THE FOREST CLASSROOM

Are We There Yet?

Take Advantage of Technology to Enhance the Outdoors

By Anna Berry

After a wet and humid summer, hiking in New Hampshire’s forests this autumn and winter has been a breath of fresh, crisp air. But for every hiker who revels in the quiet of a winding mountain trail, there is a family like mine with children who jump through crunchy leaves and ask “Are we there yet?” barely two feet away from the trailhead.

In the last five years that I’ve hiked with my twins, I’ve learned that we often need a boost along the way—and I don’t mean from the M&Ms I keep on hand to coax a few more steps out of their little legs. I’m talking about a boost of technology.

Since I already carried my smartphone outdoors to take photos, I thought why not put it to use to help find and map trails, interpret what we’re seeing, and learn more about the organizations that care for these beautiful spaces? For my family, hiking and nature apps make the journey more fun and meaningful. There are also hikers with varying abilities and interests who could benefit from adding technology to their outing. Some may want to know how far it is to the next bench for a rest or are curious about the history and science of a granite boulder along the trail.

These apps tend to offer more information than what’s featured on the trailhead kiosk and on interpretive signs. And while technology won’t replace the need to bring a map and compass on every trip outdoors, it can enrich your adventures across New Hampshire.

Earlier this year, my family visited the Forest Society’s 718-acre Hay Reservation in Newbury. We knew we didn’t have enough time to make it to the top of Sunset Hill, but we were excited to explore a new forest. During our walk, my kids noticed pock marks on the beech trees lining the trail and wondered what they were. Using the Forest Society’s recently launched free mobile app, we learned that the marks were caused by the beech scale insect, which introduces fungus into the tree’s cambium, a layer of living tissue underneath the bark, by sucking up the tree’s sap. We also noticed carvings people made in the tree bark. I told my kids about following Leave No Trace principles when we venture outside and why carvings like this can hurt trees. Realizing the damage it can do, my kids wanted to come up with their own PSAs about how to respect trees. It was getting late, so we used the app to find an interesting place to turn around: a stone wall that once bordered crop fields. I found that it was easier for me to navigate and keep my kids engaged with a mobile guide in my pocket compared to using a map.

The app, which is powered by OuterSpatial, not only features the Forest Society’s 191 forest reservations, but it also includes interpretive excursions, called outings, at some of the most popular properties, including Mount Major in Alton, the Merrimack River Outdoor Education and Conservation Area in Concord, and Madame Sherri Forest in Chesterfield. Available on both iPhone and Android devices, the app includes offline mapping and navigation, and it is accessible even without a cell phone signal.

OuterSpatial helps park agencies and nonprofits across the country publish

Jake Berry helps his six-year-old twins find the end of the Lower Pond Trail at Champlin Forest in Rochester on the Forest Society’s Mobile App.

Online:

You can learn more about how to download and use the app at forestsociety.org/app.

their recreation information via web and mobile devices. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you can also find trails in communities across the country. While there are numerous navigation and recreation apps available on smartphones these days, I find it most helpful—and accurate—to use apps and other information provided directly by the organizations that manage the trails you plan to visit.

The app also offers users the opportunity to participate in activities like the 5 Hikes Challenge. For the first time, registered participants could check in at their selected destinations, track their hiking progress, and also share updates and photos from the trail.

Of course, there are downsides to the technology that fuels so much of our lives. Many hikers opt to leave their map and compass at home and rely on their phones for directions. When these devices lose service or the battery dies, rescuers are often needed to assist hikers out of the woods. That’s why officials from New Hampshire Fish & Game and U.S. Forest Service recommend always bringing a map and a compass in addition to other essential items. Multiple options for navigation are best.

To add an additional level of protection as you hike in New Hampshire from year to year, officials recommend purchasing a Hike Safe card. This nominally priced insurance covers hiking rescue fees, though individuals may still be liable for expenses if their actions are deemed negligent. The card is $25 a year for individuals or $35 for a family, and proceeds support the New Hampshire Fish and Game search-and-rescue program.

So even though technology is not a cure for my twins’ “are we there yet?” complaints, it does help make our outdoor adventures safer and more enjoyable. Happy hiking!

Finally, mobile maps you can access without cell service. (Always remember to bring a paper map and compass, too.)

Anna Berry is the digital outreach manager for the Forest Society.