February 2024 update (scroll down for more)

In addition to a just-updated Town Guide and Water Chart, a new version of the GET Topo Mapset - version 3.4 - is now available in time for Spring '24 hiking season!

We’re excited to introduce an entirely new feature in this version. The G.E.T printable mapset contains over 100 pages of detailed, richly-illustrated maps that we feel are essential for navigation, safety, and enjoyment while traveling along this unsigned, primitive hiking route. However, we understand that many hikers these days will opt not to print and carry the maps during their hikes, instead relying primarily on the GPS data which, while accurate and field-recorded, does not by itself offer enough information to provide the best possible hiking experience. In fact, we know of hikers who have had significant challenges trying to follow the recommended route without the benefit of the rich detail and contextualized information contained on the paper maps. Enter the Avenza Maps app as a solution to the problem at hand.

Avenza Maps is a GPS app for mobile devices that brings “geospatial awareness” to otherwise static maps like the printable maps in the G.E.T. mapset. We’ve now converted the printable mapset for use in Avenza, such that it’s viewable in the app as a series of digitized geospatial PDF files. Each file (Avenza map) contains all of the G.E.T. maps for one segment of the route, or roughly 39 Avenza maps in total (some longer or more convoluted segments of the route require two maps). These illustrated maps are “tiled” onto a topographic and terrain-shaded base map and show your location along the G.E.T. (and on the maps!) as you hike. If you’ve ever used Avenza before, you know that it functions as a GPS app similar to GaiaGPS but with the need to “load” external maps into the app in order to visually navigate on the screen. Our goal is to provide all of the maps you’ll need to navigate the G.E.T. in one place, in one app, a “one stop” solution designed to be as hassle-free as possible so you’re set up to hike on short notice.

In other news, we've greatly expanded the nearly 1300 waypoints within the Grand Enchantment Trail mapset to include detailed, guidebook-quality descriptions along with a more user-friendly, at-a-glance naming convention. The waypoints are also presented as a 190-page PDF "Data-Guide" waypoint list, showing each of the mapset waypoints by name and description. This is a 100,000 word document highlighting the tremendous amount of navigational detail now provided in the waypoint data, and providing a very field-worthy interim solution while the G.E.T. online guidebook remains unfinished.

Finally, a note to G.E.T. travelers both present and future - Please consider signing the GET online trail register. This is a place where hikers can declare their plans and/or list their accomplishments along the route, perhaps leave a link to a journal or photos where others can live vicariously through your experiences across the wilds of the Southwest.

Viva los senderismos!