Vasu Sojitra is a highly accomplished skier and mountaineer. Yet he finds summiting technical peaks, skiing narrow couloirs, and landing 720s are not really about the accomplishments themselves. It’s far more about how these activities make him feel. A self-described “brown kid with one leg,” Vasu found community in the mountains. Now he’s on a mission to empower everyone, especially those from diverse backgrounds, to discover courage, resiliency, and joy through moving their bodies outside. Tune in to Vasu’s story on the Out and Back podcast.
Gaia GPS
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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.
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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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Battery drain stinks, and often hits the hardest at the most inconvenient times. Countless factors can threaten the life of your phone battery, like cold or blazing hot temperatures, or even how many apps you’ve recently used. Whether you’re out for a 3-night backpacking trip, casual day hike, or a few hours on the slopes, there’s no escaping the inevitable drain. Whatever your adventure looks like, these tricks will help you save the juice in your phone and keep Gaia GPS up and running longer.
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Public tracks are now visible in the app! Gaia GPS users have amassed almost two million recorded routes all over the world, and now you can access them in the field using your iOS or Android devices. Discover new routes and plan trips with information from people who made the journey before you, and save public tracks directly to your account so you can follow them offline.
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Global 3D maps are live on the web! Just click on the 3D button on the map, and watch the canyons plunge and the mountains pop into 3D. Whether you are hiking, overlanding, or backcountry skiing, 3D maps will revolutionize the way you research and plan your next adventure.
Trail running allows you to cover a lot of ground in a little time. This means you can reach new heights and sights and still be back in time for lunch. If you already hike, it’s not hard to make the transition to running. Here’s how to get started.
If you enjoy both the excitement of biking and the solitude of backcountry camping, bikepacking offers a thrilling way to explore wild places. In this guide, learn nearly everything you need to to get started – including the best bike options, how to pack your gear, and how to plan and navigate routes. Plus, get tips for preparing your body and bike for that first adventure.
Whether you cherish carving the perfect line, hiking up to breathtaking views, or overlanding through enchanting desert planes, we are united in our love of the world around us. Join us and our friends over at Protect Our Winters in getting outside to protect the places we love to play. It’s easy: record a track of your adventure, and you can win a free Premium membership, among many other cool prizes.