Gaia GPS

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.

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.

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

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.

Screen Shot 2021-03-17 at 9.13.37 AM.png

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

A screenshot of a Gaia GPS desktop map shows color-coded by use trails on the updated USFS map layer.

Gaia GPS New Features New 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

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.

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.

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.

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

Adventures Gaia GPS How-To

A Complete Intro to Bikepacking: How to Pack Your Bike & Plan Your Route

by Adrienne Schofhauser March 24, 2021

written by Adrienne Schofhauser

If you enjoy both the excitement of biking and the solitude of backcountry camping, bikepacking offers a new thrilling way to explore wild places. With all of your gear packed strategically on your bike, you’ll cover more ground than you would backpacking, camp under the stars, and gain the skills for navigating a new type of adventure.

An evolution of bicycle touring, bikepacking travels along mostly backcountry singletrack and hiking trails, often using gravel paths, or fire roads to link them up. Bikepacking trips may be as simple as an overnighter in your local mountains or a multi-week international excursion. Because of the terrain, bikepacking gear setups tend to be lighter than those used for traditional bicycle touring, foregoing panniers for more streamlined solutions.

In this article, you’ll learn about bike options, how to pack your gear, and how to plan and navigate routes. This guide also covers tips for preparing your body and your bike for that first adventure, so you can focus on simply enjoying the scenery—and the descents.

Included in this guide:

Bikes for bikepacking
How to pack and carry your gear
Essential camp gear & bike tools
Best maps for bikepacking
Preparing for your first bikepacking trip
Bikepacking routes and resources

Bikes for Bikepacking

Just about any well-functioning mountain bike or touring bike with at least 2.4-inch wide knobby tires makes a suitable bikepacking option. If you’re just starting out, consider using the mountain bike you own—after all, you know you’re comfortable on it.

That said, certain bike styles do offer better experiences in backcountry terrain. In addition, frame material and components like gears and tires affect your ride.

Types of bikes

four bikepackers riding a gravel road in Colorado — *WTF Bike Explorers ride through Routt National Forest, Colorado*

To choose the right bike, consider the terrain you’ll be riding through. Does your route travel along mostly dirt roads or mountainous singletrack? Here are the main bike styles and where they excel.

Full suspension: Most popular for technical singletrack, these bikes feature suspension in both the fork and the “rear” of the bike. Suspension absorbs bumps, like rocks and roots, creating a smoother ride. But it adds weight and reduces pedaling efficiency. And though it’s rare, suspension forks and shocks can present issues—like leaking air—that can cause headaches in the backcountry.
Hardtail: These feature suspension in the fork only. Thus, they’re slightly lighter and offer greater pedaling efficiency on flat terrain, saving you energy. Yet they can be jarring on bumpy trails, which zaps energy. These bikes reign if your route is mostly double track, fire roads, or smooth singletrack.
Fully rigid: Best for pedaling efficiency and simplicity. For riders exploring mostly gravel paths, rigid bikes keep things simple. However, they’re likely too stiff to really enjoy any kind of backcountry singletrack.

Frame Materials

Frame materials influence your bike’s weight, price, and ride feel. Like anything, “ultralight” materials cost more. Fortunately, today’s mountain bikes weigh far less than their predecessors. (Besides, bikepacking isn’t always about distance, but rather the adventure.) The frame design plays a role in your experience, but here are general material guidelines.

Carbon fiber:
- Pros: Ultralight.
- Cons: Expensive. Slightly risky in rocky terrain, where a hard smash can crack the frame.
Aluminum:
- Pros: Less expensive. More reliable than carbon in rocky backcountry terrain.
- Cons: Generally heavier than carbon. A harsher ride feel.
Chromoly Steel:
- Pros: Most durable. Typically the most affordable. Most plush ride feel.
- Cons: “Heavy.” Limited offerings in full suspension.

Bike Components

After safe brakes, the drivetrain, tires and pedals impact your overall ride experience the most. Ultimately, the best bike is one that’s safely functioning, fit to you, and comfortable enough to spend long days in its saddle.

Gears: Opt for easier gears to make pedaling your loaded bike less taxing, especially up climbs. Pedaling gets progressively easier with more large rings in the rear cassette and the more small chain rings up front.
Tires: Most modern mountain bike tires at least 2.4 inches or wider adequately handle backcountry terrain. In general, the wider the tire, the smoother ride. Those with more aggressive traction knobs require more effort to roll, but offer better grip.
Tubeless Tires: Tubeless tires shed weight and better resist punctures, making them popular. But they take extra effort to install.
Pedals: Choose between flats or “clipless.” Flat pedals allow you to get on and off your bike quickly, say for hike-a-bike sections. And flat shoes offer better traction for hiking. Clipping into your pedals (clipless) increases pedaling efficiency.

How to Pack and Carry your Gear

You want your bike as nimble as possible for bikepacking. This means strategically spreading out the weight of your gear while keeping most of it centered and low. Bikepacking-specific bags help you do just that. But if you’re starting out, you may opt for a more DIY approach using a day backpack and gear you already own.

Bike Bags and Gear-Carrying Options

Lightweight and tailored to specific places on a bike, bikepacking bags streamline gear carrying. This approach can ultimately make bikepacking more fun by improving how the laden bike handles.

Seat bags: Perfect for carrying soft, bulky gear. Seat bags take extra care to pack and attach in order to minimize sway below the seat. They’re available in five to about 15 liters and various levels of waterproof protection.
Handlebar systems: Two options: roll bag or harness. For mountain biking, roll bags provide a slimmer profile for better clearance when your suspension fork compresses. A harness offers maximum versatility for larger items, such as long tents.
Frame pack: Finding the right frame pack to fit in your triangle takes a little finesse. Full-sized bags provide more volume but may interfere with a rear shock. Partial packs leave room for a water bottle cage beneath. Some packs feature organizational pockets.
DIY system: If you have a daypack and dry bags at home, you can bikepack. Place heavier gear in your day pack and lighter items in the bags that will go on the bike. Attach the bags to your handlebar and seat post with ski straps or bungees. Dangle things like a coffee cup or flip flops off any setup with a carabiner.

Additional Carrying Options

Stem bags offer easy-grab convenience for snacks, phones, and other small items.
Fork cages can carry larger water bottles or stove fuel on trips in less technical terrain; just ensure they don’t interfere with the stanchions on your suspension fork.
Small backpack provides another place for snacks, layers, sunglasses and water reservoirs. But keep it light—you have plenty of weight to maneuver.

Where to Place Gear on Your Bike

Smart packing leads to a safer, more enjoyable ride. Still, it may take a few trips to dial-in your system. Strive for a low center of gravity and evenly weighted handlebars and seat pack.

Light, bulky items go in your seat pack: Things like sleeping bags and clothing. If your seat bag is waterproof, pack your sleeping bag without its stuff sack.
Light, long items go in your handlebar roll: Items like tents, sleeping pads, and other larger gear. Take care to not over-pack your handlebars to maintain safe steering.
Heavy items go in your frame pack: Things like bike tools, stove, and fuel. Positioning most weight in the center of your bike increases stability.

Essential Camp Gear & Bike Tools

Space is at a premium on your bike. Prioritize compact gear—and the lighter, the better. Your current backpacking gear likely covers most bases. Fill in the gaps from there.

Camping Gear

Shelter: Tarps and bivy sacks certainly make the lightest, most compact options. Yet in buggy terrain or foul weather, you’ll likely want the protection of a minimalist, pack-small tent.
Sleeping bag / quilt: If conditions allow, a featherweight down quilt with an elastic foot box may be all the warmth you need, saving precious room in your pack.
Sleeping pad: Air mattresses offer greater comfort and roll up tighter, but require at least a ground cloth to prevent punctures. Closed-cell foam pads are bombproof, but offer far less cushion and may be too bulky for backcountry setups.
Stove: The lightest gas stoves weigh just a few ounces and fit in the palm of your hand. 4 oz. fuel canisters stow easily as well. Alcohol stoves remain your lightest and cleanest-burning option. They limit your cooking to water boiling, but they’re ideal if you won’t be passing any gear shops to refuel.
Water & water filter: Research water sources before your trip to help assess how much to carry each day, as well as the type of water filter to bring to combat contaminants you might encounter.
Clothing: Beyond your bike outfit, pack warm layers for camp and flip flops if you use clipless shoes. Pack multiple socks and underwear, but otherwise wear the same outfit every day.
Sunscreen & toiletries: Pack these as you would for any backcountry adventure. Just remember to Leave No Trace.
First aid kit: Biking in remote terrain increases the safety hazards. Adventure Medical Kits makes a wide array of great wilderness first aid kits. Include super glue, needle and thread, duct tape, and patches for your sleeping pad and tent fabric.
Don’t forget: Your headlamp, spare batteries and chargers, bear hang kit, sat device, and other essentials for minimalist backcountry camping.

Bike Tools

Preparing for every mechanical issue would require an entire workbench of tools. Instead, carry those that will triage most common issues—and that you know how to use. Again, consider the terrain. For example, in rocky terrain you might pack more spare tubes.

Spare tubes, tire plugs, tire levers & small pump: Rarely does one escape a backcountry trip without at least a few flat tires. Even if you run tubeless tires, carry spare tubes, as sharp terrain (and crashing) can rip the sidewall of your tire beyond repair with sealant or tire plugs. On longer trips, also carry a patch kit.
Bike multi-tool: Featuring multiple sizes of Allen wrenches, a multi-tool lets you tighten, adjust, remove, and replace most bits on your bike trailside. Ensure the sizes match your bike’s bolts. Choose one with a chain breaker.
Chain lube & wipe cloth: Lubing your chain each morning before your ride is one of the easiest ways to keep your bike running smoothly throughout your trip, especially if crossing streams.
Chain quick links: Chains break. Quick links allow you to use a spare length of chain to replace the broken section, quickly locking it in and getting you back in business.
Zip ties & ski straps: Your ultimate MacGyver gear. From taming unruly cables to providing bag tie-downs, these come in handy.
Also consider: Bike lights, spare brake pads, shock pump for full suspension bikes, spare derailleur hanger.

Best Maps for Bikepacking

Planning a bikepacking trip encourages you to get savvy about land use access and, you guessed it, terrain—because biking isn’t always possible where hiking is. Gaia GPS’s map catalog provides numerous planning and navigating resources, and a Premium membership gives you access to them all. Here are the most helpful maps for bikepackers, along with some pointers for building your route.

Satellite Topo Base Map: This topo-and-satellite hybrid makes an excellent base map for bikepackers, who need to really visualize the terrain. It places the contour lines of Gaia’s Topo map over ESRI world satellite imagery. Use the topo lines to calculate elevation and the satellite imagery to see terrain features such as forests and open areas.

Ensure you know how to read topo maps.

Wilderness Map Overlay: Bikes aren’t allowed in designated Wilderness zones. This overlay lets you pinpoint Wilderness boundaries and ensure that your route avoids them. Find this map under the Feature/Weather Overlay option.

USFS Recreation Sites Map: Quickly find bike-friendly trails and campgrounds along your route. This overlay highlights U.S. Forest Service campgrounds, trailheads, visitor centers, and land-use access through an easy-to-read legend. Find it under the Feature/Weather Overlay option.

24- and 72-Hour Weather Forecast Overlays: In addition to the 48-hour Precip Overlay, Gaia GPS includes 24- and 72-hour Forecast Overlays. Pack the right gear for the forecast with these options that you can display over your favorite base maps. Sourced from NOAA data.

Wildfire Overlay: Dodge road closures, avoid burn scars, and find views unobscured by smoke using the Wildfires (current) and Wildfires (satellite) maps, now free for all Gaia GPS users.

Finally, find free camping spots using the Public Lands Overlay—and sleep soundly knowing you’re not trespassing.

Building Your Route

Once you know where you want go, use the Gaia app or Gaiagps.com to build your route and add waypoints with helpful info along the way.

Create a route in Gaia: This step-by-step video tutorial guides you through the process. Start with your preferred base map. Then add overlays, such as those mentioned above, to increase your knowledge of an area. Or, import GPX files: If you find GPX files for routes online, import them into your phone. Here’s how to do it for iOS, Android, and at gaiagps.com.
Drop waypoints: Mark water sources, camping spots, trail junctures, and other key points. Tag them with symbols and color-coding, and add notes. Here’s how in iOS and Android.
Download your map: Ensure you do this while in cell service in order to access your map offline.

Preparing for Your First Bikepacking Trip

With your bike, gear, maps and routes, you’re nearly there. But before you pedal out into the great unknown, be sure you and your setup are dialed. Here’s a checklist to help.

Gain the fitness and sit bones you need by doing longer rides in the months prior.
Give your bike a safety tune-up yourself or take it to your local shop.
Learn how to do trailside repairs.
Practice packing your gear to dial-in your system.
Ride your bike fully loaded to experience its handling; consider doing a single night adventure to test your setup.
Get current beta on the zones through which you’ll be traveling via ranger stations and trip reports.
Download (and print out) your Gaia GPS maps!

Bikepacking Routes and Resources

Multi-night mountain biking has soared in popularity, and with it the resources and inspiration to plan an amazing trip. Here are a few places to start.

Find routes: Bikepacking.com, Bikepacking Roots and pinkbike.com (search bikepacking) offer a goldmine of routes, stories, images, and sometimes the GPX files to kick off your journey. Also use these sites to indulge in bike and gear nerdery.
Dip your toes in: Catered adventures, such as those in Canada’s Chilcotins, allow you to give bikepacking a try without carrying all of your overnight gear or hassle with cooking for yourself each night.
Get social: Tap into communities on Facebook for everything from gear setups to adventure ideas.
Get to know the popular trails: This article highlights some classic routes.

March 24, 2021

two mobile phones showing public tracks on the Gaia GPS map on the screen

Android App Updates Gaia GPS iOS New Features New 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.

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.

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

A hiker walks over a ridge with a snowcapped peak in the distance.

Adventures Gaia GPS

Record a Track to “Crush it 4 Climate”

by Abby Levene March 18, 2021

written by Abby Levene

Whether you cherish skiing the perfect line, hiking up to breathtaking views, or overlanding through enchanting desert planes, we share common ground. We are united in our love of the world around us. And we can come together to protect these places we love to play.

This March, hundreds of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts are joining forces for our planet. We are proud to stand alongside climate change nonprofit Protect Our Winters as it brings recreationists of all types and creeds together to advance non-partisan policies that protect our world today and for future generations. Together, this “Outdoor State” — the symbolic collection of folks from all across the country who love recreating outside — holds collective bargaining power that any individual could never attain.

You can join the Outdoor State by participating in POW’s month-long “Crush It 4 Climate” campaign. The goal is simple: get outside for a chance to win a slew of incredible prizes — including a free Premium Membership from Gaia GPS! From finding new hikes, to navigating in the backcountry, to recording your adventures, Gaia GPS helps people explore and stay safe in the backcountry.

Over here at Gaia GPS, we are joining the “Crush it 4 Climate” campaign by getting outside and recording a track of that activity. Yes, it’s that easy! Here’s how you can join us:

“Crush It 4 Climate”

Five skiers skin up a ski slope. — Lap 2 of 20. Photo: Ramsay De Give

The beauty of the “Crush it 4 Climate” challenge is anyone can participate. There is no one “right way” to “crush it for climate.” Gaia GPS writer and editor Abby Levene (who also happens to be on the POW Athlete Alliance) climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest (29,032 feet) on skis.

On March 10, Abby and a couple other POW athletes set off into the pre-dawn darkness and skinned up Ski Santa Fe. Once they reached the summit, which tops out at over 12,000’, they skied back down and started climbing back up again. They repeated that 20 times, for a total of 15 hours and 40 minutes.

“While skinning up and skiing down a ski resort 20 times is not the same thing as scaling the world’s highest peak, it filled me with wonder over the magnitude of both Everest and earth at large,” Abby says. “When I finally reached the equivalent of the highest point on the planet, I was exhausted and depleted. But I was also filled with immense gratitude and respect. From the backyard to places as far away as Everest, the world is so beautiful and vast. Plus, what a privilege to get to spend the whole day outside doing something I love! In my opinion, there’s no greater motivator to want to help save our home planet than to go play on it.”

You can see Abby’s “Everesting” track here.

Screenshot of Gaia GPS tracks from Abby's "Everesting." — Abby’s track from ski “Everesting.”

You certainly do not need to do something as extreme as Abby! Round up your family for a walk around the neighborhood or go hike that trail that’s been on your bucket list for ages. If you get outside this month, you are taking action for our planet. And while you’re out there, record your activity in Gaia GPS so you can share it with friends and encourage them to get outside, too.

Record a Track in Gaia GPS

Two people look at Gaia on their phone while gazing at mountains in the background.

To record a track of your activity, first you will need to download Gaia GPS onto your phone. When you’re ready to start your adventure, open the app.

Next, tap the “Record” button on the top left of your screen. If you don’t see the “Record” button, you can add it by following these directions. Or you can simply tap the circle with the “+” in the middle (top right of your screen). From the menu that pops up, tap “Record a Track” (first option). You’re ready to hit the trail!

When you’re done with your activity, simply tap the timer on the top left of your screen. Select “Finish Track.” Alternatively, once again press the circle with the “+” in the middle. Hit “Finish Track.”

From here, you’ll be able to view your track, including all the stats like distance traveled, elevation gain, and time elapsed. You can also give your track a name, and make your track visible to the public if you wish.

Create a Free
Gaia GPS Account

Join the Outdoor State

Four skiers stand in the darkness in a line with their headlamps on. They are smiling for the camera. — The calm before 29,032′. Photo: Ramsay De Give

Once you’ve recorded your track, you’re ready to join the Outdoor State! Share your track with your friends and family to encourage them to get outside, too. Then simply click the button below:

Crush It 4 Climate,
Win Prizes

Bonus: we want to see how you are “crushing it for climate!” Share your tracks on social media, along with the hashtag #CrushIt4Climate and tag @GaiaGPS in your post. One more lucky winner will receive a free Premium membership. The Crush It 4 Climate campaign ends on March 31, so get outside over the next week and share those tracks. We look forward to joining you outside!

March 18, 2021

A group of backpackers walk single file along a trail with mountains ahead.

Gaia GPS How-To Out and Back Podcast

Out and Back: How to Train for Hiking Season

by Abby Levene March 18, 2021

written by Abby Levene

Get up to 50% off
Gaia GPS

The days are getting longer and warmer — 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 city or live in geographical regions as flat as a pancake. How can we gear up for summer adventures?

Personal trainer Billy Gawron of Backcountry Fitness is here with answers. This week on Out and Back, Shanty and Abby chat with Billy about training for hiking, backpacking, and thru-hiking season. Billy equates getting in shape to building a house. You have to start with the foundation.

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

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 right now, don’t worry! Billy is here to walk you through how you can build a strong body and mind right at home. Billy has backpacked all over the world and specializes in training his clients to get ready for all types of backcountry adventures. He delivers his keen insight into training for big mountain days while confined to small spaces and flat, concrete cities.

Billy shares the number one thing we should all start working on right now and gives us the key to balancing strength work with endurance training. He breaks down some pervasive myths about training, including if you actually need to train at all.

Billy answers the most pressing hiker questions, like how to train your feet and ankles to withstand long days with a heavy pack, how to prevent pesky and debilitating knee pain, and how to prepare for altitude while at sea level.

If you’re dreaming up some big plans for the summer, you won’t want to miss this episode. In the meantime, check out Backcountry Fitness on the web, where you can find free training plans and can hire Billy as a coach, and follow Backcountry on Instagram for daily training tips.

Two hikers smile while standing in front of a lake with mountains in the distance.

Episode Highlights:

4:25: Meet Billy Gawron, personal trainer and founder of Backcountry Fitness.

5:50: Billy shares the story of the client who inspired him to specialize in getting people ready for backcountry adventures.

8:30: Billy and his fiancée have hiked and backpacked all around the world together.

10:20: Shanty tells the most ridiculous story that has been told on this podcast to date.

12:00: Billy resolves some of the biggest myths in hiking, backpacking, and thru-hiking.

20:00: How you can start preparing for hiking/backpacking season from right at home, right now. (Hint: we’re starting with the core.)

22:20: Do you sit all day? If so, you are a basket of injuries waiting to happen. Billy is here to help.

29:00: Shanty is eager to hit the gym with the heavy weights. Billy weighs in….

31:05: How many days do you have to train? How do you balance strength and cardio?

32:35: What kind of cardio is best to get ready for hiking season, especially if you’re confined to the city or somewhere flat? How hard should you work?

36:19: Billy explains why doing a bunch of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is not necessarily going to help you for your summer adventures.

37:35: What’s the minimum amount of time you need to devote to a workout?

40:50: When it comes to strength training, more reps at lower weight is going to help you out more than single max reps.

42:40: Billy explains why he loves SPT (Sustained Push Training). It combines cardio endurance and strength work all into one.

46:30: Knee pain? The problem most likely is not your knee.

49:20: Billy, who used to work at a running speciality store, advises on the best shoes for training, running, and hiking.

52:00: Learn how to become comfortable being uncomfortable now, so you’re mentally ready for your adventures later.

56:30: Can you prep for your altitude adventures from sea level?

1:01:45: Want more tips from Billy? Check out his app.

1:03:00: Billy is training for his honey moon — hiking Kilimanjaro with his fiancée!

Last episode: Adrian Ballinger

Adrien smiles while on top of a snowy mountain. He's got his arms raised and is holding an ice axe in one hand.

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. 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 the last episode of the Out and Back, Ballinger takes hosts Shanty and Mary all the way back to his unusual foray into the outdoors growing up in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Though he fell in love with 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 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.

In this fun and lighthearted chat, Ballinger speaks openly about the challenges and realities of guiding clients up the world’s highest mountains. 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.

Tune in to learn more about how you can explore 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.

Next episode: Vasu Sojitra

A skier with a leg difference sends it down a mountain. He is using outrigers and one ski.

Growing up in India and Connecticut, Vasu Sojitra’s ascendence to becoming a professional skier may seem unlikely. Not to mention that he was born to Indian immigrants who did not understand the sport. And that he has a lower leg difference, and taught himself to ski with one leg and no prosthetic.

But Vasu doesn’t lean into excuses. In fact, he embraces who he is.

“That’s the thing about disability culture — we are one of the most resilient communities on this planet, which is awesome to be a part of,” Vasu says on Out and Back. “People think we’re fragile. People think you have to tiptoe around our disability.No. We are kicking ass.”

On the next episode of Out and Back, Vasu tells his story from having his leg amputated at nine months old to climbing peaks like the Grand Teton and backcountry skiing Montana’s Beartooth and Bridger mountain ranges. He’s even landed a 720 on skis, which is a first for an adaptive skier.

Vasu shares how he uses his engineering degree to problem solve equipment strategies for skinning up the mountain with one ski. And he explains how he brings an intersectional framework to the outdoors to lift those up around him and to help make these sports more inclusive to everyone.

You can follow Vasu’s adventures and advocacy on Instagram. Check out his newest venture, Inclusive Outdoors Project. And you can learn more about Vasu on his website.

March 18, 2021

Gaia GPS Out 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

Get up to 50% off
Gaia GPS

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

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 Updates Gaia 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

Two snowmobilers ride across a vast snow plain in the distance, in front of a glowing sunset over snowy mountains.

Gaia GPS How-To

How to Use Gaia GPS for Snowmobiling

by Abby Levene February 25, 2021

written by Abby Levene

Riding a sled allows you to cover a lot of terrain in a short amount of time. But this liberating, rewarding, and high-speed access comes with a price — it’s easy to get lost, or worse. Plus, there may be hidden trails and zones out your front door that you’ve never discovered. That’s where navigation tools come into play.

“I have different strategies for navigating depending on the ride, area, and the crew I’m with,” says Aleah Hockin, lead guide and coach at Savage Sisters Snow, a snowmobile guide company in Craig and Slater, CO. “It’s very important to trust the crew you have when riding in the backcountry. As a rider it’s important you know the strengths and limitations of who you’re with as well as your own.”

Your phone does not replace riding with a knowledgeable crew, taking an avalanche course if you live in avalanche-prone terrain, and just plain experience. But your phone can provide an invaluable supplementary tool, says Russel Mussio, president of Canada’s Backroad Mapbooks. Find new trails, plan routes, and stay found using Gaia GPS in conjunction with some tried and trusted navigation staples. Here’s how.

Plan Your Trip

A single file line of sledders ride over a snowy plain with small mountains in the distance.

A little advanced planning from the comfort of your couch can greatly enhance your trip. You just need your computer or your phone. If you’re on your computer, go to gaiagps.com/map. If you’re using your phone, open the Gaia GPS app.

Scout out the area

Hockin recommends looking at potential sled zones using satellite maps to examine tree cover. Check out the full catalog of snowmobile maps below to get a sense of which maps can help you plan your next trip. Turn on public tracks to see where other sledders have travelled.

Map a Route

You can use Gaia GPS to map out a route right on the web or in the app. Save the route to your phone, and follow it along as you go. Many local snowmobile club websites have GPX files of routes that are free to download and use. You can import these established routes directly into the Gaia GPS app.

Mussio cautions that sometimes it doesn’t make sense to map out a precise route beforehand. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t examine a map before you head out the door.

“For route planning, I personally plan the trailhead and destination — and ideally an alternate or two,” Mussio says. “Typically when riding, things change depending on conditions and or what is in the field. What looks good on the map might not be the case on the ground so it is nice to be prepared for flexibility or options.”

Download your maps

Download the maps for the zone you plan to visit before you leave home. That way you can access them in the backcountry, regardless of whether you leave cell service.

Gaia GPS Maps for Sledding

Gaia GPS offers multiple maps to help you find new zones, keep tabs on weather conditions, and make your way home safely.

Navigation Maps

Gaia Topo

Topo maps are the most useful map layers for sledders, according to Hockin. Easy to read and tiny to download, Gaia Topo may be the most valuable map in a sledder’s pocket. It’s also free to use. This map shows most Forest Service roads and 4WD trails, as well as points of interest, land ownership designation, and many more details that make it easy to discover landmarks to see and places to stop along your adventure.

Quickly get a sense of elevation profiles thanks to blended contour line styling. Zoom in to get exactly the level of detail your planning requires. And download large swaths of land — even your entire state — thanks to its efficient file size.

USGS Topo

The USGS Topo layer includes the official topo maps from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). As another detailed topographical map layer, it can be used in conjunction with the Gaia Topo layer to compare trails and points of interest.

World Imagery

Seeing a photographic overview of an area provides key details that topo maps leave out. This satellite imagery layer helps you identify ridges and drainages, open plains and densely packed glades.

Wilderness Areas (US)

In the US, motorized travel is not permitted within designated wilderness areas. Use the Wilderness Areas (US) overlay to help ensure you stay where sledding is permitted — and avoid a pricey fine.

Trail Maps

BRMB Snowmobile Trails

If you’re in Canada, you’re in luck! We’ve partnered with the illustrious Backroad Mapbooks to bring you an overlay containing 90,000 miles of snowmobile trails across Canada, from BC to Newfoundland. Trails are color-coded to distinguish from Multi-Use and ATV trails, and easy identify which trail you’re examining thanks to bold trail names right on the trail itself. Pair this overlay with your favorite base map.

USFS Roads and Trails

Screenshot of USFS roads and trails map.

See maintained routes, 4×4 trails, backroads, and obscure paths across U.S. national forests and grasslands using the United States Forest Service (USFS) Roads and Trails layer.

USFS Roads and Trails often displays more roads and trails than any other map. Use this layer to find information on the road surface, maintenance level, and trail width. Plus, color-coded trails indicate which activities — including motorized sports — are allowed on each trail. Just tap or click a trail to learn more details.

USFS 2016

The USFS 2016 layer contains full, detailed topographic coverage of all 172 national forests and grasslands in the US. Easy-to-read Forest Service road numbers make route planning simple. This up-to-date, rasterized map available from the US Forest Service includes labeled trails, roads, and vegetation shading.

MVUM

The Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) layer uses data from the Forest Service to highlight vehicle-accessible roads. Use this map in conjunction with the USFS Roads and Trails layer to see whether sleds are allowed on a road or trail. MVUM gives information on seasonality, usage, and the condition of various roads. Just tap or click on the route to learn more.

The MVUM layer typically contains the most up-to-date information on which Forest Service roads are open to motor vehicles, which helps ensure you don’t break any rules or sled where you aren’t supposed to. Not all USFS lands have an MVUM, but this map data serves as the legal standard for trail access. Modeled off of paper maps MVUM makes it easy to compare and switch seamlessly between paper and digital.

Safety and Weather Maps

Snow Stations (Daily)

Check the Snow Stations (Daily) map before your trip to get a daily report on the amount of new snow that has fallen in the last 24 hours and what the average water density reading is for the new snow in the area you plan to visit.

Snow Forecast Overlays — Available in 24-Hour, 48-Hour, and 72-Hour Views

Screenshot of Snow Forecast 24-hour) overlay.

Precipitation forecasts give some indication of general weather patterns. Use the Snow Forecast Overlays to get a sense of snow conditions, and any weather moving in that may impact visibility and safety. Mussio likes to use this layer to get a sense of when he can expect a powder day.

Slope Angle

Sticking to low-angle terrain can help you stay safe in the backcountry. Over 90% of avalanches start on slopes between 30° and 45° degrees. A 30° slope compares to a blue run at a ski area, while 45° slopes are found on double black diamond runs. In other words, prime skiing terrain is also prime avalanche terrain. One key detail is that most avalanches start on slopes between 30° and 45° degrees. Avalanches can be triggered remotely and run into lower angle terrain, so it is important to have a thorough understanding of runout zones.

The Slope Angle layer can help you identify avalanche terrain. Slopes are color-coded with their approximate steepness, with orange and red denoting terrain between 30 and 45 degrees. Keep in mind that this map layer is only a “depiction of reality.” The map will differ from the actual terrain. Avalanche start zones like convexities or small pockets of steepness can escape detection. The error can be as high as 4 degrees. The difference between 26 and 30 degrees, or 30 and 34 degrees, can be a significant increase in risk exposure – check out this distribution chart of avalanches by start zone slope angle.

Slope angle maps have limitations and provide a general sense of terrain steepness and often do not depict micro-terrain features on the map. Always use an inclinometer tool to measure slope angles in the field to get an accurate picture of the terrain.

Avalanche Forecast

From Colorado to Utah, Montana to Alaska, avalanche centers provide detailed local forecasts that outline aspects of concern and relevant avalanche problems. When you are online or within cell range, you can use the Avalanche Forecast layer to access the detailed local forecast. Pull up the map to see what the danger rating is for the area you plan to ride that day. From the Avalanche Forecast map, click on the shaded area to be able to access a link that will take you directly to the local avalanche center’s website for more information. Be sure to read the entire forecast from the avalanche center from the link provided on the map. And remember, this layer and all avalanche maps are a supplement (not a substitute) for taking an avalanche course and bringing avalanche gear.

Cell Phone Use Coverage

The Cell Phone Use Coverage maps provide insight into whether you can access the internet or send texts while you’re out in the backcountry. Track where you can find cell service anywhere in the United States including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Find out where your network provides 3G and LTE coverage for AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Southern Linc carriers.

Navigate

In addition to helping you find new zones, maps can help you strategically cover new ground once you’re out there.

“I’m a firm believer in exploring and doing so safely,” Hockin says. “When exploring a new drainage I try to tackle it from the bottom and work my way up then I know if it’s safe to drop in it next time we ride that zone. This keeps you from cliffing out or getting into a steep narrow drainage that may not be rideable and if you’re too steep to climb back out this can lead to trouble.”

Use topo and satellite imagery to help get a sense of how to explore a new drainage. Use the weather, avalanche, and slope angle overlays to help stay out of avalanche terrain.

While Gaia GPS can help you navigate, Hockin says to always bring a paper map and compass as a backup. You never know when your phone may shut down due to the cold. (Although there are steps you can take to help prevent that from happening.)

In addition, some snowmobile organizations, like Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, provide extensive paper maps showing their extensive maintained and groomed trail systems. However, many of these maps do not indicate mile markers. Use Gaia GPS in conjunction with your papers maps to measure your distance to your next destination, and see other sled-friendly trails not shown on the paper map.

Stay Found

Whether weather moves in or it gets dark, even the simplest routes can become difficult to follow once the visibility drops.

“Knowing your general location using land marks such as peaks and parks helps keep you moving in the right direction,” Hockin says. “That said, storms move in quick in the mountains and you can’t always rely on visuals to know where you are. Storms can also create anxiety and prevent you from keeping a clear head. This is where technology takes over and if working properly can get you out of the woods safe and sound during a storm.”

Gaia GPS offers a few tools to help you stay found and find your way home.

Locate and orient yourself on the map

Easy and quickly identify where you are on the map thanks to Gaia GPS’s location tracking. Simply open the app, and you’ll see your location as a gold arrow on the map. The arrow even indicates which direction your phone is facing, so you can get your cardinal bearings. Tap the circle in the very center at the top of the screen to center your location on the map. Hockin says being able to see her location on the map is a lifesaver for her when she’s out exploring or guiding trips. Here’s how to find your place and orient yourself on the map.

Record your tracks

In addition to seeing your place in the map, you can examine a bread crumb trail of the exact terrain you’ve covered. Simply start recording your tracks before you leave from the trailhead. That way if you get lost, you can turn around and retrace your path home.

Recording your tracks also creates a record of your trip, so you can find those zones again. This is one of Hockin’s favorite features. Simply save your tracks when you’re done with your trip, and you’ll be able to see the tracks directly in your Gaia GPS app.

To record your tracks, tap the circle with the “+” sign on the top right of the app. Select “Record a Track” from the menu. Don’t forget to end your track when you’re done. Save your tracks in your Gaia GPS account so you can examine your trip from home, and go back to that same zone again. Here are detailed step-by-step directions to recording your tracks.

Waypoints

Flag key turns, land marks, and other locations you want to remember by dropping a waypoint directly into the map. Press the circle with the “+” sign on the top right of the app and select “Add Waypoint” to choose a location on the map to flag, or “Add Waypoint (My Location”) to drop a pin at your exact current spot. Head over h ere for more information on creating and editing waypoints.

Practice

A snowmobiler looks off at the sunset over the mountains.

Your tools are only as good as you are at using them. Nothing replaces practicing navigating with Gaia GPS and paper maps.

“Staying safe is a combination of knowing your strengths along with your weaknesses and not over riding your limitations both in riding abilities and navigating abilities,” Hockin says. “Pushing your comfort zone is essential for becoming a better rider and navigator but should be done in a safe manner with the ego in check.”

Pay attention to the terrain, the conditions, and your surroundings. And remember that the landscape will always be there. Stay balanced while you BRAAAP!

February 25, 2021

Load More Posts