Smart phone apps can enhance outdoor experiences

The trip started when the young smart-phone owners used the Navigator Deluxe app to find a state park.

Then, using the Cal Parks app, they selected the trail they wished to explore. The Outdoor Compass app put them in the right direction, and Digital Altimeter app let them calculate the climbs.

Along the way, they could use smart-phone apps to identify wildlife tracks, scat, birds, the songs of birds, butterflies, wild mushrooms and trade information on standing journals. At dusk, they could turn on a simulated Coleman lantern or campfire on their screen. As the stars emerged, they could use Sky Map to identify them.

A lot of old school types would never even dream of taking any type of techno device on an outdoors trip, especially their telephones. The idea for many, after all, is to unplug, get away and visit places where a phone would be out of range of a cell tower.

But the reality is that the use of smart phones and their apps are taking over the American culture.

For the outdoor experience, thousands of apps are available for smart phones and many are free. It is the fastest-growing segment in the outdoors industry. While I know of several hundred apps for the outdoors, I don't pretend to know them all.

I've learned that performance and quality can be erratic as this new utility evolves. Also note that not all apps are available for all smart phones.

Here are some my favorites.

-- Outdoor compass: You ever felt turned around? Or from a lookout, you needed a compass to get you pointed in the right direction to find landmarks? This compass also looks cool on the display screen of your phone. Free.

-- Digital altimeter: This is an altimeter that shows your altitude with a digital reading. Like many apps, sometimes it takes a while to get it to work. In parks with good cell phone reception, it's fun to track your elevation gains. Free.

--Campfire: You can actually load a campfire into your phone. On a winter night at home, you can turn the thing on and it can take you back to your memories of a favorite camp. Useless but fun, and will put you in a good state of mind. Free.

-- Google Sky Map: With Sky Map, you thumb the screen to line up the night sky to identify planets, stars and constellations. Some night-sky apps will track the sky as you move your phone. Free.

-- Scats and tracks: Identify wildlife tracks and you can often determine a story, like where a bobcat chased a squirrel ... or what nailed the great heron along the stream and left a pile of feathers? A fox? $1.99. -- IBird Pro: To identify birds, it helps to be able to identify them on the spot, quickly, before they fly away. At $9.95, iBird Pro is expensive for an app, but has all the goodies of a book at your fingertips. And if you hear a bird in a bush, but don't see it, song and call recordings can help you figure out what it is. IBird Pro, $9.95; iBirdlite is free and useless for most. -- U.S. Army Survival Guide: That's right, put the entire Survival Guide on your phone. Includes how to build shelters, tie knots, develop water, build a fire and all kinds of skills that people should know out there. Should be mandatory for teenagers. Free.