Pacific Crest Trail “trail angels” Scout and Frodo have hosted thru-hikers — sometimes 40 per night — for over 15 years. This week on the Out and Back podcast, Scout gives the inside scoop on why he and his wife open up their doors to so many people without charging a cent. He talks about how the PCT has changed over time, and gives insight from his own PCT thru-hike.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wondering if a route goes? See if anyone’s blazed the trail before you with the Public Tracks layer in Gaia GPS. The Public Tracks layer shows the two million public tracks Gaia GPS users have recorded all over the world. Use it in the app and on the web.

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.

Dreaming up summer hiking and backpacking adventures? You can start getting ready for them right now, right from home. This week on Out and Back, personal trainer and founder of Backcountry Fitness Billy Gawron shares how you can get strong, fit, and mentally prepared to hit the backcountry. Minimal space, equipment, and time required.

With eight Everest summits to his name — including one without supplemental oxygen — alpinist Adrian Ballinger is a giant in the mountaineering community. But he was never supposed to be a mountaineer in the first place.

This week on Out and Back, Adrian opens up about how his one-year deferment from medical school turned into 20. The mountain guide discusses the challenges of guiding clients up the world’s tallest mountains and how a fateful encounter on the side of Mount Everest led to meeting his fiancée, professional climber Emily Harrington.

Navigate from your wrist with the totally redesigned Gaia GPS Apple Watch app. Get turn-by-turn directions, record a track, and drop waypoints on the map. The app works untethered from your phone, so no phone or cell phone service are needed.