The Quick Version: whenever Anna and Andrew Johnson started a path look website, TrailBehind Inc., their unique main aim would be to enjoy both’s company and check out a shared passion for the outside. That directed these to launch the app Gaia GPS throughout the dawn of cellular programs last year. Ever since then, the application, group, and synced trails have broadened to offer more than 130,000 people each month. Gaia GPS often is included in news reports and loyal customers â including partners â can not get enough of the software, and sing their praises both in the mountain assortment plus on-line product reviews.
Show
When Gaia GPS creators Anna and Andrew Johnson found, they linked over their discussed love of the outdoors. In reality, their basic day ended up being on a hike.
According to Ashli Baldwin, Support Manager and designer at Gaia GPS, Anna had been the one who had been big into climbing initially. On their very first day, Andrew remembers investing oftentimes totally out of breath attempting to match their. As his or her really love grew, therefore did their particular desire for locating new trails to understand more about together. They started to continue a lot more nature hikes, which led them to talk about a manner that would assist them to discover new pathways and keep track of their unique activities.
“They easily noticed there ended up being nothing on the market to assist them to plan trips. They looked for a device but cannot find anything â so they really finished up creating a remedy,” Ashli mentioned. “they certainly were both designers, so, obviously, they made a decision to create an app â Gaia GPS â to enable them to.”
As Gaia GPS’ President, Andrew designs and develops much of the user program and causes the business’s business and advertising and marketing attempts. Before co-founding TrailBehind, Inc. â the moms and dad business of Gaia GPS â Andrew had worked in marketing underneath the CEO of SureLogic, a venture-backed business spun out of Carnegie Mellon college. Anna, meanwhile, was the designer of TrailBehind programs and, prior to that, had worked at Google and Silicon Age as an application engineer. Nowadays, as fundamental Technology Officer for Gaia GPS, Anna has been one of many main developers on nearly every task within organization.
Jesse Crocker, someone and co-founder of Gaia GPS, is paid with building big tracks on the Gaia GPS application â such as chart hosts and structure. Prior to signing up for Gaia GPS, Jesse worked as a ski patroller in the Sierras, assisting with avalanche control.
What started as a discussed love for nature and backpacking translated into an app who has produced an enormous impact on the mapping business, and helped create many enjoying interactions, relationships, and possibilities for meaningful memories.
The software’s handy Features attract energy Users & individuals who Just appreciate Hiking
Gaia GPS customers include quality enthusiasts, record-holding backpackers, look and relief employees, firefighters, Geographic Suggestions System teams, and others.
Ashli feels that section of why is Gaia GPS appeal to these numerous consumers would be the fact that the app offers offline mapping and specialized monitoring attributes. Occasionally, consumers may well not understand they do not have to have mobile phone service to benefit from these characteristics.
“They think that maps tend to be ineffective if they’re climbing someplace away from cellphone service. But that’s far from the truth,” Ashli stated. “We really permit folks install these maps onto their cell phones before they leave, plus phone features a GPS chip on it, in order lengthy whilst install this chart, your own telephone will know what your location is, also it can demonstrate in the map without having any cellular phone or websites.”
Another exciting Gaia GPS feature permits customers to capture and monitor a whole hike. People may get photographs, sign length details, and share their exact path with other people. Energy customers often delight in these features since they provide the possibility to share brand-new roads and escapades with like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.
Gaia GPS Hiking App and Hiking Maps are accessible on iOS and Android os as well as the website.
The internet site in addition functions as a handy extension associated with the app and provides seamless syncing and information backup involving the site and cellular devices. Users may also look at online maps, manage data, seek out visits, and develop snap-to-trail tracks that sync immediately back once again to their particular gadgets.
Research & protection Aids lets you Tap Into the Wild
Ashli while the whole staff at Gaia GPS are happy with the reality that numerous expert groups have come to depend on the application â especially those from inside the search and relief neighborhood. Ashli mentioned that understanding the application assists save resides provides this lady a feeling of satisfaction.
“I was only touring and went into a search and recovery team during a training, and I also questioned them if they planned to try the app out. And they happened to be currently using it.” Ashli told us. “They raved about how precisely user-friendly it is and just how a lot money they are keeping through the use of Gaia GPS. Plus, we provide the look and rescue area an enjoyable rebate.”
As well as their part as a backcountry manual, Jonathan Preuss additionally functions as a look and rescue volunteer. The guy recalls the amount of time the guy received an urgent situation necessitate a hiker missing on Devil’s Bedstead East in Idaho. The guy right away unwrapped the Gaia GPS.
“we saw the look come in, pulled upwards my Gaia application, made sure I got that chart protected, and switched around and returned into trailhead,” he stated.
This story had a happy ending, as reported regarding Gaia GPS web log. “a chopper travelled by after the phone call and identified the lacking hiker, but, by the period, Jonathan had already started within the trail. The capability to quickly access digital maps from a mobile unit allows look and rescue volunteers like Preuss to react rapidly and truthfully than in the past.”
Explore brand-new Passions With exciting Membership Options
Gaia GPS people declare that account has its advantages. With options worthy of suit partners exactly who hike sometimes or generally, Gaia GPS goes above and beyond to assist them to find the correct experience.
Members can choose to gain access to the default map about app free of charge. The standard chart is bound to just one source â Gaia Topo, and users can install maps for traditional utilize.
Ashli mentioned that Gaia GPS shines for those who go in to the backcountry. “Gaia GPS provides much better maps and GPS features, and offers all features under their fundamental account for $19.99 annually, with added maps,” she stated.
Membership includes endless packages and the means to access lots of chart resources. The complimentary software gives you server backup of most paths, photos, and various other information. Gaia GPS allows you to tape data, share excursions, and right back all of it upwards. Additionally, it offers several backcountry navigation characteristics and personalized options.
A Gaia GPS superior membership costs $39.99 annually and it is made for users who desire access to the planet’s most readily useful collection of particular maps and overlays which can be put on any map.
Gaia GPS individual Kalen Thorien talks of herself as a large hill skier and adventurer, and she locates the app simple to use and worth the cash. “Gaia GPS App â obtain it. This conveniently may be the handiest maps system and GPS that will not break your budget. Download and traditional topo and imagery, ready waypoints, track how you’re progressing, and find your local mature hookups area even if you lack service â every from your own phone,” she said in a testimonial on the webpage.
Gaia GPS consumers can join a totally free newsletter to stay over all membership and item improvements.
Gaia GPS is on a Mission to Support Experience & Growth
What began as you couple’s desire to experience the in the open air collectively is continuously becoming probably the most common GPS apps on the market. Gaia GPS has actually viewed impressive growth in product sales much more folks select software since their primary source getting the essential associated with the out-of-doors.
“this can be a truly interesting season for people. During the last half a year, all of our effective users have actually doubled to significantly more than 131,000 per month. Mostly, all of our customers are normally taken for 20 to 60 years old,” Ashli stated. “It’s exciting to see the community around this application grow. I’m constantly amazed to listen to about all of the different groups of people who will be with the software â both domestically and internationally.”
The Gaia GPS staff may be small, nonetheless place their particular souls inside work they are doing. As outdoor lovers on their own, they have countless pleasure from understanding that the app influences stays in significant and life-saving ways. Ashli informed united states that group is dedicated to supplying top-notch support service and wishes people to enjoy their unique knowledge about Gaia GPS.
“Our objective is make software as accessible as you are able to. So we need to make the onboarding knowledge not that hard for every users â from when they download the app to if they go on their travel,” she stated. “That’s what we are concentrating on this current year â particularly with of our individual progress. We actually want to make sure that we have all a beneficial, enjoyable, and easy experience.”