The Short Version: whenever Anna and Andrew Johnson created a walk search site, TrailBehind Inc., their particular main aim were to delight in each other’s organization and explore a discussed passion for the outdoors. That brought these to introduce the application Gaia GPS while in the dawn of mobile applications during 2009. Since then, the software, team, and synced tracks have actually widened to serve over 130,000 consumers monthly. Gaia GPS is usually presented in news reports and faithful customers â such as lovers â can’t get enough of the software, and sing their praises both about mountain variety and also in on the web product hinge reviews.
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Whenever Gaia GPS designers Anna and Andrew Johnson met, they linked over their unique discussed love of the outside. Actually, their first date had been on a hike.
Based on Ashli Baldwin, help management and Developer at Gaia GPS, Anna had been the one who ended up being large into climbing initially. On their first time, Andrew recalls spending oftentimes completely exhausted wanting to maintain the lady. Since their really love increased, therefore did their passion for discovering brand-new tracks to explore with each other. They started to go on a lot more nature hikes, which brought these to talk about a means that would help them learn new routes and keep track of their particular activities.
“They easily realized there was absolutely nothing in the marketplace to enable them to plan visits. They looked for a device but couldn’t discover any such thing â so that they ended up creating an answer,” Ashli mentioned. “they certainly were both developers, thus, obviously, they decided to create an app â Gaia GPS â to enable them to.”
As Gaia GPS’ Chief Executive Officer, Andrew designs and develops much of the consumer program and leads the business’s company and marketing efforts. Before co-founding TrailBehind, Inc. â the moms and dad 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 University. Anna, at the same time, was actually the designer of TrailBehind systems and, prior to that, had worked at Bing and Silicon Age as an application professional. These days, as Chief development Officer for Gaia GPS, Anna is among primary designers on virtually every job at organization.
Jesse Crocker, somebody and co-founder of Gaia GPS, is paid with building large paths on the Gaia GPS app â such as map servers and infrastructure. Before joining Gaia GPS, Jesse worked as a ski patroller from inside the Sierras, assisting with avalanche control.
What began as a discussed love for nature and backpacking converted into an app containing generated a huge impact on the mapping industry, and helped create lots of enjoying relationships, relationships, and options for significant thoughts.
The application’s useful Features Appeal to electricity Users & individuals who Just love Hiking
Gaia GPS customers feature nature lovers, record-holding backpackers, look and rescue employees, firefighters, Geographic Ideas program groups, among others.
Ashli thinks that element of why is Gaia GPS interest these a variety of people is that the app offers off-line mapping and specialized tracking features. Oftentimes, customers might not realize they don’t really have to have cellular phone solution to benefit from these characteristics.
“They think that maps tend to be useless when they climbing someplace off cellular phone service. But that’s far from the truth,” Ashli said. “We really allow folks download these maps onto their own mobile phones before they allow, as well as your telephone has actually a GPS processor inside it, so as very long just like you download this chart, the cellphone knows where you’re, and it will show you throughout the chart with no cellphone or websites.”
Another exciting Gaia GPS feature allows users to record and monitor a complete hike. People may just take photos, log range details, and discuss their particular exact course with others. Energy users usually take pleasure in these features because they offer the opportunity to discuss brand new ways and escapades with similar backyard enthusiasts.
Gaia GPS Hiking software and Hiking Maps tend to be obtainable on iOS and Android plus the website.
The website additionally serves as a handy expansion of application and allows for smooth syncing and data back-up involving the website and mobile devices. People may also see on-line maps, control data, look for travels, and develop snap-to-trail tracks that sync straight back into their units.
Research & protection Aids enable you to utilize the Wild
Ashli and also the entire group at Gaia GPS are happy with that plenty specialist teams came to count on the application â especially those in the look and rescue society. Ashli asserted that knowing the app helps save yourself lives provides her a feeling of pleasure.
“I happened to be merely touring and went into a look and recovery class during a training, and I requested them when they planned to decide to try the app away. And additionally they were currently utilizing it.” Ashli informed us. “They raved about how user-friendly truly and just how a lot cash they are saving simply by using Gaia GPS. Plus, we supply the look and relief neighborhood a nice rebate.”
Along with his role as a backcountry tips guide, Jonathan Preuss in addition functions as a search and rescue volunteer. He recalls enough time he obtained an urgent situation require a hiker lost on Devil’s Bedstead East in Idaho. The guy straight away unwrapped the Gaia GPS.
“we saw the look appear in, pulled right up my Gaia application, made certain I got that map protected, and turned about and went back on the trailhead,” he mentioned.
This story had a happy closing, as reported from the Gaia GPS blog. “a chopper travelled by right after the phone call and identified the missing out on hiker, but, by that point, Jonathan had currently started up the path. The capability to easily access digital maps from a mobile device enables search and rescue volunteers like Preuss to respond rapidly and more correctly than previously.”
Explore New Passions With enticing Membership Options
Gaia GPS consumers claim that membership has its own advantages. With possibilities suitable for suit partners whom hike sometimes or generally, Gaia GPS goes far beyond to help them find the right experience.
People can choose to gain access to the default chart throughout the software free-of-charge. The default chart is bound to 1 origin â Gaia Topo, and members can install maps for traditional use.
Ashli asserted that Gaia GPS shines for folks who go fully into the backcountry. “Gaia GPS features better maps and GPS characteristics, and offers all features under their basic account for $19.99 each year, with added maps,” she stated.
Account contains endless packages and the means to access a large number of map sources. The free application provides machine backup of most tracks, photographs, as well as other information. Gaia GPS makes it easy to record information, share trips, and back it-all up. In addition supplies a myriad of backcountry navigation characteristics and personalized settings.
A Gaia GPS Premium membership prices $39.99 per year and is also designed for users who want entry to the world’s most readily useful assortment of specific maps and overlays that can be put on any map.
Gaia GPS user Kalen Thorien defines by herself as a big hill skier and adventurer, and she discovers the application easy to use and worth the money. “Gaia GPS software â get it. This effortlessly will be the handiest maps system and GPS that wont hurt you wallet. Get and offline topo and images, set waypoints, monitor your progress, and discover your local area even although you don’t have service â just about all from the telephone,” she stated in a testimonial on the internet site.
Gaia GPS consumers can subscribe to a totally free publication to stay along with all membership and product enhancements.
Gaia GPS is found on a goal to guide event & Growth
What started jointly couple’s aspire to experience the in the open air with each other is actually gradually getting one of the more common GPS apps on the market. Gaia GPS features seen remarkable growth in income much more people opt for the application as his or her primary resource so you can get the essential of out-of-doors.
“that is an extremely interesting year for people. Over the last six months, our energetic people have doubled to more than 131,000 every month. Largely, the customers start from 20 to 60 years of age,” Ashli stated. “It’s interesting to see the community for this app increase. I am usually amazed to hear about all the various groups of people who are using the app â both domestically and worldwide.”
The Gaia GPS group may be small, but they place their own souls into the work they are doing. As backyard lovers themselves, they have some fulfillment from comprehending that the application affects resides in significant and life-saving techniques. Ashli informed all of us that team is actually focused on supplying first-rate customer service and wishes people to take pleasure from their experience with Gaia GPS.
“Our purpose will be make the software because accessible as you can. So we want to make the onboarding experience quite simple for every users â from the time they install the app to if they go on their excursion,” she said. “That is what we are targeting this current year â specifically with all of of our own individual growth. We actually should make certain that everybody has an excellent, fun, and easy knowledge.”