail junctions, must-see view points, or hazards like terrain traps or sketchy water crossings that you’ll want to reference for later trips.

Waypoints can be added at anytime from the launch screen on the watch, even as you record a track or navigate along a saved route. You can also customize your waypoints by changing the title and icon color when you add and save the waypoint from the Apple Watch screen.

Learn more about adding waypoints to your Gaia GPS routes and tracks on the Apple Watch here.

A Gaia GPS Apple Watch app screenshot shows how to drop a way point on the map: choose an icon, write a title, and press the save button.

Customize Notifications within the App

Select when you want your Apple Watch to notify you of upcoming features when navigating a route on Gaia GPS. Turn on notifications to alert you when you’re approaching turns and waypoints along the route. Set the watch to vibrate any time you’ve ventured off your planned route. You can also be notified for every mile or kilometer travelled along a saved route or a recorded track.

Of course, if you don’t want to be bothered during your adventure, you can always toggle off to stop notifications. Learn more about how to adjust your notifications in the article here.

How to Get Started with the New Gaia GPS Apple Watch App

To get started with the Gaia GPS Apple Watch app, you’ll need an Apple Watch and an iPhone. On your iPhone, install the Gaia GPS Apple Watch app. To do so, enter the Watch app on your iPhone’s home screen. In the Watch app on your phone, scroll down to “Available Apps” and locate Gaia GPS. Tap “Install.” Once the installation is complete, the Gaia GPS app will appear on your Apple Watch. If you already have the Gaia GPS Apple Watch app, you’ll have to update it to get the newest version.

Make sure you set your “Location Services” to “Always” or “While Using the App” for Gaia GPS to work on your Apple Watch. On your iPhone, open the Settings app, select “Privacy” and “Location Services.” Find “Gaia GPS” and select “Always.” On iOS 14, make sure “Precise Location“ is also toggled on.

After you’ve installed Gaia GPS on your Apple Watch, you’re ready to record a track and follow your saved routes. Learn more about how to navigate with your Apple Watch here.

March 2, 2021
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Smithwick shoulders his skis while wearing a helmet and reflective googles.
AdventuresBackcountry SkiingGaia GPSOut and Back PodcastUser Profiles

Backcountry Skiing in the Himalayas with Mountain Guide Luke Smithwick

by Mary Cochenour February 3, 2021
written by Mary Cochenour

How to listen: iTunes | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox

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In this episode of the Out and Back podcast, Shanty and Mary catch up with Luke Smithwick — one of the most prolific ski mountaineers and guides in the world. Smithwick is 200 lines deep into his Himalaya 500 skiing project — a mission to highlight 500 of the most unique and beautiful backcountry runs on the world’s highest mountains. With more than 75 Himalayan mountain expeditions to his name, Smithwick unravels the mystery of skiing in places like Tibet, India, and Nepal.

“It’s truly a Wild West. It’s just very remote. We take several flights to get out there from Katmandu and then we go with horses up to the snow line,” Smithwick says of one of his expeditions in the Himalaya. “The skiing starts at around 11,000 feet and goes up to 18,000 or 19,000 feet. The snow is really good. And I just love the people out there. It’s like a different world.”

Smithwick explains why the Himalayas could become the next all-time backcountry ski destination. Tune in to find out what it takes to get on one of Smithwick’s guided Himalayan ski mountaineering trips, learn about his mission to ski 500 classic Himalayan descents, and get his take on the best zones in this colossal mountain range.

Learn more about Smithwick on his personal Instagram page or his Himalaya 500 page. Check out all the 2021 skiing and climbing expeditions that Smithwick plans to offer through his company Himalaya Alpine Guides.

Episode Highlights: A Ski Tour of the Himalayas with Luke Smithwick

3:00: Smithwick describes how he uses Gaia GPS to navigate in the Himalayas.
5:50: Learn why you might not have heard about Smithwick before. Hint: he’s been too busy skiing and climbing.
7:50: Smithwick has racked up 70 to 80 expeditions in the Himalaya over the last two decades.
8:30: Luke climbed Everest in 2011, but find out why he’s not focused on the classics.
9:40: The Himalaya 500 project highlights beautiful skiing with hopes to bring more people to the range in winter. The 500 lines get into everything from steep couloirs to glades, and the snow can be light and deep.
15:00: The Himalayas could become the next backcountry ski destination — Luke says it really is that good.
17:50: There are only a handful of ski areas with lifts in this giant mountain range.
20:00: The experiences with the different cultures along the way really become the best part of the trip to the Himalayas.
22:10: Hear how Smithwick got hooked on these massive mountains.
25:00: Smithwick explains local customs and how to be a respectful traveler through these Himalayan mountain communities.
33:00: COVID brought Smithwick back to the United States, and he’s settled down in Idaho, near Jackson Hole — and he even got a Husky!
39:00: The hearty local people draw Smithwick back to the Himalayas.
41:00: Smithwick says the effects of climate change have taken hold of these smaller communities and he describes the impacts.
47:00: Take a ski tour in the Himalayas with Luke Smithwick; all you have to do is sign up.

Special Valentine’s Day Episode: How the Outdoors Saved a Marriage

Necota and Sonya hold hands while walking on a leaf-covered trail in the forest.

A decade into marriage, Sonya and Necota Staples hit a crossroads. They needed to learn how to communicate better — or risk their relationship entirely. The couple stepped outside their comfort zone and turned to the outdoors. Fresh air was all that was needed to put them into an entirely new and better place in their relationship.

“Camping and off-roading were really almost the antitheses of the lifestyle that we were leading,” Necota says. “There’s nothing wrong with art and going to galleries and things like that. We still love those things. But going camping and off-roading allowed us to explore something different and be able to see each other within our relationship in a completely different way.”

Tune in next week for this special Valentine’s Day episode of the Out and Back podcast. Hosts Shanty and Abby get the Staples’ full story about how “glamping” and overlanding outside their home city of Atlanta and beyond saved the Staples’ marriage. Sonya and Necota share their heart-warming story while also passing along insight to couples looking to strengthen their own relationships. The Staples dig into how they combine their love for “the finer things in life” with nature, and their passion for bringing the outdoors to communities that may feel like they don’t belong there.

The Staples share their lighthearted yet honest tribulations and triumphs on their website Staples InTents, youtube channel Staples InTents, and Instagram handles StaplesInTents and BlackPeopleOffroad.

Last Episode: Backcountry Ski Gear with Big Mountain Skier Sophia Schwartz and Sean McCoy from GearJunkie

A skier stands at the top of an icy couloir.

If you’re wondering what kind of backcountry ski gear to buy this season, you’ll want to listen to our last show with big mountain skier Sophia Schwartz and Sean McCoy, editorial director of GearJunkie. A multiple top-ten World Cup finisher and the 2013 U.S. Freestyle champion, Schwartz begins the episode describing her transition from the mogul course to the backcountry glades and couloirs. Her gear, she says, was less than optimal. She’s learned a lot since.

Schwartz teams up with McCoy to chat about what’s good in the world of backcountry ski gear. They discuss everything from avalanche airbags to climbing skins to repair kits. Tune in to find out which boot they both love to ski at the resort and in the backcountry.

Watch Sophia Schwartz’s new movie Jack of All Trades to see her master a double backflip, take on Jackson Hole’s super steep “Trifecta,” and shred the Grand Teton. You can also follow Schwartz on Instagram to get a sense of what’s going down in the backcountry around her hometown of Jackson, Wyoming.

Meet the Hosts

Andrew “Shanty” Baldwin

In 2019, host Andrew Baldwin completed a southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. After five months on the trail, Baldwin returned home to pursue a career in voice acting. A friend of the Gaia GPS company, Baldwin was a natural choice for hosting the Out and Back podcast.

In each Out and Back episode, Shanty strives to bring you conversations with people who spend an extraordinary amount of time outdoors. Listen in as Shanty taps into each backcountry expert’s superpower so that you can take their knowledge and experience with you on your next adventure.

Mary Cochenour

Mary smiles while lying down and resting her head on a rock. She's wearing a purple jacket, gloves, and a black buff around her ears.

Mary is the Out and Back podcast producer and a writer and editor at Gaia GPS. Before joining Gaia GPS, Mary worked as a lawyer, newspaper journalist, ski patroller, Grand Canyon river guide, and USFS wilderness ranger.

When she is not in the office, Mary works as a guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures in wild places around the west, like Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite, and the Brooks Range in Alaska. See some of Mary’s adventures on Instagram. Also, read her tips on how to plan your first solo backpacking trip and listen to her scary story about being stalked in the wilderness by a sketchy man.

Abby Levene

Abby smiles through a face caked in snow and ice.

When she’s not busy writing and editing content for Gaia GPS, Abby Levene can be found trail running, biking, and skiing around her hometown of Boulder, Colorado. In 2017, Abby broke her wrist eight miles into her second ultra. She went on to win the race, and has been hooked on the sport since. She’s passionate about using her graduate education in environmental journalism and her love for playing outside to tell stories about the issues, people, and places of the outdoors.

February 3, 2021
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Know Before You Go with the Avalanche Forecast Layer

by Mary Cochenour January 20, 2021
written by Mary Cochenour

Gaia GPS is proud to partner with the experts at Avalanche.org to bring you the Avalanche Forecast layer. Now, you can get official, up-to-date avalanche forecasts for mountain zones in the U.S. directly from the map on your phone.

Plan safer winter backcountry travel with quick and easy access to avalanche danger ratings from the National Avalanche Center and the American Avalanche Association. Link to complete avalanche reports from professional snow safety scientists in your region.

Whether you’re backcountry skiing the couloirs or snowmobiling into the back bowls, add this must-have feature to your avalanche safety toolkit. Updated every 30 minutes, this map is available online only. Be sure to check the map before you head out the door or leave cell service.

Avalanche Danger Ratings and Daily Forecasts

The Avalanche Forecast overlays on top of your favorite backcountry map to show you the color-coded North American Avalanche Danger Scale for your region. Crafted by avalanche forecasting experts, the danger scale spans five categories, from low to moderate and all the way through extreme danger, letting you know the risk of potential avalanches on your planned route.

Look for a time and date stamp on the map, showing exactly when the region’s danger rating expires. Tap the shaded areas on the map to access more information, including travel advice and a link to the official forecast from the snow safety scientists at the local avalanche center.

Regions with a daily forecast will show “no rating” until the forecasting center issues the rating for the day. Because winter backcountry conditions change constantly, this layer updates every 30 minutes and is available for online use only. This layer is only active during the avalanche forecast reporting season set by the avalanche centers in the mountain west.

Use the Avalanche Forecast Layer with your Favorite Maps

I computer monitor displaying the avalanche danger rating for an area on the topo map.

Add the Avalanche Forecast layer to your quiver of backcountry ski maps for a more complete picture of winter conditions in the backcountry. Use the layer in conjunction with the newly updated Gaia Topo, the USGS topo map, satellite imagery, Snow Stations (Daily), Snow Depth, and Snow Forecast layers to gather more information and make safer decisions in avalanche terrain.

How to Get the Avalanche Forecast Layer

The new Avalanche Forecast layer is available with a premium membership. To add the layer to your maps, open the Gaia GPS app, tap the layers icon, and select “Add map layers.” Go to “Feature/Weather Overlays” and select Avalanche Forecast.

This feature is available on the Gaia GPS website and both Android and iOS. Download the Gaia GPS app today and start planning your next winter trip to the backcountry.

January 20, 2021
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