Gaia GPS app feature request: Quick estimate of distance/elevation along trail to a destination

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Louden00

• May 23, 2021 14:58

I walked a little over 15 miles along the AT yesterday (with 2044 ft ascent and 4384 ft descent) - which is a VERY good day for me.  Alas, my Gaia GPS app died (and, hence, my track recording stopped) about 2/3rds of the way through the trip.  When track recording works, it is easy to estimate the distance remaining to our destination.  But, when it dies, I am left guessing.

As I walked, it occurred to me that it would be nice if I didn't even have to mess with recording tracks.  Rather, I'd like to just touch a destination on the screen and have the app give me an estimate of the distance (and elevation change) from here to there.

Such a capability might also come in handy in emergency situations when you might be trying to figure out the closet trailhead to go to.

Just an idea.  Hope it helps.

 

   Bob

4

• Official comment

  

  Kristin McLane

  • June 09, 2021 19:48

  Hi @Louden00,
  
  Right now, creating a route is the best way to measure distances in the app.
  
  If you are using Gaia Topo, the new version also displays mileage between points on the trail, which is helpful for estimating distance at a glance. You can learn more about that on our blog:

  • All New Gaia Topo: The Best Backcountry Map Just Got Even Better

  
  I can definitely see how it would be helpful to more quickly and easily measure your distance to a random point though.
  
  We don't have plans for anything like this at the moment, but I do have an open request for this feature and I've added your vote.
  
  Thanks for suggesting this. We will update here if this feature becomes available.
  
  PS - If you are experiencing issues with track recordings stopping, please get in touch with Support so we can help.

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  Louden00

  • May 23, 2021 15:00

  BTW -  I suppose I could just set up a "route" to the destination but I am looking for something that is a little quicker and easier than that process.  Thanks.

   

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  kloudi

  • December 30, 2021 01:42

  1000x this.
  I personally never use the recording mode as I try to conserve phone battery on multi day trips. I tend to just use the app to check my location along the route every so often. I think this is very common amongst long distance hikers.

  Creating a new route to quickly check the distance is quite arduous when there are 30 or so waypoints in the route. (Also snap-to route editing offline seems to just cause the app to crash)

  Gaiagps.com has this feature, and alltrails and komoot both have this feature in their free android app so it's clearly doable. You just need to enable the user to scroll through the elevation/distance graph so that the equivalent position is visible on the map above.

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