V9E7: Exploring with GAIA GPS 

I am so envious of you. I wish I had discovered RU-vid channels a long, long time ago.I am confined to a wheelchair now and I am 76 years old. Had I discovered your lifestyle when I was a younger man and healthier, I’d have adopted your lifestyle for my own. You are so adventurous, so exciting. I have especially enjoyed your travels in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. They are, by far, my favorite parts of this wonderful and beautiful country of ours. On the very top of my list is Utah. Please continue with your-top-of-the-line videos. I may not be able to get out there and live a lifestyle such as yours now, but I can tagalong with you and I do so very much appreciate that. Stay safe out there!! Oh and give a big hello to Cole. He seems like a great young man and appears to love it when he can joins his Dad on his great adventures. Once again, safe out there. Bye for now, George.

Extremely well done, professional and articulate.

You read my mind. I needed this information. Perfect timing, Chris!

One of the best overviews of Gaia I’ve seen. Really helps that you have so much experience. It took me a long time to understand that Gaia was not good for directional guidance. Great episode!

A lifesaving vlog from my fave channel - cannot wait time watch!

What a helpful guide to Gaia! Thanks for taking the time. It'll help me get started.

Chris, You have done it again. You are an excellent teacher and we appreciate your time and effort. You never disappoint us. May your journey be filled with joyous memories and experiences. Stay safe.

FANTASTIC! My favorite of your non-travel videos. I have GAIA GPS and have not used it much and this was perfect to help me get real value from the ap. Thanks Chris!

Most value I have gotten from a single youtube video. Thank you!! Just subscribed to Patreon.

Thanks for the great tips Chris👍 Happy travels soon!

Just found your site and gotta say that your video is fantastic. You were very articulate and concise.

I really appreciate your navigation episodes Chris. I've just purchased and activated my first Garmin (the mini 2) and I'm now using GAIA GPS for navigating to my adventures. You've really helped me to see the value of these navigation aids - thank you for passing along what you've learned over the years to the rest of us.

Great info on GAIA, thank you Chris. I’ve been a subscriber for a couple years and really appreciate both this info and all you do - hope you get back on the road soon!

Chris, great video. Probably one of the most interesting ones you have done. Nice to see how you use Gaia ga ve me some great ideas as well. Hope you will be able to get out and about very soon. You have some great friends to let you hold up there during this time. Stay safe and can’t wait for you to hit the road again.

1) I'm proud to recognize a lot of the places you've traveled - I say "life is short, get out and do s#!t." 2) Pretty sure you/ Chris led me towards Gaia about 1 year ago and it has been awesome. I used it today to get us out of Dominguez Canyon, a pretty well traveled area but it was good to know what was beyond what I knew and/ or could see. Thanks Gaia!

Thanks, Chris. Enjoyed the demo!

Love the way you categorize waypoints.

Thank you Chris. Very informative and useful. Thank you for walking us through this. 🇺🇸👍

You're very organized. I imagine having things to while camped helps stay productive. I appreciate all the points you made here. I'm travelling as soon as possible and using this tool will be more easy now.

Very good! This is the kind of teaching that the outdoors person needs on YT.

Great video Chris, very informative. Keeping it open or as I like to call it "winging it"! I can always back track as long as the fuel situation allows. We're almost on the road again. Stay safe Perry

Thanks Chris! The episode I wanted to see because I was curious to see if we were using the same layers. Just added USFS Roads and Trails. Use your Waypoints on Patreon, but might have to jump to the next level. 🙌🏻

I just got my tab s 6 and was watching your gaia video from two years ago. Crazy your new video is gaia related.

I'm new to Gaia and this video was very helpful in getting started! Thank you Sir

An awesome overview Chris! Just what I need. I subscribed to GAIA last year and haven't really used it much. I will have to rewatch this video multiple times to grasp what I need to know. Some good organizational tips for starters. I have a Google Spreadsheet I am looking to upload as a GPX file for waypoints and am struggling with that aspect of things. Finding a good GPX Editor is part of the problem. However, I will persevere and figure it out thanks to your inspiration here. FYI, I am in Canada and have the Backroad Mapbooks Canada downloaded as well. Have used the print versions for many years and a re a great source of info. So, thanks muchly for sharing this video, I for one really appreciate it. Hopefully this Covid thing is gone soon and you can get back on the road once again. Till next time, tay safe and healthy.

Awesome Chris! I’ve been hoping you would do this. I was especially wondering which layers you use and now I know. 👍🏻

We use Gaia for all our Offroad travels. We rely heavily on this program. In our opinion, it is the best resource available. We did learn some addition functionality from watching your video. Thanks for that.

Thanks Chris, have a great week!

Thanks Chris, I'm going to give the app another look after seeing this. Very informative review. Stay healthy!

Chris ..THANKS! I’m sure you have likely covered this Gaia use info before but now I think I finally get it. Your techniques for settings, downloads and general usage complementing the more standard GPS take-me-to a destination device/software makes sense. I’ve paid little attention to this point since my wife is our director and navigator. Now seeing your use of tracking for historical perspective makes even more sense. I’m planning on coupling that with dash cam footage for a more complete travel log. Can’t come up with any other way to fix all of my photos and video in time or geographically. Thanks for the detail share. Stay safe.

6 months ago I went from Garmin Inreach to Garmin Montana 700i. Makes hiking and exploring much easier. Thanks for the video

Thanks Chris! Just what I was wanting to see. Explore on!!!

Outstanding video. Loved every part and barely skipped any which is saying something.

Great info Chris. You inspire us to explore.

This is by far the best lecture on Gaia GPS👍🏻

Thank you for posting this video! I totally wasn’t fully utilizing my Gaia premium membership. I had noticed in some of your previous videos that you had the MVUM on but I had no idea what map layer that was. Also the Public lands overlay. Very helpful tutorial on how to fully utilize Gaia to it’s fullest! Can’t wait until you get off the grid again.

HI Chris! Another great vid! Thank you!

The wife and I have loved watching your adventures, and now we are planning our own. This episode was extremely helpful, so thank you for your geekery, lol.

Very useful overview! Quality stuff right here.

Thanks Chris, this was most of what I was looking for, and a lot of what I didn't know I needed to know about Gaia! I've been working with their tech support for over a year to try and refine the issues around taking pictures within the app (while traveling a trail) and then not being able to export or download the pictures.

Great overview ,very well explained operation of the system.

Awesome episode Chris!!! We’ve been using a Bad Elf GPS with our non-cellular Ipad - but I recently died!! You have sold us on the InReach - does the same thing as the BadElf, but MORE!! Whenever you get back to B.C. (Canada) - we hope you will allow us to show you a few spots - we think you’ll love! Just in case, you were parked across from us (and have us on video) at the Northwest Overland Rally in Plain WA. Hope you get back this way one day!!

Love the hidden "can sandwich be haunted" and "jeep eyelash headlight" easter eggs in the browser tabs, haha! Great episode, as usual, Chris!

For some fun when leaving Phoenix, go up through Payson, then take the back roads toward Flagstaff. Lots of back roads, lakes, etc. Have fun and be safe!

Thanks for the very informative video. Good thinking and a well done presentation. David from the Gold Country of California

great video. we are looking forward to becoming patreons and checking out your routes!

Very well explained in detail. always appreciate your tutorials. Really enjoyed your video on the Alu-Cab Camper. It is cost prohibitive for me right now. I have a Tacoma TRD Pro & would love to have one & start exploring & adventuring.......Someday! Safe Travels & Stay Well!

Super helpful!!! Thanks Chris👍🏼👍🏼

Thanks Chris, very helpful!

Chris-Excellent tutorial! Hey, if you end up stuck in the house much longer and need some more how-to topics I would love to see one about getting started in overlanding. Specifically I've been interested in learning about the community, rallies that are available, your favorite web resources, and some of the necessary vehicle mods for safe off-roading. Tons of topics with all of this but would love to see your spin on this for newbies.

Chris, this is an incredibly helpful video. Thanks for taking the time to do it. On my Samsung tablet running Android, the gaia gps root folder can be moved over to a micro SD card allowing massive storage capacity. I have a 256 mb card in right now. One of the small benefits of running an android tablet, however, I feel like the iOs interface is much more intuitive and going back and forth between android and apple operating systems will always be clunky.

Thank you for the évasion Chris !

Hi Chris! As you demonstrated how to import to Gaia GPS, I saw that you had come down highway 138-“The Umpqua Highway” (from Crater Lake/Diamond Lake) to Roseburg, Oregon, where I reside. That 75 mile stretch of road is filled with some of the most scenic landscape I’ve ever seen with many spurs, hiking trails (“the North Umpqua Trail”) and stunning waterfalls. I’m very glad you were able to see some of what I enjoy every day. Best always to you-I look forward to each episode, and vicariously are with you in every adventure. Stay well.

You're going to love that end of the Coconino!

Great video. Thanks. It was honestly very helpful with the Gaia. Always need a break, but if you're questioning whether you should continue this break or get back on the adventure, this is my 2 cents. If someone's questioning if it's safe to travel on at this point, they're best suited in a tour bus, not a Jeep. Carry onward. 😁👍

Hey there, Jason from Maryland here. Keep on truckin'

I am so glad you made this video thank you

Great tutorial. Thank You & God Bless.

Good tutorial. Thanks!

Thanks for helping me understand what Gaia GPS is useful for 😎

Chris, you are an outstanding instructor! You answered a few of my 1000+ questions which gives me some understanding of the GAIA GPS. I use an android , Samsung S10e, and want to get a tablet or pad to use for overlanding, certainly not to the extent you've experienced due to my situation. If you ever offer seminars or classes on this subject in Virginia or close enough for me to travel to, please put the word out to your subscribers. I am definitely considering becoming a patreon.

I was good to the geekery. Eyes glazed over and then the video was done. I'll have to purchase this set up and then revisit this video. Thanks

Very good information thanks for the video 👍

Much needed info! Been wondering how to use Gaia with my WiFi iPad on the trail and was ignorant about the option of pairing with my InReach!

Excellent overview. I love Gaia premium. I find here in VA I use USFS 2016 topo often. Tend to use the same overlays you do but also find VA Wildlife Management Area overlays useful since primitive camping is allowed there.

that was a great video thanks for the tips

Thanks! Another great video.

Great episode about the "How" of the exploration process. No doubt you need the resources if you want to explore. I bike a lot and use a program called Ride With GPS, which tracks and generates turn by turn into for cycling. Can also be used for hiking and driving. Free, though the paid version is worth it. Also well integrates with Garmin cycling computers. I just subscribed to Gaia based on this episode, thx Chris, all the good in info.

I recommend traveling East to the White Mountains of Arizona, a lot of history and beautiful. Also check out the General Crook Trail.

Great instructional video... really appreciate the insight from an expert user...

exceptionally helpful post about GAIA. I was introduced to GAIA via your first post however many years ago. Have had a mixed bag of success and frustration with it. I am headed for Alaska for the month of June and am trying to get through downloading and organizing files so that I have them offline. If you interested in buddy travel to Alaska let me know. I am going solo.

I've had Gaia premium for a couple years now and am still trying to use it more. Not Gaia's fault, just my ADD learning. I do appreciate that they are making constant improvements and adding new layers, while keeping constant maintenance to keep it as lightweight as possible. As far as I know, Android wifi tablets all have GPS built in, unlike Apple iStuff.

That was an excellent tutorial Chris! I wonder what the learning curve is on using this system.

Great explanation of Gaia GPS - 101. Whens the next course for Gaia - lol

tq very much Chris

When you head into Tonto, I would recommend checking out Tonto Natural Bridge. It’s a neat little state park with a short hike to the natural bridge (cave). I once left my DSLR there (with permission) overnight taking a time lapse of the stars while looking out thru the cave entrance. I came back in the morning and retrieved my camera and also one of my favorite time lapse shots of all time.

I'm not a computer guy...but I've managed to get a fairly solid grasp on Gaia use. I used Gaia to follow Chris's path in North Carolina. I learned 1st hand that 4x4 doesn't mean difficult 4 low area....then the next 4x4 track means hold up!! Serious off road track!! Loved it! Even though Chris was there before me and helped point the way I still felt like I was discovering new areas. The Gaia saved track might show a strait line at a split in the road. Go the wrong way and you'll see your icon floating away from the path. Overall it's a good app.

Thanks for the info... just now diving into Gaia and using for local adventure. Keep up the great content, hang in there and cut that hair!! It grows back! :-)

Super helpful; subscibed!

Your right Chris, planning takes the adventure out of the adventures. The thrill is, not knowing what is over the next horizon. That's why I suggest next time using Gaia's best feature. You start, first by pushing the off button and use your 6th sense. Oh yeah, I forgot this could land you in some real adventures, on some trail or land, where your not supposed to be, or in some rough terrain with a threat of running out of gas, or even getting lost! Now that sounds like an adventure!!! Hey! All joking aside, your the Best! Blue Skies & Green Lights. Let's be safe out there...what about the weather???

Thanks Chris😎👍

Very interesting and it looks like I will need to make an investment in technology. Thanks, Bob

Im a longtime casual user of gaia gps and was really looking forward for you talking about this software :) thanks it was very interesting to watch

I really like the Map Box Outdoors HD map as a base.

Thanks Chris, very helpful. I’m in Phoenix and would love to meet up with you.

Spend plenty of time in Payson. Then be sure you go up to the escarpment area in Apache-Sitgreaves National Park. One of the most amazing places on North America.

Tanks for the 101

Hey chirs this was amazing video im a huge fan and you inspired me to do so much more. This episode really helped me understand Gaia and the maps you used that was always my question. This helped me so much. Thanks!!!! And join the dark side and go with Android....

I think the isolation may be getting to you mate. Haunted Sandwiches and eyelash headlights for the Jeep?!

Great video, thanks for sharing your knowledge. I also have a Jeep but have not found a good way to mount my iPhone and ipad. Can you share what you are using? Thx

I liked your review. Thank you. Do you ever use paper maps or printed road atlases?

Hey. Chris Wednesday was May ,06,2020. 🤣. I’m losing my days as well. 😂🤣

I'm getting to the point that I think an electronic map would be good, if I can figure out how to use it. I'll be 67 this summer & I'm doing more & more day trips. The paper maps are beginning to be an annoyance, but I live on the information cul-de-sac & I know it will be difficult to change over. Today's video was more helpful than you can imagine. Thank you so much for the info, even though I have a headache now. It's an awful lot for an old dog to absorb.

Thanks Chris that's exactly the info I needed, last trip I didn't have enough time to research things and canceled Gaia. These section downloads don't cost extra do they? Everything included in the premium package covers it right?

I suggest to buy ONX maps,it's a hunting app that shows private land, public lands,as well as different layers.it shows the land owner information also which could be handy.they offer a free trial so when you decide to go out again,try it out.

Would love to see you come back east on the Transamerican trail. Or head north and take the trans Canadian trail. Thank you!

I've been using Gaia GPS on my (android) phone for years for mapping trails in my local state game area. It is an essential application for anyone who intends to leave pavement.

just came back from tonto last weekend, check out four peaks and the salt river.

I'm a huge fan of Gaia. I use an android Samsung Tab A 8 which I think they since replaced with a new model but it has GPS/Glonass and cost about 120$ a few years ago. Paired with a 128Gb sim card I can download a bunch of maps.

Can you utilize a Rhino 750 as a WiFi connection for an iPad like you did yours? Great video!