Outdoor adventure app launching globally promises life-saving features
New Trip Planning App Aims to Enhance Outdoor Safety in New Zealand
A revolutionary new app, Plan My Walk, has been launched to support the safety of walkers and trampers in New Zealand's outdoors. Developed by MSC, the app is now available for download on the iOS App Store, Google Play Store, or directly from www.planmywalk.nz.
Plan My Walk offers a range of features designed to help users prepare for their outdoor adventures. It includes MetService weather forecasts and severe weather warnings, providing valuable information to help users make informed decisions about their walks. The app also features track-specific alerts, ensuring users are kept up-to-date with any changes or potential hazards on their chosen track.
One of the unique features of Plan My Walk is the ability for users to create a trip plan, add group members, assign an emergency contact, and share the plan. This feature aims to build a strong community and enable more effective preparation, potentially reducing the number of search and rescue operations.
According to an incident causation analysis, being unprepared for weather conditions, a lack of warm layered clothing, and a waterproof jacket caused 25% of tramping search and rescue operations. Plan My Walk addresses these common factors by providing comprehensive planning advice, interactive gear lists, and a feature for users to leave track reviews and comment on track conditions.
MSC believes this app will help more than one million adult New Zealanders who enjoy the outdoors find suitable places for their adventures. The CEO of MSC, Diego Aponte, expresses confidence in the app's ability to improve user safety, stating, "We have spent over 1000 hours in research and development for Plan My Walk to ensure it meets the needs of our users and helps them enjoy the outdoors safely."
The app includes more than 1000 Department of Conservation tracks, with more being added throughout the year as local council track data becomes available. In addition, a TVNZ Sunday Story followed the survival of an injured tramper in September 2021, highlighting the importance of proper planning and preparation when venturing into the outdoors.
Plan My Walk aims to encourage people to discover new walking and hiking opportunities in New Zealand. With its comprehensive planning features and focus on safety, it is set to become an essential tool for outdoor enthusiasts. For further details about Plan My Walk, visit www.planmywalk.nz.
