A Trek Across Maine example from Team DeLorme
With the Trek Across Maine approaching in just a couple of days I wanted to make sure you all know how to use our Earthmate app to turn your mobile device into a powerful mapping, tracking, and navigating handheld GPS… even if you don’t own one of our inReach Explorers!
As many of you know, the inReach SE and inReach Explorer both provide access to our Earthmate app and offer messaging, tracking, mapping, and safety features to people who travel outside of cell phone range. The inReach allows you to stay connected with friends, family, and even search and rescue should an emergency occur. On top of that, the inReach Explorer model offers Navigation features including the ability to use waypoints and routes with the Map and Compass pages as well as the ability to view trip information while traveling.
We recently updated our Earthmate app to support these Navigation features and, as part of that effort, we included the ability to purchase the app all by itself. This allows users to take advantage of the Earthmate app for mapping, navigation, and tracking. It also gives them access to DeLorme’s Explore web portal for trip planning and for sharing activities with friends and family.
Since DeLorme is a sponsor of the Trek Across Maine and the event is coming up this Father’s Day weekend, I thought I’d walk you all through the process I took to set up my Earthmate app, plan for the bike ride, and share the information with friends and family. They will all be following along as my daughter and I ride the three day, 180 mile cycling event!
The first step in setting up the Earthmate app involves going to DeLorme’s website to make the purchase. The app only costs $29.95 if you purchase direct from us. It’s worth the price for anyone looking for DeLorme’s highly detailed topographic data for all of North America. We also include NOAA nautical charts for the U.S. and our detailed world base map. There is a required annual renewal of $14.95 that covers cloud storage and map updates so you’ll always have the latest topographic data from DeLorme.
After purchasing the Earthmate app I went to the Explore site and created an account for planning and reviewing my Earthmate app activity. Users create their account on the Explore site first in order to set up their account email and password before logging into the Earthmate app installed on their mobile device.
Once I had purchased the Earthmate app and created my account on the Explore website, I was able to download the Earthmate app from the App Store and install it on my iPhone.
After logging into the Earthmate app, I followed the instructions for downloading topographic maps for the state of Maine, so I could use them during the Trek.
With the basic Earthmate app setup complete I wanted to get the route and waypoint information for the Trek installed. I visited the American Lung Association’s website and downloaded the GPX files they had available. I used the Import feature on the Explore website to add the routes and waypoints to my account. I used the map tools to change the waypoint symbols and the route colors so that I could best use the Trek data during the ride.
When I was finished, I opened the Earthmate app on my iPhone and was pleased to see all the waypoints and routes I just created were automatically sync’d and appearing on my map. Now how cool is that?!
Now that I have added all of the Trek information to my Earthmate app, I am ready to use the waypoints and routes while riding from Sunday River to the sea!
I’ll be able to choose the Day 1 route from the Routes page and see the distance to the next rest stop on the Map page as well as the bearing to the next turn on the Compass page.
I’ll also be able to record a high detail track line showing exactly where I rode while also recording all of my trip statistics, so I can see my distance traveled and my average moving speed. The trip statistics show me the individual day’s stats as well as the stats for the entire event.
One of the most exciting features available with the Earthmate app and the Explore website is the ability to sync all of the information created during my ride back to the Explore site every ten minutes while I’m within cellular or wifi range. This means that any of our friends, family, or fund raising sponsors can follow along on our MapShare page to see how my daughter and I are doing during the Trek. Any waypoints I create, the route we’re navigating, and the high detail tracking data are all sent back to the Explore site to be displayed on our MapShare page. All I have to do is share the MapShare page link with people before I head out on the ride. When we’re done with the Trek we can check out our Explore site to see all our track summaries and use any new waypoints created to plan for next year’s Trek!
You can follow the Trek Across Maine and several riders including Team DeLorme by going to the Trek’s MapShare page. Note: The page won’t start updating until Friday morning when the riders all head out onto the route.
https://share.delorme.com/TrekAcrossMaine2015
Hopefully this Trek Across Maine example of how you can turn your phone into a handheld GPS has proven informative. You can imagine all the ways you can plan backpacking trips or sailboat outings or bird hunting adventures etc. Some of you might have GPX data to import while others will create new waypoints while you’re in the backcountry. If you have access to cellular coverage, your tracking data will upload right away. If you’re further into the wilderness, your data will be stored in the Earthmate app and uploaded once you return to cell range. Take it from Team DeLorme – wherever your next outing takes you, we’re sure the Earthmate app will prove useful!
Thanks for reading along,
Chip Noble
Team DeLorme
Okay, for those that have made it this far… here are the answers to the top questions I’ve been seeing on the Earthmate app:
The Earthmate app is available direct from DeLorme for $29.95 which covers the first year’s subscription to the topographic and NOAA nautical charts.
After the first year there is a required annual renewal of $14.95 for the cloud storage of your data and to have continued access to DeLorme’s maps.
InReach Explorer users have access to all of the Earthmate app features as part of their purchase, there are no additional charges for them to use the features I’ve described.
InReach SE users can choose to purchase the Navigation features available in the Earthmate app for $29.95, they do not have to pay the annual renewal for the data since that is included in the SE configuration of the Earthmate app.
Be sure to use battery saving features like Airplane Mode to get the best battery life from your phone if you want to track your entire trip. I turn off any other apps that I don’t need and I turn off my phone’s display when I don’t need to see my map. Tracking will continue even if the app has been moved to the background.
I strongly recommend a rugged case for your phone, I use http://www.lifeproof.com, their cases are waterproof and ruggedized and slim enough to fit in your pocket.
Carry a battery pack for multi-day trips, it will give you peace of mind to track all day if you can charge up at night. I recommend http://www.goalzero.com and their Venture30, good size for the charging capability.
I’ll continue to expand on this list as questions come in from this post. Please check back or post a comment of your own here and I’ll reply.
Filed under: Earthmate App, Tips & Tricks Tagged: Cycling, DeLorme, Maine, Tracking, Trek Across Maine