Navigating The Trails With GPS

In parts of Marji Gesick there’s may not be cell phone service, but thanks to OsmAnd you can have great maps on your phone the whole time.

While the base maps and routes in our Garmin and Wahoo computers are pretty good, it’s good to have a backup map on your phone. This gives you more detail when you need to double check things or if your main unit gets lost descending Stoned Hinge.

Unlike Google or Apple Maps which do offline maps as a secondary feature and don’t display routes well, OsmAnd is designed to show routes and works with maps saved to your phone. It also works perfectly in airplane mode which is important for saving battery during an event like Marji Gesick.

Here’s how to set up OsmAnd with offline maps for navigating Marji Gesick:

1. Download OsmAnd to your phone from Google Play or the Apple App Storeand launch the app.
2. If prompted to download maps when first launching the app, install the maps for Michigan.
3. Download the offline maps (if not already done):
   
   1. Android: Menu → Download Maps → North America → United States of America → Michigan
   2. iOS: Menu → Maps & Resources → North America → United States of America→ Michigan
   3. Touch the download icon for the Standard Maps. (If you have a paid version of OsmAnd consider installing the Contour lines and Hillshadesfor more map detail.)
4. Configure OsmAnd to use the offline maps:
   
   1. Android: Menu → Configure map → Map source… → Offline vector maps
   2. iOS: Menu → Map → Map type, OsmAnd under STYLES FOR OFFLINE MAPS.
      Get the GPS file into OsmAnd:

On Android:

1. Get the correct Marji Gesick GPX file and email it to yourself.
2. Save the file from the email.
3. In OsmAnd, touch Menu → Configure Map → GPX files… → ADD MORE…then pick the file you saved from the email.
4. Information about the GPX file will be displayed. Toggle the Show on map
5. Click the back arrow a few times to get back to the main map and pan/zoom to the race area and you’ll see the route.

On iOS:

1. Download the correct Marji Gesick GPX file from the website — or email it to yourself — and open the file.
2. When viewing the file (it’s a bunch of XML / text), open it with Copy to OsmAnd Maps.
3. When prompted by OsmAnd, import as GPX Trip.
4. Information about the GPX file will be displayed. Toggle the Show on map
5. Navigate back to the main map and pan/zoom to the race area and you’ll see the route.
6. Test the offline maps by putting your phone in Airplane Mode and confirming the map still works. This shows you can use the map outside of cell phone range. (If it doesn’t work, be sure you have the offline maps selected.

While this was a basic overview of using OsmAnd and getting it set up with offline maps and a route for Marji Gesick, it does a whole lot more. From recording routes and turn-by-turn navigation to editing map data and sharing location, there’s a lot it can do. Give the online Help and Features a look for more information.

One of our ultra runners, Thomss Myers, put together this tip for you.

Step One

Download the Avenza Maps App on your phone

Step Two

Get the map.
Go to https://northcountrytrail.org/trail/maps/
Scroll down the until you see: Michigan – Upper Peninsula

• Central UP
  • For Smart Phones: Add to the Avenza App
  • Click on: Add to the Avenza App

This will bring you to: avenzamaps.com – Michigan’s Central UP (MI Map 33 – 68)

• Scroll down until you see: Get this Map Bundle (high-lighted in red)
  • Click on this – on my Iphone it’ll ask to open in “Avenza Maps” OPEN
  • Then on top left you will see button to INSTALL click INSTALL

This may sound redundant and it kind of is but is what has to be done (at least on my Iphone X)

On the bottom of the Avenza App click on – Tap on “My Maps”

Then on Top of the App you’ll see icon that looks like “Profile” tap this

Then you’ll see button for “Purchase History” click this

This will take you to the maps you installed from (MI Map 33 – 68)

• You will need to install Maps 34 through 41 for the Crusher 50
• Once you click on install my Iphone shows a “Success” click OK
• Now this map will show up on your “My Maps” repeat those steps to get all the maps for The Crusher 50

Once The Maps 34 – 41 are installed you can use them at anytime even on “Airplane Mode” to conserve battery while out on the course. I have tested this method while out on the course and it works amazingly well.

If anyone has questions they can call, text or email me at any time.

(906) 235-8397
thomssmyers@gmail.com