2. Trail Sense
3. Trail Sense User Guide
4. English

Trail Sense is composed of a number of tools that are designed for hiking, backpacking, camping, and geocaching.

## Bottom navigation
The Navigation, Weather (if available), and Astronomy tools are available in the bottom navigation bar by default. These tools are also available in the tool list.

You can change which tools (up to 7) appear in the bottom navigation in Settings > Tools > 'Bottom navigation slot'.

All other tools can be found in the Tools bottom navigation item on the far right.

## Tool list
The tool list can be accessed by tapping the Tools item in the bottom navigation bar. This will show a list of all tools available in Trail Sense.

Clicking on a tool will open it.

You can also long-press on a tool to see more options:
- **About**: Provides more details about what the tool does.
- **Pin/unpin**: Allows you to pin the tool to the top of the list.
- **User guide**: Opens the user guide for the tool.
- **Settings**: Opens the settings for the tool.
- **Experimental**: This will show tools that are still in development. These tools may not be fully functional. You can enable experimental tools in Settings > Experimental.

## Pinned tools
You can pin tools to the top of the tool list by long-pressing on a tool and selecting 'Pin'. This will make the tool appear at the top of the tool list. You can unpin a tool by long-pressing on it and selecting 'Unpin'.

You can also pin/unpin tools in bulk by tapping the edit icon to the right of the pinned tools header.

## Sorting tools
You can change the order of the tools by clicking the sort icon to the right of the tools header. This will allow you to sort by:
- **Name**: Sorts alphabetically by tool name.
- **Category**: Groups tools by category and sorts alphabetically within each category.

## Search
You can search for a specific tool using the search bar at the top of the tool list.

## User guide
A user guide is available for each tool. You can access the user guide by long-pressing on a tool and selecting 'User Guide'. You can also access the user guide by opening the 'User Guide' tool in the tool list.

## Settings
You can access the app settings by tapping the settings icon in the top right corner of the tool list. You can also access the settings by opening the 'Settings' tool in the tool list.

## Quick actions
You can enable quick actions at the top of the tool list in 'Settings > Tools > Quick actions'.

The quick actions can also be accessed by long pressing the bottom navigation. In addition to the quick actions you selected, you will also see contextual quick actions for the active tool, such as the user guide or settings.

You can find more information about each quick action by viewing the user guide for its respective tool. All quick actions that begin with 'Tool:' will open the tool when clicked.

Trail Sense is composed of a number of tools that are designed for hiking, backpacking, camping, and geocaching.

## Bottom navigation
The Navigation, Weather (if available), and Astronomy tools are available in the bottom navigation bar by default. These tools are also available in the tool list.

You can change which tools (up to 47) appear in the bottom navigation in Settings > Tools > 'Bottom navigation slot'.

All other tools can be found in the Tools bottom navigation item on the far right.

## Tool list
The tool list can be accessed by tapping the Tools item in the bottom navigation bar. This will show a list of all tools available in Trail Sense.

Clicking on a tool will open it.

You can also long-press on a tool to see more options:
- **About**: Provides more details about what the tool does.
- **Pin/unpin**: Allows you to pin the tool to the top of the list.
- **User guide**: Opens the user guide for the tool.
- **Settings**: Opens the settings for the tool.
- **Experimental**: This will show tools that are still in development. These tools may not be fully functional. You can enable experimental tools in Settings > Experimental.

## Pinned tools
You can pin tools to the top of the tool list by long-pressing on a tool and selecting 'Pin'. This will make the tool appear at the top of the tool list. You can unpin a tool by long-pressing on it and selecting 'Unpin'.

You can also pin/unpin tools in bulk by tapping the edit icon to the right of the pinned tools header.

## Sorting tools
You can change the order of the tools by clicking the sort icon to the right of the tools header. This will allow you to sort by:
- **Name**: Sorts alphabetically by tool name.
- **Category**: Groups tools by category and sorts alphabetically within each category.

## Search
You can search for a specific tool using the search bar at the top of the tool list.

## User guide
A user guide is available for each tool. You can access the user guide by long-pressing on a tool and selecting 'User Guide'. You can also access the user guide by opening the 'User Guide' tool in the tool list.

## Settings
You can access the app settings by tapping the settings icon in the top right corner of the tool list. You can also access the settings by opening the 'Settings' tool in the tool list.

## Quick actions
You can enable quick actions at the top of the tool list in 'Settings > Tools > Quick actions'.

The quick actions can also be accessed by long pressing the bottom navigation. In addition to the quick actions you selected, you will also see contextual quick actions for the active tool, such as the user guide or settings.

You can find more information about each quick action by viewing the user guide for its respective tool. All quick actions that begin with 'Tool:' will open the tool when clicked.

## Units
The units can be adjusted in Settings > Units. By default, the units are set based on your device's language settings.

- **Distance**: The unit to display distance measurements.
- **Pressure**: The unit to display barometric pressure measurements.
- **Temperature**: The unit to display temperature measurements.
- **Weight**: The unit to display weight measurements.
- **Coordinate format**: The format to display geographic coordinates.
- **Location share map**: The link to use when sharing a location.
- **Use 24-hour format**: Whether to use a 24-hour clock.
- **Add leading zero to time**: Whether to add a leading zero to the time (for example, 01:00 instead of 1:00).

## Sensors > Compass
Compass settings can be found in Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Compass. Some devices may not have a compass sensor, but you will still be able to set declination.

### Azimuth
The current compass direction (azimuth) is displayed at the top of the compass settings. As you change settings, it will update to show the new direction.

### Calibrate
The reported accuracy of the compass is shown. If it is low, you can click this option to view instructions on how to calibrate.

### Source
- **Magnetometer + Gyro**: This is the default source and should work on most devices. It uses the magnetometer and gyroscope sensors to determine the direction. When the gyroscope is added in, the reading is typically less noisy. This source is provided by your phone's manufacturer.
- **Magnetometer**: This source only uses the magnetometer sensor to determine the direction. This source is provided by your phone's manufacturer.
- **Magnetometer + Gyro (Custom)**: This source is similar to the Magnetometer + Gyro source, but the calculations are done by Trail Sense. If the Magnetometer + Gyro source is not working correctly, try this source.
- **Legacy (Trail Sense)**: This source is similar to the Magnetometer source, but the calculations are done by Trail Sense. If the Magnetometer source is not working correctly, try this source.
- **Legacy (Android)**: This source is provided by Android and is not recommended to use. It is only included for compatibility with older devices, but could potentially work well on some devices.

### Smoothing
To reduce noise in compass readings, you can increase the smoothing setting. If using a source that has a gyroscope, a value of 1 is recommended. Otherwise, experiment with increasing this value until the compass appears to be working correctly when you rotate your phone. However, if you increase the smoothing too much, Trail Sense may ignore real compass changes.

### True north
To display true north instead of magnetic north, enable the "True north" setting. This will adjust the compass reading to account for magnetic declination, and it will match most maps.

### Magnetic declination
Magnetic declination is the difference between magnetic north and true north. You should ensure this is correct regardless of whether you are using true north or magnetic north.

### Auto adjust declination
Enabling the "Auto adjust declination" setting will automatically adjust the declination based on your location.

### Declination override
If you would prefer to manually set the declination, you can disable the "Auto adjust declination" setting and use the "Declination override" setting to set the declination. You can find the declination for your location on most maps or online. You can also click the "Set override from GPS" option to set the declination based on your current location (only sets it once).

## Sensors > GPS
GPS settings can be found in Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > GPS. If your phone supports it, multiple GNSS systems will be used (such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou).

### Location Source
You can choose to mock your location by disabling the "Auto adjust location" setting. This will enable the "Location override" setting where you can manually set your location.

When "Auto adjust location" is enabled, the location will be determined by your device's GPS.

### Require satellite fix
To get a more accurate location, Trail Sense requires at least 4 satellites to have a fix. If you are having trouble getting a location, you can disable this setting to allow for a location with fewer satellites (or if your phone does not support satellite counts).

### Cache
Trail Sense automatically caches your last location to quickly load details in certain tools. You can clear this cache temporarily using the "Clear cache" option in the GPS settings.

## Sensors > Altimeter
The altimeter is used to measure altitude. To adjust altimeter settings, go to Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Altimeter.

### Elevation
The current elevation is displayed at the top of the altimeter settings. As you change settings, it will update to show the new elevation.

### Source
- **GPS + Barometer**: This is the default source and should work on most devices with a barometer. It combines the GPS and barometer to determine the altitude.
- **GPS**: This source only uses the GPS to determine the altitude. It is less accurate than the GPS + Barometer source.
- **Barometer**: This source only uses the barometer to determine the altitude. It is more accurate than the GPS source, but may drift over time and you will need to calibrate it before use.
- **Manual**: This source allows you to manually set the altitude. This is useful if you know the altitude of your location and it will not change.

### GPS + Barometer settings
- **Force calibration interval**: You can choose to force the altimeter to recalibrate using the GPS every so often. This is useful to compensate for drift in the barometer, which may be due to changes in weather or location.
- **Continuous calibration**: You can choose to continuously calibrate the altimeter using the GPS. This is useful if you are moving around a lot and want the most accurate altitude reading. When this is enabled, it prefers the barometer reading, but will slightly adjust it based on the GPS reading.
- **Reset calibration**: You can choose to reset the calibration of the altimeter. This is useful if you are in a new location and want to recalibrate the barometer.

### GPS settings
- **Samples**: The number of GPS samples to use when determining the altitude. A higher number will give a more accurate reading, but will take longer to calculate.
- **NMEA elevation correction**: The elevation provided by the GPS needs to be corrected to match the actual elevation. If this setting is enabled, it will use the correction factor provided by the GPS. If it is disabled, it will use the correction factor provided by Trail Sense, which may be more accurate.

### Barometer / manual settings
- **Elevation override**: If you are using the barometer or manual source, you can set the elevation manually. This is useful if you know the elevation of your location. If using the barometer source, this setting is used to calibrate the barometer and will change as you move.
- **Set override from GPS**: You can choose to set the elevation override using the GPS if you don't know your current elevation (only sets it once).
- **Set override from barometer**: If you know the current sea level pressure for your location, you can set the elevation override using the barometer (only sets it once). Only available on devices with a barometer.

## Sensors > Barometer
The barometer is used to measure air pressure. It can be used to predict the weather or determine your altitude. To adjust barometer settings, go to Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Barometer.

If you have the Weather Monitor (see the Weather tool) enabled, you will see a chart of the barometric pressure history as recorded by your device. The colored line represents the calibrated pressure while the gray line represents the raw pressure. When you adjust the settings, the chart will update to show the new calibrated pressure. The goal is to have the colored line smoothly follow the gray line.

### Sea level pressure
Barometric pressure changes with altitude, which makes it difficult to compare pressure readings from different locations. To make pressure readings more consistent, enable the "Sea level pressure" setting. This will adjust the pressure reading to what it would be at sea level. Using this setting will increase the accuracy of weather predictions.

### Smoothing
To reduce noise in pressure readings, increase the smoothing setting. A value of around 15% is recommended. However, if you increase the smoothing too much, Trail Sense may ignore real pressure changes.

### Factor in temperature
To get a more accurate pressure reading, you can factor in the temperature. This will make the reading more prone to noise from your phone's thermometer, but it will also give you a more accurate reading of the actual air pressure.

### Barometer offset
To calibrate the barometer, you can adjust the barometer offset. After tapping on the 'Barometer offset' setting, enter the current pressure as reported by a reliable source (must match your "sea level pressure" setting - most weather websites report sea level pressure). This will adjust the current pressure to match the reported pressure. Note, if you are using sea level pressure the calibration accuracy will vary with the GPS accuracy.

You can click 'Reset calibration' to reset the calibration of the barometer. This will remove any offset that was previously set.

## Sensors > Thermometer
Thermometer settings can be found in Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Thermometer.

### Source
On most phones, you should use the historic temperature source as it will be more accurate.

- **Historic** temperature is estimated from 30 years of historical data. It's usually accurate, but not during extreme weather. You can calibrate it if it's wrong for your location.
- **Sensor** temperature is read from the phone's built-in thermometer. It's often inaccurate because it's affected by the phone's CPU and battery. You can calibrate it to improve its accuracy. If you power off your phone for a while, you will get a more accurate reading from the sensor.

### Smoothing
To reduce noise in temperature readings, you can increase the smoothing setting. If using the historic temperature source, this is normally not needed.

If the Weather Monitor (see the Weather tool) is enabled, you will see a chart of the temperature history as recorded by your device. The colored line represents the calibrated temperature while the gray line represents the raw temperature. When you adjust the settings, the chart will update to show the new calibrated temperature. The goal is to have the colored line smoothly follow the gray line.

#### Updating recorded temperatures

If you change the temperature source to "Historic", you can choose to update all previously recorded temperatures. This will replace the old temperatures with the estimated temperature from the historic data. This is useful if you previously recorded temperatures with the sensor and then switched to historic temperatures.

### Calibrating

1. Reset the thermometer calibration in Trail Sense.
2. Put your phone in a cold place for 10 minutes.
3. Note the temperature shown in Trail Sense as the minimum phone temperature.
4. Note the actual temperature of the cold place using an actual thermometer.
5. Put your phone in a warm place for 10 minutes.
6. Note the temperature shown in Trail Sense as the maximum phone temperature.
7. Note the actual temperature of the warm place using an actual thermometer.
8. Go to the Thermometer sensor settings in Trail Sense and enter the minimum and maximum temperatures you recorded, along with the actual temperatures you recorded.

**Caution:** Refer to your phone's manual to identify the designed operating temperatures, do not exceed these when performing calibration.

## Sensors > Camera
Camera settings can be found in Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Camera.

### Augmented reality projection
The projection method determines how points get displayed onto the camera view. If you are experiencing issues with the points not aligning with the real world, try changing the projection method.

- **Estimated Intrinsics**: This is the default method and should work on most devices. It uses the camera's properties to estimate the projection.
- **Manual Intrinsics**: This is similar to the estimated intrinsics method, except that the calculations are done by the manufacturer. On some devices this does not work correctly.
- **Perspective**: This is a simple projection method that factors in the distance of the point from the camera. It is similar to intrinsics, but may be less accurate in some cases.
- **Linear**: This is the simplest projection method (also the fastest). It does not factor in distances.

## Sensors > Cell signal
Cell signal settings can be found in Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Cell signal.

### Refresh signal cache
Your phone reports the current cell signal strength, but it may be outdated. You can choose to forcefully refresh the cell signal cache to get the current signal strength. This feature is only used by the Paths tool (Backtrack) when Settings > Paths > Record cell signal is enabled.

## Privacy
Privacy settings can be adjusted in Settings > Privacy.

- **Location**: Clicking this will take you to the GPS settings, where you can choose to use a mocked location.
- **Prevent screenshots**: Prevents screenshots from being taken while the app is open.

**Note**: Trail Sense does not use the Internet and all data is stored locally on your device.

## Errors
Some tools such as Navigation and Astronomy display error banners at the top of the screen. These banners can be disabled in Settings > Errors.

- **Compass unavailable**: The compass is not available on your device.
- **GPS unavailable**: The GPS is not available on your device.
- **Location not set**: The location is mocked but has not been set (uses 0, 0).
- **Compass accuracy**: The compass accuracy is low.
- **GPS timeouts**: The GPS has timed out and was unable to determine your location.

## Experimental
Experimental features can be enabled in Settings > Experimental. These features are not ready for general use and may not work as expected.

## Backup / restore
When switching to a new device or reinstalling the app, it may be helpful to backup your data and settings. This can be done in Settings > Backup / Restore.

- **Backup**: Creates a backup of your data and settings. This will save as a zip file which is unencrypted and contains location data, so only send it to people you trust.
- **Restore**: Restores a backup of your data and settings. This will permanently overwrite your current data and settings. You can restore from an older version of the app, but cannot restore from a newer version.

## Tools
Settings for each tool can be adjusted in the Settings > Tools section. For more information, see the guide for each tool.

## Theme
Theme related settings can be adjusted in Settings > Theme.

- **Theme**: The theme to use for the app.
- **Light**: A theme with a white background.
- **Dark**: A theme with a dark background.
- **Black**: A theme with a black background.
- **System**: A theme that follows the system settings.
- **System (black)**: A theme that follows the system settings with a black background when dark mode is enabled.
- **Sunrise/sunset**: A theme that changes between light and dark based on the time of day.
- **Night**: A theme with a black background and a red filter to help maintain night vision.
- **Dynamic colors**: Whether to use your device's dynamic colors in the app, if disabled or unavailable colors in Trail Sense will be a shade of orange.
- **Compass dynamic colors**: Whether to use your device's dynamic colors in the compass (cardinal directions and certain markers on maps).
- **Compact mode**: Whether to use a more compact layout for the bottom bar (thinner and does not display labels).

## About
You can find additional information about Trail Sense in Settings > About.

- **Version**: The version of the app you are using.
- **Privacy policy**: A link to the privacy policy.
- **Email developer**: A link to send an email to the developer for feedback or support.
- **GitHub**: A link to the GitHub repository (source code) for Trail Sense.
- **Licenses**: A list of open source licenses used in Trail Sense.

## Quick action
You can enable the Settings quick action in the settings for the tab where you want it to appear.

To use the quick action, tap the quick action button and settings page for the active tool will be opened. Long press the quick action to open the app settings.

## Units
The units can be adjusted in Settings > Units. By default, the units are set based on your device's language settings.

- **Distance**: The unit to display distance measurements.
- **Pressure**: The unit to display barometric pressure measurements.
- **Temperature**: The unit to display temperature measurements.
- **Weight**: The unit to display weight measurements.
- **Coordinate format**: The format to display geographic coordinates.
- **Location share map**: The link to use when sharing a location.
- **Use 24-hour format**: Whether to use a 24-hour clock.
- **Add leading zero to time**: Whether to add a leading zero to the time (for example, 01:00 instead of 1:00).

## Sensors > Compass
Compass settings can be found in Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Compass. Some devices may not have a compass sensor, but you will still be able to set declination.

### Azimuth
The current compass direction (azimuth) is displayed at the top of the compass settings. As you change settings, it will update to show the new direction.

### Calibrate
The reported accuracy of the compass is shown. If it is low, you can click this option to view instructions on how to calibrate.

### Source
- **Magnetometer + Gyro**: This is the default source and should work on most devices. It uses the magnetometer and gyroscope sensors to determine the direction. When the gyroscope is added in, the reading is typically less noisy. This source is provided by your phone's manufacturer.
- **Magnetometer**: This source only uses the magnetometer sensor to determine the direction. This source is provided by your phone's manufacturer.
- **Magnetometer + Gyro (Custom)**: This source is similar to the Magnetometer + Gyro source, but the calculations are done by Trail Sense. If the Magnetometer + Gyro source is not working correctly, try this source.
- **Legacy (Trail Sense)**: This source is similar to the Magnetometer source, but the calculations are done by Trail Sense. If the Magnetometer source is not working correctly, try this source.
- **Legacy (Android)**: This source is provided by Android and is not recommended to use. It is only included for compatibility with older devices, but could potentially work well on some devices.

### Smoothing
To reduce noise in compass readings, you can increase the smoothing setting. If using a source that has a gyroscope, a value of 1 is recommended. Otherwise, experiment with increasing this value until the compass appears to be working correctly when you rotate your phone. However, if you increase the smoothing too much, Trail Sense may ignore real compass changes.

### True north
To display true north instead of magnetic north, enable the "True north" setting. This will adjust the compass reading to account for magnetic declination, and it will match most maps.

### Magnetic declination
Magnetic declination is the difference between magnetic north and true north. You should ensure this is correct regardless of whether you are using true north or magnetic north.

### Auto adjust declination
Enabling the "Auto adjust declination" setting will automatically adjust the declination based on your location.

### Declination override
If you would prefer to manually set the declination, you can disable the "Auto adjust declination" setting and use the "Declination override" setting to set the declination. You can find the declination for your location on most maps or online. You can also click the "Set override from GPS" option to set the declination based on your current location (only sets it once).

## Sensors > GPS
GPS settings can be found in Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > GPS. If your phone supports it, multiple GNSS systems will be used (such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou).

### Location Source
You can choose to mock your location by disabling the "Auto adjust location" setting. This will enable the "Location override" setting where you can manually set your location.

When "Auto adjust location" is enabled, the location will be determined by your device's GPS.

### Require satellite fix
To get a more accurate location, Trail Sense requires at least 4 satellites to have a fix. If you are having trouble getting a location, you can disable this setting to allow for a location with fewer satellites (or if your phone does not support satellite counts).

### Cache
Trail Sense automatically caches your last location to quickly load details in certain tools. You can clear this cache temporarily using the "Clear cache" option in the GPS settings.

## Sensors > Altimeter
The altimeter is used to measure altitude. To adjust altimeter settings, go to Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Altimeter.

### Elevation
The current elevation is displayed at the top of the altimeter settings. As you change settings, it will update to show the new elevation.

### Source
- **GPS + Barometer**: This is the default source and should work on most devices with a barometer. It combines the GPS and barometer to determine the altitude.
- **GPS**: This source only uses the GPS to determine the altitude. It is less accurate than the GPS + Barometer source.
- **Barometer**: This source only uses the barometer to determine the altitude. It is more accurate than the GPS source, but may drift over time and you will need to calibrate it before use.
- **Manual**: This source allows you to manually set the altitude. This is useful if you know the altitude of your location and it will not change.

### GPS + Barometer settings
- **Force calibration interval**: You can choose to force the altimeter to recalibrate using the GPS every so often. This is useful to compensate for drift in the barometer, which may be due to changes in weather or location.
- **Continuous calibration**: You can choose to continuously calibrate the altimeter using the GPS. This is useful if you are moving around a lot and want the most accurate altitude reading. When this is enabled, it prefers the barometer reading, but will slightly adjust it based on the GPS reading.
- **Reset calibration**: You can choose to reset the calibration of the altimeter. This is useful if you are in a new location and want to recalibrate the barometer.

### GPS settings
- **Samples**: The number of GPS samples to use when determining the altitude. A higher number will give a more accurate reading, but will take longer to calculate.
- **NMEA elevation correction**: The elevation provided by the GPS needs to be corrected to match the actual elevation. If this setting is enabled, it will use the correction factor provided by the GPS. If it is disabled, it will use the correction factor provided by Trail Sense, which may be more accurate.

### Barometer / manual settings
- **Elevation override**: If you are using the barometer or manual source, you can set the elevation manually. This is useful if you know the elevation of your location. If using the barometer source, this setting is used to calibrate the barometer and will change as you move.
- **Set override from GPS**: You can choose to set the elevation override using the GPS if you don't know your current elevation (only sets it once).
- **Set override from barometer**: If you know the current sea level pressure for your location, you can set the elevation override using the barometer (only sets it once). Only available on devices with a barometer.

## Sensors > Barometer
The barometer is used to measure air pressure. It can be used to predict the weather or determine your altitude. To adjust barometer settings, go to Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Barometer.

If you have the Weather Monitor (see the Weather tool) enabled, you will see a chart of the barometric pressure history as recorded by your device. The colored line represents the calibrated pressure while the gray line represents the raw pressure. When you adjust the settings, the chart will update to show the new calibrated pressure. The goal is to have the colored line smoothly follow the gray line.

### Sea level pressure
Barometric pressure changes with altitude, which makes it difficult to compare pressure readings from different locations. To make pressure readings more consistent, enable the "Sea level pressure" setting. This will adjust the pressure reading to what it would be at sea level. Using this setting will increase the accuracy of weather predictions.

### Smoothing
To reduce noise in pressure readings, increase the smoothing setting. A value of around 15% is recommended. However, if you increase the smoothing too much, Trail Sense may ignore real pressure changes.

### Factor in temperature
To get a more accurate pressure reading, you can factor in the temperature. This will make the reading more prone to noise from your phone's thermometer, but it will also give you a more accurate reading of the actual air pressure.

### Barometer offset
To calibrate the barometer, you can adjust the barometer offset. After tapping on the 'Barometer offset' setting, enter the current pressure as reported by a reliable source (must match your "sea level pressure" setting - most weather websites report sea level pressure). This will adjust the current pressure to match the reported pressure. Note, if you are using sea level pressure the calibration accuracy will vary with the GPS accuracy.

You can click 'Reset calibration' to reset the calibration of the barometer. This will remove any offset that was previously set.

## Sensors > Thermometer
Thermometer settings can be found in Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Thermometer.

### Source
On most phones, you should use the historic temperature source as it will be more accurate.

- **Historic** temperature is estimated from 30 years of historical data. It's usually accurate, but not during extreme weather. You can calibrate it if it's wrong for your location.
- **Sensor** temperature is read from the phone's built-in thermometer. It's often inaccurate because it's affected by the phone's CPU and battery. You can calibrate it to improve its accuracy. If you power off your phone for a while, you will get a more accurate reading from the sensor.

### Smoothing
To reduce noise in temperature readings, you can increase the smoothing setting. If using the historic temperature source, this is normally not needed.

If the Weather Monitor (see the Weather tool) is enabled, you will see a chart of the temperature history as recorded by your device. The colored line represents the calibrated temperature while the gray line represents the raw temperature. When you adjust the settings, the chart will update to show the new calibrated temperature. The goal is to have the colored line smoothly follow the gray line.

#### Updating recorded temperatures

If you change the temperature source to "Historic", you can choose to update all previously recorded temperatures. This will replace the old temperatures with the estimated temperature from the historic data. This is useful if you previously recorded temperatures with the sensor and then switched to historic temperatures.

### Calibrating

1. Reset the thermometer calibration in Trail Sense.
2. Put your phone in a cold place for 10 minutes.
3. Note the temperature shown in Trail Sense as the minimum phone temperature.
4. Note the actual temperature of the cold place using an actual thermometer.
5. Put your phone in a warm place for 10 minutes.
6. Note the temperature shown in Trail Sense as the maximum phone temperature.
7. Note the actual temperature of the warm place using an actual thermometer.
8. Go to the Thermometer sensor settings in Trail Sense and enter the minimum and maximum temperatures you recorded, along with the actual temperatures you recorded.

**Caution:** Refer to your phone's manual to identify the designed operating temperatures, do not exceed these when performing calibration.

## Sensors > Camera
Camera settings can be found in Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Camera.

### Augmented reality projection
The projection method determines how points get displayed onto the camera view. If you are experiencing issues with the points not aligning with the real world, try changing the projection method.

- **Estimated Intrinsics**: This is the default method and should work on most devices. It uses the camera's properties to estimate the projection.
- **Manual Intrinsics**: This is similar to the estimated intrinsics method, except that the calculations are done by the manufacturer. On some devices this does not work correctly.
- **Perspective**: This is a simple projection method that factors in the distance of the point from the camera. It is similar to intrinsics, but may be less accurate in some cases.
- **Linear**: This is the simplest projection method (also the fastest). It does not factor in distances.

## Sensors > Cell signal
Cell signal settings can be found in Trail Sense Settings > Sensors > Cell signal.

### Refresh signal cache
Your phone reports the current cell signal strength, but it may be outdated. You can choose to forcefully refresh the cell signal cache to get the current signal strength. This feature is only used by the Paths tool (Backtrack) when Settings > Paths > Record cell signal is enabled.

## Privacy
Privacy settings can be adjusted in Settings > Privacy.

- **Location**: Clicking this will take you to the GPS settings, where you can choose to use a mocked location.
- **Prevent screenshots**: Prevents screenshots from being taken while the app is open.

**Note**: Trail Sense does not use the Internet and all data is stored locally on your device.

## Errors
Some tools such as Navigation and Astronomy display error banners at the top of the screen. These banners can be disabled in Settings > Errors.

- **Compass unavailable**: The compass is not available on your device.
- **GPS unavailable**: The GPS is not available on your device.
- **Location not set**: The location is mocked but has not been set (uses 0, 0).
- **Compass accuracy**: The compass accuracy is low.
- **GPS timeouts**: The GPS has timed out and was unable to determine your location.

## Experimental
Experimental features can be enabled in Settings > Experimental. These features are not ready for general use and may not work as expected.

## Backup / restore
When switching to a new device or reinstalling the app, it may be helpful to backup your data and settings. This can be done in Settings > Backup / Restore.

- **Backup**: Creates a backup of your data and settings. This will save as a zip file which is unencrypted and contains location data, so only send it to people you trust.
- **Restore**: Restores a backup of your data and settings. This will permanently overwrite your current data and settings. You can restore from an older version of the app, but cannot restore from a newer version.

## Tools
Settings for each tool can be adjusted in the Settings > Tools section. For more information, see the guide for each tool.

## Theme
Theme related settings can be adjusted in Settings > Theme.

- **Theme**: The theme to use for the app.
- **Light**: A theme with a white background.
- **Dark**: A theme with a dark background.
- **Black**: A theme with a black background.
- **System**: A theme that follows the system settings.
- **System (black)**: A theme that follows the system settings with a black background when dark mode is enabled.
- **Sunrise/sunset**: A theme that changes between light and dark based on the time of day.
- **Night**: A theme with a black background and a red filter to help maintain night vision.
- **Dynamic colors**: Whether to use your device's dynamic colors in the app, if disabled or unavailable colors in Trail Sense will be a shade of orange.
- **Compass dynamic colors**: Whether to use your device's dynamic colors in the compass (cardinal directions and certain markers on maps).
- **Compact mode**: Whether to use a more compact layout for the bottom bar (thinner and does not display labels).

## About
You can find additional information about Trail Sense in Settings > About.

- **Version**: The version of the app you are using.
- **Privacy policy**: A link to the privacy policy.
- **Email developer**: A link to send an email to the developer for feedback or support.
- **GitHub**: A link to the GitHub repository (source code) for Trail Sense.
- **Licenses**: A list of open source licenses used in Trail Sense.

## Quick action
You can enable the Settings quick action in the settings for the tab where you want it to appear.

To use the quick action, tap the quick action button and settings page for the active tool will be opened. Long press the quick action to open the app settings.

The Photo Maps tool can be used to convert a photo into a map. It's essential to always carry a physical map as a backup and validate Trail Sense's accuracy. Photo Maps complements other map apps and physical maps, serving as a convenient way to convert photos into maps rather than a replacement for them.

## Creating a map
To create a map, you have three options: take a photo of an existing map, import a file, or generate a blank map.

1. Tap the '+' button located in the bottom-right corner and select your preferred method for importing the map:
- **Camera**: Capture a picture of your map, ensuring the entire map is within the frame.
- **File**: Choose a file from your device (JPG, PNG, or PDF). If your PDF contains geospatial data, it will be used for automatic map calibration.
- **Blank**: Generate a blank map based on a specified location and map size. By default, it centers the map on your current location. The size is the distance from the center to the corner. No further calibration is required when using this option.
2. Enter a name for the map and click 'OK'.
3. Crop the photo to match the map's boundaries by dragging the crop box's corners to the map edges. You can click 'Preview' to visualize the cropped map. Note that changes to the crop cannot be made after clicking 'Next'.
4. Calibrate the map using two known locations:
- Input the real-world location in the provided field, such as a trail sign, trailhead, or point of interest.
- Tap on the map to select where the location is.
- Utilize 'Previous'/'Next' to switch between calibration points.
- Once you have two calibration points, click 'Preview' to preview the calibrated map, displaying nearby paths and beacons.
- You can recenter the map on your screen by clicking the recenter button in the top-right corner.
- Use pinch-to-zoom or the zoom buttons in the bottom-right to more accurately select locations.
- Calibration automatically aligns the map with North facing up, with the calculated rotation amount displayed under the map name at the top.
- At any point, you can save the calibration by clicking 'Next' + 'Done'.
5. Save the calibration by tapping 'Done'.

## Calibration tips

### Calibrating while hiking
- Point 1: Choose the trail sign where you photographed the map or the trailhead.
- Point 2: Select the first trail fork you encounter. If no trail fork is present, use a point of interest on the map, such as a lake, peak, or landmark.

### Calibrating from the map grid
If your map features gridlines:

1. Find the UTM zone number, which is a one or two-digit number followed by a letter (ex. "16T"). If it's not present on the map, estimate it by entering your approximate latitude and longitude in Trail Sense's Convert tool. For example, you can enter 10 for latitude and 45 for longitude.
2. Locate the Easting and Northing values on the map's borders. They are usually marked and can have 3 to 6 or 7 digits. Add three zeros if there are only 3 digits (e.g., 123 becomes 123000). Easting will be on the top or bottom, Northing will be on the left or right.
3. Look at the grid lines on the map to identify the grid zone where your location is. These lines represent the first digits of your location (e.g., 123000E and 234000N).
4. For increased precision, divide the grid into 10 equal sections vertically and horizontally. Determine which line your location is closest to within the grid. Use a ruler, like the one in Trail Sense, for accuracy. For example, if your location is two-tenths to the right and one-tenth up from the bottom-right corner of the grid, your new location will be 123200E and 234100N.
5. In Trail Sense, enter the UTM location and tap the same point on the photo map. For example, enter "16T 123200E 234100N".
6. Repeat for the second calibration point. For the best accuracy, use a point that is far away from the first point.

The intersections of gridlines are the easiest calibration points.

### Calibrating from an online source
If you have Internet access, you can look up the coordinates of a map feature (e.g., mountain summit, trailhead). Then in Trail Sense, tap the same location on the map and enter the coordinates.

### Finding a geospatial PDF
A good source for geospatial PDFs is [CalTopo](https://caltopo.com), though there are many other sources available online.

## Using a map
Once you've created a map, you can use it for navigation. The map displays your location, elevation, paths, and beacons.

You can drag to pan, pinch to zoom, or tap the zoom buttons in the bottom-right. To recenter the map on your screen, click the recenter button in the top-right. The map's scale is shown in the bottom-right.

Click the GPS button in the bottom-right to center the map on your location. Clicking it again will lock both your location and orientation, while a final click unlocks it. The compass icon in the top-right always points North.

By default, the map will align with North, roughly facing up so that the map is square with the screen. You can change this so the map is aligned with North facing up (rotated) by disabling Settings > Photo Maps > 'Keep map facing up'. Note: There's currently a bug where panning and zooming are a bit off when this setting is disabled.

### Using beacons and navigating
If you've created beacons, they will appear on the map.

When navigating to a beacon, the distance, direction, and estimated time of arrival (ETA) are displayed at the bottom. A line is drawn from your location to the beacon. To cancel navigation, click the 'X' button in the bottom-right.

You can initiate navigation from the map by tapping a beacon or long-pressing a map point and selecting 'Navigate'.

To create a beacon from the map, long-press a map point and choose 'Beacon.' This opens the 'Create Beacon' screen with the location filled in.

For further details on beacons, refer to the 'Beacons' guide.

### Using paths
If you've created paths, they will be visible on the map.

To create a path from the map, follow the instructions in the 'Measuring distance on a map' section below.

For further details on paths, refer to the 'Paths' guide.

## Measuring distance on a map
You can measure distances on a map by opening the map, clicking the menu button in the top-right, and selecting 'Measure' or 'Create path'. Tap the map to place markers, and the total distance will be displayed at the bottom. To undo the last marker, click the undo button in the bottom left. Cancel by clicking the 'X' button in the bottom-right. You can also convert the drawn path into a saved path by clicking the 'Create path' button at the bottom.

For a quick measurement from your location to a point, long-press that point on the map and click 'Distance'.

## Recalibrating a map
To recalibrate a map, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Calibrate'. Follow the instructions above to recalibrate.

## Changing map projection
If your map points are not aligning correctly after calibrating (try calibrating again with different points first), consider changing the map projection. To do this, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and select 'Change projection'.

## Rename a map
To rename a map, click the menu button on the map row you wish to rename, then select 'Rename' and provide a new name. Alternatively, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Rename'.

## Delete a map
To delete a map, click the menu button on the map row you want to remove, then select 'Delete'. Alternatively, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Delete'.

## Export a map
To export a map, click the menu button on the map row you want to export, then select 'Export'. Alternatively, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Export'. This action exports the map as a PDF, and if calibrated, it will convert it into a geospatial PDF.

## Print a map
To print a map, click the menu button on the map row you want to print, then select 'Print'. Alternatively, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Print'. This opens the system print dialog, enabling you to print the map.

## Change the resolution of a map
To alter the resolution of a map, click the menu button on the map row you want to adjust, then select 'Change resolution'. A dialog will appear, allowing you to switch between low (lowest quality and smallest file size), medium (moderate quality and file size), and high (highest quality and largest file size) resolutions. Keep in mind that changing the resolution is a permanent action and cannot be undone.

By default, Trail Sense will automatically reduce the map resolution on import. To change this, disable Settings > Photo Maps > 'Reduce photo resolution' or 'Reduce PDF resolution'.

## Organizing maps
You can organize maps into groups. To create a group, click the '+' button in the bottom-right of the map list and select 'Group'. Give the group a name and click 'OK'. To add maps to the group, click on the group in the list and follow the map creation instructions. The map will be added to the chosen group.

To change the group of an existing map, click the menu button on the map row you want to move, select 'Move to', and choose the target group.

To rename a group, click the menu button on the group row you want to rename, then select 'Rename' and provide a new name.

You can delete a group (along with all maps within it) by clicking the menu button on the group row you wish to remove, then selecting 'Delete'.

## Searching for maps
To search through your created maps, use the search bar at the top of the map list. This search encompasses the current group and all subgroups. Additionally, you can sort maps by distance, time, or name by clicking the menu button in the top-right and selecting 'Sort'.

The preview of the map is displayed on the left side of the map row. You can disable this preview in Settings > Photo Maps > 'Show map previews'.

## Quick action
You can enable the Open Photo Map quick action in the settings for the tab where you want it to appear.

To use the quick action, tap the quick action button and the active map will be opened and locked to your location. If no map is active, the map list will be displayed. Long press the quick action to open the Photo Maps tool.

The Photo Maps tool can be used to convert a photo into a map. It's essential to always carry a physical map as a backup and validate Trail Sense's accuracy. Photo Maps complements other map apps and physical maps, serving as a convenient way to convert photos into maps rather than a replacement for them.

## Creating a map
To create a map, you have three options: take a photo of an existing map, import a file, or generate a blank map.

1. Tap the '+' button located in the bottom-right corner and select your preferred method for importing the map:
- **Camera**: Capture a picture of your map, ensuring the entire map is within the frame.
- **File**: Choose a file from your device (JPG, PNG, or PDF). If your PDF contains geospatial data, it will be used for automatic map calibration.
- **Blank**: Generate a blank map based on a specified location and map size. By default, it centers the map on your current location. The size is the distance from the center to the corner. No further calibration is required when using this option.
2. Enter a name for the map and click 'OK'.
3. Crop the photo to match the map's boundaries by dragging the crop box's corners to the map edges. You can click 'Preview' to visualize the cropped map. Note that changes to the crop cannot be made after clicking 'Next'.
4. Calibrate the map using two known locations:
- Input the real-world location in the provided field, such as a trail sign, trailhead, or point of interest.
- Tap on the map to select where the location is.
- Utilize 'Previous'/'Next' to switch between calibration points.
- Once you have two calibration points, click 'Preview' to preview the calibrated map, displaying nearby paths and beacons.
- You can recenter the map on your screen by clicking the recenter button in the top-right corner.
- Use pinch-to-zoom or the zoom buttons in the bottom-right to more accurately select locations.
- Calibration automatically aligns the map with North facing up, with the calculated rotation amount displayed under the map name at the top.
- At any point, you can save the calibration by clicking 'Next' + 'Done'.
5. Save the calibration by tapping 'Done'.

## Calibration tips

### Calibrating while hiking
- Point 1: Choose the trail sign where you photographed the map or the trailhead.
- Point 2: Select the first trail fork you encounter. If no trail fork is present, use a point of interest on the map, such as a lake, peak, or landmark.

### Calibrating from the map grid
If your map features gridlines:

1. Find the UTM zone number, which is a one or two-digit number followed by a letter (ex. "16T"). If it's not present on the map, estimate it by entering your approximate latitude and longitude in Trail Sense's Convert tool. For example, you can enter 10 for latitude and 45 for longitude.
2. Locate the Easting and Northing values on the map's borders. They are usually marked and can have 3 to 6 or 7 digits. Add three zeros if there are only 3 digits (e.g., 123 becomes 123000). Easting will be on the top or bottom, Northing will be on the left or right.
3. Look at the grid lines on the map to identify the grid zone where your location is. These lines represent the first digits of your location (e.g., 123000E and 234000N).
4. For increased precision, divide the grid into 10 equal sections vertically and horizontally. Determine which line your location is closest to within the grid. Use a ruler, like the one in Trail Sense, for accuracy. For example, if your location is two-tenths to the right and one-tenth up from the bottom-right corner of the grid, your new location will be 123200E and 234100N.
5. In Trail Sense, enter the UTM location and tap the same point on the photo map. For example, enter "16T 123200E 234100N".
6. Repeat for the second calibration point. For the best accuracy, use a point that is far away from the first point.

The intersections of gridlines are the easiest calibration points.

### Calibrating from an online source
If you have Internet access, you can look up the coordinates of a map feature (e.g., mountain summit, trailhead). Then in Trail Sense, tap the same location on the map and enter the coordinates.

### Finding a geospatial PDF
A good source for geospatial PDFs is [CalTopo](https://caltopo.com), though there are many other sources available online.

## Using a map
Once you've created a map, you can use it for navigation. The map displays your location, elevation, paths, and beacons.

You can drag to pan, pinch to zoom, or tap the zoom buttons in the bottom-right. To recenter the map on your screen, click the recenter button in the top-right. The map's scale is shown in the bottom-right.

Click the GPS button in the bottom-right to center the map on your location. Clicking it again will lock both your location and orientation, while a final click unlocks it. The compass icon in the top-right always points North.

By default, the map will align with North, roughly facing up so that the map is square with the screen. You can change this so the map is aligned with North facing up (rotated) by disabling Settings > Photo Maps > 'Keep map facing up'. Note: There's currently a bug where panning and zooming are a bit off when this setting is disabled.

### Using beacons and navigating
If you've created beacons, they will appear on the map.

When navigating to a beacon, the distance, direction, and estimated time of arrival (ETA) are displayed at the bottom. A line is drawn from your location to the beacon. To cancel navigation, click the 'X' button in the bottom-right.

You can initiate navigation from the map by tapping a beacon or long-pressing a map point and selecting 'Navigate'.

To create a beacon from the map, long-press a map point and choose 'Beacon.' This opens the 'Create Beacon' screen with the location filled in.

For further details on beacons, refer to the 'Beacons' guide.

### Using paths
If you've created paths, they will be visible on the map.

To create a path from the map, follow the instructions in the 'Measuring distance on a map' section below.

For further details on paths, refer to the 'Paths' guide.

## Measuring distance on a map
You can measure distances on a map by opening the map, clicking the menu button in the top-right, and selecting 'Measure' or 'Create path'. Tap the map to place markers, and the total distance will be displayed at the bottom. To undo the last marker, click the undo button in the bottom left. Cancel by clicking the 'X' button in the bottom-right. You can also convert the drawn path into a saved path by clicking the 'Create path' button at the bottom.

For a quick measurement from your location to a point, long-press that point on the map and click 'Distance'.

## Recalibrating a map
To recalibrate a map, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Calibrate'. Follow the instructions above to recalibrate.

## Changing map projection
If your map points are not aligning correctly after calibrating (try calibrating again with different points first), consider changing the map projection. To do this, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and select 'Change projection'.

## Rename a map
To rename a map, click the menu button on the map row you wish to rename, then select 'Rename' and provide a new name. Alternatively, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Rename'.

## Delete a map
To delete a map, click the menu button on the map row you want to remove, then select 'Delete'. Alternatively, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Delete'.

## Export a map
To export a map, click the menu button on the map row you want to export, then select 'Export'. Alternatively, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Export'. This action exports the map as a PDF, and if calibrated, it will convert it into a geospatial PDF.

## Print a map
To print a map, click the menu button on the map row you want to print, then select 'Print'. Alternatively, open the map, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Print'. This opens the system print dialog, enabling you to print the map.

## Change the resolution of a map
To alter the resolution of a map, click the menu button on the map row you want to adjust, then select 'Change resolution'. A dialog will appear, allowing you to switch between low (lowest quality and smallest file size), medium (moderate quality and file size), and high (highest quality and largest file size) resolutions. Keep in mind that changing the resolution is a permanent action and cannot be undone.

By default, Trail Sense will automatically reduce the map resolution on import. To change this, disable Settings > Photo Maps > 'Reduce mapphoto resolution' or 'Reduce PDF resolution'.

## Organizing maps
You can organize maps into groups. To create a group, click the '+' button in the bottom-right of the map list and select 'Group'. Give the group a name and click 'OK'. To add maps to the group, click on the group in the list and follow the map creation instructions. The map will be added to the chosen group.

To change the group of an existing map, click the menu button on the map row you want to move, select 'Move to', and choose the target group.

To rename a group, click the menu button on the group row you want to rename, then select 'Rename' and provide a new name.

You can delete a group (along with all maps within it) by clicking the menu button on the group row you wish to remove, then selecting 'Delete'.

## Searching for maps
To search through your created maps, use the search bar at the top of the map list. This search encompasses the current group and all subgroups. Additionally, you can sort maps by distance, time, or name by clicking the menu button in the top-right and selecting 'Sort'.

The preview of the map is displayed on the left side of the map row. You can disable this preview in Settings > Photo Maps > 'Show map previews'.

## Quick action
You can enable the Open Photo Map quick action in the settings for the tab where you want it to appear.

To use the quick action, tap the quick action button and the active map will be opened and locked to your location. If no map is active, the map list will be displayed. Long press the quick action to open the Photo Maps tool.

The Beacons tool can be used to save locations and navigate to them later.

## Creating a beacon
1. Tap the '+' button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Click 'Beacon'.
3. Enter a name for the beacon.
4. Enter a location for the beacon. You can tap the GPS icon next to the location field to use your current location.
5. Fill out any of the optional fields you want to record.
6. Click the checkmark button in the top-right corner of the screen.

### Optional fields
- **Elevation**: The elevation of the beacon. You can click the elevation icon next to the elevation field to use your current elevation.
- **Create at distance**: If you want to place a beacon at a known distance and direction from a location, you can toggle this on. You will then need to enter the distance away and set the direction to the new location before you can save the beacon. The new beacon will be placed at the distance and direction away from the location entered above.
- **Group**: The group to add the beacon to. Tap a group and click 'OK' to add the beacon to that group. To create a new group, see the 'Organizing beacons' section below.
- **Color**: The color to use for the beacon.
- **Icon**: The icon to use for the beacon.
- **Notes**: Any notes you want to record about the beacon.

### Creating from a QR code
Beacons can be shared as a QR code by clicking the menu button on the beacon row you want to share, then selecting 'Share...'. You can then share the QR code with Trail Sense to create a beacon from it.

1. Tap the '+' button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Click 'QR code'.
3. Scan the QR code you want to create a beacon from.
4. Follow the steps above to fill out the beacon information. Any information from the QR code will be prefilled.

### Creating from a GPX file
If you have locations saved in a GPX file, you can import them into Trail Sense as beacons.

1. Tap the '+' button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Click 'GPX file'.
3. Select the GPX file you want to load beacons from.
4. Confirm that you want to import the beacons by clicking 'OK'. You can uncheck any beacons you don't want to import.
5. The beacons will be created in the current group.

### Creating from OSM data
There are several online tools that can be used to query OpenStreetMap data and export it as a GPX file.

To use Overpass Turbo:

1. Open [Overpass Turbo](https://overpass-turbo.eu/).
2. Adjust the map to the area you want to query.
3. Enter the query. This will be filled in if you use one of the links below.
4. Click 'Run'.
5. Click 'Export' and select 'GPX'.
6. Save the GPX file to your device.
7. Follow the steps above to import the beacons.

- [**Peaks**](https://overpass-turbo.eu/s/1SVW): Query for mountain peaks. Change the 1000 in the query to the desired elevation in meters for minimum peak height.

## Viewing a beacon
Beacons will be shown in the beacon list and will display the distance to the beacon from your current location.

To open a beacon, click the beacon in the list. This will open the beacon details page. The following information will be shown:
- **Name**: The name of the beacon.
- **Location**: The location of the beacon.
- **Elevation**: The elevation of the beacon.
- **Distance**: The distance to the beacon from your current location.
- **Historic high/low temperature**: The historical average high and low temperature for the beacon's location. See the 'Climate' guide for more information.
- **Sunrise/sunset**: The sunrise and sunset times for the beacon's location.
- **Notes**: Any notes you recorded about the beacon.

## Navigate to a beacon
To navigate to a beacon, open the beacon you want to navigate to and click the 'Navigate' button at the bottom. This will open the navigation tool with the beacon as the destination. Alternatively, you can click the menu button on the beacon row you want to navigate to, then select 'Navigate'.

See the 'Navigation' guide for more information on how to use the navigation tool.

## Beacon visibility
You can choose which beacons are visible on the Navigation and Photo Maps tools by clicking the eye icon on the right side of the beacon row. This will toggle the visibility of the beacon.

## Share a beacon
You can share a beacon by clicking the menu button on the beacon row you want to share, then selecting 'Share...'. Alternatively, open the beacon and click the menu button in the top-right, then choose 'Share...'. You can choose from the following options:

- **Copy**: Copies the beacon details to your clipboard.
- **QR code**: Shares a QR code for the beacon.
- **Maps**: Shares the beacon to a maps application.
- **Send**: Shares the beacon details to another app as text.

## Edit a beacon
To edit a beacon, open the beacon and click the edit button at the bottom. Alternatively, click the menu button on the beacon row you want to edit, then select 'Edit'.

See the 'Creating a beacon' section above for information on the fields you can edit.

## Delete a beacon
To delete a beacon, click the menu button on the beacon row you want to remove, then select 'Delete'. Alternatively, open the beacon, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Delete'.

## Exporting beacons
To export beacons, open the group you want to export and click the menu button in the top-right corner of the screen. Select 'Export', unselect any beacons you don't want to export, then click 'OK'. The beacons will be exported to a GPX file.

## Organizing beacons
You can organize beacons into groups. To create a group, click the '+' button in the bottom-right of the beacon list and select 'Group'. Give the group a name and click 'OK'. Click the group in the list to view the beacons in that group.

If you create a beacon or group while the group is open, the new beacon or group will be added to the currently open group.

To change the group of an existing beacon, click the menu button on the beacon row you want to move, select 'Move to', and choose the target group.

To rename a group, click the menu button on the group row you want to rename, then select 'Rename' and provide a new name.

You can delete a group (along with all beacons within it) by clicking the menu button on the group row you wish to remove, then selecting 'Delete'.

## Searching for beacons
To search through your created beacons, use the search bar at the top of the beacon list. This search encompasses the current group and all subgroups. Additionally, you can sort beacons by distance, time, or name by clicking the menu button in the top-right and selecting 'Sort'.

## Last cell signal beacon
If you have Backtrack enabled (see the 'Paths' guide) and it is configured to record cell signal, you will see a beacon created for the last known location where you had a cell signal.

You can disable this beacon in Settings > Paths > 'Last signal beacon'.

You can also choose to navigate to the nearest cell signal by clicking the menu button at the top-right of the beacon list and selecting 'Navigate to nearest cell signal'. This will start navigation to the nearest recorded location that has a cell signal.

## Quick action
You can enable the Create Beacon quick action in the settings for the desired tab.

To use the quick action, tap the Beacon quick action button to create a beacon at your current location. The title of the beacon will be set to the current date and time. Once created you will see a notification at the bottom of the screen with a button to view the beacon.

The Beacons tool can be used to save locations and navigate to them later.

## Creating a beacon
1. Tap the '+' button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Click 'Beacon'.
3. Enter a name for the beacon.
4. Enter a location for the beacon. You can tap the GPS icon next to the location field to use your current location.
5. Fill out any of the optional fields you want to record.
6. Click the checkmark button in the top-right corner of the screen.

### Optional fields
- **Elevation**: The elevation of the beacon. You can click the elevation icon next to the elevation field to use your current elevation.
- **Create at distance**: If you want to place a beacon at a known distance and direction from a location, you can toggle this on. You will then need to enter the distance away and set the direction to the new location before you can save the beacon. The new beacon will be placed at the distance and direction away from the location entered above.
- **Group**: The group to add the beacon to. Tap a group and click 'OK' to add the beacon to that group. To create a new group, see the 'Organizing beacons' section below.
- **Color**: The color to use for the beacon.
- **Icon**: The icon to use for the beacon.
- **Notes**: Any notes you want to record about the beacon.

### Creating from a QR code
Beacons can be shared as a QR code by clicking the menu button on the beacon row you want to share, then selecting 'Share...'. You can then share the QR code with Trail Sense to create a beacon from it.

1. Tap the '+' button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Click 'QR code'.
3. Scan the QR code you want to create a beacon from.
4. Follow the steps above to fill out the beacon information. Any information from the QR code will be prefilled.

### Creating from a GPX file
If you have locations saved in a GPX file, you can import them into Trail Sense as beacons.

1. Tap the '+' button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Click 'GPX file'.
3. Select the GPX file you want to load beacons from.
4. Confirm that you want to import the beacons by clicking 'OK'. You can uncheck any beacons you don't want to import.
5. The beacons will be created in the current group.

### Creating from OSM data
There are several online tools that can be used to query OpenStreetMap data and export it as a GPX file.

To use Overpass Turbo:

1. Open [Overpass Turbo](https://overpass-turbo.eu/).
2. Adjust the map to the area you want to query.
3. Enter the query. This will be filled in if you use one of the links below.
4. Click 'Run'.
5. Click 'Export' and select 'GPX'.
6. Save the GPX file to your device.
7. Follow the steps above to import the beacons.

- [**Peaks**](https://overpass-turbo.eu/s/1SVW): Query for mountain peaks. Change the 1000 in the query to the desired elevation in meters for minimum peak height.

## Viewing a beacon
Beacons will be shown in the beacon list and will display the distance to the beacon from your current location.

To open a beacon, click the beacon in the list. This will open the beacon details page. The following information will be shown:
- **Name**: The name of the beacon.
- **Location**: The location of the beacon.
- **Elevation**: The elevation of the beacon.
- **Distance**: The distance to the beacon from your current location.
- **Historic high/low temperature**: The historical average high and low temperature for the beacon's location. See the 'Climate' guide for more information.
- **Sunrise/sunset**: The sunrise and sunset times for the beacon's location.
- **Notes**: Any notes you recorded about the beacon.

## Navigate to a beacon
To navigate to a beacon, open the beacon you want to navigate to and click the 'Navigate' button at the bottom. This will open the navigation tool with the beacon as the destination. Alternatively, you can click the menu button on the beacon row you want to navigate to, then select 'Navigate'.

See the 'Navigation' guide for more information on how to use the navigation tool.

## Beacon visibility
You can choose which beacons are visible on the Navigation and Photo Maps tools by clicking the eye icon on the right side of the beacon row. This will toggle the visibility of the beacon.

## Share a beacon
You can share a beacon by clicking the menu button on the beacon row you want to share, then selecting 'Share...'. Alternatively, open the beacon and click the menu button in the top-right, then choose 'Share...'. You can choose from the following options:

- **Copy**: Copies the beacon details to your clipboard.
- **QR code**: Shares a QR code for the beacon.
- **Maps**: Shares the beacon to a maps application.
- **Send**: Shares the beacon details to another app as text.

## Edit a beacon
To edit a beacon, open the beacon and click the edit button at the bottom. Alternatively, click the menu button on the beacon row you want to edit, then select 'Edit'.

See the 'Creating a beacon' section above for information on the fields you can edit.

## Delete a beacon
To delete a beacon, click the menu button on the beacon row you want to remove, then select 'Delete'. Alternatively, open the beacon, click the menu button in the top-right, and choose 'Delete'.

## Exporting beacons
To export beacons, open the group you want to export and click the menu button in the top-right corner of the screen. Select 'Export', unselect any beacons you don't want to export, then click 'OK'. The beacons will be exported to a GPX file.

## Organizing beacons
You can organize beacons into groups. To create a group, click the '+' button in the bottom-right of the beacon list and select 'Group'. Give the group a name and click 'OK'. Click the group in the list to view the beacons in that group.

If you create a beacon or group while the group is open, the new beacon or group will be added to the currently open group.

To change the group of an existing beacon, click the menu button on the beacon row you want to move, select 'Move to', and choose the target group.

To rename a group, click the menu button on the group row you want to rename, then select 'Rename' and provide a new name.

You can delete a group (along with all beacons within it) by clicking the menu button on the group row you wish to remove, then selecting 'Delete'.

## Searching for beacons
To search through your created beacons, use the search bar at the top of the beacon list. This search encompasses the current group and all subgroups. Additionally, you can sort beacons by distance, time, or name by clicking the menu button in the top-right and selecting 'Sort'.

## Last cell signal beacon
If you have Backtrack enabled (see the 'Paths' guide) and it is configured to record cell signal, you will see a beacon created for the last known location where you had a cell signal.

You can disable this beacon in Settings > Paths > 'Last signal beacon'.

You can also choose to navigate to the nearest cell signal by clicking the menu button at the top-right of the beacon list and selecting 'Navigate to nearest cell signal'. This will start navigation to the nearest recorded location that has a cell signal.

## Quick action
You can enable the Create Beacon quick action in the settings for the desired tab.

To use the quick action, tap the Beacon quick action button to create a beacon at your current location. The title of the beacon will be set to the current date and time. Once created you will see a notification at the bottom of the screen with a button to view the beacon.

The Tides tool helps you keep track of tides at a specific location. Trail Sense operates offline, so you'll need to manually input the tides you wish to monitor.

## Create a tide table
Before venturing into coastal areas, consult an official tide table for accurate times and water heights. Once you have this information, follow these steps to import it into Trail Sense's Tide tool:

1. Click the tides button in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Tap the '+' button in the bottom-right corner.
3. Optionally, provide a name and location for the tide.
4. Adjust the tide frequency, indicating how many high tides typically occur in a day (most places have 2, known as Semidiurnal).
5. Scroll down to the tide table section.
6. Click either 'H' for high tide or 'L' for low tide to toggle between them.
7. Select 'Time not set' and enter the date and time of the tide.
8. Optionally, click the '-' in the 'Height' column to input the tide's height.
9. To add another tide, tap the '+' button in the top-left corner of the table.
10. You can delete a tide by clicking the 'X' icon to the right of the tide.
11. The tide estimation method can be changed by clicking the 'Estimation method' dropdown. Tide clock is the default and assumes a fixed tidal cycle. Lunitidal interval uses the moon's position to estimate tides, and may be more accurate in some locations.
12. Save the tide table by clicking the checkmark in the top-right corner.

For the best accuracy, input all tides for each relevant day. Trail Sense will distinguish between entered and estimated tides on the tide chart.

For lunitidal estimations, you can choose between the following:
- **Auto**: This will automatically calculate the lunitidal interval based on the entered high tides. Requires at least one high tide to be entered.
- **Local**: Enter the lunitidal interval in hours and minutes for your location. This requires the location to be set, but does not require a tide table.
- **UTC/Greenwich**: Enter the lunitidal interval in hours and minutes for UTC/Greenwich. This does not require a location or tide table.

## Viewing a tide table
By default, the Tides tool displays the closest tide to your location when you open it. To change this, go to Settings > Tides > 'Show closest tide' to toggle between displaying the closest tide and the last tide you viewed.

To select a different tide, click the tides button in the top-right corner of the screen. This opens a list of all the tide tables you've created. Simply click on a tide to view it.

## Tide chart
The tide chart displays the tides for the current day. The X-axis represents time, while the Y-axis represents the tide height. A dot marks the current time on the chart. By default, today is selected, but you can change it by tapping the calendar icon at the top of the screen. Additionally, you can use the arrows to move to the next/previous date or long press the calendar to quickly jump to today's date.

At the top of the screen, you'll find the current tide level and, if available, the tide's height. A down arrow means a falling tide, while an up arrow means a rising tide.

The bottom of the screen displays a tide table for the current day. If the tide height is entered, it will be shown here; otherwise, it will be estimated. Estimated tides may not be entirely accurate and are based on the inputted tides.

## Editing a tide table
You can edit a tide table with the following steps:

1. Click the tides button in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Click the menu button to the right of the tide you wish to edit.
3. Select 'Edit.'
4. You'll be taken to the same screen used to create the tide table. Edit the table as needed.
5. Save your changes by clicking the checkmark in the top-right corner.

## Deleting a tide table
You can delete a tide table using the following steps:

1. Click the tides button in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Click the menu button to the right of the tide you want to delete.
3. Choose 'Delete.'

## Viewing tides on the map
By default, tides with a location entered will appear on the Navigation tool's radar compass and Photo Maps. To hide/show a tide, follow these steps:

1. Click the tides button in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Click the menu button to the right of the tide you wish to hide or show.
3. Select 'Hide' or 'Show.'

## Estimating tides without a tide table
If you don't have access to a tide table, you can estimate tides using the Tides tool. Keep in mind that this is just an estimate, so it's always best to consult an officially published tide table when possible. If you know whether the tide is currently high or low, you can create a tide table with a single entry (using the current time and tide level), and the Tides tool will estimate the tidal cycle. This should only be used for short-term predictions, as accuracy decreases further away from the reference tide.

## Finding official tide tables
To locate an official tide table, search the Internet for tides at your location. Here are some community-recommended sites offering tide tables:

### Worldwide
- [tides4fishing](https://tides4fishing.com/)
- [tide-forecast.com](https://www.tide-forecast.com/)
- [SHOM](https://maree.shom.fr/)

### Germany
- [BSH](https://www.bsh.de/DE/DATEN/Vorhersagen/Gezeiten/gezeiten_node.html)

### Netherlands
- [Rijkswaterstaat](https://www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/water/waterdata-en-waterberichtgeving/waterdata/getij)

### UK
- [UK Hydrographic Office: EasyTide](https://easytide.admiralty.co.uk/)

### UK + Ireland
- [NTSLF Tides](https://ntslf.org/tides/predictions)

### USA
- [NOAA Tides & Currents](https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.html)
- [Tides.net](https://tides.net/)

## Disclaimer
Tide predictions are estimates and should not be relied upon exclusively. Whenever possible, use an official tide table and input the data into Trail Sense for accuracy.

The Tides tool helps you keep track of tides at a specific location. Trail Sense operates offline, so you'll need to manually input the tides you wish to monitor.

## Create a tide table
Before venturing into coastal areas, consult an official tide table for accurate times and water heights. Once you have this information, follow these steps to import it into Trail Sense's Tide tool:

1. Click the tides button in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Tap the '+' button in the bottom-right corner.
3. Optionally, provide a name and location for the tide.
4. Adjust the tide frequency, indicating how many high tides typically occur in a day (most places have 2, known as Semidiurnal).
5. Scroll down to the tide table section.
6. Click either 'H' for high tide or 'L' for low tide to toggle between them.
7. Select 'Time not set' and enter the date and time of the tide.
8. Optionally, click the '-' in the 'Height' column to input the tide's height.
9. To add another tide, tap the '+' button in the top-left corner of the table.
10. You can delete a tide by clicking the 'X' icon to the right of the tide.
11. The tide estimation method can be changed by clicking the 'Estimation method' dropdown. Tide clock is the default and assumes a fixed tidal cycle. Lunitidal interval uses the moon's position to estimate tides, and may be more accurate in some locations.
12. Save the tide table by clicking the checkmark in the top-right corner.

For the best accuracy, input all tides for each relevant day. Trail Sense will distinguish between entered and estimated tides on the tide chart.

For lunitidal estimations, you can choose between the following:
- **Auto**: This will automatically calculate the lunitidal interval based on the entered high tides. Requires at least one high tide to be entered.
- **Local**: Enter the lunitidal interval in hours and minutes for your location. This requires the location to be set, but does not require a tide table.
- **UTC/Greenwich**: Enter the lunitidal interval in hours and minutes for UTC/Greenwich. This does not require a location or tide table.

## Viewing a tide table
By default, the Tides tool displays the closest tide to your location when you open it. To change this, go to Settings > Tides > 'Show closest tide' to toggle between displaying the closest tide and the last tide you viewed.

To select a different tide, click the tides button in the top-right corner of the screen. This opens a list of all the tide tables you've created. Simply click on a tide to view it.

## Tide chart
The tide chart displays the tides for the current day. The X-axis represents time, while the Y-axis represents the tide height. A dot marks the current time on the chart. By default, today is selected, but you can change it by tapping the calendar icon at the top of the screen. Additionally, you can use the arrows to move to the next/previous date or long press the calendar to quickly jump to today's date.

At the top of the screen, you'll find the current tide level and, if available, the tide's height. A down arrow means a falling tide, while an up arrow means a rising tide.

The bottom of the screen displays a tide table for the current day. If the tide height is entered, it will be shown here; otherwise, it will be estimated. Estimated tides may not be entirely accurate and are based on the inputted tides.

## Editing a tide table
You can edit a tide table with the following steps:

1. Click the tides button in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Click the menu button to the right of the tide you wish to edit.
3. Select 'Edit.'
4. You'll be taken to the same screen used to create the tide table. Edit the table as needed.
5. Save your changes by clicking the checkmark in the top-right corner.

## Deleting a tide table
You can delete a tide table using the following steps:

1. Click the tides button in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Click the menu button to the right of the tide you want to delete.
3. Choose 'Delete.'

## Viewing tides on the map
By default, tides with a location entered will appear on the Navigation tool's radar compass and Photo Maps. To hide/show a tide, follow these steps:

1. Click the tides button in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Click the menu button to the right of the tide you wish to hide or show.
3. Select 'Hide' or 'Show.'

## Estimating tides without a tide table
If you don't have access to a tide table, you can estimate tides using the Tides tool. Keep in mind that this is just an estimate, so it's always best to consult an officially published tide table when possible. If you know whether the tide is currently high or low, you can create a tide table with a single entry (using the current time and tide level), and the Tides tool will estimate the tidal cycle. This should only be used for short-term predictions, as accuracy decreases further away from the reference tide.

## Finding official tide tables
To locate an official tide table, search the Internet for tides at your location. Here are some community-recommended sites offering tide tables:

### Worldwide
- [tides4fishing](https://tides4fishing.com/)
- [tide-forecast.com](https://www.tide-forecast.com/)
- [SHOM](https://maree.shom.fr/)

### Germany
- [BSH](https://www.bsh.de/DE/DATEN/Vorhersagen/Gezeiten/gezeiten_node.html)

### Netherlands
- [Rijkswaterstaat](https://www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/water/waterdata-en-waterberichtgeving/waterdata/getij)

### UK
- [UK Hydrographic Office: EasyTide](https://easytide.admiralty.co.uk/)

### UK + Ireland
- [NTSLF Tides](https://ntslf.org/tides/predictions)

### USA
- [NOAA Tides & Currents](https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.html)
- [Tides.net](https://tides.net/)

## Disclaimer
Tide predictions are estimates and should not be relied upon exclusively. Whenever possible, use an official tide table and input the data into Trail Sense for accuracy.

This chapter covers how to prepare for different types of weather and how to forecast it.

## Be prepared

### Gear

**Necessities**:
- 7-day weather forecast
- Appropriate clothing and shelter for the weather (see the Shelter and Clothing chapter)
- Poncho
- Sunglasses

**Optional**:
- Barometer
- Many smartphones have barometers; you can use the Weather tool in Trail Sense to monitor pressure
- Thermometer

### Knowledge and skills
Start by learning how to do the following:
- Read a weather forecast.
- Deal with different types of weather.
- Identify signs of worsening weather.

Once you have mastered these skills, you should learn how to do the following:
- Identify signs of improving weather.
- Forecast weather based on observations.
- Understand your region's climate.
- Predict tides.

## Weather
Weather conditions can change rapidly and significantly impact your outdoor activities.

In mountainous regions, take extra precautions when above the treeline, as weather can be more severe and you are more exposed to the elements.

### Precipitation
You can generally continue outdoor activities in light precipitation. However, if it starts precipitating heavily, seek shelter. Be aware of the risk of hypothermia, and take steps to stay warm and dry.

Be cautious near rivers and streams during heavy rainfall, as they can rise rapidly and become dangerous.

Blizzards can lead to whiteout conditions, severely reducing visibility. If caught in a blizzard, seek shelter immediately and stay warm and dry.

### Temperature and humidity
In cold weather, dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves to prevent heat loss. Stay dry, as wet clothing can cause you to lose body heat more quickly.

In hot weather, stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade. Wear sunscreen and sun-protective clothing to protect yourself from sun exposure. High humidity can make it feel hotter and make cooling off more difficult.

Temperature decreases by about 3.5°F (2°C) for every 1,000 feet (305 meters) of elevation gain.

### Wind
In cold conditions, wind can make it feel even colder, increasing the risk of hypothermia and frostbite. Dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves to protect yourself from the wind.

Be cautious of unstable trees and branches in windy conditions, as they can be hazardous.

In desert environments, wind can cause sandstorms, which reduce visibility and make breathing difficult. Seek shelter during a sandstorm and protect your eyes and mouth with a bandana or cloth.

Prevailing winds are winds that blow consistently in one direction over time. While local geography and bodies of water can affect wind patterns, general patterns are as follows:
- 60° N to 90° N: Winds generally blow from the east.
- 30° N to 60° N: Winds generally blow from the west.
- 0° to 30° N: Winds generally blow from the northeast.
- 0° to 30° S: Winds generally blow from the southeast.
- 30° S to 60° S: Winds generally blow from the west.
- 60° S to 90° S: Winds generally blow from the east.

### Fog
Fog reduces visibility, making navigation difficult. If hiking in fog, stay on marked trails and use a map, compass, or GPS to navigate. Watch your footing carefully.

### Lightning
If caught outdoors during a thunderstorm, seek shelter immediately. Avoid tall trees and bodies of water, but get out of open areas. If you're in an open area, crouch down on the balls of your feet and cover your ears to reduce the risk of lightning strikes.

If you feel your hair stand on end or hear a crackling noise, you are in danger of being struck by lightning.

You can estimate how far away a thunderstorm is by counting the seconds between a flash of lightning and the sound of thunder. Divide the number of seconds by 5 to get the distance in miles. One mile is about 1.6 kilometers. Any storm within 6 miles (10 kilometers) is a threat.

### Sun
On days with a high UV index, wear sunscreen and sun-protective clothing. In hot climates, stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade.

### Smoke
Wildfires can cause smoke that travels long distances. Avoid outdoor activities on days with poor air quality if possible.

## Climate
The climate of a region refers to its average weather conditions over time. Understanding the climate helps you prepare for the typical weather you'll encounter.

Key factors to consider when thinking about climate include:
- Daily high and low temperatures
- Precipitation amounts
- Humidity levels
- Wind patterns

## Forecasting
You can learn to forecast weather by observing the signs around you. The more signs you notice, the more accurate your forecast will be.

### Signs of worsening weather
- Cloud cover increases
- Clouds start growing vertically (into an anvil shape)
- This indicates a thunderstorm
- Clouds darken
- Clouds move quickly
- Clouds lower
- Wind speed increases
- Temperature suddenly drops
- Barometric pressure drops
- Faster drops indicate more severe weather
- Wind direction changes, opposite the prevailing wind
- Animals become quiet
- Humidity increases
- You see lightning or hear thunder
- You smell rain (called petrichor)

### Signs of improving weather
- Cloud cover decreases
- Wind speed decreases
- Temperature rises
- Barometric pressure rises
- Wind direction changes to match the prevailing wind
- Animals become active
- Humidity decreases

## Tides
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. Tides can affect outdoor activities, especially near the coast.

A receding tide can lead to rip currents, which are dangerous for swimmers.

Check the tide tables before heading to the coast. Tide tables can be found online or in local newspapers.

[Image source](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_tides/tides07_cycles.html#1)

### Semidiurnal tides
Semidiurnal tides have two high tides and two low tides each day. If you know the time of high tide, the next low tide will be about 6 hours later, and the following high tide will be about 6 hours after that.

**Mixed tides**

Mixed tides are a type of semidiurnal tide, but the heights of the high and/or low tides vary throughout the day.

### Diurnal tides
Diurnal tides have one high tide and one low tide each day. If you know the time of high tide, the next low tide will be about 12 hours later, and the next high tide will be about 12 hours after that.

## Night
You can estimate the time until sunset by holding your hand horizontally with your fingers together and counting the number of finger widths between the sun and the horizon. Each finger width represents roughly 15 minutes.

On nights with a nearly full moon, you can use the moonlight to help navigate.

Navigating in the dark is not recommended, but if necessary, use a flashlight or headlamp to light your way.

This chapter covers how to prepare for different types of weather and how to forecast it.

## Be prepared

### Gear

**Necessities**:
- 7-day weather forecast
- Appropriate clothing and shelter for the weather (see the Shelter and Clothing chapter)
- Poncho
- Sunglasses

**Optional**:
- Barometer
- Many smartphones have barometers; you can use the Weather tool in Trail Sense to monitor pressure
- Thermometer

### Knowledge and skills
Start by learning how to do the following:
- Read a weather forecast.
- Deal with different types of weather.
- Identify signs of worsening weather.

Once you have mastered these skills, you should learn how to do the following:
- Identify signs of improving weather.
- Forecast weather based on observations.
- Understand your region's climate.
- Predict tides.

## Weather
Weather conditions can change rapidly and significantly impact your outdoor activities.

In mountainous regions, take extra precautions when above the treeline, as weather can be more severe and you are more exposed to the elements.

### Precipitation
You can generally continue outdoor activities in light precipitation. However, if it starts precipitating heavily, seek shelter. Be aware of the risk of hypothermia, and take steps to stay warm and dry.

Be cautious near rivers and streams during heavy rainfall, as they can rise rapidly and become dangerous.

Blizzards can lead to whiteout conditions, severely reducing visibility. If caught in a blizzard, seek shelter immediately and stay warm and dry.

### Temperature and humidity
In cold weather, dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves to prevent heat loss. Stay dry, as wet clothing can cause you to lose body heat more quickly.

In hot weather, stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade. Wear sunscreen and sun-protective clothing to protect yourself from sun exposure. High humidity can make it feel hotter and make cooling off more difficult.

Temperature decreases by about 3.5°F (2°C) for every 1,000 feet (305 meters) of elevation gain.

### Wind
In cold conditions, wind can make it feel even colder, increasing the risk of hypothermia and frostbite. Dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves to protect yourself from the wind.

Be cautious of unstable trees and branches in windy conditions, as they can be hazardous.

In desert environments, wind can cause sandstorms, which reduce visibility and make breathing difficult. Seek shelter during a sandstorm and protect your eyes and mouth with a bandana or cloth.

Prevailing winds are winds that blow consistently in one direction over time. While local geography and bodies of water can affect wind patterns, general patterns are as follows:
- 60° N to 90° N: Winds generally blow from the east.
- 30° N to 60° N: Winds generally blow from the west.
- 0° to 30° N: Winds generally blow from the northeast.
- 0° to 30° S: Winds generally blow from the southeast.
- 30° S to 60° S: Winds generally blow from the west.
- 60° S to 90° S: Winds generally blow from the east.

### Fog
Fog reduces visibility, making navigation difficult. If hiking in fog, stay on marked trails and use a map, compass, or GPS to navigate. Watch your footing carefully.

### Lightning
If caught outdoors during a thunderstorm, seek shelter immediately. Avoid tall trees and bodies of water, but get out of open areas. If you're in an open area, crouch down on the balls of your feet and cover your ears to reduce the risk of lightning strikes.

If you feel your hair stand on end or hear a crackling noise, you are in danger of being struck by lightning.

You can estimate how far away a thunderstorm is by counting the seconds between a flash of lightning and the sound of thunder. Divide the number of seconds by 5 to get the distance in miles. One mile is about 1.6 kilometers. Any storm within 6 miles (10 kilometers) is a threat.

### Sun
On days with a high UV index, wear sunscreen and sun-protective clothing. In hot climates, stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade.

### Smoke
Wildfires can cause smoke that travels long distances. Avoid outdoor activities on days with poor air quality if possible.

## Climate
The climate of a region refers to its average weather conditions over time. Understanding the climate helps you prepare for the typical weather you'll encounter.

Key factors to consider when thinking about climate include:
- Daily high and low temperatures
- Precipitation amounts
- Humidity levels
- Wind patterns

## Forecasting
You can learn to forecast weather by observing the signs around you. The more signs you notice, the more accurate your forecast will be.

### Signs of worsening weather
- Cloud cover increases
- Clouds start growing vertically (into an anvil shape)
- This indicates a thunderstorm
- Clouds darken
- Clouds move quickly
- Clouds lower
- Wind speed increases
- Temperature suddenly drops
- Barometric pressure drops
- Faster drops indicate more severe weather
- Wind direction changes, opposite the prevailing wind
- Animals become quiet
- Humidity increases
- You see lightning or hear thunder
- You smell rain (called petrichor)

### Signs of improving weather
- Cloud cover decreases
- Wind speed decreases
- Temperature rises
- Barometric pressure rises
- Wind direction changes to match the prevailing wind
- Animals become active
- Humidity decreases

## Tides
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. Tides can affect outdoor activities, especially near the coast.

A receding tide can lead to rip currents, which are dangerous for swimmers.

Check the tide tables before heading to the coast. Tide tables can be found online or in local newspapers.

[Image source](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_tides/tides07_cycles.html#1)

### Semidiurnal tides
Semidiurnal tides have two high tides and two low tides each day. If you know the time of high tide, the next low tide will be about 6 hours later, and the following high tide will be about 6 hours after that.

**Mixed tides**

Mixed tides are a type of semidiurnal tide, but the heights of the high and/or low tides vary throughout the day.

### Diurnal tides
Diurnal tides have one high tide and one low tide each day. If you know the time of high tide, the next low tide will be about 12 hours later, and the next high tide will be about 12 hours after that.

## Night
You can estimate the time until sunset by holding your hand horizontally with your fingers together and counting the number of finger widths between the sun and the horizon. Each finger width represents roughly 15 minutes.

On nights with a nearly full moon, you can use the moonlight to help navigate.

Navigating in the dark is not recommended, but if necessary, use a flashlight or headlamp to light your way.

This chapter covers how to find and purify water.

## Be prepared
### Gear

**Necessities**:
- Water (enough for the duration of your trip, plus a bit extra).
- For longer trips, bring a water purification method and plan your route to include water sources.
- Water containers (ensure you have a container that you can boil water in).

**Optional**:
- Water purification method (tablets or filter).
- Cooking pot or container.
- Clear plastic sheet/tarp.

### Knowledge and skills
Start by learning how to do the following:
- Plan your water needs for the trip.
- Locate water sources.
- Purify water by boiling.

Once you have mastered these skills, you should learn how to do the following:
- Purify water using chemical treatment or filtration.
- Collect water from plants and other sources.
- Collect water using a solar still.
- Boil water using hot rocks.
- Desalinate water.

## Hydration essentials

When hiking, conserving energy while maintaining hydration is vital. Here are some general rules:

- Choose running water when possible.
- Assume surface water is contaminated; always purify it.
- Avoid the following:
- Consuming snow without melting it.
- Urine or alcohol.
- Saltwater.
- Stagnant water.

### Daily water needs

At 70°F (20°C), a hiker needs around 2 to 3 quarts/liters of water per day. This amount increases with physical activity and exposure to higher temperatures.

### Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in. Symptoms include:

- Thirst.
- Dry mouth and throat.
- Fatigue.
- Dizziness.
- Dark urine.
- Reduced urine output.
- Dry skin.
- Headache.
- Confusion.

## Finding water

### Common water sources

- **Rainwater**: Rainwater collected directly in containers does not need purification. However, if it has run over leaves or other surfaces, it should be purified.

- **Snow and ice**: Melt snow and ice before drinking. Avoid eating snow directly as it can lower your core body temperature. Melted snow requires purification.

- **Streams and rivers**: Flowing water is typically safer than stagnant water but still should be purified.

- **Dew**: Collect dew from plants or grass by wringing out a cloth or sponge.

- **Groundwater**: Dig a deep hole and allow water to seep in. This water should be purified before drinking.

### Specific environments

- **Deserts**:
- **Groundwater**: Look for green vegetation, valleys and low areas, or dry riverbeds.

- **Beaches/sea**:
- **Groundwater**: Dig a deep hole to allow water to seep in. This water should be purified and may need desalination.
- **Sea water**: Sea water can be desalinated to make it drinkable.
- **Sea ice**: If it is gray or opaque, it may be salty. Crystalline ice that has a bluish tint is usually safe to melt for drinking water.

### Water from plants

Certain plants can provide water when no open sources are available:

- **Green bamboo**: Shake the bamboo to check for water, then cut it to extract the water inside.
- **Water vines**: Many vines contain drinkable water. These vines are usually soft and easy to cut. Ensure a positive identification of the vine before drinking, and make sure the water is clear and odorless.
- **Coconut water**: Green coconuts are best for hydration, as they contain more fluid and less oil.


### Solar stills

**Belowground solar still**

A belowground solar still is a simple device that uses the sun’s heat to draw moisture from the soil or plants, which then condenses on a plastic sheet and can be collected in a container. You can also pour saltwater into the hole to desalinate it.

1. Dig a bowl-shaped hole in the ground about 3 feet (1 meter) across and 2 feet (0.6 meters) deep. Ensure it is in direct sunlight.
2. Place a container in the center of the hole. Optionally, place plants/water around the container to increase moisture (do not place them in the container).
3. Place a plastic sheet over the hole, securing the edges with rocks or soil.
4. Place a small rock in the center of the sheet, directly over the container.
5. Wait for the sun to heat the ground and evaporate moisture, which will condense on the plastic and drip into the container.


**Transpiration bag**

A transpiration bag is a plastic bag tied around a leafy branch to collect water.


1. Tie a plastic bag around a leafy branch, ensuring that the bag is airtight.
2. Wait for the sun to heat the plant, causing moisture to evaporate and condense on the bag.
3. Collect the water that has condensed inside the bag.

## Making water safe to drink

Always ensure the water you collect is safe to drink. Boiling is the most reliable method, but chemical purification tablets and filters are also effective. If you cannot purify the water immediately, prioritize finding and storing water until you can treat it.

### Purification methods

- **Boiling**: Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. At higher altitudes, boil for three minutes. If you do not have a single-walled metal container that can be used for boiling, then do the following:
1. Find another container, dig a hole in the ground and line it with a waterproof material, or craft a bowl (see the Crafting chapter).
2. Fill the container with water.
3. Heat rocks in a fire and place them in the water to heat it. **Do not** use rocks that may contain moisture (such as river rocks), as they can explode. Use two sticks in a chopstick fashion to move the rocks.
4. Replace the rocks with hot ones as needed to keep the water boiling.
- **Chemical treatment**: Use water purification tablets or drops according to the instructions.
- **Filtration**: Use a portable water filter to remove contaminants. If you construct a filter to remove sediment, still purify the water through boiling or chemical treatment. A filter can be constructed by layering grass or small rocks, sand, and charcoal (from top to bottom) in a container with a hole at the bottom to collect the filtered water.


### Hazards
- **Microorganisms**: Water may contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause illness. Boiling water kills most microorganisms, but some may require additional treatment. Microorganisms are more likely to be present in stagnant water.
- **Chemicals**: Water may contain chemicals from industrial or agricultural runoff. Purification methods may not remove all chemical contaminants.

This chapter covers how to find and purify water.

## Be prepared
### Gear

**Necessities**:
- Water (enough for the duration of your trip, plus a bit extra).
- For longer trips, bring a water purification method and plan your route to include water sources.
- Water containers (ensure you have a container that you can boil water in).

**Optional**:
- Water purification method (tablets or filter).
- Cooking pot or container.
- Clear plastic sheet/tarp.

### Knowledge and skills
Start by learning how to do the following:
- Plan your water needs for the trip.
- Locate water sources.
- Purify water by boiling.

Once you have mastered these skills, you should learn how to do the following:
- Purify water using chemical treatment or filtration.
- Collect water from plants and other sources.
- Collect water using a solar still.
- Boil water using hot rocks.
- Desalinate water.

## Hydration essentials

When hiking, conserving energy while maintaining hydration is vital. Here are some general rules:

- Choose running water when possible.
- Assume surface water is contaminated; always purify it.
- Avoid the following:
- Consuming snow without melting it.
- Urine or alcohol.
- Saltwater.
- Stagnant water.

### Daily water needs

At 70°F (20°C), a hiker needs around 2 to 3 quarts/liters of water per day. This amount increases with physical activity and exposure to higher temperatures.

### Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in. Symptoms include:

- Thirst.
- Dry mouth and throat.
- Fatigue.
- Dizziness.
- Dark urine.
- Reduced urine output.
- Dry skin.
- Headache.
- Confusion.

## Finding water

### Common water sources

- **Rainwater**: Rainwater collected directly in containers does not need purification. However, if it has run over leaves or other surfaces, it should be purified.

- **Snow and ice**: Melt snow and ice before drinking. Avoid eating snow directly as it can lower your core body temperature. Melted snow requires purification.

- **Streams and rivers**: Flowing water is typically safer than stagnant water but still should be purified.

- **Dew**: Collect dew from plants or grass by wringing out a cloth or sponge.

- **Groundwater**: Dig a deep hole and allow water to seep in. This water should be purified before drinking.

### Specific environments

- **Deserts**:
- **Groundwater**: Look for green vegetation, valleys and low areas, or dry riverbeds.

- **Beaches/sea**:
- **Groundwater**: Dig a deep hole to allow water to seep in. This water should be purified and may need desalination.
- **Sea water**: Sea water can be desalinated to make it drinkable.
- **Sea ice**: If it is gray or opaque, it may be salty. Crystalline ice that has a bluish tint is usually safe to melt for drinking water.

### Water from plants

Certain plants can provide water when no open sources are available:

- **Green bamboo**: Shake the bamboo to check for water, then cut it to extract the water inside.
- **Water vines**: Many vines contain drinkable water. These vines are usually soft and easy to cut. Ensure a positive identification of the vine before drinking, and make sure the water is clear and odorless.
- **Coconut water**: Green coconuts are best for hydration, as they contain more fluid and less oil.


### Solar stills

**Belowground solar still**

A belowground solar still is a simple device that uses the sun’s heat to draw moisture from the soil or plants, which then condenses on a plastic sheet and can be collected in a container. You can also pour saltwater into the hole to desalinate it.

1. Dig a bowl-shaped hole in the ground about 3 feet (1 meter) across and 2 feet (0.6 meters) deep. Ensure it is in direct sunlight.
2. Place a container in the center of the hole. Optionally, place plants/water around the container to increase moisture (do not place them in the container).
3. Place a plastic sheet over the hole, securing the edges with rocks or soil.
4. Place a small rock in the center of the sheet, directly over the container.
5. Wait for the sun to heat the ground and evaporate moisture, which will condense on the plastic and drip into the container.


**Transpiration bag**

A transpiration bag is a plastic bag tied around a leafy branch to collect water.


1. Tie a plastic bag around a leafy branch, ensuring that the bag is airtight.
2. Wait for the sun to heat the plant, causing moisture to evaporate and condense on the bag.
3. Collect the water that has condensed inside the bag.

## Making water safe to drink

Always ensure the water you collect is safe to drink. Boiling is the most reliable method, but chemical purification tablets and filters are also effective. If you cannot purify the water immediately, prioritize finding and storing water until you can treat it.

### Purification methods

- **Boiling**: Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. At higher altitudes, boil for three minutes. If you do not have a single-walled metal container that can be used for boiling, then do the following:
1. Find another container, dig a hole in the ground and line it with a waterproof material, or craft a bowl (see the Crafting chapter).
2. Fill the container with water.
3. Heat rocks in a fire and place them in the water to heat it. **Do not** use rocks that may contain moisture (such as river rocks), as they can explode. Use two sticks in a chopstick fashion to move the rocks.
4. Replace the rocks with hot ones as needed to keep the water boiling.
- **Chemical treatment**: Use water purification tablets or drops according to the instructions.
- **Filtration**: Use a portable water filter to remove contaminants. If you construct a filter to remove sediment, still purify the water through boiling or chemical treatment. A filter can be constructed by layering grass or small rocks, sand, and charcoal (from top to bottom) in a container with a hole at the bottom to collect the filtered water.


### Hazards
- **Microorganisms**: Water may contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause illness. Boiling water kills most microorganisms, but some may require additional treatment. Microorganisms are more likely to be present in stagnant water.
- **Chemicals**: Water may contain chemicals from industrial or agricultural runoff. Purification methods may not remove all chemical contaminants.