The Paths tool can be used to record waypoints while hiking or to follow a trail.
The Backtrack feature can be used to automatically record a path while you hike. To start Backtrack, click the start button in the bottom-right corner of the screen. A notification will appear showing how far you have traveled. You can stop Backtrack by clicking the stop button in the notification or by clicking the stop button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
To change the recording frequency, click the time under the Backtrack label at the bottom-left and enter a new interval.
Backtrack can record the cell signal strength at each point. This can be enabled in Settings > Paths > 'Record cell signal'. If you also have Settings > Navigation > 'Last signal beacon' enabled, a beacon will be created for the last known location where you had a cell signal.
By default, Backtrack paths are temporary and will be deleted after the number of days specified by Settings > Paths > 'Backtrack history'. You can choose to keep a Backtrack path forever by clicking the menu button on the Backtrack path row and selecting 'Keep forever'.
You can choose to manually create a path by doing the following:
If you have tracks or routes saved in a GPX file, you can import them into Trail Sense as paths.
To view a path, click the path in the list. This will open the path details page. The following information will be shown:
Adjust the path's appearance by opening it and selecting the line style or line color from the dropdowns at the top of the screen. Change the appearance of the path's points by selecting the point style from the dropdown on the top-right. Choose between the following point styles:
A key below the path map explains the colors.
Set the default path styles in Settings > Paths > 'Default path style' for the line style and Settings > Navigation > 'Default path color' for the line color.
Paths can be simplified to reduce the number of points in the path. This can be useful to improve the performance of the path rendering and may improve the accuracy of the path by removing GPS errors.
To simplify a path, open the path and click the menu button in the top-right corner of the screen. Select 'Simplify path' and choose the desired simplification quality. High quality means fewer points will be removed, while low quality means more points will be removed.
Once the path has been simplified, it is not possible to undo the simplification.
You can choose to automatically simplify paths imported from a GPX file by enabling Settings > Paths > 'Simplify paths on import'.
You can navigate to the nearest point on a path by opening the path and clicking the 'Navigate' button at the bottom. This will open the navigation tool with the path as the destination. Alternatively, you can click the menu button on the path row you want to navigate to and then select 'Navigate'.
By default, this will only navigate to recorded waypoints on the path. However, you can choose to navigate to any position on the path by disabling Settings > Paths > 'Only navigate to recorded points'. This will assume that the path is a straight line between points.
Paths are also visible on the radar compass (see the 'Navigation' guide) and photo maps (see the 'Photo Maps' guide).
You can choose which paths are visible on the Navigation and Photo Maps tools by clicking the menu icon on the right side of the path row and selecting either Hide or Show.
To delete a path, click the menu button on the path row you want to remove, then select 'Delete'.
To export paths, open the group you want to export and click the menu button in the top-right corner of the screen. Select 'Export', unselect any paths you don't want to export, then click 'OK'. The paths will be exported to a GPX file.
Alternatively, you can export a single path by clicking the menu button on the path row you want to export, then selecting 'Export'.
You can organize paths into groups. To create a group, click the '+' button in the bottom-right of the path list and select 'Group'. Give the group a name and click 'OK'. Click the group in the list to view the paths in that group.
If you create a path or group while the group is open, the new path or group will be added to the currently open group.
To change the group of an existing path, click the menu button on the path row you want to move, select 'Move to', and choose the target group.
To rename a group, click the menu button on the group row you want to rename, then select 'Rename' and provide a new name.
You can delete a group (along with all paths within it) by clicking the menu button on the group row you wish to remove, then selecting 'Delete'.
To search through your created paths, use the search bar at the top of the path list. This search encompasses the current group and all subgroups. Additionally, you can sort paths by distance away, time, length or name by clicking the menu button in the top-right and selecting 'Sort'.
If you are experiencing performance issues with the Paths tool, you can enable Settings > Paths > 'Fast path rendering' which will render paths faster, at the cost of appearance.
You can enable the Backtrack quick action in the settings for the desired tab.
To use the quick action, tap the Backtrack quick action button to toggle it on or off. You can long press the button to open the Paths tool.
The following widgets can be placed on your device's homescreen or viewed in-app:
If you prefer a video guide on using Backtrack, here's a video by one of Trail Sense's users: YouTube: Trail Sense: Learning How To Use BackTrack To Track Cell Service On Hikes by DeathfireD