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New today: we just launched the new How to Use Gaia GPS (Online Course) - enrollment is now open to the public.

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In today's founder's letter, I'm going to share how I use Gaia GPS to plan off-trail routes in complex terrain.

First, I'll walk through how off-trail routes have normally been planned: using paper-based USGS quads.

Here's a pen-marked-route on a USGS 7.5' quadrangle showing a proposed route I attempted in 1997:

That seemed like a reasonable route, sort of a short and sweet way to get over a high ridge that otherwise looked pretty cliffy on its eastern face.

I failed on the attempt, and ran into cliffs that were not obvious from this topo map. Mental exhaustion from the sustained loose rock and exposure left me deflated, so I retreated and made my way to other lake basins.

Today, I try to increase my chance of success and mitigate risk by using Gaia GPS for route planning.

I'll show you two ways I use it.

First, I use slope angle analysis with one of Gaia GPS' mapping overlays. This allows me to see color for steep sections, and transparency for less-steep sections, so the basemap shows through. Then, I can map a route through terrain that's "as less steep as possible" -

Options 2 and 3 snake through the steep terrain, avoiding the steepest stuff (blue, purple, and black), unlike the failed Option 1 of 1997.

But slope angle shading is still only an approximation of IRL (internet slang for "in real life").

I wonder what hi-resolution satellite imagery can tell us?

Let's find out, by using the ESRI aerial imagery layer - watch the short video below to see how it all works:

In 2014, I returned to this area. We attempted Option 2 and bailed due to rockfall from the cliffs below the ridge. The next morning, we attempted Option 3 and had a glorious time, topping out on the ridge to a sea of clouds below.

This is a more advanced route planning exercise, for sure, but if you really want to learn a methodical approach to planning a wide variety of backpacking trips using Gaia GPS, be sure to check out the new How to Use Gaia GPS Masterclass.

(don't forget, Unlimited Membership provides access to all online courses for free as part of their membership)

Happy Trails,
Ryan J
owner/founder