ViewRanger, the award-winning outdoor navigation app created in Cambridge, has forged a partnership in the US with Menasha Ridge/Wilderness Press – a leading publisher of comprehensive outdoor hiking books and maps.

Owned by Cambridge-based software development company, Augmentra, ViewRanger will be utilised for American trail guide publishing.

ViewRanger is a mobile app that turns a smartphone into a powerful outdoors GPS. It delivers high resolution mapping and trails, waypoint navigation,
web-based route planning and location sharing.

Menasha Ridge/Wilderness Press president Richard Hunt said: “We are looking forward to working with an independent enterprise that offers the same benefits to readers as our company; memorable adventures in the great outdoors.

“ViewRanger has done a brilliant job of executing its business plan overseas and we look forward to teaming up with them as they make their
debut in the US.”

ViewRanger CEO Craig Wareham added: “We are excited to be working with such renowned publishing titles as Menasha Ridge and Wilderness Press and for the opportunity to deliver their high quality expert guidebook content through our location-aware smartphone publishing platform.”

ViewRanger will bring the guidebooks to life by accessing the expert outdoors content provided by Menasha Ridge/Wilderness Press. Popular trail
routes will be available to browse and download onto smartphones and delivered like a guidebook with a map, trail descriptions and advice, and photos of things that users may see along the way.

Once users are on a hike or walk, they can see their location over a map and navigate along the route. ViewRanger also gives navigation alerts if adventurers veer too far off course.

ViewRanger with Menasha Ridge trail guides will be shown in mid-January at the Outdoor Winter Show in Salt Lake City.

ViewRanger won the ‘Best Indie App’ category in the Mobile App World Awards 2010, adding to its previous accolades. It hit the No. 1 spot in iTunes App Store Navigation Chart in 2010, has appeared on The Gadget Show, been named App of the Week by Lady Geek TV, and was featured in 'The Sunday Times' In-Gear supplement.

With a combined publishing history of almost 75 years, Menasha Ridge Press and Wilderness Press is a world-leading in the outdoor industry. Menasha Ridge Press, established in 1982 and Wilderness Press, established in 1967, focus on outdoor recreation, how-to, wildlife, cooking, travel, and comprehensive maps.

Popular series include: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles; Best Tent Camping; Top Trails; Afoot & Afield; Backpacking, and Canoeing & Kayaking.

You can find them at www.menasharidge.com and www.wildernesspress.com

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: The Great outdoors: Lassen Peak in the backdrop to Manzanita Lake