Top tech tips for the trail

Skiing has become a gadget-friendly sport. Cameras, iPhones, iPods, Android phones, BlackBerrys, etc. all frequent the pockets of skiers across every resort in the country. Personally, I never leave a room without my smartphone on me, so It's no different on the mountain.

With my smart phone I have the best possible all-in-one device: a camera, music player, mini-computer, and GPS. In addition to a standard camera on the back, the iPhone 4 offers a front-facing camera (many people don't realize this, just click the arrows!) which allows effortless self-shots with friends on the chair. With dozens of apps for everything from snow and road conditions to EpicMix and GPS recording, there's a lot of potential to be unlocked.

Here are the best apps for skiing:

EpicMix
EpicMix is great for touching base with friends throughout the day. I always post the "where is everyone going?" broadcast while driving up in the morning. By the time we're near the tunnel I can make a smart decision about which mountain to go to (or avoid!) when my friends respond.

Plus, I can see which mountain I need to get some extra runs in at, as I'm a sucker for badges. If you're looking for a good approximation of your daily vertical feet ("I need to break 4,000!") this is a great app to check while waiting in lines or at lunch.

With the new photo capabilities of the app as well, EpicMix is becoming an all-in-one device too. For next season, Vail Resorts has announced that on-mountain photographers will scan your pass and take a picture of you that will be posted to your EpicMix account automatically -- all for free. So forget your own camera, EpicMix will be capturing the action anyway.

GPS apps
GPS tracking apps are one of those "how did we ski before this?" technologies. I'm a big fan of tracking numbers and adjusting. All you need to do is download one of the free apps (I use Ski Tracks), turn it on before you head up the first chair, and turn it off as you walk off the mountain. At the end of the day you're presented with fascinating stats including your top downhill speed and actual vertical feet covered for the day. Plus take pictures along the way and it will geotag and place them on a map which can be exported to Google Earth.

But, while you're busily fumbling for your gadgets, be smart. Here are some of my recurring fears:

• Gadgets are easy to drop and lose in a quick "poof" of powder under the chair. Be sure to have a good grip on everything.
• Gloves and poles succumb to gravity just as well as your electronic toys. Have a friend hold your gear if you're not certain with your juggling abilities.
• If you must take a picture from the chair or the slopes, make sure you stay bundled. In extremes, it only takes a few minutes of exposure to catch frostbite. It's much harder to warm your hands back up once they get too cold. If you have a touchscreen, find some conductive liners to carry a charge through your fingers like the ETIP series from The North Face.
• It's easy to take a camera out and have someone else accidentally grab it. I pick a specific pocket that I always put my phone in so I can quickly make sure it's still there.

I'm ready to get back out there, take lots of good photos, explore the mountain, and track my stats this season.

-- Devin Reams