Being able to navigate and communicate off the grid is essential for staying safe in the backcountry. Pairing Gaia GPS with a satellite communication device lets you do just that. We reviewed the satellite communication market to give you a rundown on what options are out there. Plus, we’ve got a limited-time special offer from ZOLEO for you.
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Packrafting expert Luc Mehl has spent decades creatively exploring Alaska. He worked his way up the learning curves of skiing, bikepacking, ice skating, and packrafting — sometimes at the expense of his own safety. But when a friend drowned in a packrafting accident, Luc critically examined his lifestyle. He decided to relearn how to packraft the right way. Buckle up as Luc takes listeners on a wild ride this week on the Out and Back podcast.
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Pacific Crest Trail “trail angels” Scout and Frodo have hosted thru-hikers — sometimes 40 per night — for over 15 years. This week on the Out and Back podcast, Scout gives the inside scoop on why he and his wife open up their doors to so many people without charging a cent. He talks about how the PCT has changed over time, and gives insight from his own PCT thru-hike.
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The trails are melting out, and it’s time to start planning spring and summer adventures. The USFS Roads and Trails layer makes finding your next route especially easy. Trails are color-coded so you can tell whether they’re mountain bike friendly, open to motor vehicles, or even allow horses. Plus, this layer shows trails and backroads that you won’t find on any other map.
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Our flagship map just got even better. The brand new version of Gaia Topo is chock-full of updates to make planning and route-finding even easier. Tree cover shading makes finding the alpine a snap. Mountains, valleys, canyons, and plateaus come to life thanks to beautiful shaded relief. Plus, enjoy mile markers, brightly labeled amenities, and 150,000 more miles of USFS 4×4 roads and trails.
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With eight Everest summits to his name — including one without supplemental oxygen — alpinist Adrian Ballinger is a giant in the mountaineering community. But he was never supposed to be a mountaineer in the first place.
This week on Out and Back, Adrian opens up about how his one-year deferment from medical school turned into 20. The mountain guide discusses the challenges of guiding clients up the world’s tallest mountains and how a fateful encounter on the side of Mount Everest led to meeting his fiancée, professional climber Emily Harrington.
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Navigate from your wrist with the totally redesigned Gaia GPS Apple Watch app. Get turn-by-turn directions, record a track, and drop waypoints on the map. The app works untethered from your phone, so no phone or cell phone service are needed.
Spice up your Gaia GPS app icon on your phone in iOS! Fourteen new stylish icons let you tailor the look of the app icon just for you. Match the icon to the season or celebrate your community. Choose a subtle, suave icon or a colorful one that pops out from the screen. Learn how to change your app icon, plus get the inside scoop on the history and design of the Gaia GPS logo.
Wondering if a route goes? See if anyone’s blazed the trail before you with the Public Tracks layer in Gaia GPS. The Public Tracks layer shows the two million public tracks Gaia GPS users have recorded all over the world. Use it in the app and on the web.
When you think of the Himalayas, images of Everest and K2 probably come to mind. But scaling those formidable peaks only scratches the surface of what the region has to offer. Ski mountaineer Luke Smithwick has made it his goal to ski 500 beautiful and iconic backcountry lines in the world’s highest and most expansive mountain range. Tune in to the Out and Back podcast to learn why Smithwick thinks Himalayan backcountry skiing is worth a trip halfway around the world.