Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

“These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
Through all of the islands and all of the highlands
If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane” Jimmy Buffett

Part 1 – Navigation / 5 in a series about smartphone apps for hiking and backpacking.

Mobile phones and associated apps are ubiquitous among hikers and backpackers, regardless of the user’s generation. Truly, I think the number of serious hikers that do not use smartphone apps during their treks is extremely small. Old-school hikers, bushcrafters, and survivalists likely would disagree. I admit, it is a rewarding experience sometimes to be able to do things the old-fashioned way and off-the-grid. But frankly, I believe it’s unwise to not take advantage of existing technology to enhance your outdoor experience according to your own needs and desires, as well as to keep yourself safe during your outdoor adventures. I am an old artilleryman who learned to manually compute gunnery data with a slide rule and a tabular book of ballistic factors, topographic map reading, land navigation with a compass and terrain association, sometimes while riding in a tracked armored vehicle at high-speed over desert dunes. But I haven’t carried a topographic map nor a lensatic compass in my rucksack since 1998. I use, and rely upon, several smartphone apps, including GPS-enhanced apps, while both day hiking and section hiking on the Appalachian Trail.  So, the essential question is not do you use apps for hiking and backpacking, but rather, what hiking apps can you not live without installed on your mobile phone? Starting from that assumption, Danielle Krolewicz wrote an informative article in February 2024 for The Trek, “13 Useful Smartphone Apps for Your Next Thru-Hike”. Obviously, there is a good deal of personal preference involved in deciding which smartphone apps are truly essential. Danielle’s categories help focus the discussion. I have reordered the categories into what I see as priorities (need versus want) because we must consider power management and energy conservation when it comes to our smartphone and any other electronic devices we may have in our pack.

A “must have” category is Navigation. I do not carry paper maps while section hiking; they are outdated and if you truly do not know what you are doing, useless. For thru hikers and section hikers of long trails, FarOut is the standard. Yes, you must pay for access; but the cost is more than worth the amount of information available. FarOut works off your phone’s GPS and does not need mobile service; plus you can download maps for offline use. For section hiking the AT, I also use AWOL’s AT Guide downloaded as a PDF file directly to my smartphone’s memory. Earthmate is an app that synchs with my Garmin inReach Mini to aid navigation. The app makes it easier to input navigation aids like waypoints and routes rather than the T9 type interface on the inReach. For day hiking, I use Gaia GPS, mainly because I like to record my track for each day hike. There is a free and subscription version of Gaia GPS; the paid version lets you download map sections. I frequently download trail maps as PDF files available from national, state or local parks websites. I also admit to sometimes picking up paper copies from trailheads when available. Google Maps also is worth a mention despite recent news stories about people getting into trouble using Google Maps as their hiking navigation. Google Maps is useful primarily because it provides information about businesses close to the trail and navigating in trail towns. I also send screenshots of Google Maps for location to my wife because this is a map source she can use and understand.