Trails in the White Mountains are well marked by paint on trees or rocks, known as blazes. The most common blaze you will find is a white-paint one. Side trails are often marked with blue paint, and yellow used for trails that are not part of the Appalachian Trail. Above timberline, cairns (piles of rocks) mark the trails. While generally easy to follow, trail markings can sometimes be obscured, especially with bad weather or snow. That's why we recommend you know how to use a map and compass to navigate the trail. Watch the videos below for a quick introduction.
We also provide you with a free one-year premium membership to Gaia GPS, which you can use on the trail to help you navigate effectively. Scroll down to find instructions on how to redeem your membership and a link to a video playlist explaining how to use the app.
IMPORTANT: Previously, in this email we shared GPX files of the trek stages, which could be used in your Gaia GPS app. This is no longer the case, as we are moving to a new method of sharing GPS files in your client portal that will allow us to personalize these files to your trek. In the final weeks before your trip start, we will place a document in your client portal that contains these GPX files, as well as instructions on how to save them to your Gaia GPS app.
Best regards,
Pygmy Elephant
With your Gaia GPS premium membership, you can download maps for offline use and see your position relative to trail. Follow the steps below to redeem your membership on your desktop or laptop computer, save the routes to your profile, and then download the Gaia GPS mobile app.
Note: Gaia GPS provides this promotional membership for new accounts, and it can therefore be redeemed only once per account.
Reminder: The GPX files and GPS app we provide are excellent resources to help guide your way, but they should not be relied upon exclusively. Conditions on the trail can change in real time. Please stay aware of your surroundings, use common sense, and always follow posted signs and waymarkings for any deviation. You are ultimately responsible for your safety and decisions while hiking. Be sure to read any communications you receive from our team, as these may contain important updates.
Desktop or Laptop Instructions
Using your desktop computer or laptop, click the button below to redeem your membership. You will be prompted to make a new account or log in.
Now you can log in on your phone. Download the Gaia GPS app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store by clicking one of the banners below, then open it and sign in with your account information. If your data does not sync automatically, click here for instructions on how to troubleshoot the issue.
For more information on how to use the Gaia GPS app, watch the video playlist linked below.
For inquiries regarding your specific itinerary, please contact your group leader or key travel builder. If you have any questions about the content of this email, feel free to reply here.
Pygmy Elephant, 306 S Washington, Royal Oak, MI 48067
