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Post by moun10bike on May 13, 2008 10:40:41 GMT -9
Hi all, I'm not sure if you frequent the Groundspeak Northwest forums or not, but a couple of months ago I launched a community project to collect trail data for the northwest and make it available in a MapSource mapset for upload to Garmin receivers. Just this week I added Alaska to the data, so I wanted to post here to let the community know and hopefully get some involvement from Alaska geocachers. Below is the message that I posted in the Groundspeak forum when I launched the project. It gives all of the particulars of the project, which has already grown substantially from what it was at the outset. Thanks! Jon (Moun10Bike) ********** I'm pleased to announce the arrival of: What Is the Northwest Trails Project?In short, the Northwest Trails Project is a community effort to record and collect GPS data for trails in the Pacific Northwest and use that data to create a publicly-available custom mapset that can be uploaded to any map-enabled Garmin GPS. Collecting and recording trail data for use on GPS is a labor of love that I have been working on for years. I always would upload tracks to my GPS to help navigate the routes that I wanted to follow, but there are problems with using the data this way. For one, no GPS can accommodate more than a few tracks at a time. Thus, you need to know beforehand what route you want to take and, if you are talking about even a modestly sized network of trails, you have to decide which trails to cull in order for things to fit into your receiver. That's when I started thinking about custom maps for my receiver. With custom maps like Northwest Trails, there is no longer a need to limit the number of trails loaded on the GPS (the maps use only a portion of map memory rather than a limited number of dedicated slots like tracks do). I set out making these maps for my own use and before too long realized that a lot of other people could probably use them, too. That's why I started this project. FeaturesNorthwest Trails is made to be "transparent", which means that when loaded with other Mapsource products or the GPSr base map the trails can be viewed at the same time as data overlaying the other maps. Northwest Trails can also be loaded directly to the GPSr on its own. Custom type definitions are used to help distinguish trail types and make them easier to see on the map than the default trail lines. These custom types include: - Trails: red dotted lines
- Paved trails: maroon dotted lines
- Unpaved roads: maroon dashed lines
- Minor trails (game traces, etc.): thin maroon dotted lines
CoverageThe mapset currently covers the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska along with some data for British Columbia. The intent is, over time, for the coverage to expand to include thorough coverage of all trails located in the Pacific Northwest. How Do I Get Started?First, visit the Northwest Trails web page and download the latest version of the mapset from there. Once you have downloaded it, unzip the file and then execute the mapset installer. This program will install the map files and register the mapset with MapSource. Within MapSource a new mapset product entitled "Northwest Trails" will be available in the Product drop down selection list (or from the View | Switch to Product menu option). The Northwest Trails mapset should overlay any other mapset present on your GPS unit. It is important to note that when you upload maps to your receiver, the existing mapset on the unit will be deleted. This means that if you want Northwest Trails to overlay City Navigator maps, for example, you will need to upload the chosen City Navigator maps along with Northwest Trails all at once. To switch between mapsets (if more than one has been loaded to your GPS) simply toggle the hide/show settings for the desired mapsets on your receiver. How Good Is the Data?The accuracy of the data used to create Northwest Trails varies greatly. Areas close to where I live that I have spent months working on, such as Tiger Mountain, Cougar Mountain, Soaring Eagle Park, etc., are quite good. Of course GPS reception can vary, collection methods can differ among individuals, etc. In addition, in order to help "flesh out" the data, I incorporated GIS data from various sources including the National Forest Service, various county agencies, and even maps that I found online. In general, you should use the maps cautiously and expect that the data to be off for any given trail. Now I need to give the customary disclaimer: These maps are to be used for reference purposes only. The author(s) are not responsible for any inaccuracies and no responsibility is assumed for damages or other liabilities due to the accuracy, availability, use or misuse of the data presented. Installation and use of these maps is at your own risk!This Is Great! How Can I Help?The core of Northwest Trails is the data. The real heart of that data is tracks recorded out in the field with GPS. Since data of this accuracy is hard to come by from government and other agencies, and I cannot possibly get out there and hike all of the trails of the Northwest (although I'd like ot try!), that's where you come in! Any track data you can supply is needed and most appreciated, and will be integrated into the Northwest Trails mapset for everyone to use. This does not just mean major hiking trails, but any other data that you think would be helpful to our geocaching and hiking community: neighborhood paved trails, logging roads that don't appear on Garmin's maps, etc. If you would like to collect and submit your track data to the project, please follow these pointers so that your effort can be as useful as possible: - Before you start recording track data, access the Setup menu for your GPS receiver and adjust the recording frequency and quality set of your track recording to the best available. On my unit I generally set the recording method to "Auto" and the recording interval to "Most Often".
- Turn on the GPS receiver and allow it to have a clear view of the sky for at least 15 minutes before you begin recording. This allows the unit to connect with as many satellites as possible, which increases accuracy and helps it to maintain satellite lock.
- Hold or place the receiver in a location where it can best receive satellite signals as you travel. Be aware of where the antenna is located and the best orientation of the GPSr for signal strength. Patch antennas like those on the eTrex models work best when oriented horizontally, while quad helix antennas like those on the 60 series receivers tend to work best when pointed straight up.
- Avoid saving the track to the unit's internal memory before downloading. That reduces the number of points in the data and subsequently reduces the precision of the track.
- Send me the track log with the name of the trail(s) recorded and information on the type of trail (e.g. paved trail, dirt trail, unpaved road, etc.). GPX is the preferred format, but I can convert most formats.
- Also send along any waypoints along the route like trailheads, attractions, or summits.
Since it might be just a little while until we record all of the trails in the Northwest, it is useful to include other sources of trail data to help fill in the holes in the meantime. Thus, any information, links, etc. to any detailed trail maps or GIS datasets would be greatly appreciated. In order to use such data in the Northwest Trails project, the data should be: - Publicly available and free to use
- Easy to obtain
- Accurate and fully classified (for example, trails should have names and surface attributes, etc.)
That's it! Enjoy the maps and please post here or email me directly with any suggestions or questions.
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Post by ladybugkids on May 13, 2008 12:50:07 GMT -9
Hi Jon:
Cool project and I'd be glad to help since I spend so much time on local trails on foot, ski, and with dogs.
Are Magellan track logs of any use to you?
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Post by moun10bike on May 13, 2008 14:01:15 GMT -9
Absolutely! I can suck in any GPS data. Unfortunately, I haven't yet worked the kinks out of the process of converting the mapset to a form usable by Magellan units. It is a much more convoluted process than making the Garmin maps!
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Post by Forum Admin on May 13, 2008 14:12:00 GMT -9
Hi Jon: Cool project and I'd be glad to help since I spend so much time on local trails on foot, ski, and with dogs. Are Magellan track logs of any use to you? Magellan?? Aren't they 16 feet off??
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Post by ladybugkids on May 13, 2008 15:33:48 GMT -9
Hi Jon: Cool project and I'd be glad to help since I spend so much time on local trails on foot, ski, and with dogs. Are Magellan track logs of any use to you? Magellan?? Aren't they 16 feet off?? Guess it depends on one's perspective since I think Garmins tend to be 16 feet off.
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on May 14, 2008 19:49:55 GMT -9
The trails are very cool! How do you load two map programs to a GPS without one being deleted?? (I have a 60Cx)
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Post by MamaMouse on May 19, 2008 7:14:59 GMT -9
I was wondering if we could load in the trails from the NorthWest Trail Project, see where there were serious deficiencies in our trails, then do a "Mapping event." This sounds like such a cool project to get all of our trail systems into our GPSs. This thread is also carried on in more detail in the GroundSpeak' Northwest forums. forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=189072&st=0
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Post by oleruns on May 19, 2008 12:50:05 GMT -9
I like the event idea! We could knock out Kincaid in a night... No caching until after the event. and a new trail system every couple weeks -
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Post by Malcore on May 20, 2008 15:38:27 GMT -9
I tryed out the trail map in Kincaid a couple days ago and it's GREAT!!! I was able to pick the perfect route to the cache I was going after even before I got out of the truck. And the trails I went on were very accurate.
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Post by Forum Admin on May 20, 2008 16:00:45 GMT -9
I tryed out the trail map in Kincaid a couple days ago and it's GREAT!!! I was able to pick the perfect route to the cache I was going after even before I got out of the truck. And the trails I went on were very accurate. Are the new road and bike path on the map??
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Post by moun10bike on May 29, 2008 11:45:35 GMT -9
Cross-posting from the Groundspeak forums: Win a Garmin Colorado 300! (I hope that doesn't come across as spam-like...) Garmin recently contacted me asking to use the trail data compiled in Northwest Trails for an upcoming product. In exchange, I asked for and was granted some swag that I want to give out to those who contribute to the project. I thought about the best way to give out the limited supply of goodies and decided that, for a big-ticket item like the Colorado 300, I would hold a "sweepstakes." I ran this idea past Groundspeak and got their blessing to post about it here. So, here goes: in order to keep up the flow of great data that has been submitted so far to the Northwest Trails Project, I am going to give everyone who submits usable trail data to the project in the month of June an entry in a drawing for this brand-new, still-in-the-box Garmin Colorado 300. The brief rules are: - Only submissions received between midnight the morning of June 1st and midnight the evening of June 30th are eligible
- Only data in the Northwest Trails coverage area counts (WA, ID, OR, MT, WY, BC and AK)
- Each user will receive one (1) entry in the drawing for every 0.1 mile of usable GPS trail data that he or she contributes to the project. "Usable GPS trail data" means:
- The tracks (and associated waypoints) are recorded using the methods described in the "Data Contribution" section of the Northwest Trails web page and further described in posts above from MarcusArelius and EraSeek.
- Only tracks representing trails (dirt, paved or other) will count; roads will not UNLESS the roads are an integral part of a trail network AND do not appear in Garmin's City Navigator 2008 software
- Trails that already exist in the latest version of Northwest Trails do not count UNLESS the submitted trail is a GPS recording of a currently non-GPS-verified trail
That's it (unless someone points out holes in these rules)! I hope that this sounds like fun for everyone and I look forward to your submissions. Remember, Northwest Trails is a community project that directly benefits everyone, so in truth we all win when data is submitted. Thanks! Jon
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Post by moun10bike on May 29, 2008 11:47:42 GMT -9
The trails are very cool! How do you load two map programs to a GPS without one being deleted?? (I have a 60Cx) You can't - that is one of the limitations of map upload in general. It is not modular like waypoints, where you can add one and delete a few as desired. During the upload, all of the data is compiled to a single map image file with indices, etc. To add (or delete) a map, you have to reload everything with the changes you want.
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Post by ladybugkids on May 29, 2008 11:56:22 GMT -9
Cross-posting from the Groundspeak forums: Thanks, Jon! Now, all the more reason to get out and start logging some trail miles with the dogs (as if I need one with how nice the weather has been). I'll get you a log for Grant Lake down on the Kenai Peninsula in short order.
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Post by moun10bike on May 29, 2008 12:15:36 GMT -9
I'll get you a log for Grant Lake down on the Kenai Peninsula in short order. Awesome! Maybe you'll win the contest and get to upgrade to a Garmin (just kidding, I couldn't resist! )!
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Post by Forum Admin on May 29, 2008 12:47:07 GMT -9
The trails are very cool! How do you load two map programs to a GPS without one being deleted?? (I have a 60Cx) You can't - that is one of the limitations of map upload in general. It is not modular like waypoints, where you can add one and delete a few as desired. During the upload, all of the data is compiled to a single map image file with indices, etc. To add (or delete) a map, you have to reload everything with the changes you want. FLYRFN - I was able to download NW Trails and Alaska Maps to the 60csx by starting with Alaska data in Mapsource and then switching to NW trails and selecting the map and saving it all.
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on May 31, 2008 8:58:41 GMT -9
Thanks! I now have it on my TOPO & Metro-guide.
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Post by tomanoble on Jul 24, 2009 22:17:53 GMT -9
New version was released July 17, 2009. Has new AK trails on it.
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on Jul 25, 2009 9:22:39 GMT -9
Mostly ATV trails.
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Post by ladybugkids on Feb 8, 2010 18:13:58 GMT -9
NorthWest Trails version 1.54 (1/29/10) is now available here. Moun10bike routinely adds trail segments submitted by cachers, so it's definitely worth checking the switchbacks website often to see if a new version is available.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Dec 22, 2012 9:37:52 GMT -9
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burtonsinak
Bronze Cacher
Posts: 60
GeocacheAlaska! Membership Level: Sourdough
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Post by burtonsinak on Dec 22, 2012 10:48:31 GMT -9
Thank you
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Post by ladybugkids on Feb 27, 2013 16:28:43 GMT -9
FYI...the Northwest Trails project hosts a forum that contains a lot of useful information.
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Post by NorthWes on Mar 23, 2013 16:50:35 GMT -9
FYI...the Northwest Trails project hosts a forum that contains a lot of useful information. Thanks, Mike. I'm going to be pointing our July Geocruise visitors towards NorthWest Trails. I'm sure the forum will be useful!
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