The brief type: whenever Anna and Andrew Johnson founded a trail look website, TrailBehind Inc., their own major aim was to delight in one another’s company and explore a provided passion for the outside. That directed them to start the application Gaia GPS through the dawn of cellular programs in ’09. Since that time, the app, group, and synced tracks have actually broadened to serve above 130,000 consumers each month. Gaia GPS is normally presented in the news and loyal users â including lovers â can’t get enough of the application, and sing their praises both on mountain range plus in internet based critiques.
Show
Whenever Gaia GPS designers Anna and Andrew Johnson met, they linked over their particular shared passion for the outdoors. In fact, their particular very first time was actually on a hike.
In accordance with Ashli Baldwin, Support management and Developer at Gaia GPS, Anna was actually the one that ended up being huge into walking to start with. On their first date, Andrew remembers spending most of the time entirely breathless attempting to keep up with the lady. Since their love became, therefore performed their particular passion for discovering brand-new tracks to explore with each other. They begun to embark on even more hikes, which led these to go over a way that will assist them to learn brand new routes and keep track of their own escapades.
“They rapidly noticed there ended up being nothing in the marketplace to help them plan excursions. They looked-for something but could not find anything â so they really ended up producing a simple solution,” Ashli mentioned. “these people were both designers, very, normally, they made a decision to create an app â Gaia GPS â to enable them to.”
As Gaia GPS’ CEO, Andrew designs and develops the majority of the user interface and leads the business’s business and marketing efforts. Before co-founding TrailBehind, Inc. â the mother or father company of Gaia GPS â Andrew had worked in marketing and advertising in President of SureLogic, a venture-backed startup spun out of Carnegie Mellon college. Anna, meanwhile, had been the architect of TrailBehind methods and, prior to that, had worked at Google and Silicon Age as an application engineer. Today, as fundamental tech Officer for Gaia GPS, Anna has been one of several primary designers on virtually every project at the company.
Jesse Crocker, someone and co-founder of Gaia GPS, is actually credited with creating huge paths from the Gaia GPS app â such as chart computers and structure. Just before signing up for Gaia GPS, Jesse worked as a ski patroller in the Sierras, assisting with avalanche control.
Just what started as a shared fascination with nature and backpacking translated into an app which has generated a big effect on the mapping business, and helped make a lot of warm relationships, relationships, and opportunities for important recollections.
The software’s handy Features Appeal to Power Users & Those people that Simply Enjoy Hiking
Gaia GPS people feature type lovers, record-holding backpackers, look and rescue workers, firefighters, Geographic Ideas program groups, amongst others.
Ashli believes that element of why is Gaia GPS attract such numerous users is the fact that the application provides traditional mapping and specialized tracking attributes. In some cases, people may well not recognize they don’t really need to have cellphone solution to benefit from these characteristics.
“They think that maps are ineffective if they are hiking someplace away from cellphone service. But that’s not the case,” Ashli stated. “We really allow individuals install these maps onto their particular phones before they allow, along with your phone has a GPS processor chip inside it, in order extended whilst install this map, the cellphone knows where you’re, and it may explain to you about map with no mobile phone or online sites.”
Another exciting Gaia GPS feature permits people to record and monitor a whole hike. Customers also can take images, record distance information, and share their own exact path with other people. Energy consumers have a tendency to appreciate these features since they supply the possible opportunity to share brand-new channels and escapades with like-minded outside lovers.
Gaia GPS Hiking App and Hiking Maps are easily accessible on iOS and Android and additionally the web site.
The web site additionally serves as a convenient expansion regarding the application and allows for smooth syncing and data backup amongst the site and mobile phones. Customers could also see internet based maps, control information, find journeys, and develop snap-to-trail paths that sync immediately back to their particular units.
Lookup & security Aids lets you utilize the Wild
Ashli while the entire staff at Gaia GPS tend to be proud of the point that so many professional groups came to depend on the application â especially those for the look and recovery community. Ashli said that knowing the application assists save your self lives provides her a feeling of satisfaction.
“I was just traveling and went into a search and rescue group during an exercise, and that I questioned all of them if they desired to take to the application out. And additionally they happened to be already deploying it.” Ashli informed you. “They raved regarding how user-friendly truly and exactly how much cash they may be keeping by making use of Gaia GPS. Plus, we provide the look and rescue society an excellent rebate.”
And his character as a backcountry manual, Jonathan Preuss in addition functions as a search and rescue volunteer. The guy recalls the time he received an urgent situation demand a hiker missing on Devil’s Bedstead East in Idaho. He straight away unsealed the Gaia GPS.
“we saw the look can be bought in, pulled upwards my Gaia application, made certain I got that chart saved, and switched around and went back into the trailhead,” the guy stated.
This tale had a happy ending, as reported throughout the Gaia GPS weblog. “a helicopter travelled by shortly after the phone call and identified the missing out on hiker, but, by the period, Jonathan had currently begun within the walk. The ability to quickly access digital maps from a mobile device permits search and rescue volunteers like Preuss to react easily plus precisely than previously.”
Enjoy brand new Passions With enticing Membership Options
Gaia GPS consumers claim that membership has its own benefits. With solutions worthy of fit couples who hike sporadically or generally, Gaia GPS goes far beyond to enable them to find the right knowledge.
People can choose to get into the default map about app 100% free. The standard chart is bound to one supply â Gaia Topo, and people can install maps for offline utilize.
Ashli asserted that Gaia GPS shines for people who go in to the backcountry. “Gaia GPS features much better maps and GPS functions, while offering all attributes under its fundamental account for $19.99 annually, with additional maps,” she said.
Account includes unlimited downloads and use of dozens of chart options. The complimentary app provides you with machine backup of most songs, pictures, as well as other information. Gaia GPS allows you to capture information, show visits, and right back everything up. Moreover it supplies numerous backcountry navigation characteristics and personalized configurations.
A Gaia GPS superior membership prices $39.99 every year and is created for customers who want usage of the whole world’s greatest number of specialized maps and overlays that may be used on any map.
Gaia GPS individual Kalen Thorien describes by herself as a large mountain skier and adventurer, and she locates the software easy to use and worth the cash. “Gaia GPS software â have it. This quickly will be the handiest maps program and GPS that will not break the bank. Get and offline topo and imagery, ready waypoints, track your progress, and locate your local area even although you do not have solution â completely from your telephone,” she stated in a testimonial on the internet site.
Gaia GPS consumers can sign up for a free of charge publication to remain together with all membership and product enhancements.
Gaia GPS is found on a Mission to compliment Experience & Growth
What started as one pair’s aspire to experience the outdoors collectively is steadily getting very popular GPS apps in the marketplace. Gaia GPS has observed amazing development in product sales as more men and women find the application as his or her main source to get more regarding the outside.
“that is a really exciting year for all of us. Throughout the last six months, all of our effective users have doubled to over 131,000 each month. Mostly, our consumers range between 20 to 60 yrs old,” Ashli stated. “It’s interesting to see town for this application grow. I am usually amazed to learn about all the various customers that by using the application â both locally and worldwide.”
The Gaia GPS team may be tiny, nonetheless they put their particular souls into the work they do. As outside enthusiasts themselves, they get plenty of fulfillment from knowing that the app influences stays in meaningful and life-saving ways. Ashli informed united states the team is dedicated to providing excellent customer service and desires users to take pleasure from their experience with Gaia GPS.
“our very own objective is to make the software since accessible as it can. Therefore we want to make the onboarding experience very easy for every people â from the time they download the app to whenever they go on their unique journey,” she stated. “That is what we’re centering on this year â specifically along with in our individual progress. We actually need to make certain that we have all an effective, fun, and easy knowledge.”
About The Author
Aman Bhonsle