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To find out who's behind Iphigénie, let's take a trip back in time.
Thehistory of cartography began with the first representations of the world in the form of drawings on clay tablets. The oldest map found is the Babylonian map, often referred to asthe "Sippar Map", dated around 2300 BC. The ancient Greeks, such asHomer and Ptolemy, then contributed to the evolution of maps with their descriptions of territories and their first attempts at geographical systematization.
In the Middle Ages, maps were often based on religious and symbolic concepts , with little geographical precision. The Renaissance marked a turning point, with the emergence of detailed maritime maps, thanks to the exploration of new worlds. The invention of printing in the 15th century enabled maps to be distributed more widely, while the development of measuring instruments and projection techniques improved their accuracy.
Modern cartography integrates cutting-edge technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) and satellite images, enabling the world to be understood and represented with unprecedented precision. Iphigénie is helping to change the face of cartography, being the very first French mobile application to digitize IGN maps.
Digital tools like Iphigénie are part of this line of innovation, facilitating the preparation of hikes and other outdoor outings. It enables users, whether individuals or professionals (foresters, guides, geologists, firefighters, researchers...), to plan their itineraries, access detailed maps and map tools of unrivalled precision.
Iphigénie doesn't just make navigation easier. It also conveys profound values, which we want to carry with us on every hiking trail! Love of nature, respect for the environment, safety and the pleasure of pushing one's own limits are central aspects of our mission.
Byenabling users to live their passion to the full while minimizing environmental impacts and promoting responsible practice, Iphigénie is helping to preserve the natural beauty of outdoor spaces for future generations.
Iphigénie embodies technological evolution at the service of private individuals and professionals, integrating planning tools and detailed maps.
Created in 2010 by Max Barel, a freelance developer with a passion for cartography, Iphigénie made its name through word-of-mouth. With over a million unique visitors a year, it has become France'sleading mapping application in just 10 years.
The mobile app is the result of development carried out in close collaboration with the Institut national de l'information géographique et forestière (known as IGN, Institut géographique national until 2012, before the integration of the forest inventory).
Iphigénie is totally independent of IGN and offers hiking, mountain biking, ski touring, trail running and, in general, all outdoor sports enthusiasts a mapping service with highly accurate topographical analysis, as well as navigation assistance thanks to its integrated GPS.
The first version was released in April 2010. It was the beginning of smartphones. Max Barel, a keen cartographer and outdoor enthusiast (especially of hiking and horseback riding), had the ambition of digitizing paper maps into digital maps, in a single application. So that he could always have them to hand, on his iPhone. Hence the name "IPH" for iPhone, "i" for IGN and "GÉNIE" for computer engineering. The Android version arrived in 2013.
The application has won several Géoportail API awards, and today remains the benchmark application for access to Géoportail resources.
In 2021, Max Barel reaches the end of his career. He wants to sell Iphigénie. But not to just anyone. He wants his family business to keep its values and its team. He'd also like it to be taken over by a local with a passion for the mountains and outdoor activities. This is how Max Barel met Tim MacLean, co-founder of Whympr.
Max Barel, founder of Iphigénie, confides: "I'm relieved to be passing on our tool to a French company with whom we share the same values. It's essential for us to know that our DNA will be preserved while we continue to develop our services. It's also very important for my team to know that we'll be taking part in this handover over the coming months, with Antoine and Clément remaining in the adventure to take Iphigénie ever higher, and to share together the vision of Iphigénie's new momentum."
Find here all the tutorials for getting to grips with Iphigénie.
Since January 2022, the holding company Pahada (which means mountain in Nepalese) has grouped together the two applications Whympr and Iphigénie.
It's the app that brings together all the essential information you need to prepare and share your mountain and outdoor outings. It was born in 2017 at the foot of Mont-Blanc on the initiative of two Chamoniards with a passion for the mountains.
It's the benchmark mapping application in France, acclaimed by millions of users. Launched in 2010 by a cartography enthusiast, it is now an indispensable digital tool for individuals and professionals (foresters, guides, firefighters, geologists...).
The merger of the two applications in January 2022 created the new Pahada group, pooling development, communication and innovation capabilities, while ensuring that each application remains independent and complementary. Thanks to this merger, the new team, made up of members of Whympr and Iphigénie, are working together towards constant improvements to ensure growth, and meet the expectations of the community. We have in our DNA a love of the mountains, respect for the environment, the democratization of sporting activities and the desire to push back the limits through digital technology.
Pahada's mission is to become the world's leading outdoor applications group.
Since May 2023 Éditions Vamosfounded over 30 years ago by two mountain guide friends, joined the Pahada Group. The aim of this acquisition is to develop the publishing of paper topos and make their content available in digital version on the Whympr app, thanks to QR codes integrated into the books.
Today, over 1,000 digital topos for sale can be found on the Whympr app. We want to digitalize all the topos in the books. Each format has its own purpose. We're firmly convinced that digital and paper must work together to become complementary.
Whympr aims to become the reference digital platform for preparing mountain outings, with topos as one of the cornerstones. The aim is to offer our respective customers an even more complete solution that will meet their requirements in the field.
We're passionate about the mountains and everything they have to offer. Every outing is an opportunity to explore and appreciate this unique environment. Based in Chamonix, we are at the forefront of observing the impact of climate change on Mont-Blanc and the surrounding area. This love of the mountains is reflected in our commitment to creating tools that make every mountain outing more accessible.
Innovations have always helped mountain sports to evolve, improving both safety and performance. We believe that digital technology represents the next step, enabling us to continue moving our practice in the right direction.
Our aim is to make the mountains accessible to as many people as possible, rather than just a select few. Whatever their level of experience or their means, we want our love of the outdoors to be accessible to all. Our applications are designed to be increasingly intuitive to facilitate this access.
Protecting the environment is essential to preserving the mountains for future generations. We encourage our teams and users to adopt sustainable practices, such as respecting trails, reducing waste and protecting local flora and fauna. We have set up a charter to reduce our carbon footprint as a company. We also donate 1% of our sales to associations that protect the environment through the "1% for the Planet" program.
The spirit of adventure and freedom is at the heart of our DNA. We encourage our teams and users to take on new challenges and push their limits, while staying safe and secure, thanks to the sharing of reliable information.
Our users are at the heart of everything we do. Their feedback is essential to help us continually improve our products and services. We are committed to remaining accessible and responsive, taking on board every suggestion and criticism. For example, we have set up "Rencontres Iphigénie" to meet our users in the field. These are very rewarding moments for us.
Around Tim and Xavier, 29 other people work in the Pahada group as employees or outside contractors: Karl, Jérôme, Antoine, Greg, Damir, Ovi, Clément M, Laura, Carla, Alice, Virginie, Pauline, Anne, Joseph, Alexia, Stivel, Achraf, Alberto, Yoann, Clément G, Stevens, Matt, Vanessa and Pipo. Many thanks to them for their day-to-day work.
Headquartered in Chamonix, the team is scattered all over the world: Chamonix, Grenoble, Chambéry, Lyon, Bordeaux, Paris, Copenhagen, Bucharest, Bali and even Tokyo!
Born in 1981, Tim worked between Paris and London for 10 years, mainly in Apple's European teams. Highly motivated by the Whympr project and the prospect of developing it, he resigned from Apple to concentrate on Whympr and set up his base camp in Chamonix.
Born in 1975, Xavier is an expert in digital design and marketing. Based in Copenhagen, he is currently responsible for the design of Whympr and Iphigénie, in addition to his other professional collaborations. Tim and Xavier are cousins, descended from a historic Chamonix family.
The Iphigénie and Whympr Fund is a joint initiative between the Iphigénie and Whympr applications.
Inspired by the history of mountaineering and the technical innovations that have marked its evolution, this fund is committed to perpetuating this heritage by contributing to the development of mountain practice while preserving natural ecosystems.
The aim of this collaboration is to provide financial support for projects that embody our values. Selected projects will receive funding to help cover the costs associated with mountain outings, such as specialized equipment, permits, travel expenses and much more.
Iphigénie, the Carto app for hiking
IGN maps, GPS, GPX tracks and markers, hiking, mountain biking, outdoor activities
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