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backcountry skiing

Make the Most of Your Early Season Backcountry Ski Turns With Gaia GPS

by Tyler Jackson December 3, 2024

written by Tyler Jackson

The ridge line I hiked up; a prime example of why rock
skis should be considered essential equipment for early
season tours.

For many backcountry skiers with sticks to spare, early season ski tours mark the start of a months-long pursuit of fresh lines and high adventure. However, these outings come with their own unique challenges: thin snowpacks, unpredictable conditions, and a whole lot of rocks. That’s why proper planning and on-the-ground navigation are essential—and Gaia GPS is one of the best tools to make this process as efficient and safe as possible.

This is the second post in my series about using Gaia GPS in real-world situations. In part one, I focused on how to use Gaia GPS’s web browser interface to plan trips before heading out. This time, I’ll look at how to use Gaia GPS during the adventure itself—navigating your route, adapting to conditions on-the-ground, and using the app’s features to stay safe and maximize your ski day.

This past Friday, I set out on my first ski tour of the 2024 season: a pre-work dawn patrol at Berthoud Pass, hunting down cool lines for the winter. I’ll walk you through my preparation and navigation on this trip, dishing out practical tips to get the most out of Gaia GPS.

What to do Before Leaving the House

Although this post focuses on the real-time use of Gaia GPS, it’s worth briefly revisiting the pre-trip steps that set the foundation for a successful day in the backcountry.

I planned my route on the Gaia GPS web browser. This process allows for precise route creation and layering of important information, all of which syncs seamlessly to the mobile app. Here are the key steps I took:

*Note how I have Gaia Topo active as my base map, with Slope Angle overlayed atop it for quick reference.*

1. Cleaning Up the Mobile App with Toggle Mobile Sync
Gaia’s “Toggle Mobile Sync” feature is a great tool, and it’s also brand new. This feature lets you remove unnecessary data from your mobile device while keeping it accessible on the web browser. For ski tours, this means I can focus on the route and waypoints relevant to that specific outing, ensuring my interface is clean and easy to use for quick reference when I’m on the move. To get the full scoop, check out this article: Goodbye Clutter, Hello Streamlined Maps: Introducing Sync to Mobile

2. Selecting the Right Layers
For early season tours, I rely on two layers:

Slope Angle Layer: This is essential for evaluating avalanche risk. Using this in conjunction with avalanche forecasts from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) helps me to identify safe routes at a glance.
Gaia Topo: This detailed topographic map is ideal for backcountry navigation. I use this layer to plan ascents and minimize exposure to steeper, avalanche-prone slopes and terrain traps.

Pro Tip: Early in the season, avoid snow depth layers, as they’re often inaccurate for sun-exposed aspects. Instead, focus on slope angle and terrain features to assess conditions.

3. Planning an Efficient Route
My goal for this outing was a quick, safe tour that I could wrap up before heading home to clock in for work. I used the web browser to create a route that followed a wide ridge line and minimized steep sections. This had the dual effect of keeping the hike up easy and minimizing avalanche risk. Once the route was finalized, I synced it to my phone for use in the field and checked to make sure that I had maps for the region downloaded.

Navigating the Route in Real Time

Once I arrived at Berthoud Pass and clicked into my rock skis, Gaia GPS became my primary navigation tool. Here’s how I used the app during the tour:

*Waypoints I placed for my tour, marking spots to check out in the future or places I wanted to make note of.*

1. Following the Pre-Planned Route
My route served as a reliable guide throughout the tour. By referencing the route on my phone, I could stay on track without constantly second-guessing my path.

2. Use Waypoints!
During the hike, I used waypoints to mark cool spots or lines for future reference. This is a critical habit for anyone exploring the backcountry, as it helps build a mental and digital map of the terrain. Here are the types of waypoints I added:

Future Objectives: I pin interesting ski lines that looked promising for later in the season.
Avalanches: I drop waypoints wherever I see avalanches or signs that one might happen.
Reference Points: Landmarks like prominent trees or rock outcroppings (or in this case, large metal towers) to make it easier to orient myself, both on the way down, or on future occasions. Most critically, once I’m getting ready to transition and ski down, I almost always drop a waypoint or two at the topographic lines that indicate my point of no return: the minimum elevation I can ski to without having to hike back up to my truck.

3. Recording Tracks
I also used the app to record my track. In the moment, the recording is not necessarily critical, but I find that recordings are incredibly handy to use for reference when I am making repeated trips to an area.I can drop waypoints along the track, and I can refer back to the old tracks whenever I’m building a new route.

Pro Tip: I like to look back and see where my actual track differs from my planned route, which helps me to plan more efficiently in the future, or make note of hazards (like the wind slab).

Safety First!

Safety is always the top priority in the backcountry when I’m out alone, especially during the early season when rocks and thin snowpacks combine with avalanche danger to create unpredictable, often risky conditions. As one of my favorite guidebooks states: “They’re called the Rocky Mountains, not the Snowy Mountains.”

Here’s how I use the app as part of my safety toolkit:

*Early season does not mean avalanche free. Anytime there is snow on the ground, an avalanche can release!*

1. Slope Angle and Avalanche Forecasts
Before heading out, I review the CAIC avalanche forecast to get an idea of the snow conditions and what to watch out for. On the way up, I use the slope angle layer to maintain awareness of the terrain I’m in and the avalanche risk, especially when I venture off of the route I had planned out. It’s also important to note that this layer provides a broad overview of slope angles but doesn’t account for localized terrain features, so you’ll still need to use your best judgement when assessing slope steepness.

2. On the Fly Adjustments
Gaia GPS is an excellent planning tool, but it’s no substitute for real-time decision making. You’ll need to detour around hazards and obstacles, adjust your ski plan on the move, and stay on track to reach your destination. This is a huge reason that I always try to have a route built and available in Gaia GPS. While tracking myself, I can easily check my location against the route, and work my way back over to the intended path.

3. Avoiding Terrain Traps
This becomes especially important on the way down, doubly so when I’m exploring new areas. When I’m somewhere new, I’ll stop and check the topo layer or map layer periodically to make sure that I’m not running myself toward a drainage or terrain hazard like cliffs or gullies.

Wrapping Up the Tour

The final phase of any ski tour is returning safely to the trailhead. Here’s how I used Gaia GPS to finish my day on a high note:

1. Navigating Back to the Trailhead
After completing my descent, I used the app to navigate back to the parking area. By following my recorded track and the waypoints I dropped along the way, I avoided my most common mistakes like veering off course or ending up on the wrong side of a drainage. Nothing saddens me more than putting the skins back on for a hike up to the truck after a beautiful run.

2. Post Tour Beers and Review
Back at home (or a conveniently placed brewery), I reviewed my recorded track to evaluate the day’s route. This process is incredibly useful for identifying areas where I can improve, such as finding new routes, or making note of hazards I ran into on the way up. Whenever I come across something particularly cool, I like to export it and share it with my skiing partners for future consideration.

Early season ski tours come with lots of challenges, but with the right tools (a good pair of rock skis) and preparation, these adventures can be almost as much fun as powder days, and every day on skis is a good day. Gaia GPS is an invaluable resource for both planning and pursuing backcountry trips, providing the information and flexibility needed to stay safe and make the most of your time in the mountains.

December 3, 2024

Two skiers skin up a low-angle snowfield in single file. It's sunny and mountains extend in the distance.

Backcountry Skiing Gaia GPS How-To

How to Use Maps to Help Avoid Avalanches

by Drew Zieff November 27, 2023

written by Drew Zieff

Beyond the boundaries of ski resorts, untouched powder and the promise of adventure beckon skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers, mountaineers, and hikers into the backcountry. However, traveling in the backcountry is not without risk—25-30 people die in avalanches each year in the United States alone. Last season, an exceptionally weak snowpack in many popular backcountry zones has contributed to an increase in avalanche danger and fatalities.

While avalanches are undoubtedly hazardous, they tend not to occur randomly. Backcountry travelers can largely avoid avalanches with careful route planning and terrain management. This how-to article will point out a few ways that you can use maps as one tool to mitigate risk and help you avoid avalanches.

Traveling in avalanche terrain is an inherently dangerous activity. You should not travel in avalanche terrain until you and your partners undergo avalanche safety training and are competent in the use of avalanche safety gear (beacon, shovel, probe). Maps serve as a supplement to avalanche safety training, not a replacement.

This article covers how to identify avalanche terrain by observing:

Aspect and Elevation
Topography
Terrain Traps
Avalanche Paths

A Short Primer on Avalanche Terrain

photo of avalanche with terrain trap beneath it. — Avalanche at Farmington Lakes, Utah. Photo courtesy of Utah Avalanche Center

If you aren’t familiar with identifying avalanche terrain, the Avalanche Canada online terrain identification tutorial is a great place to start. Our article gives you some examples of how you can identify and analyze avalanche terrain on a map. While a map is an important planning tool, keep in mind that it can be hard to completely understand terrain solely from a 2D map. You can supplement your understanding of a route with photographs from guidebooks or online sources like PowderProject and with 3D tools like Google Earth. And, most importantly, continually evaluate terrain as you travel, as subtle details may not be completely conveyed by the map.

Aspect and Elevation

Avalanche hazard often varies by aspect and elevation. Many avalanche forecast centers use an avalanche danger rose to forecast the distribution of the different avalanche problems at different aspects and elevations. The danger rose, in conjunction with your map, is a good place to start when planning a tour. Use the forecast to help you pick a safe objective for the day, rather than choosing a location first.

Here is an example from the Utah Avalanche Center forecast. Below 9500 feet, the avalanche hazard is “low,” a subjective categorization meaning human-triggered and natural avalanches are unlikely. Keep in mind that conditions can change rapidly, avalanche forecasts are imperfect, and accidents and fatalities have occurred on “low” hazard days. Elevation and aspect are only one part of mitigating avalanche risk.

Example of a danger rose for the Salt Lake Area Mountains

Aspect can give you important clues about danger from wind loading and sun exposure. If the winds have been coming from the west, you may be more concerned about wind slabs on easterly aspects. On sunny days, solar radiation can contribute to wet loose avalanches on solar aspects. And, particularly in continental and intermountain snow climates, persistent slabs may be present on all aspects.

When planning your tour, note the elevation on the map by reading the contour intervals and compare it with the danger rose. Or, better yet, create a route and look at the elevation statistics.

Avalanche on the south face of Taylor Mountain, Teton Pass, Wyoming. Photo courtesy of Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center.

Slope Angle

When avalanche expert Bruce Tremper introduces terrain management in his must-read book, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, he leads with a quote from Canadian avalanche specialist Karl Klassen. Klassen says, “The snowpack is a capricious and erratic acquaintance who you never get to know very well. The terrain is a steady and predictable friend that you can always depend on.”

Caveats riddle avalanche textbooks and avalanche safety classes. Snow science has fewer hard rules than backcountry skiers would like, and discussions of slope angle are no different. Avalanches are dynamic, conditions dependent, and can occur on a wide variety of slopes. These inconsistencies demonstrate why terrain management should always be used in conjunction with snowpack evaluations, weather observations, and avalanche forecasts. That said, while by no means a foolproof strategy, backcountry travelers who want to avoid avalanches significantly minimize risk by sticking to slopes under 30°.

Slope Angle and Avalanche Correlation: Because slope steepness directly correlates to avalanche activity, savvy backcountry travelers pay close attention to slope angles. 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.

Slope Angle Maps: Gaia GPS’ 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.

The Inaccuracy of Slope Angle Maps: Keep in mind, slope shading 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.

In January 2019, a tragic avalanche accident occurred during an avalanche training class in Colorado. One contributing factor was that the slopes the group traveled on were a few degrees steeper than what the slope-shading estimated. To understand more about how nuanced—and impactful—slope-angle readings can be, read the full accident report. For an even deeper discussion, see Jeff Deems’ presentation about how these map overlays are made from the 2019 Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshop or the article “Digital Mapping: Do You Know What Your Map Knows?” in September 2020 issue of The Avalanche Review.

Additional Tools for Measuring Slope Angle: Slope angle maps are best used for a big picture overview of terrain. To assure that you avoid 30°+ slopes, use a map in conjunction with a hands-on tool, like a slope meter, for a more accurate slope assessment. That said, measuring by hand isn’t infallible either—to get an accurate slope reading with an inclinometer, you may have to expose yourself to the start zone or the slide path.

Topography

If you aren’t familiar with reading topographic maps, here is a good primer.

Understanding topography helps differentiate more dangerous, complex terrain from simpler, safer terrain. Identifying start zones, ridges, and gullies can help you choose safe travel routes. Keep in mind that ridges are generally safer places to travel.

*Topo map with slope-angle shading of the area in the photograph. Some example terrain features are identified on the map.*

Terrain Traps

Terrain traps magnify the consequences of being caught in an avalanche. Being washed over a cliff or into a stand of trees increases the chance of being injured or killed due to trauma—in addition to the risk of being buried under the snow. Trauma causes up to 30% of avalanche fatalities. Gullies and abrupt transitions to flat zones cause the snow to pile up higher, meaning a victim could be buried more deeply, decreasing the chance of a successful rescue.

Carefully scout your intended line for terrain traps with topo and satellite layers. Cliffs may be visible on satellite layers, and will show up on topo maps as contour lines stacked very close together.

Avalanche Paths

Use satellite layers to identify known avalanches paths that you may want avoid on your tour. While avalanches can happen in a wide variety of terrain, satellite maps often reveal signs of obvious avalanche paths including open slopes, sparse trees, and funnel-shaped terrain.

Utilize the Satellite Topo layer to help identify ridges and drainages, which are sometimes confusing on satellite images.

After identifying an avalanche path, it’s important to have a clear understanding of avalanche runout angles. While start zones are generally over 30°, the momentum of a slide may carry avalanche debris down gentle slopes, across flat expanses, and even up inclines, so be sure to give yourself adequate distance from the path. Keep in mind that in very unstable conditions, avalanche paths might exceed the normal runout—taking out old trees or buildings and redefining the path.

Supplement your analysis of avalanche paths with data and maps from avalanchemapping.org, which provides an atlas of common avalanche paths in popular backcountry skiing areas.

Key points to keep in mind before you venture into avalanche terrain:

Get avalanche safety gear. Practice sufficiently with your beacon, shovel, and probe before you head into the field.
Get proper training. Using maps is a supplement to education, not a replacement. Visit avalanche.org to find an avalanche education course. Start with the free avalanche awareness and education series “Know Before You Go.”
Read the 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 ski 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.
Supplement the weather forecast with Snow Forecast overlays to see what snow is expected to roll in during your ski tour. 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.
Always travel with a trustworthy partner. Beacon, shovel, and probe are useless if you don’t travel with a partner who knows how to use them.

Gaia GPS Pro Tip: Plan routes at home
Planning routes at home is always a smart idea: you can use the desktop version of Gaia GPS, create routes or import tracks from a friend, and print out maps just in case your phone dies when you’re in the field. You can also plot decision points, make backup plans, and determine exit strategies. For more on backcountry route planning, click here.

Contributors to this post include:

*Drew Zieff is a freelance journalist and writer and the snowboard test director at Backcountry and Outside Magazine.*

November 27, 2023

Gaia GPS

Find Snow-Free Trails with the Snow Depth Map

by Julien Friedland March 9, 2023

written by Julien Friedland

With record-breaking snowfall coating much of the mountain west, everyone from early-season PCT thru-hikers to day trippers are asking the same question: how much snow is on the trail? The answer could have far-reaching consequences, from the gear you bring, to modifying your route, to skipping sections of the trail entirely.

While we can’t magically melt the snow for you, we can give you a very good estimate of how much of the white stuff is on any given part of the trail right now. See how much snow is on the trail with our Snow Depth map.

Inspired by a thru-hiker looking to track snow depths along the Pacific Crest Trail with Gaia GPS, the Snow Depth map assists with planning journeys of all sizes. Now hikers and outdoor adventurers can examine how many centimeters of snow exist in specific areas by referencing color-coded indicators of coverage.

SNODAS Sourced Data

The NOAA National Weather Service’s National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) source all data for snow depth values. The SNODAS modeling and data assimilation system was developed by NOHRSC to gather information from satellite, airborne platforms, and ground stations to predict snow depths. Climatologists, ecologists, hydrologists, and other professionals rely on the data and now adventurers can too.

Use Cases for Route Planning

When referencing snow depths, remember that estimates are not based on actual observations, but product model output. These data predictions are best for checking seasonal snow-cover rather than exact snowfall totals. However, snow depth totals are updated every 24 hours by both NOAA and Gaia GPS.

If you’re looking to find snow totals for a storm overnight or specific regions, reference your local climate center or weather source. SNODAS recommends American Association of State Climatologists, NOAA Regional Climate Centers, and NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Pair Snow Depth overlays with Snowfall Forecast and Slope Angle overlays to gather more information for backcountry travel.

How to Add the Snow Depth Map

The Snow Depth map is available with a Premium Membership. To add this map, visit the Feature/Weather Overlays map source categories and add “Snow Depth.” Access the legend by tapping the info icon in the left corner of the map screen of your phone or hovering over the layer on gaiagps.com

Get the Snow Depth map with a Premium Membership. Premium also unlocks the full 300+ map catalog and lets you download your maps to use out of cell service.

March 9, 2023

Backcountry Skiing Gaia GPS How-To

How to Plan a Backcountry Ski Tour with Gaia GPS

by Devin Lehman January 26, 2023

written by Devin Lehman

Devin Lehman is the Product Manager for Gaia GPS. Join him in planning and going on a backcountry ski tour, and to learn how to use Gaia GPS for your winter backcountry excursions.

I’m a backcountry snowboarder who happens to work in tech. It’s a lame joke I’ve told coworkers over the past decade. (And it’s a joke that needs no explanation to my coworkers at Gaia GPS.) So when winter swung into central Oregon and the avalanche forecast looked promising, I jumped on the opportunity to tour Mount Bachelor with some friends before opening day. Here’s how I did it, from start to finish.

A New Mapping Paradigm

Technology has revolutionized ski tour planning. Growing up on ice coast of Maine, I spent many weekends with friends and family bootpacking up the Camden Snow Bowl to get a few edgeable turns. Hail, sleet, snow, and freezing temperatures rarely stopped us from having a good time outdoors.

We didn’t have the best gear in the late ’90s. I wasn’t sure what “gore-tex” meant and jeans with sweatpants underneath often served as our premier choice of winter clothing. Checking conditions around Belfast, Camden, or Carrabassett Valley included picking up paper maps to look at terrain. We’d open a local newspaper to see weather forecasts. We’d talk to park rangers about conditions. And we’d turn on Maine Public Broadcasting to find out if school was canceled or if we’d be begging our parents to call in “sick” for us. These were the best methods we had at the time to plan, adventure, and share our outdoor experiences.

Enter Gaia GPS. Over the years, this app has transformed how outdoor enthusiasts, professionals, and weekend warriors adventure—including me.

Armed with vastly better tools and relocated to the opposite coast, my mission remains the same. When my friends and I decided we wanted to tour Mount Bachelor, I just had to turn to one resource to bring the trip to life.

Route Plan on the Web

With the best route planning tools available, gaiagps.com is the place I like to start planning any adventure. Plus, a desktop’s big screen also lets you get a better, bigger sense of the terrain than the tiny screen of a phone.

So start by going to gaiagps.com. Hit the locate button in the bottom right corner to center yourself on the map. Since I’m not planning this ski tour from my front door, I type “Mount Bachelor” into the search bar to bring me to my destination on the map. Conveniently, I can see the localized weather forecast from OpenSnow just by tapping anywhere on the map.

Activate Winter Maps

The Gaia Winter map shows backcountry ski start zones in orange, and touring zones in blue.

Of Gaia GPS’s hundreds of maps, a handful prove essential for every backcountry tour. I start by selecting Gaia Winter as my basemap. Designed in-house, Gaia Winter boasts the same clarity and file efficiency as Gaia Topo, but prioritizes winter travel. Backcountry ski zones conveniently pop-out from the map in blue and starting zones stand out in orange, making it easy to find places to tour. Gaia Winter’s winter color palette also pairs perfectly with the suite of winter safety maps we’re going to layer on top of it.

Snow Safety Maps

Next, I add the Slope Angle shading map and layer it on top of Gaia Winter. (Just drag Slope Angle to the top of the active map queue.) I turn the opacity down to about 30 or 40 percent so I can still see the underlying topographic terrain. Wondering what the colors mean? Tap the map name in the sidebar and scroll down to the bottom to see the map legend. Since I want to avoid slopes above 30 degrees, which could yield avalanche-prone terrain, I can easily pick my route through terrain that’s shaded yellow (26 to 29 degrees) or has no shading at all (less than 26 degrees).

Now that I’ve got a sense of the terrain, I add the Avalanche Forecast layer to the top so I can scope out the regional avalanche forecast for the day. By zooming out a bit on the map, I can see that the avalanche forecast for the central cascades is green. But I want to read the full report anyway, so I click on the link to the full forecast from the Central Oregon Avalanche Center.

Weather Maps

I also add the Snow Stations Daily map to get snow conditions for the area, including the snow depth, how much new snow has accumulated, and the snow water equivalent, which tells you whether you’ll be skiing Montana cold smoke or Sierra cement. Since we’re touring a ski resort, I can also add the Ski Resort Reports map to get official conditions from the mountain. (Resorts with fresh snow glow on the map.) I can also add the Snow Depth map to get a visual on estimated snow depths throughout the area. Once again, tap the map in the sidebar and scroll down to the bottom for the map legend to see which colors correspond with what snow depths.

Given the late-season wildfires, I also add the Wildfire and Smoke Forecast maps just to make sure our plans don’t go up in smoke.

Finally, I add the Satellite Imagery map so I can get a sense of how treed the terrain will be, where we’ll hit treeline, and where avalanche paths may exist. I’m going to keep this map as an inactive layer for now; we’ll turn to it once we activate 3D mode.

Hone in on the Zone

Now that we’ve got all of our maps, I start to scout out potential zones for the tour. I’ve already decided I want to ski around Mount Bachelor. Using Gaia Winter, I can see the backcountry skiing start and touring zones are on the northeast aspect of the mountain. The Slope Angle map shows there are some clear low-angle paths up this side of the mountain as well.

For easy reference, I mark this region of the map with a polygon. That way I can spy this area of the map at low zoom levels, and my touring partners can get a sense of where we’re going. To add a polygon, or “area,” click “Area” in the sidebar and add points to mark the perimeter of the zone. If the polygon shading gets in the way of seeing the map underneath, just turn it off by either toggling off “Areas” in the “Map Overlays” section of the sidebar. Or tap the area on the map, click the polygon in the sidebar, and turn the map visibility off.

Map Route with Snap-To-Trail

Now that I’ve got a sense of the terrain and the region we’ll be touring, I’m going to map out a potential uphill route. Of course, this may change as we assess the conditions and terrain upon arrival, but it’s useful to have a sense of where we’re going and how long the route may be.

Zooming into the orange “start” zone near Mount Bachelor, I see there is a parking lot. I’m going to mark that as our starting point by dropping a waypoint on the map. Next, I’m going to map out the route. After clicking “Route” on the sidebar, I’m going to follow one of the trails switchbacking up the mountain. Mount Bachelor actually has designated uphill routes when the lifts are spinning, so I want to abide by this uphill route in case there are any employees working–I’d hate to pop up in front of a groomer or patrolling and startle them! Gaia GPS’s smart snap-to-trail routing automatically snaps to the trail as I plot out points along it. When I make a careless click on the web, using the undo feature makes route correction a breeze.

About two a half miles and 1,500 feet of climbing up the trail, we reach a saddle. As we had a group of folks with varying levels of experience, I want to create two options. One more mellow mid-mountain approach, and another option to summit if conditions are right. While creating the routes, I’m able to see the right statistics (weather, ascent, slope angle, avalanche conditions) and tailor the route accordingly.

Some people may want to transition and ski back down here, so I’m going to end the route and give it a name: “Main plan.” For those who may want to continue on to the summit if conditions allow, I’m going to start a new route here in a different color. Once again, I let Gaia GPS’s smart planning tools do most of the work for me until the route reaches the summit.

For fun I even dropped a waypoint that could be a nice lunch spot for us to eat our pocket-tacos, a staple diet for touring adventures.

Scout in 3D

Now that I’ve drawn some potential routes on the map, I want to get a better understanding of the terrain we will be covering by looking a the map in 3D. So I hit the “3D” button in the bottom right corner. Next, I add the Satellite Map to the top of our active map layers. Following the route up the mountain, I can see that the first half of the skin track goes straight up a ski slope with trees on either side. The second half switchbacks up a ridge above the treeline. Panning around this northeast face of the mountain, I can see some potential skiable chutes and faces.

Share with Friends

I want to share my routes, waypoints, and area with my friends so they can prepare for the tour at home and navigate in the field. First, I add all of these items to a new folder. Now it’s easy to share it with my partners. Just click on the folder, hit “Invite others to this folder,” and enter their email addresses.

Now when my friends open their Gaia GPS accounts on gaiagps.com, they’ll see a notification on the bell (top right of the screen) inviting them to add my folder to their accounts.

Sync Route to Phone

While gaiagps.com serves as the powerhouse for planning at home, I want to see all my new data in the field once we get going. To ensure it shows up in the app, open your Gaia GPS app at home. Tap the “Saved items” button on the bottom bar. Swipe down to automatically sync the items on your web and app accounts.

Take Maps Offline

We may not have cell coverage for the full tour. Plus, sometimes I like to put my phone in airplane mode to save battery life. To ensure I can see the map regardless of cell service, I’m going to download Gaia Winter and Slope Angle shading for offline use.

To download the maps on the app, tap the plus button on the top bar. Select Download Maps, and move the rectangle over the area in question. I like to download a little extra map, just in case. Next, press “Save” and choose which maps you want to download for offline use. You also have the option to download the data that will let you create new snap-to-trail routes in the field without cell service. Why not, it can’t hurt–toggle on “Include data to create and navigate routes offline.” Hit next. Keep the app open while the maps download. If you have decent wifi, it should be quick.

Navigate with the App

The squad reviewed the routes overnight, and now it’s go time! Before I leave the house, I like to double check that my maps are downloaded for offline use and are set as active map layers. While I’m in the app, I can get driving directions to the parking lot. Just tap the route, hit the “More” button, and select “Driving Directions.”

Upon arriving at the mountain, we meet up for a check in focusing on General headspace, Fitness, Willingness to suffer, Skiing ability and Avalanche risk tolerance. Once we completed the checks, the group agreed the mid-mountain lunch tour made the most sense.

Record Tracks

I like to record my adventures in Gaia GPS for a few reasons. One, recording your tracks leaves a breadcrumb trail of your progress in the app. That way if I need to retrace my steps, I can just turn around and follow the line on the map. Second, recording your tracks in the app lets you relive your adventure in 3D on the web once you get home.

So after I turn on my beacon and we do our checks, I start recording my tracks. Once again, tap the plus button. Select “Record a Track.”

Drop Waypoints

As we skin up the mountain, I drop waypoints to mark snow features, views, and to add notes about the snow pack and any other observations our team makes in the field. You can also drop a photo waypoint. Just tap the plus button and select “Take Picture.” Don’t forget to mark up the map with your memories.

Après

The conditions were way too reminiscent of my ice-coast heritage, and side-hilling became the name of the game. For one member of our group, however, that was no issue. It definitely helps to have four paws with integrated crampons. We hit our top-out point, snacked a bit, and started the descent. While we didn’t have any deep pow lines to drop or slashes to throw, we sure did have a lot of fun. With Gaia GPS as our planning and adventuring tool, we were able to make a route directly back to the car without throwing our skins back on. A win in any backcountry enthusiast’s book!

As snow keeps piling up in Bend and we watch the conditions, rest assured I’ll be counting down the minutes until I can get back into the mountains. Gaia GPS and Outside have elevated my ability to educate myself, plan, and execute some of my most fun adventures. I’m incredibly lucky to have found a place where I get to combine my passion for the outdoors with my love of working in tech. That lame joke has now become a dream come true–something I am grateful for.

Cheers to Gaia GPS, Outside, and the outdoor community.

January 26, 2023

Backcountry Skiing Gaia GPS New Maps

Find Backcountry Skiing in Gaia Winter Map

by Abby Levene January 11, 2023

written by Abby Levene

Discover backcountry ski zones, snowmobile trails, and trails for every winter activity with our new and improved Gaia Winter map. Complete with world-wide ski resort maps plus nordic, fatbike, uphill skiing and snowshoe trails, Gaia Winter serves as the go-to map for winter travel. We’ve updated it to make it even more useful for your adventures.

Just like our original Gaia Topo, Gaia Winter comes with industry-leading clarity and download efficiency. Download the map for your entire state so you can always have a map on hand, even when you lose cell service. From backcountry ski zones to snowmobile trails to enhanced tree cover, read on to learn about the improvements and how to get the most of Gaia Winter this season.

Discover Backcountry Skiing

Backcountry skiers planning their next tour have come to the right place. We’ve added popular backcountry ski zones to the map. Areas shaded in blue show where you may find places to tour. Regions shaded in orange illustrate starting points.

Our cartographers created these backcountry start and ski zones based on where users started recording ski tracks and where their tracks took them, respectively. Backcountry ski zones are mostly contained within North America now. And you’ll also find a few zones in Iceland, Norway, and France.

Spy Snowmobile Trails

Sledders can now discover snowmobile trails right on the map. We’ve added all the snowmobile trails from our Snowmobile Trails map to Gaia Winter for your convenience. Before you go on your next tour, download Gaia Winter for offline use so you have a trail map on hand. That way you can reroute on the fly, find somewhere to refuel, or navigate in a white-out.

Get even more trail details including grooming status, access dates/restrictions, trail width, difficulty level, trail length, and direction of travel with our interactive Snowmobile Trails map. Pair this trail overlay with Gaia Winter for optimal planning and navigation.

Understand Landcover and Topography

Say goodbye to the blues. We’ve revamped the color palette to make Gaia Winter brighter, with more detailed landcover. As you’re planning your next ski tour, use Gaia Winter to see if you’ll be skinning over shrubs, through trees, or across tundra. Sledders can see if they’re traveling past prairies or farmlands.

The winter-themed color palette of the map sets a seasonal tone and enhances its utility. Tour the backcountry with confidence thanks to a stronger emphasis on terrain, tree cover, and contour lines. Mountains pop out of the map, helping you scout the best uphill and ski lines. See exactly where treeline ends so you can find powdery bowls and untracked glades. Hiking, mountain bike, and other three-season trails are deemphasized to make it even easier to see ski, snowshoe, and fat bike trails.

Activate Snow Mode

Gaia Winter’s less diverse color scheme also pairs perfectly with our safety and weather maps. Pair Gaia Winter with our suite of winter safety maps, including Slope Angle shading, Avalanche Forecast, Snow Stations Daily, Snow Depth, and Satellite Imagery to help you plan safer tours. Check out our primer on how to use maps to help avoid avalanches for a refresher.

Trails for alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, fatbiking, uphill skiing, and snowmobiling are indicated by line type. And now you can also distinguish trail activity type thanks to icons right on the trails themselves.

Gaia Winter is Available with a Premium Membership

Gaia Winter is available on the web and in the Gaia GPS app with a Gaia GPS Premium membership. To access this map, visit the layers menu and search for “Gaia Winter.” Or from the layers menu, select “Topo Maps.” Scroll down and tap “Gaia Winter.” Tap the “Add Layer” button. Learn how to add and manage overlays here.

A Premium Membership also gives you access to Gaia GPS’s entire map catalog, including a suite of avalanche safety maps. These include Slope Angle, Avalanche Forecast, recent satellite imagery, Snow Stations (Daily), Snow Depth, and snow forecast maps. Read up on how to use maps to help avoid avalanche danger.

Plus, with Premium, you can layer maps together. For example, you can place the Slope Angle map on top of Gaia Winter to find the best low-angle terrain. And you can download your maps (including Gaia Winter) for use without cell service, as well as print maps so you always have a backup.

Take winter to the next level. Join Gaia GPS Premium with Outside+ to get one subscription to fuel all your adventures, thanks to access to Trailforks Pro, Outside, SKI, Trail Runner, Outside Watch, and more.

January 11, 2023

Gaia GPS New Maps

Spy Avalanche Terrain with Higher Res Slope Angle Map

by Abby Levene December 14, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Scout avalanche terrain easier than ever before. We’ve updated our Slope Angle map with the latest highest resolution 1-meter LIDAR DEM data from the USGS. This data is the gold standard for slope angle shading, rendering our Slope Angle map crisper and clearer for your winter adventures.

Gaia GPS users primarily use our Slope Angle map in winter to avoid avalanche-prone terrain. But hikers, mountaineers, and bikepackers use it year-round to find the easiest path over mountain passes. Photographers and adventurers turn to this map to find unique rock features and waterfalls. Whatever your objective and mode of travel, you can now enjoy the highest resolution slope angle data, wherever it’s available.

Meet the Slope Angle Gold Standard: Lidar

Last year, we developed our Slope Angle map in-house and tapped into the US Geological Survey’s 3D Elevation Program and NASA’s Digital Elevation Model. These sources allowed us to expand our coverage globally, integrate high-resolution data, and fine-tune color details.

Now we’ve updated the map even further with the best data available on the planet: LIDAR DEM. Harnessing a laser scanner, Global Positioning System (GPS), and Inertial Navigation System (INS), Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) technology produces high-resolution models of ground elevation within an accuracy of 10 centimeters, or four inches. This means our Slope Angle map contains more accurate data than ever before while also pulling out more of those smaller terrain details that can be easy to miss.

Lidar Coverage Continues to Spread Across the US

The updated Slope Angle map uses the latest lidar data wherever it’s available. Check out the map above for a full view of lidar coverage. As you can see on the map, avalanche-prone regions in the northeast, California, and the Pacific Northwest enjoy excellent lidar coverage.

We’re still waiting for the USGS to supply full lidar coverage of the mountain west. The USGS hopes to complete its collection of lidar data for all of the U.S. and its territories soon; see the status map. Thanks to its high cloud cover and remoteness, Alaska uses Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IfSAR) instead.

Graded Color Style Picks up the Details

A continuous color ramp shows terrain changes in a graded fashion, making terrain features a snap to read on the map.

The map emphasizes 30 to 45-degree zones in orange and red colors, recognizing and calling your attention to the fact that these slopes comprise the starting zone for most avalanches. Less steep terrain—in the 20 to 25-degree range—is highlighted in green. Slopes steeper than 45 degrees are shaded in greyscale colors to point out the steepest terrain on the map. The grey shading also helps people with red/green confusion color blindness see the map details.

Identify Avalanche Terrain Worldwide

While LIDAR DEM does not cover the entire US, our Slope Angle map continues to provide not just country-wide, but also worldwide coverage using the highest quality data available from the US Geological Survey’s 3D Elevation Program and NASA’s Digital Elevation Model.

Whether you’re backcountry skiing the bowls or snowmobiling deep into the forest, add the Slope Angle layer to your favorite global base map like Gaia Winter or Satellite Imagery to help plan safer winter routes through the backcountry.

Keep in mind that you can tweak the opacity of the Slope Angle overlay to your needs. Turn the opacity down to reveal underlying terrain details, or dial it up to more clearly view slope steepness.

Warnings and Limitations

Avalanche forecasting uses many tools to analyze avalanche risk in the field. Slope shading is best used for a big-picture overview of terrain. All slope angle maps, including the updated Slope Angle layer, fail to show micro terrain such as small starting zones. Snow features like wind pillows and cornices will not be on the map.

Be prepared to use an inclinometer and other on-the-ground assessments in the field in addition to the slope angle map. Change your plans accordingly if the terrain does not match up to the data depicted on the slope angle layer.

Educate yourself about avalanche and snow safety before traveling in any areas prone to avalanches. For more information on how slope angle maps are made, see Jeff Deems’ presentation about how these map overlays are made from the 2019 Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshop or the article “Digital Mapping: Do You Know What Your Map Knows?” in September 2020 issue of The Avalanche Review.

How to Get the Slope Angle Map

The Slope Angle layer is available with a Gaia GPS premium membership. To access the layer, visit the layers menu, and select the “Features/Weather Overlays” tab. Scroll down and tap “Slope Angle.” Tap the “Add Layer“ button. Learn how to add and manage overlays here.

Pair this map with other useful backcountry skiing maps available with a Premium membership on Gaia GPS. Read up on how to use maps, including the slope angle layer, to help avoid avalanche danger.

December 14, 2022

Gaia GPS New Maps

Activate Snow Mode with Gaia Winter

by Abby Levene October 26, 2022

written by Abby Levene

The world’s best backcountry navigation app is now available in winter mode! Ride the lifts, tour the backcountry, and explore nordic, fat bike, and snowshoe trails with confidence thanks to the all-new Gaia Winter topographic map.

Our in-house cartographers designed this new base map specifically for your favorite winter activities. A stronger emphasis on terrain, tree cover, and contours make it easy to navigate in an endless world of white. A special “winter” color palette pairs perfectly with our suite of winter maps, including Avalanche Forecast, Slope Angle, Snow Depth, Snow Stations (Daily), and 24, 48, and 72-hour Snow Forecast maps. Plus, see every run at the ski resort, along with nordic, snowshoe, fat bike, and uphill trails.

Just like our original Gaia Topo, Gaia Winter comes with industry-leading download efficiency. A tiny file size and lightning-quick download speeds let you save your entire state so you can always have a map on hand, even when you lose cell service. Whether you’re riding the lifts, sliding into the side country, or touring untouched terrain, bring Gaia Winter along with you so that you can always find your location — and your way back.

Get All the Ski Resort Maps in One Place

You always have the ski resort map in your pocket with Gaia Winter. If you get lost on the trails, just pull up the map to see exactly where you are. Zoom in to any ski resort to see all the ski trails, represented by thick, partially transparent lines.

Runs are color-coded by the corresponding difficulty level: green for easiest, blue for intermediate, and black for difficult. The most difficult and “extreme” terrain (double black diamonds) is shaded in orange. You’ll also see the names of the trails.

Whether you’re trying to avoid getting stuck on the cat tracks or want to stay off the bumps, use Gaia Winter to pick your best line down the hill. Chairlifts are easy to spot in red. We’ve added the chairlift names to make it even easier to place yourself on the map.

When you’re ready for lunch, consult Gaia Winter to find a lodge nearby. Easily spot major hotels, highlighted on the map in blue. Check out the best après ski options in town, as well as gas stations and grocery stores, all highlighted in orange. Record your tracks in the app so you can relive the day’s adventures. Pro tip: check out your tracks in 3D mode on gaiagps.com!

Explore Nordic, Snowshoe, and Fat Bike Trails

In addition to downhill ski resorts, Gaia Winter shows other trails designed for snow travel. Nordic trails are represented as thinner solid lines. They’re also color-coded by the corresponding difficulty level. Zoom in or click on a trail to see its name.

Dotted trails with highlighting denote snowshoe, fat bike, and uphill trails. Click on a trail to get more details, including distance and elevation gain.

Designed for the Demands of Winter

Gaia Winter immediately sets a seasonal tone with a winter-themed color scheme. The blue-grey palette also makes Gaia Winter easy to distinguish from the greens and browns of our classic base map, Gaia Topo.

At a zoomed-out level, the landscape appears pale blue, with mountainous and forested areas in shades of pale mint green. Once you zoom in, tree shading appears in a pale mint green, while exposed surfaces look white. Rivers and bodies of water appear ice blue.

Tour the backcountry with confidence thanks to a stronger emphasis on terrain, tree cover, and contour lines. The mountains pop out of the map, helping you scout the best uphill and ski lines. See exactly where treeline ends so you can find powdery bowls and untracked glades. Hiking, mountain bike, and other three-season trails are deemphasized to make it even easier to see ski, snowshoe, and fat bike trails.

Streamlined Integration with Winter Maps

Gaia Winter showing Jackson Hole overlayed with the Slope Angle map.

This less-diverse color palette also serves a functional purpose. Gaia Winter is expertly styled to pair perfectly with our suite of winter maps. Whether you’re accessing the side country from the resort or going out for an all-day backcountry tour, layer the Slope Angle map over Gaia Winter to find low-angle terrain. Pair the Avalanche Forecast maps over Gaia Winter to clearly see which zones are green, signifying the lowest rating for avalanche risk.

And of course, don’t forget to check out our snowfall map layers, including Snow Stations (Daily), to get 24-hour snowfall reports for remote mountain areas in the western US and British Columbia. View water density readings to see if the snow is light like Wasatch powder or heavy like Sierra cement. Get more information on snow conditions in the Lower 48 and find areas holding the deepest snow with the Snow Depth layer. Plus, check the snow forecast straight from NOAA with 24-, 48-, and 72-hour Snowfall Forecast overlays.

Navigate at Night with Dark Mode

Just like Gaia Topo, Gaia Winter also comes in Dark Mode. Save your eyes and your battery life by switching to Dark mode at night. Dark Mode inverts the traditional color scheme, giving you a gorgeous aesthetic that produces less ambient light. The map appears dark grey, while trails and icons pop in fluorescent colors.

For an even better viewing experience, enable the Dark Mode responsive Gaia Topo map and your eyes will thank you. To turn on this feature, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Appearance. Then, tap “Dark” to set the display to Dark Mode. Gaia GPS will automatically adjust its own display settings to match. To ensure that your screen settings are always suited to your environment, tap “Automatic” under “Display & Brightness” to sync up Dark Mode with sunset and sunrise. You can also set it to adjust according to a schedule of your own choosing.

Gaia Winter is Available with a Premium Membership

October 26, 2022

Gaia GPS How-To New Features

Top 10 Ways to Use Waypoints

by Abby Levene August 30, 2022

written by Abby Levene

Whether you’re marking water sources, saving prime camping spots, or capturing breathtaking views, waypoints provide an invaluable tool for navigating and documenting your adventures. That’s why we provide some of the most advanced waypoint technology on the planet to go along with our world-class maps.

We’ve incorporated your feedback to make waypoints even more customizable and easy to use than ever before. You can now color-code waypoints based on opened/closed, good/bad, by type, trip, time — you name it. There are no limits when it comes to how you can use waypoints.

To get your creative juices flowing, here are our top 10 ways to use waypoints on our adventures.

But first, what are waypoints?

A waypoint is a reference point that helps you determine where you are and how to navigate to your destination. Whether you’re hiking, bikepacking, overlanding, or fly fishing, waypoints can help you find your way. In Gaia GPS, a waypoint is a marker you place on the map to signify a feature, your location, or any other spot on the planet. That may be a flag marking a key turn, a photo showing a sublime alpine lake, or a tent emoji illustrating the best camp spot so you can find it again later.

Here are the top 10 ways we use waypoints on our adventures and even in daily life.

1. Plan Adventures on the Big Screen

As you map out new routes on your desktop at home, drop waypoints to mark the parking lot, key turns, and where you plan to stop for lunch. Don’t worry, your waypoints will automatically sync to the Gaia GPS app on your phone or tablet.

2. Navigate to Detours & Destinations

Gaia GPS’s powerful navigation tools allow you to get turn-by-turn directions to any waypoint with just the press of a button. Want to take a detour to the mining ruins? Just drop a waypoint on the map on your phone and Gaia GPS can guide you directly there. This feature also comes in handy for navigating to the summit, or making your way back to the trailhead. Just drop a waypoint for where you want to go and tap “Guide Me” (iOS/Android).

You can drop a waypoint at your exact location, place it anywhere on the map, or type in the coordinates — up to you!

3. Add Photos to the Map

Gaia GPS hack: you can make photo waypoints! Immortalize that breathtaking view, chronicle a burn field, or remember where that avalanche slid across the trail. Take a photo of your current location (iOS/Android), and it will automatically show up on the map, geotagged to that exact spot. Just hit the + button on the top bar of the app, and tap “Take Picture.” A camera waypoint will show up on the map. Tap it to see your photo, along with the time stamp for when it was taken.

4. Mark Campsites for Later

Whether you’re reserving a campsite through recreation.gov on Gaia Topo or happen to come across a prime dispersed camp spot on your adventures, drop a tent emoji on the map to mark it forever. Gaia GPS pro mountain athlete Kyle Richardson uses waypoints on multi-day bikepacking and running adventures.

“Before I leave for a trip, I mark potential bivvy spots with waypoints as I plan my route on Gaia GPS at home,” Kyle says. “I then drop waypoints at my exact camp spots so I can find them again next time.”

With your campsites marked on the map, you can find them even in the dead of night.

5. See Mile Markers

Break your route into manageable chunks by dropping a mile marker in 1-, 10-, or 50-mile increments, or whatever makes sense for your adventure. Likewise, drop a waypoint at each checkpoint along the route. For endurance events like ultra running races, many race organizers use Gaia GPS to share the race route with participants and they drop waypoints to signify aid stations along the course.

In fact, many trail and gravel riding races post GPX files of the course and aid stations on their website. Whether the file is on Gaia GPS or not, you can download the file and upload it to your Gaia GPS account (web/iOS/Android). That way, you can train and race along the course and know exactly where you are, when the aid stations are coming up, and ensure you’re on the right route.

6. Label Water Sources

From water sources to water crossings, water can play an integral role in every type of adventure. Make your life a little easier for yourself by dropping a waypoint when you come across a stream, lake, or water cache. (And of course, if you’re caching your own water, make sure you leave a waypoint so you can find it on route!)

You can even color-code water sources based on their status thanks to our new colorized waypoint feature. Mark good water sources in green and bad ones in red. If you have to ford a river or if you find a refreshing lake for a swim, mark it on the map!

7. Avoid Hazards

Drop waypoints to mark washed-out bridges, downed trees, or whatever impedes you on the trail. Document where you saw that big scary snake with a photo waypoint. Same goes with bottlenecks on route: add a waypoint to remember where there’s a locked gate or a “no trespassing” sign so you can easily reroute next time.

8. Note Trail Status

Is the trail open or closed? Mark it with a green circle, a red X, or use the new colorized waypoints to create your own color-coded system for closures and trail conditions. Drop a yellow pin if the trail is muddy, or a green one if it’s dry and good to go.

9. Add Reminders

Say goodbye to forgetting where you parked your car. Next time you leave your car in a hectic trailhead parking lot, at the airport, or tucked into a parking garage, drop a waypoint as you exit your vehicle so you can find it stress-free when it’s time to go home.

We recommend you pick up after your dog in the moment. But if you MUST leave a doggy wag bag on the trail, make sure you drop a waypoint so you remember where it is so you can — and will— pick it up. Same goes with stashed water bottles, extra layers, or whatever else you may have tucked away behind a tree to snag on your way home.

You can also drop waypoints for cool zones you want to come back and explore. That’s what Kyle does when he stumbles across climbing and bouldering areas: “If I’m out on a run and I find a sweet rock, I’ll drop a waypoint so I can come back with the right gear.”

10. Document Memories

You can use Gaia GPS as a memory book for your adventures, with waypoints marking the locations of key memories on your trips.

That’s what Denver-based teacher Ian Silberman did as he reflected on his relationship with Phoebe Novitsky. He added waypoints to mark their first hike, where they bonked a gravel ride, and where he texted Phoebe from his tent late at night. On top of Monarch Mountain one winter morning, Ian pulled out his phone to show her each waypoint on the map, pointing to the real-life locations in the distance. After reminiscing over their adventures outside, he pointed to the star on the map, directly where they were standing, before getting down on one knee.

As you mark memories on the map, remember that you can add notes to each waypoint to chronicle even more information. Just tap on the waypoint, and scroll down in the pop-up drawer until you see “Add Notes.”

Customize Waypoints Even More with a Premium Membership

Everyone can use waypoints on both gaiagps.com and in the app. To level up your adventures with custom waypoint border colors, upgrade to a Gaia GPS Premium M embership .

Gaia GPS Premium unlocks all of the maps, including the suite of National Geographic Trails Illustrated titles, MVUM, USFS, and weather maps. Plus, you can navigate offline and print your maps so you can find your way if you lose cell signal or if your phone dies.

August 30, 2022

Gaia GPS How-To

How to Keep Your Phone Alive in Cold Weather

by Abby Levene January 25, 2022

written by Abby Levene

From following snow-swept trails to keeping an eye on ever-changing avalanche conditions, navigating with Gaia GPS proves even more useful during winter. But there’s a catch: keeping your phone alive in frigid air can be tricky. If you’ve ever pulled out your phone in freezing temperatures only to discover that the phone’s battery has suddenly and unexpectedly died, you know how frustrating and even dangerous this predicament can be.

Phones and cold weather generally don’t get along too well. Low temperatures can rapidly drain your phone’s battery life, and — as you’ve probably experienced — cause your phone to shut down altogether. Thankfully, you can take tried and true measures to prevent this from happening. Here’s what you need to know to keep your phone alive when the temperature drops.

Why Cold Weather Zaps Phone Battery

Three backcountry skiers skin up a track on a cloudy winter day. A snowy peak looms in the distance.

As irritating as cold weather battery drain may be, it can easily be explained by science. Most smartphones use lithium-ion batteries. A chemical reaction within the battery sends charged particles through the phone’s circuitry, and this charge powers the phone. Cold temperatures slow this reaction down; charged particles encounter more resistance as they move throughout the battery to charge the phone. As these charged particles get stuck, the battery life plummets.

Unfortunately, scientists don’t entirely understand the delicate balance of chemicals required to keep your phone alive. This is why sometimes it may seem like your phone’s battery indicator lies to you. If exposed to the frosty air, your phone may say it has 50% battery one minute and it’s completely dead the next.

Cold weather affects other parts of your phone, too. LCD screens can grow glitchy and blurry. Onboard sensors can lose accuracy because they’re calibrated to work within a specific temperature range.

How to Prevent Battery Drain

Person holds a phone with Cold Case Gear case attached to pack.

In the backcountry, your phone can serve as an invaluable tool for everything from checking the slope angle to staying on course. Plus, those snowy sunrise photos are not going to take themselves. Keeping your phone alive in cold weather boils down to two tasks, minimize battery use and keeping your phone toasty warm. Here’s how to do both:

Know Before You Go

Look up your device’s operating temperature range. Most smartphones are designed to operate between 32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range also applies to the Apple Watch. Many GPS watches can withstand temperates far lower — generally to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. If ambient temperatures or wild chill temperatures drop below your device’s operating range, take steps to insulate it from the cold.

Charge Your Phone Beforehand

Sounds obvious, but don’t forget to charge your phone before you head out the door. That extra cushion will help prevent the battery from draining immediately.

Change Your Phone Settings to Save Battery

Now that your phone is fully charged, you want to use up as little charge as possible while out in the backcountry. A few simple tricks can help preserve battery life:

Turn off location services in apps other than your navigation tool, such as Gaia GPS.
Make sure you have closed as many apps as possible.
Download maps ahead of time so your can operate your phone in airplane mode.
Keep your phone in low power mode.

You may want to consider not recording a track on these cold outings, since doing so uses battery life as well. Check out even more tips and tricks to save phone battery life in the backcountry.

Turn Your Phone Off

If you’re worried about battery, turn your phone off and keep it in a warm place near your body so that it is ready to power on and use when you need it to.

Consider Investing in a Smart Watch

If you plan on regularly checking your place on the map or reading and sending texts, you can also consider investing in a smart watch. A smart watch lets you navigate and communicate from your wrist, and you will still have your phone as a backup if needed.

Keep Your Phone Close and Covered

The real key to keeping your phone alive in cold weather comes with keeping it warm. Carry your phone in an interior jacket pocket close to your body, and try covering your smartwatch with a glove or jacket sleeve. That way, your body heat will keep the device warm and the garment’s insulation will block out the cold.

Note that a phone can interfere with an avalanche beacon’s ability to find a buried partner, and you should follow these so these precautions to minimize this interference:

Keep your phone at least eight inches away from your beacon.
Keep your phone in airplane mode if possible.
While conducting a search, extend your arm to bring your beacon about one and a half feet away from your electronic devices.

This interference mostly happens when beacons are in search mode. If you are the person your partner is trying to find, you should be fine. But you can keep your phone at least eight inches away from your beacon just to be safe.

Use an Insulating Case

You can go a step further and purchase a thermal case for your phone. The West Slope Case from Cold Case Gear uses aerogel insulation, the same material used to insulate space suits and space shuttles, to provide thermal, physical, and weather protection. An airtight magnetic closure also helps keep the cold weather out and makes the case 100% waterproof down to six feet.

Don’t want to shell out the extra bucks for a new case? A beer coozy works as a do-it-yourself alternative. Some people have success with tucking a hand warmer inside the coozy along with their phone.

Use your Phone Wisely and Sparingly

No matter how many measures you take to keep your phone warm while it’s not in use, they won’t do you much good if your phone gets cold while you’re using it. If you need to use your phone, turn your back to the wind and keep your phone tucked close to your body when viewing it in cold weather. Stop moving, and take your phone out for as little time as possible. Looking at your phone while skiing downhill, for example, exposes your phone to wind chill and cools it off much faster than still air.

How to Warm Up Your Phone if it Dies

A backcountry skier smiles while looking at her phone. She stands in front of a row of snow-covered coniferous trees.

Once your phone shuts off due to the cold, it will take a little extra time to work again. But there’s no need to worry. Your phone shutting off is simply its defense mechanism against extreme temps. Let your device warm up slowly. A slow thaw will help prevent condensation from building up in the battery, which could cause water damage.

If you really need to use your phone, you can ever so slightly expedite the warming process by placing your phone near (not directly on) a warm surface, such as the dash of your car once you turn the heat on. Do not place your phone in the oven, microwave, or on a hot plate. If you need to send a text or check your location while still in the field, try placing your phone next to your body. Your body heat will help warm your up device.

Finally, do not charge your phone until it has returned to a normal temperature. Charging your phone while it’s ice cold could permanently damage the battery. Warmer temps will usually restore normal battery life anyway.

A good rule of thumb to follow this winter: treat your phone like a part of your body. Make sure it’s protected from snow and moisture, and make sure it stays warm. That way, it’ll be there when you need it.

Michael Charboneau contributed to reporting.

January 25, 2022

Bruce examines the snowpack in a forest.

Gaia GPS Out and Back Podcast

Avalanche Safety with Snow Science Expert Bruce Tremper

by Mary Cochenour November 30, 2021

written by Mary Cochenour

Photo by Jim Harris

Backcountry skiing and riding can be both tempting and intimidating. On one hand, the allure of unlimited, untouched powder quickly draws you in. On the other hand, the sobering threat of deadly avalanches forces you to pump the brakes. When you can’t trust the snowpack, experts say your best bet is to seek out safer, less-avalanche prone terrain.

How do you do that? The answer lies in slope steepness, says Bruce Tremper, author of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain and Avalanche Essentials. Opting for mellow tree runs over steep backcountry bowls and couloirs can reduce your risk of getting caught and buried in an avalanche.

“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.”

Bruce writes in a notebook while examining the snowpack in a deep snowfield. His shovel and skis are just visible in the bottom of the photo.

How a Close Call Led Bruce Tremper to a Career in Avalanche Forecasting

Tremper’s advice comes from a first-hand mistake that sent him rocketing down a slope in an early-season avalanche at Bridger Bowl, Montana. A pro ski patroller at the time, Tremper was crossing a known avalanche path when the whole chute cut loose under his feet. The slide swept Tremper down the mountain and rumbled to a stop. He survived without physical injury, but the close call made an indelible mark on his life.

“That was a huge wake-up call for me,” Tremper says. “That thing really should have killed me. It changed my life and I went ‘whoa, I want to learn as much as I can about avalanches’.”

Experiencing the power of that avalanche sparked Tremper’s lifelong interest in snow science and spawned his more than 30-year career in avalanche forecasting. He studied science of avalanches at Montana State University, where he earned a Master’s degree in Geology and Meteorology. Tremper then tested his knowledge on the snow safety teams at Bridger Bowl and Big Sky ski resorts before shifting into forecasting, first working for the Alaska Avalanche Center and filling the director’s chair at the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center. He served as the director of the Utah Avalanche Center for 29 years, retiring in 2015 to pursue more avalanche forecasting and safety roles on his own terms.

“I love avalanches,” Tremper says. “Avalanches will never let me go.”

Bruce sits in front of a row of computer screens. — Photo by Adam Clark

Avalanche Safety Tips and the Low Risk Travel Ritual

Predicting avalanche behavior naturally led Tremper to studying and teaching avalanche awareness and safety techniques. His books on the topic have become required text for many avalanche safety courses. Tremper advocates for everyone to develop a personal routine, a practice that you put into play every time you venture into the backcountry. Tremper calls it the “low risk travel ritual” and it should be so familiar that the routine comes automatically to you.

Get all the details on Tremper’s “low risk travel ritual” in Episode 20 of the Out and Back podcast. Tremper uncovers his personal routine for safety, beginning with checking gear and avalanche forecasts before he leaves home. Learn about the observations he makes on the drive to the trailhead, and his tenets for safe backcountry travel when he finally puts skis on his feet. Tremper dissolves avalanche myths, talks about the magic of picking a perfect partner, and dishes the low down on what to do if you get caught in an avalanche.

After you listen to Tremper’s safety tips in episode 20 continue on to episode 21 of the Out and Back podcast to get Tremper’s personal story of what it felt like to be swept away in avalanche and how that close call drew him in to becoming one of the world’s leading experts in avalanche science and forecasting.

To reap more of Tremper’s wisdom check out his books, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, Avalanche Essentials, and Avalanche Pocket Guide (Mountaineers Books). Learn more about avalanche safety at avalanche.org. Find and sign up for an avalanche education class with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.

November 30, 2021

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