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The Future of Guidebooks? GuideApps?

Original Post
Jason Burton · · Pinedale, WY · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 45

Red River Gorge Rock Climbs has been released as an Iphone/Ipod Application. Looks sweet. Is this is a trend that will continue? I don't have an Igadget to use it with, so I'd love to hear some first hand reports!

itunes.apple.com/us/app/red…

Ryan Kelly · · work. · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 2,960

That'll take care of those nasty tic marks everyone is always complaining about.

[Beep Beep]
Left gaston on slanting rail
[Beep Beep]

Thanks iPhone!

Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425

There's an article in the last issue of either R&I or climbing on this....

Tristan Higbee · · Pocatello, ID · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 2,970

I agree, not for the dirt, and also not for multi pitch. I can't imagine too many people will want to fumble around with their iPhone when they're a thousand feet off the deck.

I don't have a smart phone and if I did, there's no way I'd take it anywhere near a crag with me when I climb. Too pricey! Plus I like being able to photo copy pages out of the book and take them with me.

Eastvillage · · New York, NY · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 80

I agree that paper is the way to go, but I bet iphone apps will grow.
There is a company that is starting to make ski area maps for popular ski areas that use the iphone's GPS ability to show accurate maps with scale and elevation.

mschlocker · · San Diego, CA · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,195

Can you access Mountain Project on an iphone? Can you save web pages to look at later with no internet access? I may be convinced to buy one.

saxfiend · · Decatur, GA · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 4,221
Jason Burton wrote:Red River Gorge Rock Climbs has been released as an Iphone/Ipod Application. Looks sweet. Is this is a trend that will continue? I don't have an Igadget to use it with, so I'd love to hear some first hand reports!
I've downloaded the iPhone RRG guide and will be doing Mountain Project's review once I've spent some time with it. So far, it looks terrific!

JL
Candemir Orsan · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 0

I disagree about smart devices not being for the crag.

I got an iPhone and at first didn't want to bring it to the crag. But it slips into the bag and has proved to be really durable. It's been in the bag even during the ice climbing season.

How is it different than my digital camera? You can get a iPhone 3G for $199. Much cheaper than most cameras. (probably even cheaper second hand)

Also I think this app is way to go. It will run on the iPod touch if you don't want a contract like my buddy.

Even if you don't climb at the Red I would really recommend checking out the free version. It might change your mind.

Actually, here is a video of the app that was posted.
youtube.com/watch?v=iQH3ZnM…

Very impressive.

Michael Schneiter · · Glenwood Springs, CO · Joined Apr 2002 · Points: 10,406

I've used my iPhone a lot for climbing, and not just for the camera and tunes. Many times I've downloaded topos, route beta, pictures, etc. and then taken my iPhone instead of a paper guidebook/topo. Works great. Sometimes I download the stuff on the way to the climb. I've also used it at areas where I have reception to log on to get beta from here. Kind of fun.

Geir www.ToofastTopos.com · · Tucson/DMR · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 2,751

Downloadable PDF files fulfill the needs of paper-users and smartphone users.

Paper-users can print them in full color on any size paper they want,
Smartphones can read the PDF files and display them on the screen.

Check out the downloadable PDF topos that I've been putting together for a while now:

geir.com/climbs.html

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

yeah, sure. I can't even get a signal for my phone at RRG unless I drive back to Stanton. Imagine just about every deep canyon or out of the way climbing place that goes the electronic route, will also be an area where service is the worst. Paper book for me, always. It doesn't need batteries so is ecologically better for recycle.

saxfiend · · Decatur, GA · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 4,221
Woodchuck ATC wrote:yeah, sure. I can't even get a signal for my phone at RRG unless I drive back to Stanton. Imagine just about every deep canyon or out of the way climbing place that goes the electronic route, will also be an area where service is the worst. Paper book for me, always. It doesn't need batteries so is ecologically better for recycle.
This is a common misunderstanding. The new RRG guide is an app, so it's all loaded on your device and isn't dependent on having a phone/data signal. It'll work no matter where you are.

JL
JoeP · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 0
mschlocker wrote:Can you access Mountain Project on an iphone? Can you save web pages to look at later with no internet access? I may be convinced to buy one.
Yes and yes.

While I prefer an actual guide book, for those times when the guidebook is forgotten, an app for an area would be great backup. Last weekend when I realized I left the guidebook behind, I saved the MP page before losing service. It worked out, but once service was lost there weren't any other options. An app would have been much better.
Toots Krumdick · · Sofa King, CO · Joined May 2009 · Points: 5

I wonder how Hillary and Tenzing got up Everest without iPhones.

How did Shackleton find his way to and across South Georgia Island without a GPS?

Technology is the death of exploration, unless you are talking about outer space.

Candemir Orsan · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 0
Woodchuck ATC wrote:yeah, sure. I can't even get a signal for my phone at RRG unless I drive back to Stanton. Imagine just about every deep canyon or out of the way climbing place that goes the electronic route, will also be an area where service is the worst. Paper book for me, always. It doesn't need batteries so is ecologically better for recycle.
From the publisher's site for the RRG app:
wolverinepublishing.com/App…

Do I need to have an Internet connection to use the app?
No. All of the app content is stored on your iPhone/iPod touch locally. As a result, browsing route information is blazingly fast compared to visiting webpage-based climbing databases. You can use the app even while flying on an airplane.
Merlin · · Grand Junction · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 10
Toots Krumdick wrote: Technology is the death of exploration, unless you are talking about outer space.
I take it you aren't familiar with how much of space we've mapped sdss.org/
Will Butler · · Lyons, CO · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 56
mschlocker wrote:Can you access Mountain Project on an iphone? Can you save web pages to look at later with no internet access? I may be convinced to buy one.
Yeah, I do it all the time. It's awesome. The newest iphone should be coming out in June/July if you end up going that direction. The latest 3GS is however fantastic.
JoeP · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 0
Toots Krumdick wrote:I wonder how Hillary and Tenzing got up Everest without iPhones. How did Shackleton find his way to and across South Georgia Island without a GPS? Technology is the death of exploration, unless you are talking about outer space.
Would you have said the same thing about the printing press?

Considering, we are talking about cragging here, there is not much exploration going on. When limited on time, and going to an otherwise already "explored" crag, having a guidebook or access to an app or MP is a useful tool.
SAL · · broomdigiddy · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 790
saxfiend wrote: This is a common misunderstanding. The new RRG guide is an app, so it's all loaded on your device and isn't dependent on having a phone/data signal. It'll work no matter where you are. JL
When Dave showed me the app this last winter I remember it having a feature that used the gps navigation sysytem to guide you from boulder to boulder. I dont know if this part would require actual service or not. I dont have an ipiece but not sure if that feature would work.
Michael Schneiter · · Glenwood Springs, CO · Joined Apr 2002 · Points: 10,406
SAL wrote: When Dave showed me the app this last winter I remember it having a feature that used the gps navigation sysytem to guide you from boulder to boulder. I dont know if this part would require actual service or not. I dont have an ipiece but not sure if that feature would work.
The app does have a gps navigation system but on the iPhone the gps doesn't require phone service so it works in a lot more places than the phone. However, I'm not sure the gps, especially in areas with a lot of trees, tall cliffs, canyons, etc. is accurate enough to get from boulder to boulder. It was my understanding that it was more just to get you from trailhead to trailhead or in the general vicinity of the cliff you were looking for. I played around a bit with it on the trial version and it seemed like the case.
Peter Franzen · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 3,730
Toots Krumdick wrote:I wonder how Hillary and Tenzing got up Everest without iPhones. How did Shackleton find his way to and across South Georgia Island without a GPS? Technology is the death of exploration, unless you are talking about outer space.
What?

Tenzing, Hillary, Shackleton, and every other explorer in history used the best technology that was available to them.

It's fine with me if you want to be a Luddite, but don't accuse others of being the same.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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