Outdoor Retailer - June 2021 - 12

THE PULSE
BIG PICTURE
Making a Mark
The navigation app onX Backcountry pledges to give
100% of proceeds to Leave No Trace during the month
of June. By Berne Broudy
IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL GREAT OUTDOORS MONTH, THE NEWEST NAVIGATION APP IN ONX
suite, onX Backcountry, is going all in for the outdoors. In June, onX will donate all proceeds from
new and renewed annual memberships to Leave No Trace (LNT). Annual app memberships,
which are being sold for $10 in June (the normal price is $29.99) will support the nonprofit Leave
No Trace's work protecting the places recreationists love by teaching people how to enjoy the outdoors
responsibly.
" Our mission is to awaken the adventurer in everyone, " says Chris Harvey Bate, onX VP of
growth and marketing. " We believe that the more people who experience the outdoors, the more
likely they are to join us in protecting these places for the future. "
That's the philosophy behind onX's suite of apps, which includes onX Hunt, onX Offroad, and
onX Backcountry. Bate says that the onX partnership with Leave No Trace not only introduces
outdoor lovers to a best-in-class navigation tool, but it lets onX fulfill what it considers a corporate
obligation-to advocate for and protect shared resources, especially as record numbers of people
are using the the outdoors. " By partnering with Leave No Trace, we aim to educate our growing
audience-millions of returning and new recreationists-on how they can reduce the impact they
have when exploring our outdoor playgrounds, " says Bate.
The onX Backcountry app helps outdoor adventures navigate in remote places and find great
routes. The app is loaded with over 70,000 curated adventures and 650,000 miles of trails. It includes
GPS tools tailored to the needs of hikers, backpackers, trail runners, and backcountry skiers
of all skill levels. By raising funding for and awareness of Leave No Trace in June, onX aims to
encourage anyone who enjoys the outdoors to travel thoughtfully
and responsibly this summer and always.
For context, it takes an ecosystem 10 to30 years to recover from
hikers and campers traveling off established trails. Nearly 85%
of wildfires are ignited by humans. Visitors generate 100 million
pounds of trash in U.S. national parks every year. When the
pandemic first hit in March 2020, 43% of Americans said they
would do more outdoor activities than usual. Over the subsequent
months, hiking participation rose by 8.4%; new campers
increased fivefold; and backcountry ski and snowboard sales
grew by 81% and 146%, respectively. And it's predicted that the
increase in outdoor recreation will continue.
While new participation has been a boon to the outdoor industry,
outdoor spaces have borne the cost. Leave No Trace estimates
that 9 out of 10 outdoor enthusiasts-outdoor veterans and
newcomers alike-fail to understand the impact they have on the
land they explore. Consider that Americans take an estimated 13
billion outdoor trips each year, and the impact adds up.
THE LEAVE NO TRACE CENTER FOR OUTDOOR ETHICS PROtects
the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it
12 OUTDOOR RETAILER / June 2021
It's easy to go easy
on public lands.
responsibly with cutting-edge education and
research delivered to millions of people across
the U.S. annually. Leave No Trace's educationbased
philosophy centers around 7 Principles,
a framework of minimum-impact practices
for anyone exploring the outdoors.
While the LNT and onX partnership allows
onX to focus on stewardship education, the
company continues to invest in access advocacy
by working directly with land-management
officials to keep public land public. The app
maker also analyzes its mapping data and provides
use numbers to support the call for public
land funding nationally and, in some cases,
provides funding to improve public access.
By 2023, onX's company goal is to increase
and improve access to 150,000 acres of public
land and help build, restore, and maintain 150
miles of trails across the U.S.
" Leave No Trace is thrilled to partner with
onX during June as part of Great Outdoors
Month, " says Dana Watts, Leave No Trace
executive director. " Together, we can ensure
that everyone planning to spend time
outside this summer is equipped with the
tools and knowledge to protect our natural
places. " Follow the campaign with
#AllInForOutdoors. Learn more at
onxmaps.com, lnt.org. O.R.
Sofia Jaramillo/Courtesy onX

http:// https://www.onxmaps.com/ https://lnt.org http:// https://www.onxmaps.com/ https://lnt.org https://www.onxmaps.com/ http://www.lnt.org

Outdoor Retailer - June 2021

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