GPS and Mapping
Why is GPS mapping software when used with a phone or tablet useful?
* Allows you to see where the F#$K you are at, any time, anywhere and to see easily where you are going relative to your target destination.
* Don't see the trail anymore? Are you even on the trail? Using this data you can easily see.
* My Nexus 7 tablet has a GPS and with the map data already downloaded it does not need any WIFI or 3G/4G connection (no data) to fully operate on the trail.
* Shows a cursor of your truck location, layered over the high resolution maps, and it moves as you approach the waypoints you created.
* Includes built in search functionality so you can literally type "grapevine canyon" or 3N16 and the software will center the cursor over the targeted area based on name. You can then see your position relative to the target.
* Create a custom nav point by clicking the screen or manually typing in the location? Say you know XXXX,YYYY on paper but have no idea where that actually is. Well put it in the software and you can see it on the map relative to your location.
This has worked great for me in Big Bear, Death Valley, Canyon Lands, Moab, Joshua Tree, Anza-Borrego, and Idylwild.
I use BackCountry Navigator Pro (there is also a free version) for Android with the free
CalTopo US 24K multi-layer map.
Steps:
1. If you already have a .GPX file with past Nav Points then download the GPX file to your Android or Apple device
2. Download BackCountry Navigator Pro for Android or similar for IOS
3. Import the GPX file (if you have one)
4. While at home connected to WIFI
load BackCountry Navigator Pro by CritterMap Software.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.crittermap.backcountrynavigator.license&hl=en
4A Zoom over the area of big bear, switch maps to the free
CalTopo US 24K Map or the
US Forest Service Map (which has trail names) then zoom out so that a few miles of trail are visible.
4B. Choose "select areas for download" and select the area, then
download the map data over WIFI. If you don't do this before leaving your house you will have a bad day.
4C. Switch to your 2nd backup map (I listed 2 good options above) and then
also download a wide area for that map.
The download may take an hour or more and can range from 100MB to 1GB depending on the map data size. These are 16 layer (free) maps.
Now once everything is downloaded you can switch your tablet into AirPlane mode to simulate being on the trail and the maps should fully work.
If you do not download the map data then it will only work in your home, not the trail.
My GPS nav points mark the beginning, intersection and end of popular trails. Once you get used to the mapping software you can create your own.
