Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Page 2 of 2 < 1 2
Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#183905 - 03/17/14 03:41 PM Re: What "flavor" your guidebook? [Re: wandering_daisy]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted By wandering_daisy
What Canadian maps do you get on the GPS screen? What is the resolution?


The GPS screen still sucks smile I have been printing them from the same data on paper using a couple of different pieces of software that read the raw ibycus data. on Paper I can plan.

Quote:

Google earth has a GPS generated "route" along the Continental Divide through the Wind Rivers. It is a joke. It also shows a "route" up one hellish drainage. I think they just search the internet for GPS coordinate routes and stick them on the maps, with no ground truth work whatsoever. The internet is a source of 10% very valuable data; 90% trash data. I think Google Earth should stick strictly to showing the images. It is very irritating when they draw a line over a "road" so you cannot really see the road. The images speak for themselves. If you cannot totally verify the lines you put on a map, leave them out!


Everything beyond the map data in Google earth is pretty much user contributed - and that's the problem. half the time user submitted tracks are nowhere near where they should be. Same thing with photos - half the time people tag them nowhere near where they really are (especially with smartphones with horrible gps's) and so what ends up uploaded into the cloud is a bunch of lies wink
_________________________
Any fool can be uncomfortable...
My 3 season gear list
Winter list.
Browse my pictures


Top
#183926 - 03/18/14 01:27 PM Re: What "flavor" your guidebook? [Re: phat]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Recently took a two-day GIS overview class, which was basically a get-acquainted session with the GIS concept, the ESRI software and the available data bases.

Instructor made the point that people get into trouble sourcing their coordinate points from Google, as it doesn't use a proper projection system and therefore, doesn't match map data when imported. My takeaway is to double-check Google coordinates against another known source before relying on them.

My brain had glazed over by then (day 2, p.m.) so I didn't press him on the point, but hey, at least I remembered it!

To append my earlier comment--I plan my trips using GPS routes created in Topo and exported to my handheld. Route points are printed on the map. Time and again I've found the system invaluable for XC navigation, particulary through woods and over scree. Inevitably, when ascending to a pass in class 3 conditions the route and destination become obscured (convex slope, etc.) and one becomes preoccupied with safe routefinding across and through the boulders. Quick check of the nav screen bearing arrow and distance to the next waypoint tells me what I need to know to continue, while keeping at least one hand in contact.

Cheers,
_________________________
--Rick

Top
Page 2 of 2 < 1 2

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 180 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum