The brief Version: whenever Anna and Andrew Johnson established a path search website, TrailBehind Inc., their own primary objective was to take pleasure in one another’s company and check out a discussed desire for the outside. That brought these to launch the app Gaia GPS through the beginning of cellular applications last year. Since then, the software, staff, and synced tracks have expanded to provide significantly more than 130,000 consumers every month. Gaia GPS is frequently presented in the news and loyal customers â including couples â can’t get an adequate amount of the app, and sing its praises both in the mountain variety as well as in online ratings.
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Whenever Gaia GPS creators Anna and Andrew Johnson came across, they connected over their shared passion for the outdoors. In reality, their own basic date was actually on a hike.
Based on Ashli Baldwin, Support Manager and Developer at Gaia GPS, Anna was actually the one who ended up being huge into walking in the beginning. On the basic date, Andrew remembers spending usually completely exhausted attempting to keep up with her. Because their really love expanded, therefore did their own passion for finding brand new tracks to explore collectively. They started initially to go on more hikes, which led these to talk about an easy method that could assist them to learn brand new routes and monitor their unique activities.
“They quickly recognized there was nothing obtainable to enable them to plan excursions. They looked for an instrument but couldn’t discover anything â so that they wound up creating an answer,” Ashli mentioned. “They were both designers, very, normally, they made a decision to create an app â Gaia GPS â to assist them to.”
As Gaia GPS’ President, Andrew concepts and develops most of the user software and causes the company’s business and advertising and marketing initiatives. Before co-founding TrailBehind, Inc. â the parent organization of Gaia GPS â Andrew had worked in advertising beneath the President of SureLogic, a venture-backed startup spun-out of Carnegie Mellon University. Anna, at the same time, was actually the designer of TrailBehind methods and, just before that, had worked at Bing and Silicon era as a software professional. Nowadays, as Chief Technology Officer for Gaia GPS, Anna might the major developers on nearly every task on organization.
Jesse Crocker, a partner and co-founder of Gaia GPS, is actually credited with developing huge paths of this Gaia GPS app â including map machines and infrastructure. Just before joining Gaia GPS, Jesse worked as a ski patroller into the Sierras, helping with avalanche control.
Just what began as a provided fascination with nature and backpacking converted into an application that has generated a huge impact on the mapping sector, and aided develop numerous warm interactions, friendships, and possibilities for important thoughts.
The software’s Versatile properties interest energy Users & individuals who Just appreciate Hiking
Gaia GPS users include type lovers, record-holding backpackers, search and rescue personnel, firefighters, Geographic Information program teams, among others.
Ashli thinks that element of what makes Gaia GPS appeal to these an array of users is that the app provides off-line mapping and specialized monitoring features. Oftentimes, consumers may well not recognize they don’t have to have cellphone service to take advantage of these features.
“They think that maps are pointless if they’re climbing somewhere out-of cellular phone service. But that is not the case,” Ashli mentioned. “We in fact let people download these maps onto their mobile phones before they allow, along with your telephone has a GPS processor with it, in order lengthy as you install this chart, your phone will know where you stand, and it can explain to you regarding the map without having any cellphone or internet service.”
Another exciting Gaia GPS element permits users to capture and track a whole hike. Users can also get photographs, record length info, and share their exact path with other people. Energy consumers commonly take pleasure in these features since they supply the chance to discuss new paths and adventures with similar backyard enthusiasts.
Gaia GPS Hiking application and Hiking Maps are available on iOS and Android os and additionally the site.
The web site additionally functions as a handy extension of this application and provides seamless syncing and information back-up within website and mobile devices. Customers might also look at web maps, manage information, research visits, and produce snap-to-trail paths that sync immediately to their unique devices.
Browse & protection Aids make it easier to utilize the Wild
Ashli together with entire team at Gaia GPS tend to be happy with the fact plenty expert teams attended to use the app â especially those into the search and relief neighborhood. Ashli mentioned that understanding the application assists save yourself physical lives offers the lady a sense of pleasure.
“I was merely touring and went into a search and relief team during a training, and I questioned them when they wished to try the application away. And had been currently using it.” Ashli informed united states. “They raved about precisely how user-friendly it’s as well as how a lot money they’re keeping by using Gaia GPS. Plus, we allow the look and relief community an enjoyable discount.”
And their part as a backcountry manual, Jonathan Preuss in addition serves as a look and recovery volunteer. The guy recalls enough time he received a crisis call for a hiker missing on Devil’s Bedstead eastern in Idaho. The guy right away launched the Gaia GPS.
“I noticed the search also come in, pulled right up my Gaia software, made certain I’d that chart saved, and switched around and went back on the trailhead,” he said.
This story had a happy closing, as documented from the Gaia GPS blog. “a helicopter travelled by shortly after the call and identified the missing out on hiker, but, by that point, Jonathan had already begun within the path. The ability to easily access digital maps from a mobile device allows search and rescue volunteers like Preuss to reply easily and a lot more accurately than ever before.”
Explore brand new Passions With interesting Membership Options
Gaia GPS customers declare that account has its advantages. With choices suitable for fit partners which hike sporadically or frequently, Gaia GPS goes apart from to enable them to find the right experience.
Users can pick to gain access to the standard chart from the application at no cost. The standard map is bound to at least one source â Gaia Topo, and members can install maps for off-line usage.
Ashli said that Gaia GPS shines for folks who go in to the backcountry. “Gaia GPS has actually much better maps and GPS functions, while offering all functions under their standard account for $19.99 each year, with added maps,” she mentioned.
Membership includes limitless packages and the means to access lots of map resources. The no-cost app provides you with server back-up of most paths, pictures, and various other data. Gaia GPS makes it easy to record information, share excursions, and straight back every thing up. In addition, it provides several backcountry navigation characteristics and customizable settings.
A Gaia GPS Premium membership will cost you $39.99 each year and is designed for people who desire use of the world’s finest collection of specific maps and overlays that can be put on any chart.
Gaia GPS user Kalen Thorien defines by herself as a big mountain skier and adventurer, and she finds the application easy to use and worth the cash. “Gaia GPS App â obtain it. This easily may be the handiest maps program and GPS that will not hurt you wallet. Down load and traditional topo and images, set waypoints, keep track of how you’re progressing, and discover your local area even although you lack service â mostly from the phone,” she mentioned in a testimonial on the webpage.
Gaia GPS users can join a no cost publication to remain above all membership and item innovations.
Gaia GPS is on a Mission to aid event & Growth
What started as one pair’s need to feel the in the open air with each other is steadily becoming perhaps one of the most preferred GPS apps available. Gaia GPS provides viewed amazing development in product sales as more people find the app because their primary source to get the quintessential with the outside.
“This is an extremely interesting 12 months for all of us. Over the last 6 months, all of our active people have doubled to a lot more than 131,000 per month. Largely, our very own consumers start around 20 to 60 years old,” Ashli mentioned. “It really is interesting to see the city surrounding this software increase. I am always amazed to learn about all the various customers who will be utilizing the app â both locally and internationally.”
The Gaia GPS staff can be little, but they put their particular souls inside work they actually do. As outdoor lovers by themselves, they get many fulfillment from with the knowledge that the app affects resides in significant and life-saving means. Ashli told us that group is actually invested in supplying top-notch customer support and wishes users to take pleasure from their particular experience with Gaia GPS.
“our very own objective should improve app as accessible as you possibly can. Therefore we should make the onboarding knowledge quite simple for several users â from the time they download the application to once they go on their particular travel,” she mentioned. “That is what we’re emphasizing in 2010 â particularly with of your user progress. We really should make sure that all of us have an effective, fun, and simple knowledge.”
