accessibility needs . Locals and other visitors often leave reviews with photos so prospective explorers know what they ’ re in for .
And , speaking of unknowns , weather and natural phenomena can be unpredictable , but for those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time , an app like My Aurora Forecast & Alerts comes in handy . Providing users with information about current and predicted aurora activity levels , users can better plan their trips to catch a glimpse of the mesmerizing light show .
WIRESTOCK CREATORS / SHUTTERSTOCK . COM
STAYING SAFE Regardless if outdoor excursions are solo or in a group , it never hurts to be prepared . Cairn , a hiking safety app , not only provides interactive maps to help users navigate rocky terrain but also notifies pre-determined emergency contacts if a traveler is overdue to return based on their anticipated ETA .
Similarly , based on the book written by a Special Air Service soldier , the mobile app SAS Survival Guide has detailed videos and images of necessary survival skills . These include identification of medicinal , edible and poisonous plants , building shelter and starting a fire , responding to extreme weather conditions , self-defense tactics and purifying water .
OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT Planning an outdoor trip doesn ’ t only have to be for the purpose of exercise or witnessing natural events — it can be for fun , too ! For travelers looking to participate in a real-life , worldwide scavenger hunt , geocaching is the perfect way to diversify the itinerary , and apps like Cachly make it easier than ever to play . Cachly provides a handful of clues leading to the location of a geocache , and users embark on a journey to find the treasure . Unbury the container and collect the prize but remember to replace it with something of equal or greater value . Be sure to filter by difficulty , container size and date last found for an even more customizable choose-your-own-adventure .
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