Apps for staying safe in the mountains

Unfortunately, mountain accidents are increasingly frequent. To be safer, in addition to traditional recommendations, both in winter and summer, technology can offer significant assistance, and one that shouldn't be wasted. And in particular, apps, which offer a variety of functions (chosen based on your needs), can increase safety.

Index of topics

GeoResQ

GeoResQ It is a free app, promoted by National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps in Italy, which allows you to automatically transmit your position and route, initiating a rescue call in difficult environments, even with limited telephone coverage. It also tracks your excursion in real time and allows you to save routes in the dedicated portal. It is particularly useful when you are walking on rarely used paths or in conditions of reduced visibility and you want to have a "direct line" to rescue. GeoResQ is available for free for Android and iPhone.

Windy

It is a weather app very complete which allows you to monitor weather conditions in real timeIt includes radar, satellite imagery, customized alerts for wind, rain, or other weather conditions, snow forecasts, and air quality information. The app is available for both Android and iPhone and offers detailed maps even for remote locations.

meteoblue

It is a weather app and service Swiss that offers high-precision forecasts for any point on land or at sea, using various weather models and artificial intelligence. You can view forecasts for up to seven days (or more), meteograms, upcoming precipitation, wind, and other weather phenomena. The app is particularly recommended for hikers due to its highly reliable forecasts and the ability to quickly obtain detailed data even for remote locations. It supports over six million locations and is available for both Android and iPhone.

Mountain Maps

It is an Italian app di trekking Developed by a Trentino-based startup, it includes detailed topographic maps and 3D visualizations, which can also be downloaded offline, and can generate customized itineraries using the "MIA" virtual guide. This feature allows you to choose the area, duration, and type of activity you want to do—walking, skiing, or snowshoeing—creating a customized route. The app, which is available for both Android that for iPhone, It includes a free plan with basic features and a Premium subscription with advanced features.

Relief Maps

This app of navigation and topography is ideal for those who go on particularly challenging excursions, ski mountaineering, or exploring remote areas. It includes high-definition 3D maps, offline downloads, specific layers (e.g., slope, orientation), and over a million pre-set routes. It allows both real-time tracking and location sharing, so you can ask someone to monitor the situation. The Relief Maps app is available for both Android and iPhone.

Cairn

Cairn It is an app designed for excursions, trail running, skiing and other outdoor activities, It lets you share your outing plan with trusted contacts in advance so they can monitor your progress. It includes offline maps and can record distance, elevation gain, and travel time. It also has a very useful automatic check-in feature that alerts your contacts if you don't return by the scheduled time, sending them your last known location. It's available for download for both Android and iPhone.

SnowSafe

If you frequent snowy environments, do ski mountaineering and off-piste activities, this is app that's right for you. In addition to providing up-to-date avalanche bulletins and mountain weather forecasts, it includes a slope inclinometer and offline maps. It also offers orientation tips and useful technical information. It covers several Alpine regions, including Austria, South Tyrol, and Veneto. The app is available for both Android and iPhone.

PeakVisor

PeakVisor It's an app that lets you frame a mountain profile with your camera and instantly find the name and altitude of the peak, as well as other information. To identify peaks, use augmented reality with 3D maps, GPS tracking It has a database of over a million mountains. Furthermore, it allows you to plan your route by viewing it on 3D maps, allowing you to assess the terrain and identify potential critical points. It offers the option of downloading maps offline, allowing you to use them even in areas with poor internet coverage. It's not considered a rescue app, but it's particularly effective for orienteering and planning your itinerary. PeakVisor is available for both Android and iPhone.

Apps to be safer when going to the mountains