I didn’t know much about the local guide projects until I began traveling the length of the Americas by non-motorized means. Over the course of 3 years of walking across South America, I realized what a critical tool google maps was and how valuable that information can be to other travelers. Fostering exploration and encouraging one another to get out and know this grand world is a key step toward getting people to care enough to be invested in its preservation. Ripple effect, ya know?
So I began leaving Google Reviews of places, tweaking information to mark locations correctly. When you walk into a completely foreign city every week for years on end, the uncertainty of what you will find adds to the exhaustion and effort. Adding and editing places has been my way to contribute to future travelers and to encourage them to wander and to do so safely. Being able to find familiar foods every once in a while in the bigger cities, and to navigate them quickly and efficiently using Google maps has helped keep me safe in places where you don’t want to be loitering around confused. So, not only do these Google services improve the adventure and allow for a more pleasant experience, baseline, they have the potential to keep travelers safe.
That is what the local guide project means, not only to me, but indicates what it can do for all of us.
On Hope Pass while thru-hiking the Continental Divide Trail this summer.
Route we have completed so far across North America. Orange has been bikepacking and red has been backpacking/thru-hiking.
Our completed route of hiking and paddling across South America. 14,000 km across 3 years.