James Jula

Mazamas Wilderness Navigation

Part II

Overview

• Smart Phone GPS
• Gaia GPS App
• Smart Phone Challenges
• Routes and Tracks

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• Route Planning Resources
• Alpine Savvy
• Google Earth
• Caltopo
• Weather Forecasts

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“You’ve never been lost until you’ve been lost at Mach 3.” – Paul F. Crickmore, referring to flying the SR-71

Make sure you can use these Navigation Tools�Relying solely on your phone is a bad idea

If you only know how to navigate with your GPS, when it dies you can become instantly lost with no backup

Smartphone GPS�Gaia GPS

• Industry leader

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• Started as mobile app, then went to desktop

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• Better for mobile use, not trip planning

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• LOTS (too many?) base layers

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• Got bought out by Outside magazine corporate media, (no more $20 subscription, now $79 but includes nice extras)

Alternative GPS Apps

• CalTopo - better for desktop planning but the app is pretty good

• Goatmaps - newer app from Gaia founders

• On X – associated with Mountain Project (great for Rock Climbing and more)

Gaia GPS for field session

• Download the app to your phone before the field session.

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• The free version will work fine.

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• Import the Hamilton Island Waypoint .gpx�(email will be provided this week)

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Smart phone problems

Solutions:�Extra battery pack + cable(s), �sturdy case, screen protector, and a leash

Plus, your partner(s) should also have a fully charged phone, GPS app, track file, cable, and battery pack

Anker Nano Battery Bank w/built in charging connector

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$20�

3.5 ounces

Definitions�GPX file

GPX file: a universal ‘GPS Exchange Format’ file for sharing geographic data

Tracks and/or waypoints you download from the web are usually in this format

An xml text file with latitude and longitude points primarily

Hamilton Island waypoints.gpx

Definitions�Waypoint

A single point location

(car, trailhead, campsite . . .)

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It can be placed at your current location, or anywhere on your map screen

Definitions�Route

A series of pre-defined waypoints along the path of intended travel with straight line segments between points

1 – Drawn with mapping� software (i.e. Caltopo)

2 – Downloaded from the web

3 – Convert .gpx track to route� (required for “Guide Me”)

Definitions�Track

A continuous “breadcrumb trail” that can be followed (*GPS accuracy plays a role)

1 – Recorded directly by you

2 - Downloaded from the web

Comparing Track� vs. Route�

Mapping Layers�Gaia GPS

Premium

USGS�Topo

Gaia

Topo�Base

Mapping Layers�Gaia GPS (Premium)

Shaded

Relief

Satteliite

Slope�Angle

Cell

Coverage

Phone GPS works without cell coverage

• WIFI and cell coverage helps with faster position lock, but they are not required and drain the battery faster.
• When no wifi or cell coverage will be available, you must download maps first! See cellphone coverage layer (by carrier) in Gaia for “estimated” coverage.

Phone GPS works in

airplane mode

• Good practice: put your phone in airplane mode at the trailhead w/WIFI, Bluetooth, Hotspot and Airdrop also turned off
• VERY nice for battery savings and using GPS in the backcountry

Battery Preservation Tips

At camp:

1. Turn phone completely OFF
2. Charge back up

At the trailhead:

1. Airplane mode ON�+ WIFI OFF�+ Bluetooth OFF�+ Airdrop OFF�+ Hotspot OFF
2. Low power mode ON
3. Dim Screen
4. Auto Turn off screen (30 sec) when not in use (will still be able to record track)

Track recording�Might be tough on your battery

GPS Receiver consumes power all the time with recording. Test it out on similar length adventures on and off to determine how much� �Note: smart watches have great battery life and are a great (but pricy$) backup/alternative for recording tracks, though w/easy nav back feature too�

Download map layers

for off-line use

• Required if you’re outside cell coverage or w/Airplane Mode
• Gaia Topo default layer has a relatively small download size; download a whole STATE! (other maps layers can be much larger though)
• Use Wi-Fi to download large map areas
• Make sure Gaia downloads are 100% complete!

Gaia GPS�“Guide Me” to a Waypoint

1

2

3

4

Gaia GPS�“Guide Me” via Converted Route

1

2

3

4

How it works:�GPS Trilateration

• Three Satellites give rough position (timed spherical math!)
• Fourth Satellite adjusts clock to near atomic accuracy (100’)
• SBAS (WAAS in US) gives even more accuracy (10’) but only works with clear view of Southern sky in US�

GPS limitations

If you record tracks a lot in wet/cold conditions

consider getting a “dedicated” GPS, better battery life and GPS reception, and works as a backup

Satellite Communication Devices

• Can send SOS messages and two way texts (in some devices) via satellite

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• Cost: about $150-$300 for the unit, then subscription fees of about $140 - $200 per year. (Rescue insurance plans can be a bonus though!)�
• Looks like most phones will have sat-com connection within the next few years.

Satellite Texting with newer phones

• You can now text via satellite with iPhone 14 or newer�
• Has a demo mode to practice with at home

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• Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 also have satellite connectivity

Satellite Communication Devices

• Great for checking in with concerned people at home, but . . . do NOT initiate a rescue if you DON’T receive an expected check in text!

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• Keep the device on person, i.e. attached to you and not in your pack

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• Emergency contact needs to know when to alert authorities in case you are unable to hit the SOS button

Latitude-Longitude, decimal degrees (Easiest Format to use):

43.1459, -122.1277

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UTM (Next Best w/Maps i.e. GPS is dead):

10T 570913E 4777387N

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Lat-Long, degrees minutes and seconds (Hard to use):

43°08’46”, -122°07’41”

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Lat-Long, degree minutes (Hard to use):

43°08.76’, -122°07.68’

Coordinate formats

Coordinate Datum

• A reference system defining a model of the Earth and providing a set of constants to calculate coordinates. Different datums can have hundreds of feet of error between them. Make sure GPS and associated maps are using the same Datum. SAR will assume WGS84 is the datum used with a set of coordinates unless specified, though any coordinates help tremendously.
• Primary Models

WGS84: Current Global Standard (default)

NAD27: Used primarily on older USGS maps

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• 600+ climbing tips not found in the regular books

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• Navigation resources - GPX files for 70+ NW peaks, KML files and more

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• No ads, affiliate links or other fluff

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• Premium Membership gets you even more

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• Use code MAZAMAS for first month free

Route Planning

alpinesavvy.com

Alpinesavvy – “the whole enchilada”�70+ GPX files all on one map

Alpinesavvy: NW Peak map

Alpinesavvy: PDX rock climbing

Staying Found Video

Search Youtube for "wilderness trip planning”

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Covers finding a GPX track, making a map, exporting a KML file, making a “beta sheet” and more.

Mazamas Library

Reference Collection guidebooks

PDF maps

Prospectus

Google Earth screen grabs

GPX file

Guidebook page photo

KML file

Easy Trip Planning

Put all nav stuff in a Google Drive folder

Trailhead Coordinates

If you copy / paste a lat-long coordinate in decimal degree format into Google or a mapping app, you get a map and driving directions to that spot.

Map to Trailhead

Alpinesavvy: Stay Found

Occasional GE problem - summit flattening

Current Snow Depth�Google ”USFS snow depth”

Current snow depth�Gaia Premium

Weather – mountain-forecast.com

Gaia GPS Outside

subscription also covers the Pro version of this site

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Only uses one weather model though…

Weather - windy.com

Weather – aviationweather.gov�Prognostic Chart

Weather – aviationweather.gov�Freezing Level

PNW weather - climberkyle.com

Caltopo - The BEST mapping software

CalTopo

• Started on desktop, then went to app

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• Better for trip planning, printing, data sharing

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• Limited (but well chosen) base layers

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• Mostly free, $50 annual subscription gets more map layers, data, advanced route planning and more

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• Cool small company that deserves your support!

CalTopo - share maps with unique URL

Caltopo - weekly hi-res satellite

Base map with GPS track + hi-res satellite shows

snow on your route

Caltopo - “shaded relief”

CalTopo: Custom terrain shading

Caltopo - see crevasses

Caltopo - Elevation profile

Caltopo - Elevation profile

Caltopo - Elevation profile

peakbagger.com

Trip reports and GPS tracks

peakbagger.com

Trip reports and GPS tracks

Peakfinder AR app

Print quality maps: Save to a flash drive and print at Fed-Ex

Print on tear-proof paper ($0.80 per sheet or Rite in the Rain, $0.20 per sheet)

Topographic Vectors by Vecteezy

Resources – Web cams

timberlinelodge.com/conditions#webcams

Snow Telemetry (SnoTel)

Warning - Snow geeks only :^)

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“Snow telemetry” is a system of snowpack data stations all over the Western US.

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It can give you highly detailed reports of snow depth, min-max temperatures, and more.

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Google < Snotel Oregon >

SnoTel Stations in Caltopo

SnoTel Station - Mt. Hood

SnoTel - 7 day summary report