Introduction
Thru-hiking is one of the most difficult and arduous hikes a hiker can complete. With a typical thru-hike taking place over the span of multiple months, and over thousands of miles, relying on your smartphone for navigation, emergency services, and other necessities is almost a must.
However, since the release of Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store in 2008, hundreds of thousands of apps have been release. And knowing which app to download for your particular needs can be just as difficult. That is why, below, we are going to review the best apps for thru-hiking to download today on both iOS and Android devices.
What is Thru-Hiking?
Interestingly enough, the concept of a thru-hike does not have a set definition. Rather, the unofficial definition of a thru-hike is a hike through either the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (AT), the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), or the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) in its entirety in one hike.
However, the above listed hikes are all found within the United States. Outside of the United States, the unofficial thru-hikes are the Te Araroa in New Zealand, the Camino de Santiago is Spain, the Via Francigena in France and Italy, the Lycian Way in Turkey, and the Great Divide Trail (GDT) in Canada.
Although a thru-hike does not have a set, official definition, it is generally defined and understood as an end-to-end hiking trip on a long-distance hiking trail.
For the three trails in the United States, the Appalachian Conservancy Trail runs more than 2,100 miles, from Georgia through Maine. The Pacific Crest Trail runs more than 2,600 miles from Mexico to Canada. And the Continental Divide Trail runs over 3,000 miles between the United States border with Chihuahua, Mexico and the border with Alberta, Canada.
What is the Purpose of a Thru-Hike?
In a similar vein to the purpose of hiking in general, thru-hiking is seen as the pinnacle of all hikes. Due to its arduous nature, long-distance, and time required to complete, finishing a thru-hike is a monumental achievement and one that few other hikers have successfully completed.
Per the Appalachian Conservancy Trail, only 1 in 4 hikers who attempt to complete the thru-hike are successful. And for seasoned hikers who have already completed difficult, arduous, and long-term hikes and camping trips, completing a thru-hike may be seen as the final frontier on the hiking journey.
Lastly, the real allure of completing a thru-hike may lie in the simple fact that it is the ultimate escape from the modern world. With a typical thru-hike taking five months or more to complete, a thru-hike is one of the ultimate escapes from modern living and leaves hikers to fend for themselves in the great outdoors.
How to Prep for a Thru-Hike
Completing a thru-hike is no easy task. And, as such, proper prep and considerations need to be made before embarking on the hike. Below, we’ve listed a few tips on how to best prepare for a thru-hike:
- Get Fit First – before embarking, and to successfully complete, a thru-hike you should be in tip-top shape for the long-distance and difficult nature of the hike. Ideally, you should complete a series of smaller hikes to acclimate yourself to the nature of hiking. Similarly, three-months before your trip you should begin practicing by hiking your planned daily distance while wearing a hiking backpack of similar weight as you plan to carry during your thru-hike.
- Make a Plan – thru-hiking is dangerous and could potentially be deadly. As such, you should make a plan before embarking on your trip and providing that itinerary to others. This will not only keep you honest and motivated to meet your goals but will give your family and friends a general idea of where you will be on your route.
- Carry Less Weight – completing a thru-hike is unlike any other hike you’ve completed. So, you should plan accordingly. Whereas a typical backpacking or hiking trip requires carrying multiple items, including enough food items for your trip, a thru-hike is more likely to be successful if you are carrying less items. The less you pack, the more efficiently you’ll be able to cover ground and the less impact you will put on your body.
- Budget Accordingly – perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of a thru-hike is the mere fact that you will be out of work for upwards of 6-months. As such, you should ensure that you not only budget for the thru-hike but also ensure that you have a little extra for when you complete your hike. In terms of averages, most hikers budget roughly between $2-$15 per day for their thru-hike.
- Carry a First Aid Kit – while we always hope that you’ll never need to use one, carrying a sufficiently packed first aid kit well help you to tend to injuries quickly and well ensure that your injuries, scrapes, and burns can be mended, allowing you to continue and complete your hike.
- Carry a Satellite Communication Device – while carrying, and using, your cell phone for GPS, navigation, communication, and for taking pictures is helpful, there will be long stretches within the hike where cellular signal is nonexistent. To overcome this, particularly in an emergency, we always and highly recommend carrying a satellite communication device. These devices can maintain a constant contact to emergency services and can be used to call for help in case of severe injury.
- We recommend the Garmin GPS Map 66i specifically for thru-hiking. Although costly, the Garmin GPS Map 66i features a large, 3-inch sunlight-readable color display for easy viewing. You are also able to trigger an interactive SOS signal 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. In addition, via the global iridium satellite network, you are able to send two-way text messaging from anywhere in the world. And with topographical maps available for download onto the device, you will be able to pinpoint your exact location and navigate the upcoming trail with ease.
Best Apps for Thru-Hiking
All Trails – without a doubt, the single best hiking app for either iOS or Android devices is All Trails. With over 200,000 trails and hikes that can be downloaded for offline use onto your phone or device, All Trails allows you to easily and efficiently navigate your trail. And with waypoint, facility, and weather information, the All Trails app will ensure you’re prepared for your upcoming stretch of hiking on your thru-hike.
ToPo Maps+ – ToPo Maps+ is another great option for thru-hiking and is comparable to All Trails. Available for both iOS and Android devices, ToPo Maps+ allows for offline map downloading, recording of a hike or track, and location data and a built-in compass. With the premium subscription, you are also able to receive proximity alerts, line of sight details, and are able to view your progression on the trail.
Picture This – Plant Identifier – nothing can derail a successful thru-hike as quickly as a bad rash. And whether it is from poison ivy or any other dangerous plant, it is important to be able to identify the plants around you. With Picture This – Plant Identifier, you are able to identify dangerous and safe plants while on your hike.
First Aid: American Red Cross – the American Red Cross provides a helpful, free app that can provide you with lifesaving information at your fingertips. With important information on how to best treat and handle common first aid situations, you will be prepared to deal with and mend any injuries immediately.
Star Walk – nothing truly explains the magnificence of the world around us and the stars overhead quite like an overnight hike. However, if you are wondering what stars and constellations are directly overhead, then the Star Walk app is for you. A beautifully designed app, Star Walk will become your interactive guide to the night sky. Defining and detailing the sky overhead, you’ll be able to explore over 200,000 celestial bodies in real time with extensive information.
Peak Visor – with the Peak Visor app, you’ll be able to identify mountain peaks and ranges within your line of view. Utilizing state of the art AI technology, simply wave your phone in the direction of the mountain peak and you’ll be given a plethora of information on the mountain, including name and elevation information. And with everything able to work offline, you can easily identify mountain peaks and upcoming trails with ease.
Best FAX Solution While Thru-Hiking
Although sending a fax message has been phased out in recent years for email messaging solutions, faxing a message still remains one of the best, most secure, and most efficient methods to send a message.
In addition, without a strong cellular signal, many email attachments may get lost or fail to send to the proper recipient. That is why we recommend utilizing a fax service while you are on a thru-hike.
We personally recommend CocoFax as one of the best faxing services currently available. With CocoFax, you are able to send timely and important messages with lightning speed and can even do so on either an iOS or Android device.
To send a fax with CocoFax from your phone, simply follow the below steps:
- Open the web browser of your choice on your phone
- Sign-up for CocoFax here
- Once you have successfully registered your account, simply select the option that says, “+New Fax” to send a fax message
- Enter the fax number of the receiver. In addition, you can also add multiple fax numbers to multiple recipients if you choose
- Hit the send button!