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Archive 2018 · App to not get lost?

Marshall Alsup
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · App to not get lost?

I've been thinking of taking some random forest roads to look for nice places to shoot but to be honest I'm worried about getting lost. I could take careful notes about which turns I take. I've also considered taking photos of each turn with my phone, or even ipad so I could mark the photos up with details to help me navigate out.

But I'm wondering if there is an app that will help with this. Something which will track your gps location to allow you to reverse course maybe? Usually when up in the mountains there is no data so regular apps probably aren't the answer, I guess it would have to have some maps built in?

This is probably a solved problem but some light googling didn't really turn anything up.

I feel dumb asking this question, but I do not want to get lost

You guys have any advice?

Thanks,
Marshall

Feb 08, 2018 at 11:59 PM

Nogo
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · App to not get lost?

Google maps will do what you want to do unless you get off on foot trails and such. Just download the map for that area when you are in an area with WiFi or service so you can use the App when there is no service.

Feb 09, 2018 at 12:04 AM

stanparker
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · App to not get lost?

Try IHikeGPS. It works for both hiking and auto.

Feb 09, 2018 at 12:25 AM

GoodEgg
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · App to not get lost?

Browsers use cookies, apps for off-the-beaten-path use breadcrumbs. I'm making a joke

but such programming variables exist. I'm sure you know that "no signal - recalculating" is horrifying to see when lost.

Feb 09, 2018 at 01:05 AM

dbehrens
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · App to not get lost?

Either get a handheld GPS or use a GPS app on your smartphone that allows the map to be downloaded and saved on your phone before you head out.

Feb 09, 2018 at 01:43 AM

NorthMac
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · App to not get lost?

+1 for a handheld GPS. This is what they are designed for. Even if your backroad is not on the base state map that Garmin provides, you will always see your track on the screen, so can easily reverse it, no matter if you are in your truck or on foot. Yes phones have a GPS chip and can work offline, but their GPS chip and antenna is much weaker than that of a purpose built GPS, especally if you are in trees. For addititional map detail depending on what state you are in, I have heard good things about the proprietary GPS maps sold by onXmaps which include private vs state land etc, hunters seem to like them. I think these are sold on a chip -you just pop the chip into your GPS, select that map, and go.

And yours is not a dumb question- way too many people take risks without having a clue where they are. Exploring backroads is a joy when you realize you just can’t get lost.

Feb 09, 2018 at 03:13 AM

twoflower
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · App to not get lost?

The way I usually go about this is using Google Maps on my phone.
Before leaving my home, I usually save the Offline map of the place I'm going to.
When I'm sauntering off to an area that I think will probably make me think I'm lost, I drop a pin and then go about hiking. Once I think Im done, I walk in the direction of that pin.
This is what works for me, and I thought you want to give it a try.

Feb 09, 2018 at 04:05 AM

tonyespofoto
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · App to not get lost?

Not to sound too old school, but how about paper maps? They are available from the federal gov't and have a great deal of topographical detail. Back in the day, that was how you went backpacking. They often have them for sale in the nat'l park visitors centers. Alternately, you can download the maps for the area you are hiking in for free. Www.usgs.gov/products/maps/topo maps. The maps are available for every part of the country, if I'm not mistaken. They were originally made from large format arial photographs and updated on a regular basis, now the are made from satelite imagery. The download is free, you can print them yourself or just store them on your phone or tablet.

Feb 09, 2018 at 08:59 AM

ian73
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · App to not get lost?

I use (on my phone) Backcountry navigator, or if I'm hiking long distances, then I'll use all trails(.com ) and/or runkeeper for tracking distance and pace ,so I don't run out of daylight/water.

Download maps for the region in advance and then put the phone in airplane mode. GPS will still work, but your battery will last much longer as it's not trying to communicate with non existent cell towers at full power.

Feb 09, 2018 at 09:35 AM

gordon l
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · App to not get lost?

Garmin satellite GPS had a "breadcrumb" feature which can be helpful.
But nothing is more reliable and accessible than your brain and common sense. Gotta' have that! Especially in some of these out of the way places.

Feb 09, 2018 at 10:27 AM

morris
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · App to not get lost?

dbehrens wrote:
Either get a handheld GPS or use a GPS app on your smartphone that allows the map to be downloaded and saved on your phone before you head out.

I agree and use both. Remember you need a backup. Where are you if your only navigation device fails?

Morris

Feb 09, 2018 at 07:15 PM

Marshall Alsup
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · App to not get lost?

Really useful ideas here fellas. I appreciate it.

I'll probably double up on a few of the suggested options. I'll download maps with google maps and I think I'll get a gps unit too. I didn't mention it but I primarily plan to drive on the backroads. After a back surgery a few years ago I don't really do any hiking.

Paper maps are interesting too. I sort of forgot they exist. Man, times have changed. Thanks for the link tonyespofoto.

Feb 09, 2018 at 11:50 PM

matthewsaville
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · App to not get lost?

Disclaimer: NEVER go anywhere without a real topo map and compass, plus the skills to use them, and a general good sense of direction too if possible!

With that said, I've had a fantastic time finding my way through many different wilderness areas using an app on my phone called Backcountry Navigator. I absolutely love it; it integrates seamlessly with both a pre-trip planning workflow, and the post-trip photo-tagging.

Generally, I scout locations using Google Earth, and mark spots or tracks that I think I want to visit / take. Google Earth lets you easily save entire folders of stuff as a GPX or KML file, which I save to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder, which I can easily sync to my phone and open in Backcountry Navigator.

Before leaving civilization, I also use wifi / 4G to load both topo maps and satellite imagery into the Backcountry Navigator cache, then, I just put my phone in airplane mode but turn the location / gps back on. Works like a charm, and doesn't use much battery at all!

Then, in the field, I can follow the tracks I loaded, while also creating a new track of my own, which I can later export from Backcountry Navigator, back to Google Drive or Dropbox, and then from there go back into Google Earth and/or Lightroom etc. for geotagging photos.

Here is what it looks like when I walk from my car through the desert to 2 different sand dunes (hence the triangle) and then back to my car, ...in the middle of the night, with no moonlight to light my way on the way back! Can't do that with a topo map and a compass, at 1 AM...


	https://photos.smugmug.com/Main/Blog-2017/n-BNNdvF/i-LQbzzZT/0/4fe6f174/XL/i-LQbzzZT-XL.png

Feb 10, 2018 at 05:14 PM

tsinsf
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · App to not get lost?

Caution: in a dense forest with a tall canopy, your GPS can't get the signal and will be useless. One day several years ago I was driving on a dirt road heading towards a redwood grove in the national park, and a young man was standing at the side of the ride and flagged me down. He was lost, had a gps with no signal and no hard copy maps. He had been wandering trying to get back to his car, which was over two miles away!

Feb 11, 2018 at 11:16 AM


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