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In Maps, it\u2019s easy to look up queries like \u201chiking trails near me,\u201d or the name of a specific trail I have in mind, then browse pictures and experiences from fellow Maps users. And if I\u2019m heading to a national park specifically, I make sure to review the Google Maps\u2019 highlights so I know where campsites, restrooms and trailheads are.<\/p>\n
Like I said, the point of my outdoor adventures is to get away from it all, but there\u2019s always the potential to need, well, at least some of it. Knowing where places like gas stations, grocery stores and (I admit it) even coffee shops are located is incredibly helpful. So I make a list in Google Maps and download it before I hit the road, since I never know when exactly I\u2019ll lose reception.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t want to run out of battery when I\u2019m hiking \u2014 and even more importantly, when I\u2019m camping or backpacking. First, I make sure my battery percentage is visible when I\u2019m on the trail or camping, so I know exactly how much juice I\u2019ve got left. I also want to be able to use my phone without just turning it on and off, so I make sure to turn on Extreme Battery Saver. It lets me determine what apps are essential, then pauses the rest to extend battery life even further (apps like Camera and Personal Safety Settings stay enabled by default). And speaking of Personal Safety settings\u2026<\/p>\n
Reviewing the personal safety features in Pixel before I head into the great outdoors is a must. I make sure my emergency contact is up to date and turn on crisis alerts just in case there\u2019s a disaster in the area I\u2019ll be in. And then, before I hit the trail, I set up a Safety Check. Safety checks schedule a check-in for me to confirm I’m OK at a certain time \u2014 and if not, it sends my location or last-logged location to my emergency contacts.<\/p>\n
I always pack a headlamp\u2026or at least, I always intend to. Whether or not I\u2019ve remembered this item, I\u2019m bound to use my Pixel\u2019s flashlight once or twice (or in those forgetful incidents, quite a lot). For super easy access, I use my Pixel\u2019s gestures option to set it up so that when I double tap the back of my phone, my flashlight automatically turns on.<\/p>\n
Goodbye light pollution, hello Milky Way! When I\u2019m spending the night outside, I try to make the most of the surroundings with some astrophotography shots. To do this, I just tap Night Sight in my Pixel\u2019s camera app, then balance the phone using a tripod or whatever is around me \u2014 like a rock or a log (or, if I\u2019m using Pixel Fold, I can put it in tabletop mode and point the camera at the sky while using the front display for camera controls). After gathering light for about four minutes, the phone will capture a stunning image of the night sky. That way I can enjoy it later when I\u2019m back in civilization; in the moment, I can just appreciate the real thing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n