The step-tracking app all Hikers should have on their phone

This post is not sponsored by Treecard at all. In fact, I doubt the company knows I am even writing this. But I want to get news out about this app because I really think it is great and that if even half the people who read this post were to download, and use it, we could make a huge impact. Also, this post was originally made here, on The Trek.

As you may imagine, us thru-hikers log a lot of steps each day.

In fact, my average steps went from <10,000 (before the trail) to 30,000+ (once I started on the trail). More recently, as I have begun to hike 20+ miles/day, I am hitting 50,000+ steps. An insane number I never imagined would accumulate in just one day.

Now imagine if we could put these steps to work for us. What if, other than just tracking these steps, we could apply them to something bigger.

Introducing: Treecard. The app that plants a tree for every 10,000 steps you walk.

I was introduced to Treecard before I got on the trail by one of the many thru-hiking podcasts I listened to in order to prepare myself. When I learned about it, I instantly downloaded it, because, why not? I am going to be walking the steps anyway. I may as well use these steps to do some good.

So how does it work?

Brands pay to feature in the Treecard app and Treecard then uses that money to plant the trees.

Who plants the trees?

Treecard partners with tree planting experts like Ecosia and Instituto Espinhaço, who, according to Treecard, have the knowledge and experience to make sure the trees planted “make the most impact”.

Where are they planted

Treecard supports over 60 tree-planting partners in over 30 countries (from places such as Brazil, Madagascar, Cambodia, Canada, Senegal, Australia and more). They target biodiversity hotspots—areas which hold particularly high numbers of unique species—which face extreme threats, hold at least 1,500 species of endemic plants, and have been diminished by at least 70%.

They also aim to plant them in locations where the trees are wanted, and can be put to good use. According to Treecard:

“Trees are tremendously helpful in creating value to farmers and communities. They can prevent erosion, create a stable microclimate for other crops, restore the water systems or provide new means of income.

But in the poorest agricultural regions of our planet, communities and farmers do not have the means to start tree-planting and restoration on a larger scale. It’s hard to find private investments because there’s no return within three years, and public financing carries large administrative burdens.

By planting in these areas, we are employing local communities and giving farmers an attractive alternative to selling their land for monoculture production.”

You can learn more by checking out the Treecard website.

My Experience

The great thing for me is that this app requires minimal effort. I just connect the app to my health app, which is already on my phone tracking my steps, and then whenever I think I’ve walked 10,000 stepss, I open the app and click “plant a tree”. Other than that, I do not have to do any other work.

Since downloading the app, I have planted over 50 trees.

I think it is so cool that my steps are not only carrying me from one state to another along the Appalachian Trail, but also planting trees around the world and having a positive impact on a scale I could never have on my own.

So I encourage all of you, thru-hiker, or not, to download Treecard! (and if you want to automatically plant 1 tree when you sign up, which yes, also gives me 1 tree to plant (yay!) use my referral code: dakota-azv)

Let’s make a difference with the steps we are already taking!