March 14, 2024
Gaia GPS
I have begun using this on my android phone (currently a Pixel 6) in lieu of my own "atopo" app.
The biggest reason is Android Auto.
My new (2023) Toyota 4runner supports Android auto and along with Gaia, I can get high quality
maps displayed on the center console of my vehicle. This is unbelievably useful.
I investigated the idea of adapting my own android app to work with Android Auto, but there
is an "allowed list" of eligible apps, and I am skeptical of getting approval and too lazy
to investigate ways to bypass the restrition.
So far Gaia has been excellent and for the money (I have a premium subscription) it saves me
time and seems to have better map data in many areas than the USGS topos I use in my own app.
My premium subscription costs me $39.99 per year (for 2023 to 2024).
Password hassle
See below under "Snooze" for the so called fix for this.
Again on September 11, 2024, the terrorists struck and I was confronted with another
denail of service, as described below.
On September 1, 2024, I was at the trailhead wanting to launch Gaia and it asks me for my
password. It tells me this was some wonderful thing getting me hooked up to Outside, which
I could care less about. Also I was faced with two issues. One is that I have no record with
me of my password -- the other is that it seems to expect an internet connection. This kind
of stupid nonsense for a "backcountry" oriented app is almost criminal. It certainly meant
that I had to do without the app and maps for the data. The moral of the story is that you
always need backup maps on paper (and we had them). I am now home and have typed in my password,
but if it is going to ask me to login every time I start the app, that will be the end of my
relationship with Outside and Gaia.
To partly help myself for the future, I decided to find some kind of notepad app and then keep
my Gaia password on my phone. This won't fix the issue of needing internet access to authenticate,
but gives a partial plan B when I want to use Gaia in the field. Notepad apps are another hassle.
I have restarted my phone twice now and Gaia is not asking for my password, so maybe this was a
one time hassle and I am going to be OK now.
Snooze
After my second denial of service from Gaia, I was pretty upset. The need to keep my password handy
at all times and have a network connection pretty much kills this app to my way of thinking.
Accordingly I filed a bug report (mentioning that they were likely to face a lawsuit after someone
gets injured or killed in some way related to depending on their backcountry navigation app).
I got a fairly prompt reply, as follows:
The new login flow was designed such that you can 'snooze' the need to re-authenticate for up to 28 days
in the event that you are in the middle of an adventure. If you choose not to 'snooze' the re-authentication flow,
you will not be able to return to that option and will have to re-authenticate with your Outside and Gaia GPS credentials.
They directed me to this article:
I suppose better late than never. I would never have identified "Snooze" with this sort of option.
I try the Snooze (a button in a menu under "more options) and it works! I am back to looking at a map.
But I find no way to now make it ask for the password (which I would like to enter now that I have
a good connection). Maybe it will prompt me tomorrow. How often will it get in some mood to
want the password?
To close the Gaia app, I need to do some non-obvious tricks with my Android Pixel phone.
I swipe up from the bottom of the screen, but keep and hold my finger on screen and wait.
I now see all my apps in miniature from left to right. I pick out Gaia and swipe up on it
and it closes Gaia.
Offline maps
This is absolutely critical for what I do. I have already been in places where Gaia just gives
up and I get a "Gaia not responding) on my vehicle console.
I will note that I have seen several reports of people who were backpacking and had downloaded offline
maps and then had them "vanish" when they were in the field. The story is that you cannot entirely
rely on your phone and Gaia offline maps. You need some kind of backup system.
- Launch Gaia on my phone.
- Find the layers button (lower left on my phone).
- Select Gaia Topo as my map source
- Center an area of interest on the map (I center Tucson, Arizona)
- Click the + button at the lower right
- Select the "box" at the top of the menu that appears
- It says "create area" at the top center. I scroll way out so I can see
the entire state of arizona. I tap the screen and it places a green point.
I tap again and get a line, a third time gives me a triangle, a fourth
time gives me a 4 cornered region. I can drag those points as desired.
- I set up a region that goes a ways into California and New Mexico.
- It does not include the Grand Canyon or Death Valley.
- There is a "Save" button at the upper right.
- It all seems too fast. I never had a chance to specify the level of
detail I wanted.
I try it again:
- I set up a region, as above.
- I click the Save button at upper right (as above)
- This dialog tells me "no maps selected", but that has a submenu, I select it.
- Aha! Here I can choose "Gaia Topo" along with low, medium, or high resolution.
- I pick "high" and then next.
- It says this will be 1.9G and 6,683 tiles
- I click save at the bottom of the dialog.
- To see progress, I use "Saved" at the bottom of the screen.
- Now it says 8426 tiles and seems to have redefined a rectangle that encloses
the polygon I defined, which is fine by me.
- I don't see any way here to see download progress.
- This "Saved" tab does offer the option to delete a downloaded region.
I may just give it several minutes, in case things are in progress and it just isn't doing
anything nice like telling me "download complete". Then I will turn off cell and wifi on
my Pixel and see if Gaia works. It seems to!
Feedback? Questions?
Drop me a line!
Atopo / [email protected]