Vibe-Winter-2425 - Flipbook - Page 32
Vibe’s Choice
8
By Lily Hartman
IDENTIFY, HIKE
PeakFinder - (Android, iOS: $4.99)
www.peakfinder.com • 50k+ ratings • 4.7 stars
MUST-HAVE
PHONE APPS
FOR YOUR WINTER ADVENTURES
Nowadays, it’s hard to come across someone who isn’t
carrying a smartphone, especially while pursuing outdoor
activities. Outdoor enthusiasts have found ways to integrate
smartphones into their favorite outdoor hobbies, whether
that’s by listening to music, texting loved ones their location,
or using apps. There are so many ways to use outdoor apps—
hikers may rely on them for weather updates and navigation
while skiers may use them to track vertical and altitude.
Many of these outdoor apps are free to use, while others
require a monthly subscription or annual fee. As an avid hiker,
I have observed which apps the common outdoor enthusiast
prefers to use. Phone apps should never be relied on completely while outdoors, especially for navigation in the winter,
but they’ve also become a great tool for receiving accurate
data, updated information, and helpful guidance. From the
avid skier to general outdoor enthusiast, here are the best
outdoor apps to use for the most popular outdoor activities
during the cold months.
AVALANCHE FORECASTS, WEATHER, TRIP PLANNING
Avy: Avalanche & Weather Info - (IOS, Android: Free)
www.nwac.us/2023/11/30/the-avy-app
18 ratings • 4.3 stars
Latest update: Version 1.0.9 (May 31, 2024) – 42.3 MB
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Fabio Soldati, founder of
PeakFinder, writes that with
this app, you can “discover
unknown mountain names
through the live image of
your camera.” Soldati created
the app in 2010 when his
sister and her husband
debated a mountain name
while hiking in Switzerland.
Now, PeakFinder has over
50,000 ratings and is used
by hikers from all over the
world, including the White
Mountains. Even without
service, users can use the
high-resolution, 360-degree
panorama display to identify
all mountains and peaks
in their view. I have been
on hikes where I’ve asked
about a mountain range, and
someone immediately pulled
up PeakFinder.
Latest update: Version 4.8.20 (October 22, 2024) – 40 MB
The Avy: Avalanche & Weather
info app offers a comprehensive
platform for accessing critical
avalanche and weather information, currently integrating data
from the Northwest Avalanche
Center (NWAC) and the Sawtooth
Avalanche Center (SAC), with the
Mount Washington Avalanche
Center set to be included this
winter. The app’s streamlined
trip planning capabilities feature
collapsible forecast sections, allowing quick access to zone-specific avalanche forecasts, weather
updates, and station observations.
Key functionalities like offline
caching ensure data remains
accessible, while the intuitive
observation submission tool promotes community data sharing,
even offline. When it comes to
avalanche risks and weather predictions, Avy places all the tools
and information you need right at
your fingertips.
MWVvibe.com
