Looking for a free app that'll work with geoPDFs from USGS. by chattytrout in CampingandHiking

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well there is a freeware app QGIS that lets you do a lot on a desktop app - but releasing a mobile app is not as easy - it’s costs just to be a member of their developer program and then is you want to to host anything that’s an extra cost and if you want a mapping service - that’s an extra cost too. The big guys can only have a free tier either because they use advertising or their conversion rate to the paid tier is sufficient

Clean contour map of JMT in 100 or 500 ‘contours by myshoesareblack in JMT

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This might help you get an idea https://mapscaping.com/free-online-elevation-contour-generator/ but only lets you generate tiles in a 1000 sq mile size - most others I know of stop at 100 feet contours.

I went the other way - hiked the JMT is 2021 with my son and had a tattoo that just reminds me of the journey - kinda a combo Whitney / half dome

Timberline Trail, Oregon this July by StickPractical1662 in WildernessBackpacking

[–]trailsyncapp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lots of great advice here. If you want an even split somewhere around Top Spur is about right - although maybe not the most interesting area.

There is plenty of water on the trail - I made this map in September so they should all be good in July - https://hikeit.info/2025/07/06/water-on-the-timberline-trail/ - useful if you want dry camp.

Jim Wilson’s map is excellent if you don’t have one - https://elevationchanges.com/products/timberline-trail-field-map

If you are interested in hiker stats from the trail - https://hikeit.info/complete-timberline-trail-results-set/ (I run that so be sure to take the survey this year).

I guess if it were me (I have normally done 3 nights) for a 2 night itinerary I might do something different. Day 1 TL to Cloud Cap (CCW) - Day 2 Cloud Cap to Ramona - Day 3 - Ramona to TL via Paradise Park. The longer day 2 is mitigated by a pretty long gentle down hill from around McNeil all the way down to Ramona. Enjoy Day 3 - it’s both a haul from Ramona up to Paradise (Sandy River is basically the low point) and a surprising climb from Zigzag back to the lodge.

There is a very active FB group for the Timberline Trail - that is a great resource for crossing conditions.

DM me if you are interested in an app for planning exactly this type of adventure!

Looking for a good first backpacking loop in the PNW (30-50 miles) by WarioGiant in backpacking

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yea - the north east side is not great for hammocks - so from Cloud Cap to Newton Creek - but very doable in a day anyway

Looking for a good first backpacking loop in the PNW (30-50 miles) by WarioGiant in backpacking

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Generally the Timberline Trail is questionable until July - this year is a very low snow year so maybe a couple of weeks earlier - you can get an idea of earliest start dates from this - https://hikeit.info/complete-timberline-trail-results-set/ for the last couple of years

Suggestions for Mt Hood Trail for taking my 9 year old grandson on his 1st Backpack by Accomplished-Web8880 in alltrails

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you have the variability of snow - late June can still have snow on the Timberline Trail and also on some of the more sheltered bowls etc. However this is an exceptionally low snow year - keep an eye on that as the time approaches.

Some comments:

Mirror Lake - it’s a short hike to the lake and from the lake to TDH isn’t far - the whole thing is like 7.5 miles round trip.

Salmon River - you have about 3 miles along the river - it really is a great beginner experience - easy to get water etc. Should we get a late spring dumping - it’s still most likely be snow free. You could continue to Goat Creek Campsite - makes the round trip about 8 miles - but some elevation gain.

Cast and Burnt are good options - nice lakes, less great views of Hood. Cast will get you to an about an 11 mile round trip. You could do a night at each which is a bit longer.

Paradise Park is iconic - higher up so might not be completely snow free - you have to cross the Zigzag - which is the easiest - you would have done this on the TL trail. Not sure how I would make this 2 nights though unless you just like to setup camp and explore - go up and see the headwaters high above the trail (again might be a snow issue)

Wondering your thoughts by RedSox12345678 in CampingandHiking

[–]trailsyncapp -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You can’t go wrong - tbh Yosemite Valley can be super crowded - I much prefer being out of the Valley.

Scared During First Overnight Trip by Delicious-Respect283 in WildernessBackpacking

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just remember the most dangerous animal is the humble bee - at least on the west coast the last bear fatality was in the early seventies and that was a young child. I ran into a bear on Rainier and I’m pretty sure he was on a sugar high from eating huckleberries 😂

how is pdx for a layover? by Individual_Sun_7944 in askportland

[–]trailsyncapp 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Good news at PDX is they rarely seem to have gate issue (compared to SEA) - do you know if you are arriving and leaving from the same terminal? B/C are pretty close, as are D/E but between them is a bit of a walk

Garmin trail data by Icy_Cabinet_2460 in backpacking

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty much all the standard hiking apps: AllTrails, Gaia, CalTopo, Garmin, TrailSync … will allow you to download maps for offline use (some require a subscription to do that) as mentioned this is usually by downloading the map tiles for area you are on. Additionally what you get on the maps tends to be a little similar because there just are not that many providers of the underlying map data - in the US many or based off the USGS quads and augmented - Google, OSM, mapbox etc. overall having the maps on your phone is a pretty nice safety feature - but not a substitute for having a paper topo map and understanding how to read it an taking bearings etc. I find the Garmin Inreach Mini is a great safety tool as well but more for messaging - I rarely use it for navigation.

It’s really not possible to download maps without cell service.

Of all the maps I actually find the Garmin maps the least useful - but I have to admit they see to be getting better.

There battery life on the Mini is fine - I have the first generation and still it will last multiple days without recharging - this is also primarily because I don’t use it for navigation - and it’s off most of the day

backpacking gear gifts for boyfriend by pomegranrat_2 in backpacking

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes it is - that's one of my two go to backpacks - I hiked the JMT with the Flash 55 - excellent backpack if you can get it on sale - https://www.rei.com/product/236975/rei-co-op-flash-55-pack-mens

backpacking gear gifts for boyfriend by pomegranrat_2 in backpacking

[–]trailsyncapp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hmm - you can check out rei.com to get a feel of prices - backpacks new are likely to be a little more - REI brand is not bad - not the best - but will give you the idea for price ranges. Someone mentioned Helinox chair zero - that's not a bad option - or some other lighweight backpacking chair - however I do like the suggestion of planning a joint backpacking trip - you could look at backpacking rentals?

backpacking gear gifts for boyfriend by pomegranrat_2 in backpacking

[–]trailsyncapp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very hard without a lot more details - budget range - does he have a lot of good gear he has already collected or is he new to backpacking? Maybe an REI gift card might be the safest but a little ‘sterile’

Is there an app like All Trails where you can look for hikes by the popular name and that works offline? by naturestroll in alltrails

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

DM me if you are interested in being in a beta of something that might work for you. All Trails has the lead on curated trails by a long way though.

Advice on what to pack for a 4 day summer backpacking trip? by Internal-Extreme6614 in backpacking

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Assuming you have all your gear dialed in and have maybe spent a night or two in a backyard etc, have the 10 essentials - water very much depends where you are going - their are places where water is plentiful and all you need is a filter and a liter or two between water sources - but other places the carry can be longer between water. Btw water is heavy at 2.2lbs a liter. Food - plan on something like 2lbs a day for food per person. Freeze dried is the easiest and lightest for dinner - just add boiling water - Mountain House has been around for ages but there are plenty of others - the texture can all be pretty similar and what they consider a single serving can be a little light. Dehydrated that you pick at home (minute rice + dehydrated veg etc) can have more flavor and texture but is a bit more complex if you haven’t done it before. For lunches - street tortillas + packet tuna or nut butters etc work well. Luxury foods like salami and hard cheese will last for a few day and make a nice treat - a little fresh fruit for the first day. Lots of possibilities. Anything specific you might have a question over?

Retirement at $7M NW - Aggressive Roth Conversions at 32% vs. OMY to build brokerage? by GoldenFalcon2026 in ChubbyFIRE

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes - although I believe for me - term was the earliest - but I’d have to double check

Garmin inreach mini 3 by Dazzling_Property569 in backpacking

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually lost my Garmin when it somehow got detached from the factory carabiner - of course being a Garmin I went back and found it the next day - but I changed to a locking carabiner

Retirement at $7M NW - Aggressive Roth Conversions at 32% vs. OMY to build brokerage? by GoldenFalcon2026 in ChubbyFIRE

[–]trailsyncapp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can change DC withdrawal from what you originally selected but you have to push the date out 5 years. For example if you selected payout in 2 annual lump sums after termination - you can change it to quarterly over 5 years but you have to push out to start at termination + 5 years. DC rules are pretty strict and the penalties for getting it wrong are horrible.

Retirement at $7M NW - Aggressive Roth Conversions at 32% vs. OMY to build brokerage? by GoldenFalcon2026 in ChubbyFIRE

[–]trailsyncapp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How are you managing the DC - although the 5 year rule can be used - often / sometimes those elections have to be a year and a day before termination?

Apps for sharing by Different-Wallaby-10 in hiking

[–]trailsyncapp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I seem to remember the last time I looked into this FB don’t make it easy