How to Share Your Adventure

A complete guide to exporting from Obsession Tracker and sharing on Trail Tales

Your Privacy is Protected

Your .obstrack file is encrypted with a password only you know. When you upload it to Trail Tales, decryption happens entirely in your browser. We never see your password, and you choose exactly what data to share before anything is submitted.

Part 1: Export from Obsession Tracker

First, you'll export your tracking session from the Obsession Tracker app as an encrypted .obstrack file.

1
Open Your Completed Session

In Obsession Tracker, go to the Sessions tab and tap on the session you want to share. This opens the session detail view where you can see your track, photos, and waypoints.

2
Tap the Share Button

Look for the share icon in the top-right corner of the screen. Tap it to open the export options.

3
Select "Export Complete Session"

Choose "Export Complete Session" to create an .obstrack file. This includes your GPS track, all photos, voice notes, markers, and waypoints in an encrypted package.

4
Set a Password

Enter a memorable password to encrypt your export. This password protects your data and you'll need it when uploading to Trail Tales. Make sure you remember this password!

5
Save or Share the File

Once the export is complete, save the .obstrack file to your device or share it directly to your Files app, cloud storage, or email. You'll need access to this file in the next steps.

Tip: If you're on an iPhone, saving to the Files app makes it easy to access when uploading. On Android, your Downloads folder works great.


Part 2: Upload to Trail Tales

Now you'll upload your .obstrack file to Trail Tales and choose what to share with the community.

1
Create an Account (First Time Only)

Visit tales.obsession.community/register to create a free account. You'll need to verify your email before submitting. Your email stays private — only your display name is shown publicly.

2
Start a New Submission

Go to the Submit page and drag your .obstrack file into the upload area, or click to browse and select it from your device.

3
Enter Your Password

Enter the password you set when exporting from the app. Your browser will decrypt the file locally — your password is never sent to our servers.

4
Choose What to Share

Select exactly what data you want to include in your public tale:

  • GPS Track — Your hiking/walking path on the map
  • Markers & Waypoints — Named locations with photos and notes
  • Additional Photos — Standalone photos not attached to markers

Coordinate Fuzzing

Use the coordinate fuzzing slider to add random offsets (up to 500m) to your GPS data. This helps protect sensitive locations while still showing the general area of your adventure.

5
Add Your Story

Give your tale a title and write a description. Tell others about your adventure — what were you looking for? What did you discover? What made it memorable?

6
Review and Submit

Preview your tale with the map and photos. Choose a thumbnail image, then submit for review. Our moderators will review your submission to ensure it meets our content guidelines.

What happens next? You'll receive an email notification when your tale is approved and published. Most submissions are reviewed within 24-48 hours.


Frequently Asked Questions

What's an .obstrack file?

It's an encrypted archive containing your complete tracking session — GPS breadcrumbs, photos, voice notes, markers, and metadata. The file is encrypted with AES-256, a military-grade encryption standard, using a password you set.

Is my data safe?

Yes. Your .obstrack file is encrypted before it ever leaves the Obsession Tracker app. When you upload to Trail Tales, decryption happens in your browser using the Web Crypto API. We never see your password, and you choose exactly what data to share before anything is stored on our servers.

Can I delete my submission later?

Yes. You can delete any tale you've submitted at any time from your account settings. Deleted content is permanently removed from our servers.

What if I forgot my .obstrack password?

Unfortunately, there's no way to recover a forgotten password. The encryption is designed so that only you can access your data. You'll need to export a new file from Obsession Tracker with a new password.

Ready to Share Your Adventure?

Export your session from Obsession Tracker and share it with the community.

Share Your Tale