Apps for the Outdoors

ByMike Moffit

I moved up to Vermont from my hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania about a year and a half ago. It was one of the biggest and best decisions that I have ever made. I originally came for the winter and had not intended to stay for the summer, but as the lakes thawed and the vibrant green leaves consumed the mountains I found that I just couldn’t leave. As that time of the year returns again, I am looking forward to why I fell in love with Vermont.

Before joining the Small Dog team, I really did not utilize the full capabilities of my iPhone, many of which are demonstrated through the use of all of the amazing apps out there. I am looking forward to putting some recently discovered apps to the test and making the most of the outdoors this year. Here are 5 apps for the outdoors that I just can’t wait to use.

As an avid hiker, I am excited about recently discovering the app AllTrails (free). The AllTrails app has more than 50,000 trail guides for hiking, biking and more. Still being relatively new to the area, I find AllTrails’ ability to find trails near me and read reviews on those trails especially helpful. Once I find the trail that I want to hike, I can actually take this app with me as it allows the user to save trail maps offline for on-the-trail use. GPS integration that tracks your path and the ability to share your own photos and reviews allows for a personalized experience.

One of the first things that I noticed when moving to Vermont was the amazing night sky. I have never seen more stars in my entire life! An app that has recently come to my attention was the stargazing app Sky Guide ($1.99). This app allows the user to find stars, constellations, planets, satellites, and more by simply holding your iPhone to the sky. If you’re doing more than just browsing, Sky Guide allows you to search thousands of celestial sights and be guided exactly where to see them simply by following an arrow. With the ability to function without WiFi, data, or GPS signal, Sky Guide can go with you wherever you may roam.

One of the first signs of spring is not only the return of the warmer temperatures, but also the return of migratory birds. This spring, I am looking forward to being out on the trail and easily identifying them using my Audubon Birds Pro ($9.99) app. This app not only allows you to identify them but also gives you an in-depth description including information on appearance, habitat, behavior and more.

You can never be too prepared. With the SAS Survival Guide app ($5.99), I can feel more comfortable taking those overnight camping trips. Based on the training techniques of Britain’s toughest fighting force, the SAS Survival Guide App gives you an in-depth knowledge about the most extreme survival situations in any climate. With the ability to browse through photo galleries and videos based on subjects such as animal tracks, knots and medicinal and poisonous plants this survival guide has you covered in most any life-or-death situation you might find yourself in.

After first moving to Vermont, I was astonished by all of the mountains that surrounded me. What I found even more amazing was the fact that they all had a name. Though I enjoy finding out their names from Vermonters themselves, I find it much more accurate and effective with the use of my newly discovered app, PeakFinder ($3.99). PeakFinder does exactly what it sounds like: it identifies peaks as you hold your iPhone up to them. The great thing about this app is its vast library of peaks (more than 250,000) and the ability to select non-prominent ones using its digital binoculars feature.

I hope this list helps you enjoy the outdoors to the fullest this year!

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