The Outside Blog

Gear

A New App That Directs You To The Deepest Powder

Screen shot 2012-02-08 at 12.21.47 PM
Snow is finally falling in the Rockies and on the West Coast, and snow-starved skiers and snowboarder are chasing untracked lines like hunters searching for deer.

Now, a new free app makes the hunt easier.

Freshy Map, in beta, tells you which resorts and backcountry areas are likely to have fresh tracks now. Designed by two skiing-obsessed software engineers/meteorologists/data analysts, the Web site goes beyond the usual resort snow report. Rather than documenting the snow that fell last night and/or providing a weather map that tells you how much snow there will be tomorrow, Freshy Map provides hourly updates by analyzing resort snowfall reports, avy center data, weather mapping, Snowtel readings (giant pillow-like snow sensors scattered throughout the Rockies), roads and highways data, and webcams feeds. You can browse the map for the biggest dump, or indicate the resorts or backcountry areas you're most interested in, and ask the system to notify you when you need to buckle your boots and go.

But Freshy Map doesn't stop there. The app uses a formula that factors in when the snow fell (overnight on a Sunday, which means it'll still be fresh Monday morning versus mid day on a Saturday, which means it's already likely skied off) and gives you a Freshy Factor rating. That way you can decide if Monarch, Crested Butte, or Copper is more likely to still have powder by the time you get there. And, when the full version launches, that Freshy Factor will take into account your own definition of a a powder day, whether it's six inches of fresh or six feet.

The app is slated for full launch in the next week or two. When it's out of beta, it'll include all resorts in the Rockies and the Western US and a handful of backcountry areas like Colorado's Cameron Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

The developers aren't in a huge rush to add the snow-free East Coast before launch, but select resorts will start to go live this spring as well. Next season, look for Canada and Europe.

The beta version doesn't let you customize your report—that feature will be added later this week, and the team continues to tweak the app's interface each evening. So, if finding freshies is your thing, get online and give them feedback. Here's the best part, it's free!, freshymap.com

-Berne Broudy
@berneb 

More at Outside

Comments

3
Stéphane

Hi , great blog, please have a look to mine: http://mobablog.wordpress.com/, you will find an app for iphone thought mainly for outdoor activities. I hope you will like it and will find it useful.

Flag This
maxnike

nike air max The nano itself records and displays--in near real time--statistics such as distance traveled, pace, calories burned, and time elapsed.

Its classic construction is hard to deny Cheap Nike Shoes, no matter what the colors are applied.nike air max 90 This time the palette is a bit attenuated, but the overall design still shines through. The characteristics of the two top sneakers Black leather forms including soft fall. These two create a kind of textural effect that makes your statement as well.

Flag This
Briant

I might be totally wrong here, but I like it, I actually really like it. cheap designer handbags The Rafe Blake Leather Hobo is a fantastic handbag with a bit of an edge to it. Italian waxed cowhide, shiny nickel studs and rivet details work well together to bring you that edge I speak of. cheap handbags on sale I can see a real cowgirl (not just those of us who like to have a cowgirl hat and boots on every now and then) or a bad girl pull this look off perfectly. designer handbags sale So you know what that means, harness your inner cowgirl or bad girl and grab this bag as you run out the door. Come to think of it, I would grab this bag as I run out the door and hop on the back of a motorcycle for a ride around town. replica designer handbags Yep, I like this bag! Buy through Bloomingdale's for $575.

Flag This

Post Comment

Categories

Authors

Previous Posts

2012

2011

2010

Blog Roll

Recent Comments

  1. Luis commented on

    The Top 10 'Outside'...

    Tucson?

  2. Rose City commented on

    The Top 10 'Outside'...

    I don't see how Portland can be left...

  3. Chrissy commented on

    The Top 10 'Outside'...

    Tucson! If you haven't found out why...

Current Issue Outside Magazine

Subscribe and get a great deal! 2 FREE Buyer's Guides plus a FREE GoLite Sport Bottle. Monthly delivery of Outside - your ultimate resource for today's active lifestyle. All that and BIG SAVINGS!

Free Newsletter

Get our e-mail dispatch, with Outside articles & online exclusives, delivered to your inbox each week.

Ask a Question

Our gear experts await your outdoor-gear-related questions. Go ahead, ask them anything.

* We might edit your question for length or clarity. If it's not about gear, we'll just ignore it.