The Mountain Institute App

The Mountain Institute App is about sharing knowledge on routes, plants, animals, geology and hillskills. In order to help hikers and outdoor lovers discover more about the amazing natural and manmade world around us. Combine these features with user submitted content and we have developed a place that everyone can share and expand all our knowledge through a wiki based contributions that are curated and edited by our highly experienced Mountaineering Instructors.

The app essentially features a full functioning GPS app, starting with over 150 routes across the UK, of which we have 45+ "Wondrous Walks" that celebrate Natural Wonders, ManMade Wonders, Scientific Wonders & Military Wonders. The GPS app also has built in weather and for each route the App runs an algorithm that translates Valley forecast into Estimated Summit Conditions complete with warning for the weather of the day. These rogue can be download as a GPX for your personal GPS unit or save into an offline format, allowing the GPS to function when not in service. W have also provided a mechanism for you to print a 1:25000 to 1:50000 map of the route before you leave home.

Our app is currently restricted to walking routes only, this nis due to our belief that this app is not the best for scrambling. This is due to GPS not being accurate enough on steep and complex terrain. Instead we suggest using a proper Scrambling Guide Book or using the Rockfax app, which has all the scrambles from the rockfax book "Snowdonia: Mountain Walks and Scrambles", as well as some from the SMC in Scotland. We have included every walking route from the rockfax guidebook.

The Nature Identification App has Animals, Plants, Lichen & Fungi, Geology, Geography and Myths & Legends. This allows users to expand their knowledge of the natural world by introducing new species to the user. All of these categories are user updatable and users can add new species, photos or concepts to the app, which are then viewed and checked by our admin team before going online. We have even added a points systems so for every route, photo or vote you add you get Supporter Points. With the aim to reward active users with free subscriptions or online support.

The final section is The Mountain Institute Section. This has some guidance on how best to utilise the GPS app, offer some real world instruction/guiding and provide a way for user to ask direct questions of highly experience and qualified MCI and WML instructors. We also have some sections for Hill Skills, which when we launch this app, will switch from App development to content creation provide online teaching in a wide variety of skill that will keep you safe on the hills from navigation with the App, GPS and a Map & Compass, as well as some more route finding on steep ground and planning a day out.

Whilst part of our mission is to improve the environmental awareness, we also wish to advocate for the safe and responsible use of the mountains that we have spent a lifetime time enjoying and sharing with other.