Adventures

Using Gaia GPS to Find Free Camping in National Forests

by Ashli Baldwin March 9, 2022

written by Ashli Baldwin

Many National Forests across the United States allow free dispersed camping. This post will show you how to use Gaia GPS to find free camping spots before heading out and navigate when you get there.

Dispersed camping refers to camping outside of established campgrounds, typically with no amenities like bathrooms or running water. Sites vary from drive-up to walk-in only.

Get the Right Maps in Gaia GPS

The best maps to plan for off-grid camping in National Forests include:

USFS Classic: This map offers detailed coverage in many designated USFS areas.
USFS 2016: An update to USFS Classic, the 2016 map shows some forest service roads missing on the Classic map, but lacks private boundaries. Read more about USFS 2016 here.
Gaia Topo: The proprietary Gaia GPS base map — this map rocks. If you’re not using it yet — why?
Public Land (US): A shaded map meant to overlay on any basemap. The important color you’re looking for here is green, which means US Forest Service.
MVUM (USFS): The USFS’ Motor Vehicle Use Maps overlay shows roads styled to indicate seasonality and accessibility. Tap a road for details on use restrictions and access dates.
USFS Roads & Trails: An overlay of maintained routes, 4×4 trails, backroads, and little-known paths across U.S. national forests and grasslands. All roads are labeled to indicate their level of maintenance and accessibility by passenger vehicles.

A Premium Membership allows you access to these maps and the ability to layer maps together. This feature is key so that you can layer Public Land with USFS maps for the ultimate free campsite search experience.

Using the Maps to Find Free Camping Spots

Below you can see an example of a layered map in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Northern Wisconsin. It shows layered maps using Gaia Topo, USFS Classic, Public Land (US), and MVUM (USFS).

You can see the opacity settings used:

How to Find a Dispersed Camping Spot

You’ll want to find an area that is:

In green (National Forest)
Typically along or at the end of a Forest Service road (but not necessarily)
Check the usage periods for the road for accessibility
Make sure there aren’t a lot of buildings in the area (shown as black marks on USFS maps)

You’ll always want to get confirmation that the area you’ve picked is indeed okay for dispersed camping. Rules and regulations can vary widely, and temporary fire bans may be in effect. Always check before you go and note any posted signs along your route.

Using 3rd Party Resources and Maps

A quick Google search may yield some results for locations of free campsites in your National Forest, but more often than not, these sites don’t come openly advertised. This keeps the area impact low, and your special spot a secret.

If you’re willing to spend the time, here are a few additional resources to help you find that perfect spot:

Call the ranger stations. They know the forest better than anyone else, and will typically advise you on the best places to spend the night.
Find specialized maps for your National Forest. Some even list known dispersed camping sites. Here is an example from Nicolet, where the brown tent symbol with a white background represents a common dispersed free camping area.

Planning for Your Trip

Plot waypoints at the campsites you find and/or plan a route to your desired location. It’s best to plan several backup locations in case the one you want is already taken.

If your forest service area offers printable PDF maps, consider adding them to Gaia GPS. You can follow these steps to geo-reference your maps and add them to your account.

Most importantly, download maps before you leave so that you can view your location and navigate offline.

Leave No Trace

When you’re in the Forest, Leave No Trace. Pick up your garbage and follow all rules and regulations.

Find an amazing spot? Keep it a secret!

Disclaimer: Always bring a back up map. Rules and regulations may vary depending on your area. Always check with the responsible land management agency before heading out.

March 9, 2022

Tim and Marisa Notier kiss infront of their motorcycle on a dirt mountain road.

Adventures Gaia GPS Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Offroading

How to Stay Married on a Long-Distance Adventure

by Mary Cochenour February 9, 2022

written by Mary Cochenour

Outdoor adventures with your partner can be challenging to say the least. Stressful weather conditions can light up short fuses. A power struggle might rear its ugly head. The familiarity of the relationship pulls back the curtain on our worst behaviors. Don’t give up, because Tim and Marisa Notier are living proof that adventuring as a couple can be done — even when you share a seat on a motorcycle for five years.

The midwestern adventure riding couple has traveled together on the same bike for tens of thousands of miles and still manage to stay happily married. Bickering aside, the Notiers have banded together as teammates to overcome a trip-stopping pandemic, rush-hour traffic in Tijuana, and complicated border crossings in Africa. Five years on the winding road and they’re still going strong.

How do they do it without wringing each other’s neck?

Tim and Marisa ride their motorcycle on a crystal clear lake.

Well don’t let the those sunset Instagram photos fool you. The Notiers are the first to admit that navigating love in the great outdoors isn’t always smooth sailing. In fact, their whole marriage started out with a spicy argument at one of the most beautiful places in the world: Artist’s Point in Yellowstone National Park.

“We were in Yellowstone and I wanted to propose to Marisa the very next day,” Tim said on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast. “And we’re having a fight and we’re talking about if we’d ever marry each other and she says, ‘I don’t know’.”

Tim popped the question anyway and the two have been traveling together ever since.

Marisa walks from a motorcycle parked in the sand to a tent set up nearby.

From Illinois to the tip of Argentina, and up and down Africa, the Notiers have explored the natural world and their relationship’s limits. While many couples work tirelessly on opening up lines of communication, they say actually shutting down communication has been key to smoothing over the rough spots.

Marisa said when either party needs a little space, they “can hang up on each other” in their helmet intercom system that keeps their communications open while rolling down the road. Taking some time and letting the heated moment pass has worked wonders for them over the years.

“In the very beginning we used to be like, ‘Hey, don’t hang up on me!’,” Marisa added. “But now we’ve realized that’s not usually very productive and if one person is angry to the point where they hang up on the other person, we just let that go, give it a while, and time will help resolve everything.”

Tim and Marisa smile with their helmets on while riding their motorcycle.

Tune in to hear the complete story of how these high school sweethearts rekindled their relationship after an extended hiatus. In this hilarious and honest discussion, the Notiers pull back the curtain on how they got into adventure riding in the first place, why they chose to ride tandem around the world, and how they managed to quit their jobs to adventure all over the globe.

Learn more about the Notiers on their website. Read about their adventures in Tim’s books that chronicle the couple’s adventure riding journey. Follow them on Instagram to see what they are up to next.

February 9, 2022

two skiers on top of a snow ridge with mountains in the background

Adventures Backcountry Skiing Gaia GPS How-To Out and Back Podcast

How to Avoid Another Deadly Avalanche Season

by Mary Cochenour January 21, 2022

written by Mary Cochenour

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 our new winter safety series, dropping on the Out and Back podcast today.

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. However you listen — don’t delay. Each episode gives you real, actionable insights that you can put to use in your next winter adventure.

Get 40% Off Gaia GPS Premium

Episode 43: How Last Winter Became the Deadliest Avalanche Season of All Time

Last winter was nothing short of a perfect storm. A dangerously weak snowpack plagued the entire nation. At the same time, people were hungrier than ever for fresh air and fun. This deadly combination clouded people’s judgment and put them at greater risk, says Ethan Greene, Director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

“Part of what we saw last year, I think, was that we were all living in a difficult environment,” Greene says. “And that made it hard going to the grocery store. It made it hard going to school. It made work hard. And when we had time away from those stresses and got to go into the mountains, it made making decisions in avalanche terrain difficult.”

*Director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center Ethan Greene, PhD.*

The unusual circumstances also brought with it surprising demographics. Greene distills the statistics to tell us what age group, gender, and experience level was most at-risk for getting caught in an avalanche last year. Plus, Greene takes a look at they way conditions are stacking up for this season. Don’t get your hopes up. This season could be shaping up to be just as dangerous as the last.

Episode 44: Lessons from Utah’s Wilson Glade Avalanche

Last February, two separate backcountry ski parties headed out for what they thought was lower-angle, safer terrain in the Wilson Glade area of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. The avalanche risk was high that day, but the two parties were prepared. They studied the avalanche forecast, made conservative travel plans, and carried all the right safety gear into the mountains. But, precautions aside, the skiers were swept away in a colossal avalanche. Four of eight people died.

What went wrong?

Avalanche Forecaster Nikki Champion of the Utah Avalanche Center, investigated the accident. She gives her best insights on the lessons that can be gleaned from this tragic incident.

“I think this accident really hit home with a lot of backcountry users,” Champion says. “Because it was a lot of decisions that most of us could see ourselves making: being in lower-angle terrain, traveling one at a time, skiing the slope multiple times, and not seeing any obvious red flags in that area.”

Champion walks us through what we can learn from this tragic accident. Learn about how to spot and avoid connected terrain. She enlightens us on the dangers of uphill travel. Plus, hear how one survivor’s quick thinking and rescue skills saved the lives of others.

*Slope angles in the area of the Wilson Glade avalanche range from 40 degrees to 23 degrees.*

Episode 45: Avoiding Summit Fever with Ski Mountaineers Luke Smithwick and Iain Kuo

In the fall of 2021, ski mountaineers Luke Smithwick and Iain Kuo attempted an unsupported, first ski descent of the world’s seventh tallest peak — Mount Dhualagiri in Nepal. They spent weeks advancing to the mountain’s 26,705-foot summit, but high winds and increasing avalanche danger held them back from the top. After months of planning and training, Smithwick and Kuo were forced to retreat, leaving the ski record on the table for another day.

The decision to turn around didn’t come easy for Smithwick and Kuo. But sticking with an objective mindset helped them stave off summit fever. Their number one tip for making good decisions in the mountains? Erase any assumption of how things will play out.

“I have zero expectations going into the mountains,” Smithwick says. “I’m like, wow, the car started, we’re leaving town. Great. Let’s celebrate that. Okay guys, everyone celebrate.”

*Ski mountaineer Luke Smithwick on the shoulder of Mt. Dhualagiri — the world’s 7th highest peak. Photo by: Iain Kuo*

Smithwick and Kuo review their decision to turn around just shy of Dhualagiri’s unusually harsh and exposed summit. They check their decision-making process and their egos against the popular FACETS acronym that is widely taught in Avalanche 1 courses. Tune in to this conversation to learn where Smithwick and Kuo nailed the human factors, along with a few vulnerabilities that they have to constantly work to keep in check.

Episode 46: How to Read the Avalanche Forecast

Checking the avalanche forecast should be at the top of your safety checklist. It predicts the avalanche danger for your favorite zones and give you a heads up on worrisome problems within the snowpack. But how much stock can you really put into the daily avy forecast report?

US Forest Service Avalanche Expert Simon Trautman says avalanche forecasts should be your building block for planning a safe day in the backcountry. However, once your feet are on the snow, the forecast always takes a back seat to your observations in the field.

*US Forest Service Avalanche Specialist Simon Trautman* *of avalanche.org*

“The whole point behind the avalanche forecast is that they’re a starting point for your daily planning,” Trautman says. “But people need to understand that what they’re doing is providing an expert’s idea of a pattern that exists across the landscape.

“They’re great resources but it’s kind of like a weather forecast. If you get out there and it said no rain and it starts raining on you, you need to reassess and you need to figure out what that means for your plan that day. Do you just continue to have your picnic or do you change plans?”

Tune in as Trautman dissects the avalanche forecast into manageable sections. He teaches us the first things to look at and how to get the most out of the avalanche forecast when planning your next tour.

Episode 20: Avalanche Safety Tips with Bruce Tremper

If you need more ammo in your avalanche safety arsenal, go back and listen to Out and Back’s episode 20 with renown avalanche expert Bruce Tremper. Author of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain and Avalanche Essentials, Tremper draws on his 30-plus year career in snow science to give us his masterful tips for avoiding avalanches. His advice is pretty simple: stick to low-angle terrain.

“Whenever there is uncertainty in the snowpack, the terrain is always the answer,” Tremper says. “You can cut your risk in half from going from 39 degrees down to 34 degrees. And you can cut your risk in half once again by going from 34 degrees down to 30 degrees. The handiest tool that you can use in all the world of avalanches is slope steepness.”

Learn Tremper’s low risk safety ritual and get some advice on what to do if the unthinkable happens and you get caught in an avalanche.

*Avalanche expert Bruce Tremper, author of the book “Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain”* *digs a snow pit in Utah’s remote backcountry.*

Episode 21: Buried Alive — Bruce Tremper Tells His Story

It’s almost impossible to grasp the power and force of avalanches, unless of course you’ve actually been caught in one. Avalanche expert Bruce Tremper brings us a little closer to that experience with his story about how he triggered — and was buried in — an avalanche in Montana. He describes the feeling of having the “rug pulled out” from under his skis, being swept down the steep mountain, and what it felt like when the avalanche finally roared to a stop. Go back to episode 21 of the Out and Back podcast to get the blow-by-blow from Tremper on how he survived the avalanche that should have killed him.

Tap into these Avalanche Safety Resources

Visit avalanche.org for safety resources and avalanche forecasts in your area.
Sign up for avalanche awareness and rescue courses with American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.
Watch the Know Before You Go video to get pumped about avalanche safety.

Consider donating to your local avalanche center so they can keep those avalanche forecasts coming your way!

January 21, 2022

Richard and Ashley Giordano smiling in from of a road sign that says "Arctic Ocean"

Adventures Gaia GPS Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Offroading User Profiles

How to Go From ‘Desk to Glory’ in 4 Months Flat

by Mary Cochenour January 12, 2022

written by Mary Cochenour

Ashley and Richard Giordano were the picture of success in 2013. The young couple had thriving careers, nice cars, and a comfortable apartment in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. Despite the enviably appearances, burnout was brewing dangerously close to the surface. They needed a change.

That change came in the form a little red pickup truck that was collecting dust in Richard’s mom’s backyard.

“At the time, my mom and her husband had a plumbing business and their little run-around truck was this 1990 Toyota pickup, four cylinder, five speed, that was just beat on constantly,” Richard said. “But I saw that as the perfect foundation to start with.”

Four months later, the Giordanos moved into “Little Red” and left their city apartment and office jobs behind. Hence, the name “Desk to Glory” – the Giordano’s branded adventure that has taken them across international borders and into unfamiliar territory.

How did they make the lifestyle change in such a short time? Recognizing and acknowledging that you need a re-invention is the first and most difficult step, the Giordanos say on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast.

“The hardest part for us was realizing that we needed to overhaul our lives and that whatever we were doing wasn’t working for us. But we realized we needed to change,” Ashley said. “The taking action part was actually easy after we had made the decision. I always say it’s like pulling yourself out of the Matrix.”

Their first trip took them to the tip of South America and back again. More recently, they ventured in the opposite direction and far north to the shores of the Arctic Ocean in the dead of winter. This fall, the couple explored Baja’s beautiful beaches and peninsula. Now they are in Saudi Arabia, reporting on the Dakar Rally for Expedition Portal.

While they seem to have jumped into this world traveling lifestyle with both feet, the Giordanos quest for full-time adventure started with fits and spurts. They enjoyed conventional vacations in the beginning, stringing together weeks off from work to take international vacations. Even on their trip to Patagonia, it took a while for them to fully break the shackles of 9-to-5 culture. At one point, Little Red had to be left behind in Costa Rica while the couple returned to Canada to work for a period of time.

Tune in to the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast to hear Ashley and Richard recount their steps from “Desk to Glory.” Host Wade May goes all in on this conversation that covers everything from extreme cold-weather bathroom tips to the evolution of the Giordanos’ iconic rig — Little Red.

Learn more about Desk to Glory and the Giordanos through their website, YouTube channel, and Instagram page. And if Richard and Ashley have inspired you to get out on the trail and camp more this year, whether it is a weekend trip to your local state park or an adventure across an international border, don’t forget to pick up Gaia GPS Premium to help you find your way.

Last Episode: Gaia GPS’s Best Overlanding Maps and Features of 2021

If you explored some epic trails in 2021, chances are you used Gaia GPS to get you there. But did you know that, while you were sipping camp coffee from your tailgate, the Gaia GPS crew was hard at work rolling out new maps and features? Tune in to episode 10 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast for a complete run down on the best new maps and features that the Gaia GPS team developed for overlanding in 2021. From 3D maps on the web to public tracks in the app, learn about the updates that will help you discover and navigate wild places this year.

January 12, 2022

Luc Mehl skates across the Arctic Circle on a frozen lake, a colorful orange sunset in the background

Adventures Gaia GPS User Profiles

The Art of Expedition Ice Skating with Luc Mehl

by Mary Cochenour December 16, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

Leave it to Alaskan adventurer Luc Mehl to turn something as graceful and elegant as ice skating into a wilderness expedition.

In the dwindling November light last year, Mehl and outdoor partner Greg Mills set out on a long-distance ice skating route along the Arctic Circle in Alaska. They logged some 125 miles over four days across a frozen river, lake, and seashore, linking together the remote villages of Selawik and Kotzebue on Iñupiaq land in the far northwest region of the state.

“I didn’t grow up skating; I’m not a hockey player,” said Mehl, who’s traveled more than 10,000 miles of Alaskan backcountry on foot, kayak, pack raft, and skis. “I started skating because I was looking for something to do in the off-season between backpacking in the summer and backcountry skiing in the winter.

“Fall is the perfect time for skating because it’s really cold outside, all the lakes are frozen, and it hasn’t snowed yet.”

With smooth ice and a consistent tailwind, the pair skated some 75 miles within a single 24-hour period — proving that ice skating is one of the most efficient methods of backcountry travel when conditions line up perfectly.

Greg Mills skating on a frozen Selawik Lake in northern Alaska, with a low sun off in the distance on the horizon. — Smooth skating in midday November sun along the Arctic Circle.

Wild Skating

Mehl calls this “expedition ice skating,“ which is a more intense rendition of the growing sport of backcountry skating or wild skating that has become popular in northern climates around the world. In frigid places like Alaska, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and the northern zones of the United States, people are skating across icy lakes and rivers to reach more desolate backcountry — a winter version of a summer day hike.

Before the snow settles in, Mehl uses wild skating as another way to move through the mountains on multi-day routes.

Greg Mills in his ice skates wearing a backpack, standing on cracked ice in Alaska. A beautiful pastel sunset behind him. — Greg Mills on a section of rough ice.

“Going from a day trip to a multi-day trip on skates is a big jump in exposure,” Mehl said, adding that skating requires extremely cold weather, no snow on the ground or in the forecast, and long stretches of smooth ice. A successful trip takes diligent planning to find both good ice and a weather window without snow on the way.

The 41-year-old started wild skating just five years ago on the frozen lakes around his home in Anchorage. A few classic day trips in the nearby Nancy Lake State Recreation Area gave Mehl the taste of efficiency and speed that ice skating can bring to wilderness travel. He turned those day trips up a notch and added multi-day trips, skating some 40 miles of a 60-mile loop in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, followed by a 150-mile mixed skating and hiking route from Bethel to Goodnews Bay, Alaska.

Last fall, in the seasonal doldrums between backpacking and skiing, Mehl started looking for another skating expedition. But this time he wanted a route with fewer hiking miles and as much ice as possible. Checking out the maps, Kotzebue caught his eye.

A map of Alaska with Anchorage and Kotzebue marked for reference.

“Having been up there before, I knew the potential for good quality ice — it’s a large body of water, it’s above the Arctic Circle, and it freezes early,” Mehl said.

Selawik to Kotzebue became the objective.

A map showing Mehl and Mills' 125-mile route between Selawik and Kotzebue.

Selawik to Kotzebue: Planning for Perfect Conditions

Mehl began his usual backcountry planning process. He scoured the internet for information for trip reports and public tracks recorded on Gaia GPS but found none. He checked in with local bush pilots about ice conditions they saw from the air.

“Getting information becomes increasingly more difficult the more remote you go and you have to get creative,” Mehl said. “At one point, I called the village school in Buckland, which is near Selawik, and asked them if the lake was frozen.”

A GIS data scientist by education and career, Mehl turned to sophisticated, near-in-time satellite imagery to find the smoothest ice possible. Two satellite imagery sources — Sentinel Hub Playground and Sentinel Hub EO Browser — showed tails and polygons of black, smooth ice between sections of rough, wind-affected ice on the lake. Mehl marked the smooth ice with waypoints and then imported them into Gaia GPS, creating a near-perfect skating lane from Selawik to Kotzebue.

“We called these the carpool lanes,” Mehl said.

A swath of smooth ice between areas of rough ice, that the pair called the carpool lane. In the distance is flat land and a twilight sky. — The “carpool lane” that Mehl scouted ahead of time using satellite imagery and then imported the location data to Gaia GPS to create a smooth skating route from Selawik to Kotzebue.

“This was a really novel way to use Gaia GPS, and it worked beautifully,” Mehl said. “It kept us skating on the smoothest ice possible.”

After creating and saving th e rout e on Gaia GP S, Mehl watched the weather and confirmed no new snow in the immediate forecast. In a now-or-never moment, Mehl knew he had to go before Alaska’s fickle weather betrayed his plan.

“I called Greg at 6 p.m. and less than twelve hours later we were on a flight from Anchorage to Kotzebue,” Mehl said, adding that he needed a partner with a wide range of backcountry experience. “In ice skating, I pretty much draw on every backcountry skill I have.”

Gear for Expedition Ice Skating

Nordic skates, as they’re called, don’t compare to the speedy skates at the ice rink. Their crudely fabricated metal blades are thick and long enough to extend beyond the toe and heel of the foot to provide additional fore-aft stability. A cross country or backcountry ski binding can be mounted on the skate’s frame. This design adds versatility, allowing the user to easily switch to ski travel when snow piles up. Nordic skates, without the bindings, cost about $100 to $150, depending on the brand.

Wild skaters carry unique rescue gear: a “throw bag” rope and an ice anchor that can be used to rescue someone who has fallen through the ice.

Rescue gear for iceskating in the wild: a throw bag, an ice anchor. Also, two pairs of nordic skates with ski bindings mounted on them . — Nordic skates mounted with ski bindings and Mehl’s rescue gear.

Overnight skating trips require a complete winter camping kit, including a cold weather tent, sleeping bag, and winter clothes. Mehl usually packs skis to change into in the event a snowstorm sets in and covers the ice. Ski poles provide extra stability when the ice is rough, but Mehl packs them away on smooth ice, so he can skate with his arms free. A paper map, compass, and a planned, saved route on Gaia GPS are key to a successful trip, Mehl said.

The take away: multi-day, expedition-style ice skating requires extra gear and ultimately results in a heavy pack.

Selawik to Kotzebue

Scrambling to take advantage of the ideal conditions, Mehl and Mills arrived in the coastal village of Kotzebue and quickly caught a smaller plane to Selawik to start the trip. Weather conditions looked so favorable that they sent their skis back on the plane, trusting that they’d be able to walk out without skis even if a fluke snowstorm blasted the ice and ruined the skating.

The trip started with 12 miles of skating on rough ice on the Selawik River before reaching Selawik Lake, the third largest lake in Alaska. A moderate tailwind pushed them forward, past a herd of Caribou, and toward their final destination of Kotzebue, over 100 miles away.

A close up shot of Greg Mills on the tundra near Kotzebue. Mills is wearing his backpack and looking off in the distance. — Greg Mills on the stretch before Kotzebue.

They crossed the Arctic Circle three times. Where, at 66.5 degrees north of the equator, winter equinox brings only twilight with the sun failing to rise above the horizon. In November, a month before the shortest daylight of the year, the sun pushed its way above Selawik Lake, staying low as if in a state of perpetual sunset.

Complete darkness set in at 5:30 pm., yet Mehl and Mills continued to skate. Under the dim light from headlamps, the pair glided across the lake, listening for the unmistakable tinny sound of their skates slicing across the smooth ice to confirm that they kept their course on “the carpool lane.”

The miles came easy. With the wind at their back, they skated an average of 10 miles per hour and easily ticked off 95 miles within a single overnight period.

“It made me feel as though we were getting away with something; the conditions were perfect and the trip far exceeded any expectation I had,” Mehl said, noting that he and Mills were prepared to turn around if the route became impassable.

Decision Point

The toe of Selawik Lake constricts and flows into the Hotham Inlet — an ocean bay that lies east of the Kotzebue village. Mehl and Mills continued skating along the long inlet until reaching a decision point: take the ice all the way to the village, adding some 50 miles of skating, or cross the tundra on the thin land peninsula to the west and skate into the village on the frozen seashore.

Mills walking along a frozen sea shore, with undulating rough ice. — Mills walking along the frozen seashore.

Mehl had never skated on sea ice and the novelty drew the pair to the coast. Different than the smooth skating lanes on the lake, the ice along the beach was thin and intermittent. On day four with evening approaching, Mehl and Mills alternated walking and skating along the beach but found a good swath of ice that led into the village. They clicked into their skates one last time and glided the last few miles into town, changed into tennis shoes, and stuffed their faces with burgers.

Feeling content with the success of their ice skating expedition, Mehl and Mills contemplated their next move.

A portrait of Mehl taken near his home in Anchorage, Alaska. He is looking directly at the camera. — Luc Mehl near his home in Anchorage, Alaska.

“The only thing we left on the table was the option to skate those additional 50 miles on the inlet,“ Mehl said. ”I’d like to go back one day and take that option.“

Read more about Luc Mehl’s Arctic Circle expedition skate trip and other Alaskan adventures on his blog or watch his video.
Watch Luc Mehl’s t utorials about how to use Gaia GPS.
Learn how Luc Mehl transfers satellite imagery to Gaia GPS.
Follow Luc Mehl’s adventures on Instagram.

December 16, 2021

Adventures Gaia GPS Hikes

The Best National Parks to Visit in October, Plus Top Recommended Hikes

by Julien Friedland September 30, 2021

written by Julien Friedland

Once a year, fleeting reds, yellows, and oranges light up national parks across the country. Hikers favor fall for its crisp cool air, stunning scenery and fewer crowds that make the trails more enjoyable. So, if you’re looking to take in the foliage from the trail, how do you choose which parks to visit of the 61 in the U.S.? Learn about the best national parks to visit in October, top hikes for fall foliage, and helpful tips for the trail.

Waterfall in Cuyahoga National Park covered in fall leaves.

1. Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Ohio

Explore 125 miles of hiking trails bursting with bright yellow birches and deep red oaks each October. You might not know the name, but Cuyahoga Valley National Park harbors exceptional fall colors, rivaling the best in the country. Just 30 minutes outside of Cleveland and less crowded than many other parks, Cuyahoga Valley National Park makes for a convenient and beautiful adventure in the fall.

Recommended Hikes:
Wildlife, plant diversity and rock formations fill the mellow, low elevation trails of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Visit the Ledges Trail for a seven-mile view of the valley and the 65 foot Brandywine Falls.

Ledges Trail
- Rating: Difficult
- Length: 6 miles
- Along the trail: valley views, rock formations, caves
Brandywine Falls
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 4.8 miles
- Along the trail: boardwalk access, Brandywine gorge, 65-foot Brandywine Falls
Meadowedge Pond Loop
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 4.7
- Along the trial: creek crossings, pond views, dense forest

Before You Go: Entrance to the park is free and dogs are allowed. Brandywine Falls is best visited early in the morning or later in the afternoon due to its popularity.

Browse Hikes in Cuyahoga NP

Moss-covered trees in Olympic National Park temperate rainforest surrounded by fall leaves on the ground. — Photo courtesy of Gaia GPS

2. Olympic National Park – Washington

Experience temperate rainforests popping with color, elks bulging, and chanterelle mushrooms growing in the forest in Olympic National Park. Rainy season on the peninsula coincides with mystical changes in the park. Vibrant highlights of crimson maples and lemon yellow cottonwoods speckle the hanging beards of moss in the Hoh Rain Forest. Explore glacial peaks to coastal trails that span almost a million acres – then warm up at the Sol Duc Hot Springs or another natural hot spring in the park.

Recommended Hikes:
Trails range from easy to difficult and span a bevy of wildly varying climates. Hike along the 73 miles of coastal beaches, backpack through one of four separate rainforests in the park, slosh into salmon-filled rivers or bag a peak in the Olympic Mountain Range.

North Fork Skokomish River:
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 2.2 miles
- Along the trail: low elevation, salmon swimming upstream during the fall
Hurricane Ridge:
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 2.1 miles
- Along the trail: panoramic Olympic Mountain Range views, sunset
Bogachiel Peak Loop
- Rating: Difficult
- Length: 17.9 miles
- Along the trail: dense forests, creeks, alpine lakes, Mt. Olympus views

Before You Go: Temperatures vary from 10-20 degrees even in the summer. Expect snow as early as September in high elevations. Prepare accordingly with warm and waterproof layers.

Browse Hikes in Olympic NP

Scenic overlook of ridge lines covered by fall foliage in Shenandoah National Park — Photo courtesy of NPS / Neal Lewis

3. Shenandoah National Park – Virginia

Wander through purple dogwoods, golden beech trees, and fiery red oaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Wherever you hike in the park, overlooks of the Shenandoah Valley burst with a mix of reds, oranges, and yellows. If your legs need a rest, drive down the Skyline Drive National Scenic Byway which runs north to south through the park. 75 scenic overlooks offer many opportunities to step out of the car and take in the crisp autumn air.

Recommended Hikes: Power through an out and back that packs a punch to the summit or spend a few days brushing shoulders with thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail. With over 500 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult, every hiker can find a trail with a length and view that suits them.

Old Rag Mountain Loop
- Rating: Difficult
- Length: 9 miles
- Along the trail: boulder scrambling, forest paths, summit views
Mary’s Rock
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 1.5
- Along the trial: challenging steep terrain, summit views of the Shenandoah Valley
White Oak Falls
- Rating: Difficult
- Length: 5.4
- Along the trail: creeks, small waterfalls, dense forest

Before You Go: Shenandoah National Park sees a spike in visits during fall so make advanced arrangements before visiting the park.

Browse Hikes in Shenandoah NP

Overlook of Maine's Atlantic coast with fall foliage in the foreground — Photo courtesy of NPS / Victoria Stauffenberg

4. Acadia National Park – Maine

Visit the gem of the northeast along Maine’s Atlantic Coast. Hikers flock to Acadia National Park in the fall for its diversity of hardwoods and coniferous forests spread over 49,000 acres. The blazing red maples, golden birches, and shimmery aspens against the waters of the Atlantic will satisfy even the most discerning leaf peepers.

Recommended Hikes: Acadia’s 160 trails run through and alongside forests, summits, lakes, and coastal lines. From leisurely, low elevation strolls to 1,000 foot peak summits, the park accommodates a variety of hikers looking to enjoy Maine’s coast.

Bubble Trail
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 2.3 miles
- Along the trail: rocky ascents, views of Jordan Pond and teetering boulder
Jordan Pond
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 3.4 miles
- Along the trail: sprawling pond views, wooden footbridges, views of North/South Bubbles
Sargent Mountain Loop
- Rating: Difficult
- Length: 6 miles
- Along the trail: summit views of the Atlantic

Before You Go: Read up on entrance fees and road and trail closures, which include nesting peregrine falcons, construction, and weather.

Browse Hikes in Acadia NP

Rocky river surrounded by golden fall foliage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Photo Courtesy of NPS

5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park – North Carolina/Tennessee

Bordering North Carolina and Tennessee and teeming with over 100 species of trees, Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts awe-inspiring landscapes in the fall. Traverse the spiny ridge-line of the park for a flood of fall color unique to this region. Located in the heart of Appalachia, the Smokys offer the quintessential fall experience including corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and apple-picking. Venture into nearby Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge after you’ve worked up an appetite on the trails.

Recommended Hikes: 850 trails crisscross the ridges of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Hikers can enjoy a short and sweet taste of the AT or take on a strenuous summit hike with a sack-lunch and plenty of water. Hikers will find picturesque views on trails rated easy to difficult.

Ramsey Cascades
- Rating: Difficult
- Length: 7.9 miles
- Along the trail: largest old growth forest in the Smokys, footbridges, cascades
Chimney Tops
- Rating: Difficult
- Length: 3.9 miles
- Along the trail: rocky, steep trail, panoramic views, creek crossings
Cigman’s Dome Loop
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 3.7
- Along the trail: highest point in Tennessee, 100-mile views, 360-degree views of the Smokys

Before you Go: Go early or arrive late to avoid crowds when visiting the park. Cades Cove and Newfound Gap Rd. see the most traffic.

Browse Hikes in Great Smoky Mountains NP

Close-up of red dogwood tree leaves with sequoia in the background — Photo courtesy of NPS / Emily Fedorko

6. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park – California

Note: these two parks are currently closed due to wildfires. Please check in with the NPS before making plans to visit.

Experience the magic of the world’s largest trees accented by fall colors. Stare up at Sequoia National Park’s “living giants,” made perhaps grander by the highlights of red dogwoods in the backdrop. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park’s unique vegetation between the foothills and high alpine offers oaks, perennials, and pines among many other tree species. Visiting in the fall provides a break from the heat and crowds at the park, making October the ideal time to visit.

Recommended Hikes: From the worlds largest tree to the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, these parks have a wide variety of terrain for exploration. Get off the beaten path and discover canyons, granite cliffs, and wildlife. For the best fall colors, visit the less-traveled and lower elevation foothills to see the blue oaks, gold fern fields, and dogwoods.

General Sherman
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 1.6
- Along the trail: world’s largest tree, monarch sequoias
Marble Falls
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 1.6
- Along the trail: foothills vegetation, oaks, waterfall
The Watchtower
- Rating: Difficult
- Length: 5.1
- Along the trail: Heather Lake views, alpine hiking, exposed rock faces

Before You Go: Fees are required to enter the park. Read up on them here.

Browse Hikes in Kings Canyon NP

Browse Hikes in Sequoia NP

Zion Canyon with cottonwood foliage in the foreground — Photo courtesy of NPS

7. Zion National Park – Utah

Dramatic red rocks and canyons, and blue bodies of water put Zion National Park on the map. Coupled with autumn colors, those striking visuals only intensify in the fall. Plus, the crowds and temperature remain lower and more manageable during this season. Like other parks located in the west, the contrast of dark green conifers and bright yellows create distinct bursts of color.

Recommended Hikes: Wind through a slot canyon, ramble on an out and back or backpack into the wilderness. Zion Canyon has the most popular trails in the park but visitors can also find less frequented but equally stunning hikes in Kolob Canyons and Zion Wilderness.

Angel’s Landing
- Rating: Difficult
- Length: 6.5 miles
- Along the trail: Emerald Pools, panoramic canyon views, climb along chains
Observation Point
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 3 miles
- Along the trail: views atop East Rim of Zion Canyon, Watchman peak crag
Riverside Walk
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 2 miles
- Along the trail: river access, weeping walls, cliff wall views

Before You Go: Backpacking and canyoneering require permits, including popular routes in the Narrows. Make sure to check the weather, as flash-floods and hypothermia can be extremely dangerous.

Browse Hikes in Zion NP

Foggy red, yellow and green foliage in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest

8. Green Mountain National Forest – Vermont

Cider donuts, a cool morning on the trail and Vermont’s scarlet red maples bursting in the valley— what more could you ask for? This National Forest made the list for it’s famed fall foliage in New England. Home to several 4,000 footers, Green Mountain National Forest makes for big grins and tired legs in the fall. Try your legs on one of these peaks for views of the crimson reds, bright yellows and burnt oranges that set the landscape on fire. If you can’t make it till later in the season, be prepared for “snowliage” when a coat of white snow makes for extra pop against the foliage.

Recommended Hikes: Green Mountain National Forest contains over 900 miles of trails including Vermont’s Long Trail which overlaps with the Appalachian Trail. Hike a portion of these renowned trails or pick your way up a rooty, rocky gap trail. Shorter loops also offer terrain better suited for kids and families.

Gap to Gap
- Rating: Difficult
- Length: 10.1 miles
- Along the trail: two 4,000 footers, Lake Champlain views, dense forest
Little Killington
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 2.7 miles
- Along the trail: summit views
Ice Bed Trail
- Rating: Easy
- Length: 1 mile
- Along the trail: multiple lookouts, talus piles, ice beds year-round,

Before You Go: Check foliage reports here. Because this is a National Forest, dogs are allowed as long as they are leashed.

Browse Hikes in Green Mountains NF

Can’t make it to one of these parks? Search your local area to find a park/hike near you..

September 30, 2021

Adventures Gaia GPS Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Offroading User Profiles

How to Build Your Dream Overlanding Vehicle with Mountain State Overland

by Mary Cochenour September 2, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

Building out your dream overlanding vehicle can be an overwhelming task, leaving you in a state of “analysis by paralysis.” Self-proclaimed “professional car camper” and offroad guide Jason Specht is here to help. Jason is one of the founders of Mountain State Overland, a popular YouTube channel and overlanding guide service dedicated to responsible offroad recreation. Jason joins us on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast this week to walk us through the upgrades you need instead of wasting money on the upgrades you want.

In this casual and informative chat sponsored by Trails Offroad, Jason teams up with podcast host Wade May to dish out the best tips for modifying your vehicle with utility and purpose in mind. Jason asks you to be honest with how you intend to use your rig, and start building from that vantage point. From rooftop tents to camp cookware, Jason points out the gear worth the investment and the gear that’s not. Do you really need those giant tires and a light bar, or are these additions actually detrimental to your overall adventure goals?

“I don’t want to turn people away from the passion to buy stuff, because we do live in a consumer-driven economy. but you know, really think about what you need before you do it,” Jason says on the podcast.

Jason’s sound advice includes fun tidbits on his favorite driving music, the cheapest and tastiest camp dinner, and the sketchiest route he pulled a trailer over. Learn more about Jason and Mountain State Overland on Instagram, YouTube, and on the web.

Last Episode: Get a Complete Trip Report on the Classic Rimrocker Trail from Trails Offroad

A view of a gravel road on the Rimrocker Trail in Colorado and Utah with blue sky and mountains in the background.

If you want to see high desert mesas, alpine forests, and Moab’s copper-colored canyons all in the span of a single weekend, put the Rimrocker Trail on the top of your to-do list. This patchwork of 4×4 roads weaves across 160 miles of diverse terrain, offering five-star campsites, forever views, and a route that almost any 4WD vehicle can travel — no special equipment or modifications necessary.

If this sounds like medicine for your soul, then go back to Episode 3 and get the complete trip report from John Lumia, co-owner of Trails Offroad. John recently mapped this southwestern classic and he spills all the trail’s secrets. Learn about the best time to go, trail ratings, and things to see along the way. You’ll get all the details you need to make a successful run on the Rimrocker — even if it’s your first time overlanding.

You can get John’s complete Rimrocker Trail Report on Trails Offroad. Click the button below to snag a discount on a Trails Offroad membership. Once you have a membership, you’ll be able to send all your Trails Offroad routes to your Gaia GPS account with a single click of a button.

Meet the Host of the Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast: Wade May

After a 43-year career of flying Air Force fighter jets and commercial airline jets, Gaia GPS Offroad podcast host Wade May has put his feet firmly on the ground. With over 20 years of offroading and overlanding experience, Wade constantly seeks out the serenity of remote backcountry adventures in his trusty 4-Runner, “Bullit.“ Between extended solo overland adventures, Wade shares the lessons learned from his broad experience in the sky and on the trail in overland workshops, classrooms, writings, and, of course, while hosting the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast.

September 2, 2021

Tim and Kelsey Huber stand in front of their Toyota 4Runner near a blue alpine lake.

Adventures Gaia GPS Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Offroading

Overlanding the Pan-American Trail with Tim and Kelsey Huber of Dirt Sunrise

by Mary Cochenour August 5, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

Tim and Kelsey Huber of Dirt Sunrise Adventures quit their jobs and sold almost everything they own to pursue overland travel. 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.

Tune in to Episode 2 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast sponsored by Trails Offroad for a fun chat with Tim and Kelsey about driving across borders and vehicle-based travel. The Hubers divulge their secrets on how to confidently explore unfamiliar and remote terrain in foreign countries. Learn what’s in their vehicle recovery kit and what methods they rely on to keep people on track when you have too many cooks in the kitchen on a rescue mission. Plus, these offroad driving and recovery instructors share the story of their trusty rig “Goose” and the dream vehicle that they are building and traveling in now.

Learn more about Dirt Sunrise on their website, follow them on Instagram, and subscribe to the Dirt Sunrise Youtube channel to virtually join them on all their offroad adventures.

Last Episode: Jeep on Fire with Casey Kaiser of Coyote Works

If you missed it, you’ll want to go back and listen to our debut episode with Casey Kaiser of Coyote works. Casey recounts the terrifying night when all of the sudden his Jeep Wrangler burned to the ground.

“I just noticed out of the corner of my eye. It looked like a little steam coming out from underneath my hood,” Casey said on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast. “As soon as I lifted the hood, flames erupted.”

Tune in to Episode 1 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast to hear firsthand how Casey’s quick thinking and rational behavior helped him survive this disaster. Casey also reveals the lessons he learned from the catastrophe, including the expensive reality of auto insurance coverage. Find out how Casey was able to use Gaia GPS to safely get him home that night and what prompted him to turn right around and buy — you guessed it — another fully upgraded JKU Jeep Wrangler.

Connect with Casey on his Coyote Works YouTube channel. Follow his mostly solo overland adventures on Instagram. And don’t forget to pick up your sweet discount on a Trails Offroad membership and then pair that with this amazing offer for a discounted Gaia GPS Premium Membership.

Next Episode: Rimrocker Trail with John Lumia from Trails Offroad

Screen Shot 2021-08-05 at 8.10.36 AM.png

Don’t miss our next episode with John Lumia of Trails Offroad. John recently mapped the classic Rimrocker Trail — a 160-mile patchwork of 4×4 roads that connects Montrose, Colorado and Moab, Utah. John explains why this trail is an overlander’s dream.

“It has really some of the best scenery that the southwestern Colorado high desert has to offer,” John says on the podcast. “And it’s also pretty accessible. I think we rated it a three, which means any stock vehicle with a transfer case can complete the entirety of this trip. So if you’re trying to get into overlanding, which I classify as basically multi-day car camping, this one is a really good option for that.”

Tune in next time to hear John describe this five-star route, including the best time of the year to visit and what kind of flora and fauna you might see along the way. John also explains how he got his fiancee — a loyal Toyota 4Runner owner — to drive his Jeep Wrangler on the Rimrocker trail. And find out his favorite place to stop and eat in Moab.

Download the gps track and trail report for the Rimrocker trail at Trails Offroad. Trails Offroad is a friendly vehicle-based, adventure travel community. The website offers trail reports and ratings on more than 2,600 offroad trails, which are easily synched to your Gaia GPS account with a press of a button. Right now, Gaia GPS

Meet the Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Host: Wade May

After a 43-year career of flying A-10 and F-16 fighter jets for the United States Air Force and Boeing 737s as a commercial airline captain, Gaia GPS Offroad podcast host Wade May has put his feet firmly on the ground. With over 20 years of offroading and overlanding experience, Wade constantly seeks out the serenity of remote backcountry adventures with his trusty 4-Runner, “Bullit.“ Between extended solo overland adventures, Wade shares the lessons learned from his broad experience in the sky and on the trail in overland workshops, classrooms, writings, and, of course, while hosting the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast.

August 5, 2021

A Yellow Jeep is Engulfed in Flames in Oregon's Desert

Adventures Gaia GPS Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Offroading

Gaia GPS Launches New Offroad Podcast with Tale of a Burning Jeep

by Mary Cochenour July 22, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

The Gaia GPS Offroad podcast kicks off today, bringing 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.

The debut episode launches with a story from Casey Kaiser, an experienced overlander with a penchant for finding abandoned homesteads in the desert. Casey takes us on a complete misadventure. Thirty miles off the grid, Casey’s fully upgraded Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JKU suddenly caught fire. The flames quickly engulfed Casey’s entire Jeep, leaving him stranded in the middle of the night in Oregon’s high desert. Casey made it home safely to tell us what he learned from this unforeseen catastrophe.

Following Casey’s story, we’ve got an impressive lineup of guests on deck. Up next, international overlanders Tim and Kelsey Huber of Dirt Sunrise reveal their go-to recovery kit. Get a complete trails report of Moab’s Rimrocker route from John Lumia of Trails Offroad. The folks at Mountain State Overland walk us through how to upgrade your rig with purpose. Plus, get an inside look at the Bad Ass Ladies Overland, a crew of women who banded together to find friendship and face challenges on the trail.

The Gaia GPS Offroad podcast, sponsored by Trails Offroad, drops every other week. Catch it in between episodes of Gaia GPS’s wildly successful Out and Back podcast, which features stories and interviews from all kinds of adventures around the world, including ultralight backpacking experts, thru-hikers, backcountry skiers, ultrarunners, and rock climbers. Subscribe to Gaia GPS’s Out and Back podcast and Gaia GPS Offroad podcast wherever you listen, so you don’t miss a beat. Give us a follow on our offroad and overland Instagram channel @gaiagpsoffroad.

Episode 1: Jeep on Fire with Casey Kaiser of Coyote Works

On a long weekend in 2018, Casey Kaiser set off to explore new territory in Eastern Oregon’s sagebrush desert. Guided with a plan to visit an old homestead site, Casey rambled some six hours off-pavement into the buttes and canyons outside his hometown of Prineville, Oregon. The trip was off to a perfect start — a challenging trail, bluebird skies, and his yellow JKU Jeep Wrangler eating up anything the road threw his way. But then, with a flip of a switch, everything suddenly went wrong.

“I noticed out of the corner of my eye, it looked like a little steam was coming out from underneath my hood,” Casey said on the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast. “As soon as I lifted the hood, flames erupted.”

Casey knew he had a serious problem. He was alone, 30 miles off-pavement, and his rig was literally going up in flames. Tune in to Episode 1 of the Gaia GPS Offroad podcast to hear firsthand how Casey narrowly escaped disaster in the high desert that night. Casey reveals the number one lesson he learned from losing his rig — the expensive reality of auto insurance coverage. Plus, Casey explains how he used Gaia GPS to safely get home before sunrise the next day and why he couldn’t wait to buy another fully upgraded JKU Jeep Wrangler as his next dream rig.

Connect with Casey on his Coyote Works YouTube channel. Follow his mostly solo overland adventures on Instagram.

Next Episode: Ride Along with Tim and Kelsey Huber of Dirt Sunrise

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 trip took them to South America on the Pan-American Trail. After more than two years on the road, Dirt Sunrise is back in the states and ready to talk about their adventures abroad.

Come back and join us on Episode 2 for a fun chat with Tim and Kelsey about international overland travel and their dreams for the next big trip overseas. The possibilities seem endless. These offroad driving and recovery instructors share the story of their rig “Goose” that carried them through their journey in South America. The Hubers also talk about their new-to-them dream vehicle and enlighten us about their top picks for recovery methods and gear. Hint: it does not always include a winch!

Learn more about Dirt Sunrise at their website, follow them on Instagram, and subscribe to the Dirt Sunrise Youtube channel to virtually join them on all their offroad adventures.

Meet the Gaia GPS Offroad Podcast Host: Wade May

July 22, 2021

A group of Indigenous Women Outdoors members stand in a line in a forest.

Adventures Gaia GPS

Moving Beyond the Map with Indigenous Women Outdoors

by Myia Antone April 22, 2021

written by Myia Antone

Myia Antone is a youth from the Squamish Nation, based in Squamish, BC. She is a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh language learner and teacher, and a land-based education lover.

Sandy Ward is from the Líl̓wat Nation, based in Whistler, BC. She is an avid snowboarder and splitboarder, a coach, and language learner.

Together, they make up the Indigenous Women Outdoors team. Indigenous Women Outdoors is a nonprofit organization based in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor of BC. They offer outdoor programming for Indigenous women and nonbinary folx to connect with the land, each other, and themselves.

Where Skiing and Snowboarding Take Us

Skiing and snowboarding have allowed us, as Indigenous women, to travel to places in our traditional territories that we haven’t traveled to before. They are places our ancestors would go to for ceremony, to hunt, or to just be. They are places of dirt, rocks, mountains, and water that once spoke the same languages as us. To get to see these places is to go back in time. We are transported to a safe space where it is okay to be who we are, unapologetically and proudly. We walk in the same footsteps as our ancestors, and we get to glide down mountains while we giggle together.

Skiing and snowboarding not only bring us to these magical places, but also connect us with magical people. We come from different Nations, cultures, and languages, but together we are stronger. We share information and stories, transmitting knowledge from one generation to the next, just like our ancestors did. When we are on our own territories, we share what knowledge we possess with our comrades. When we travel to new places, we learn about those places before we go. Who was here since time immemorial? What names do they call these mountains? We learn how to respectfully visit someone else’s territory and honor their ancestors.

Learning the Traditional Names of the Land

One way to respectfully visit a new place is to learn the traditional names of the lands you are on. What is in a place name? A lot of mountains, valleys and lakes have easy enough English names to pronounce; usually an “explorer” who may or may not have travelled through the land named that place. But so many places have names from long before settlers came into these areas. These traditional names reflect much more than just someone who settled on the land or mapped the area.

Our traditional place names hold stories of creation, mark boundaries in our territories, and tell us of dangers or of safe passage. Sure, they may be a bit harder to pronounce for some people, but they are an important part of history that should not be forgotten.

For example, Duffey Lake here in BC, Canada is named after James Duffey, allegedly the first person to navigate the area in search of safe passage through the mountains. Was he the first person to navigate the area? No, definitely not. The Lil̓wat people have been traveling through this area for 13,000 years. The whole alpine valley is known as Nlháxten, which effectively translates to “big dish place,” as this was a great area for gathering food and medicine. The lake itself is known as Teq, which indicates the log jam at the far end of the lake. These names have stories behind them that include ancient teachings and lessons.

Back before maps, we used stories to navigate our lands. Place names were actual features in the land such as rock slides, big rapids or even a plant that grew in abundance in that area. Another example of how our Lil̓wat stories helped us map our territories is the story of the Copper Canoe. By listening to the story, we are able to safely travel the 270 kilometers on the Lillooet River from its headwaters all the way to Harrison Lake. Our stories include landmarks, and advice on how to travel our lands and waters and return home. These stories are important. And they are everywhere. We invite you to look up the Indigenous stories in your area and find those place names and start using them.

Learning the Land with the Native Lands Map

One resource we use while we are traveling on someone else’s territory is Native Land. Native Land is an online map and educational resource that works to represent traditional territories of Indigenous Nations, while also providing a teacher’s guide, territory acknowledgment guide, and a blog with many tips and stories. Gaia GPS added the Native Lands layer for all Gaia GPS users.

While these maps and boundaries may not be perfect, they are a great starting point to learning whose land you are on, as well as a step in the right direction to forming a relationship with those communities. An awesome feature of the Native Lands map is being able to click/tap the territory to view website links where you can learn more about the Indigenous communities. This is an important feature because learning more about the peoples, cultures, and languages of the local Indigenous community or communities is just as important as knowing whose land it is.

How Indigenous Women Outdoors Supports Healing in the Mountains

At Indigenous Women Outdoors, we support Indigenous women (cisgender & trans women, non-binary and gender-nonconforming members) in accessing the land in various ways. We believe that getting outside is one way to help our community members on their healing journeys. This support comes in many forms including gear, transportation, safety, knowledge, and a safe space to try a new outdoor activity.

While many barriers exist in a physical sense, mental barriers also hinder accessing the outdoors. We offer a space where Indigenous folx can not only exist, but thrive. It’s a space where we help each other up when we fall, and celebrate the small victories of learning knots, making it down a ski run and even just showing up. We foster leadership, and encourage knowledge sharing between people and cultures.

This year, we launched our Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding Mentorship Program. This program supported six self-identified women, from different walks of life, as well as different cultures, to learn backcountry skiing and snowboarding. We provided gear, workshops, and avalanche safety training certification. While the love for skiing and snowboarding is there, the love to be in an Indigenous-only space is what drives this program forward. These sports brought us together, and the relationships between participants and learning more about the territories where we do these sports is what makes this program successful in our eyes.

Skiing and snowboarding have become a vessel of healing for our peoples. Making sure that we are safe while we are out, as well as knowing where we are is an important piece of backcountry skiing. Our ancestors knew these lands inside and out, and we will continue using modern technology and evolve the same way they did. Maps can allow us to see the bigger picture. We can see our whole route, trip, and ski line with the click of a button. However, being on the land allows us to think beyond any map. Sometimes it can be just as important to focus on what you see in the moment — which if you’re lucky enough, might be a beautiful ski or snowboard line that was protected by Indigenous ancestors who knew how to protect those lands best.

Huy chayap a (Thank you all in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim, Squamish Language)

Kukwstumkacw (Thank you in Ucwalmicwts, Liĺwat language)

Myia Antone and Sandy Ward

April 22, 2021

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