It's been a while since we've written about the release of a new version of your favorite app. Not because nothing has happened, on the contrary - we release new versions more or less regularly every month, as you've probably noticed. There's a lot going on, it's just that it's not so visible "on the surface" - we're just working on a lot of stuff that's going on in the background, but also on already finished stuff that we're tweaking to even greater perfection - we call it internal cultivation.

Version 4.13 is no exception, but it does bring some major new features that we would like to show off. We can summarize them in three thematic groups:

• geocaching
• winter
• cultivation

Download caches without add-on

Locus Map offers a lot of features and gadgets for geocaching players. Until recently, except for one - the ability to search and download caches from Geocaching.com. Until now, we've left that to the Geocaching4Locus add-on, which comes from another developer. However, the add-on hasn't been updated for several years, so in order to maintain availability and get greater flexibility, we decided to add the feature directly to the app.

You can find it in the Geocaching Tools section in the list of all app features. It doesn't yet do everything G4L does - it lacks a live map with streaming caches displayed on the map and search by GC code. But we plan to add all of that to Locus soon. Until that happens, feel free to continue using the G4L add-on.

Predefined lists

Another new feature taken from the add-on is the ability to display lists of caches that you previously defined on geocaching.com. Click on My Lists to see your lists in the app. There is then a button at the end of the line to batch-download all the caches in the list directly into the app for offline use. Your Pocket Queries are also displayed in the same section.

Plan cross-country ski trips

About a month ago, we put a brand new winter LoMap in the app and on the web. We've cleaned up its look, improved readability, added winter LoPoints, and it's ready for the upcoming season. It shows the slopes by difficulty, and also cross-country ski trails divided into several levels. Of course, lifts, cable cars, ski huts, aprés bars, etc., are all there. 

We are now adding a cross-country skiing profile to the map in the planner. You can find it both in the online LoRouter in the app and on the web, and in its offline version - here you only need to update the routing data (if it hasn't already been updated automatically). The profile plans trips on both groomed and ungroomed trails, as long as they are entered into the map. Sections of the route that do not have ski tracks plotted on them need to be plotted with another profile, such as a walking profile. These are usually roads, car parks, or other similar places that interrupt the ski route.

Something for more convenient control

And now a few tidbits from our favorite cultivation section. Starting in the map manager, we've consolidated the menu for adding new maps. Now when you click the + button in the online or offline tab, you'll see the same menu and can add any map you want, even a WMS source from our library. 

We've moved the option to recalculate a complete route for a different activity from the menu in the top bar more "in your face" - directly into the profile selection dialog. For example, you have a route for hiking and want to change it to mountain biking. You open it in the planner, select the MTB profile and click "recalculate all" - only the shaping and via points stay in place.

Quite often we've had to explain where the backup is now hidden, where you can find the option to unload the app data to move it to a new phone, etc. We got tired of this, so we've simplified it dramatically - all settings related to working with app data can now be found in a separate category of Backup and File System settings.

This includes the File System Manager, where you can set up the main and auxiliary directories, manage cloud sync, and the aforementioned backups, and we've also moved the deletion of temporary data here.

As part of the cultivation, you'll of course find plenty of other tweaks across the app, but we won't write about those. If any catch your eye, let us know in the comments.

Článek What new features does the latest Locus Map 4.13 bring? se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

Looking out of the window we're sure it's here. Overcast sky, temperatures dropped to zero, freezing drizzles. That's the less pleasant side of it. But let's have look at it from the positive point of view - Alps covered with the first powder, and not only Alps. Also much smaller Krkonose or Jeseniky here in Czechia have dressed in white, luring us out to have some fun.

That means changing yourself into the winter mode - summer gear gets stored in a garage and out are coming cross country and downhill skis, snowshoes, snowbikes, skates, sledges... All the same, Locus has to switch to winter mode too - and the cornerstone of it are SKI MAPS!

Cross country ski routes and downhill ski slopes on map

You no longer need to navigate hiking paths or bike trails - all these are buried under a meter of snow.  You want to see where cross country tracks are laid, which ski slope to choose in vast Alpine resorts, which ski lift to take, what avalanche field to avoid.  Check the difference:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Summer LoMap[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_11049" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Winter LoMap[/caption]

Locus Store offers maps of two providers - Asamm LoMaps and Outdooractive Winter.

Great map detail and active POIs for a few bucks

Asamm LoMaps, maps of Locus producer, can be easily switched into Ski theme:

The map is styled according to the season and contains ski resorts, ski slopes with difficulty differentiated by color and maintained ski tracks:

Skialpinists appreciate additional coloring of slopes steeper than 30°, 35°and 40° according to which they can avoid avalanche danger. Just go to  Locus settings > Maps > Advanced > Map shading > turn Slopes on.

LoMaps can be zoomed in to a great detail so you can see house numbers  and names of restaurants:

LoMap POIs can be browsed and searched separately (Locus menu > more functions > Points of interest):

Asamm LoMaps cover the whole world as they are rendered from OSM data. These data, however, are not detailed enough everywhere and in many countries the winter content is missing. On the other hand, first three LoMaps can be obtained for FREE, more updates for a symbolic price. For example, whole Austria costs about € 0.75.

Traditional high quality maps with rich content

Another option for winter sport lovers are maps by Outdooractive. They cover Germany, Austria and Northern Italy and are much appreciated for their accuracy and rich content. They depict ski resorts, color-classified slopes, lifts, cableways as well. They differentiate cross country ski tracks by color too:

Colored slope gradients warning against risky avalanche areas can be displayed also on Outdooractive Winter maps. However, not via an additional feature as in LoMaps  - slope gradients are just another layer of the map that can be switched on in the map theme panel:

Outdooractive Winter maps are available in Locus Store and you can purchase subscription for their online usage with 7 day FREE trial or buy pre-loaded offline map packages of the area you need.

So, first things first, we've got the map. Next time we'll have a look at a few special winter feature tips. Cheers!

Článek Winter has come. Time to switch to ski maps! se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

The plan was very simple since the very beginning. To begin the climb of the highest Czech mountain Snezka from Velka Upa and then go ahead along the main ridge across Polish border land to Jizerske mountains. We agreed with my friend David to live just from our own supplies, drink water from the mountain springs and to avoid any encounters with civilization. Together with the tent, photo equipment, Locus and other life-saving devices each of us carried around 20 kg in backpack and we set out towards our adventure.

Snezka is a favourite touristic attraction and, obviously, is densely visited even in winter. Fortunately, most people use the more comfortable way up by cableway leading from the Czech side and, therefore, we were almost alone on the trail. With all the equipment the ascend went quite slowly and to avoid hypothermia we were trying to sweat as little as possible - we made frequent short breaks which we used for making pictures of the freshly snowed landscape bathed in the rays of winter sun. The weather was on our side. From the very summit we could enjoy views far away into Poland, the breathtaking panorama of hilly forests on the Czech side and the magnificent Studnicni mountain.

We made a toast to our summit conquest with a few gulps of whisky and after taking pictures of the views we went on westward along the Polish border. We admired views of the ridge and below us, the lakes with pitch black surface. It started to snow mildly and the sunset slowly crept on us. In order to reach our intended daily average of 20 km we had to catch the delay from the ascend and after having savoured the purple sunset we went on in darkness, lighted with our torches. After a few hours we set up an ordinary two-layer tent, warmed our supper and chatted about our new experiences. Outside temperature was -4°C, inner +3°C. At the ground level laying on the snow we measured something around zero.

A few years ago it would have seemed to me purely insane and risky to sleep in a tent some other time than in summer. The truth is, if you are well prepared and equipped, the human body doesn't have the slightest problem with staying a few overnights in snow. Anyway, you must count with obstacles like frozen tent zipper or water supply that is vital for surviving in wilderness.

The next day we made other two ascends. First to Divci  and then to Muzske kameny in a mild snowfall that consequently changed into a heavy one, accompanied with freezing wind making icing on everything including our eyelashes and beards. Anyway, these were common expedition conditions and with decent exercise and several layers of clothes a man gets feelings of pleasure from his own toughness and improvement to another endurance level.

In the same conditions we climbed up Vysoke kolo, whose rocks and boulders were covered with 40 cm of fresh snow drifts. Visibility of just a few meters, we tried our best to stick together not to get lost. Later we proceeded further into the Polish land and the weather started to change quickly. Once the clouds spread away and we were overwhelmed by vast views faraway, then again we entered the impenetrable veil of fog just to step out of it after a few minutes. Finally, we spent the night by the river Jizera and on the third day we enjoyed comfort of wider trails suitable also for cross-country skiing. At last we arrived at the Broken Dam that killed 62 people and destroyed 100 houses in the villages down the stream exactly 100 years ago. It was the finish place of our winter wandering and we, full of nice feelings from overcoming the freezing nights without troubles, shared memories of beautiful views of our marvelous country.

Michal Tábořík
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Článek Locus adventure: winter mountain hike se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.