sladeb Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 (edited) I am wanting to use a topo paper map or some type of reasonably priced software to make waypoints for trail I have not hiked yet. I have a book "GPS Made Easy" that tells how to use Maptech's 200 dollar program to make waypoints along the trail depicted on the map and then upload them to a GPS for use as a premade trail. This is very interesting and I would even be interested in doing this the old fashion way with a topo map and protractor. Anyone have any advise? thanks Slade Edited May 1, 2005 by sladeb Quote Link to comment
+scott9282 Posted May 1, 2005 Share Posted May 1, 2005 Personally I use Mapsend Topo on my sportrak map, but I also print up a topo map with National Geographic Northeastern USA Topo. I also use a compass so that when, not if, the GPSr decides to take an unscheduled siesta, I can still at least navigate back to my jeep. You should always carry a compass regardless of what method you use, compasses as a rule tend to not need batteries (unless you went with an electronic compass, which is sort of counterproductive in this case) so they always work. Quote Link to comment
sladeb Posted May 1, 2005 Author Share Posted May 1, 2005 I also use the Mapsend Topo on my Sportrak Map. But I am looking for something that has trails depicted on it (map or software)so I can transfer them into my gps. I carry a topo map from the State Park where I hike but it does not have Lat Long coordinates on it so it is only good for terrain features. I also carry a compass for backup. Quote Link to comment
+embra Posted May 1, 2005 Share Posted May 1, 2005 Delorme's Topo USA 5.0 has a number of trails in it. You can't copy the trails into the GPSr as tracks, but the program will let you move them over as point-to-point routes. It works pretty well for dayhikes, but 30 waypoints won't tell you too much about something much longer. National Geographic Topo has an online track registry where people share their recorded tracks. You can download the tracks into your GPSr. The drawback with NG Topo is that for the most part you have to buy the programs state by state. It works out nicely for local use, but can get expensive for regional or national needs. Quote Link to comment
sladeb Posted May 1, 2005 Author Share Posted May 1, 2005 Thanks for the info, I am a little lost with the term GPSr. Could someone help me out? Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted May 1, 2005 Share Posted May 1, 2005 What state park are you talking about? Quote Link to comment
sladeb Posted May 1, 2005 Author Share Posted May 1, 2005 What state park are you talking about? I hike in Central Alabama(Birmingham) at Oak Mountain State Park, for 25 cents you get a topo map with all the trails on them. However there are no Lat Longs on them so I cant mark my on waypoints and then transfer them to my gps unit. Quote Link to comment
+embra Posted May 1, 2005 Share Posted May 1, 2005 Thanks for the info, I am a little lost with the term GPSr. Could someone help me out? Global Positioning System receiver (commonly referred to as GPS, but many of us rather snobbishly point out that you're not holding a system in your hand, you're holding a (sniff) receiver. Quote Link to comment
sladeb Posted May 1, 2005 Author Share Posted May 1, 2005 Here is the topo map I spoke of Quote Link to comment
sladeb Posted May 1, 2005 Author Share Posted May 1, 2005 (edited) Delorme's Topo USA 5.0 has a number of trails in it. You can't copy the trails into the GPSr as tracks, but the program will let you move them over as point-to-point routes. It works pretty well for dayhikes, but 30 waypoints won't tell you too much about something much longer. National Geographic Topo has an online track registry where people share their recorded tracks. You can download the tracks into your GPSr. The drawback with NG Topo is that for the most part you have to buy the programs state by state. It works out nicely for local use, but can get expensive for regional or national needs. Would my Sportrak be supported with the NG Topo! software? I know that the Meridian and Sportrak share some of the same cables and things. I would think if one is compatable then so should the other. Edited May 1, 2005 by sladeb Quote Link to comment
+embra Posted May 1, 2005 Share Posted May 1, 2005 Yes, you should be able to exchange tracks, waypoints, and routes (not maps, of course). If you would like to see what they have for your state look here and select the MapXchange link. Quote Link to comment
+JohnnyVegas Posted May 1, 2005 Share Posted May 1, 2005 I have always used National geographic forpaper topo maps, these are scaned USGS maps and as has been stated before, you can down load trail information from the NG web site and over lay that information on the map before you print the map. Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted May 1, 2005 Share Posted May 1, 2005 (edited) National Geographic Topo has most of the Oak Mtn trails and other Alabama trails already marked out for your GPS. site However, you have to buy their state topo map for AL which costs $100 maybe less if you shop it around. Of course once you have their maps, you have all of the 24K topo quad maps for the entire state. Files created with TOPO! Alabama and TOPO! SYNC USA Point Rock Trail LocalHikes.Com, 07/21/03 Hikers, Dogs sipsey-tr200 LocalHikes.Com, 07/21/03 Hikers, Dogs Sipsey tr 202 LocalHikes.Com, 07/21/03 Hikers, Dogs Files created with TOPO! Alabama only - Indicates file that requires TOPO! version 3.0 or higher to view. Get the latest upgrade >> Burritt Nature Trail LocalHikes.Com, 10/09/03 Hikers Oak Mtn Yellow Red Loop Hike LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs, Bikes Cave Creek Trail Cheaha Mountain LocalHikes.Com, 01/08/04 Hikers Ruffner Mtn Nature Park Loop Hike LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs Conecuh NF North Loop LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs Sipsey Loop LocalHikes.Com, 08/01/03 Dogs Conecuh NF South Loop LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs Sipsey TR201 LocalHikes.Com, 07/22/03 Hikers, Dogs Falling Rock Falls Hike LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Horses Sipsey Wilderness Trails Eric Vickery, 03/24/03 Hiking Joe wheeler blue trail loop LocalHikes.Com, 10/08/03 Hikers, Dogs Sipsey-FS208-Bunyan Hill Road (FS224) LocalHikes.Com, 07/22/03 Hikers, Dogs, Horses Maggies Glen Loop Hike LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs sipsey-tr203 LocalHikes.Com, 10/08/03 Hikers, Dogs Monte Sano North Plateau Loop LocalHikes.Com, 10/09/03 Hikers, Dogs Sipsey-tr204 LocalHikes.Com, 07/22/03 Hikers, Dogs Oak Mountain Blue/White Loop LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs Sipsey-TR206 LocalHikes.Com, 07/22/03 Dogs Oak Mountain Red Trail Loop LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs, Bikes Tannehill Loop Hike LocalHikes.Com, 10/08/03 Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Horses Oak Mountain Trails Eric Vickery, 03/24/03 Hiking The Preserve LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs Oak Mtn Green/Road Loop Hike LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs Tranquility Lake Figure 8 Loop Hike LocalHikes.Com, 10/08/03 Hikers, Dogs Oak Mtn Mountain Top Loop Hike LocalHikes.Com, 10/09/03 Hikers, Dogs, Bikes TVA Nature loop LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs, Bikes Oak Mtn Treetop / Yellow Trail Loop LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers, Dogs TVA Reservation/Rock pile LocalHikes.Com, 07/21/03 Hikers, Dogs Oak Mtn Unknown Yellow Trail Loop LocalHikes.Com, 10/08/03 Hikers, Dogs Wildwood park LocalHikes.Com, 09/02/03 Hikers Edited May 1, 2005 by Alan2 Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted May 1, 2005 Share Posted May 1, 2005 What GPS do you use? Do you have the GPS manufacturer's mapping program? Quote Link to comment
sladeb Posted May 1, 2005 Author Share Posted May 1, 2005 What GPS do you use? Do you have the GPS manufacturer's mapping program? I use the Magellan Sportrak Map and the Mapsend Topo, that brings up another question: What about the new Topo software for the Magellan? Quote Link to comment
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