[pct-l] Announcing eTrails 1.3

[Frank Gilliland]

Yep, I agree with all of the comments below.  I’m just wondering if there would be any usable or even “Entertainment” value to having the Half-Mile maps overlaid either onto a program like Garmin’s MapSource, BaseCamp, Google Earth or even a handheld view on a portable gps or phone (tablet) mapping program (like Gaia).  I played with the Google Earth Overlay tool and just found it for me to be more work that it was worth with the Jonathan Ley CDT maps.  I guess that is a problem with me “Thinking” in written form and then posting.  I was just Brain Storming and suffering from “Off Season Hikers Syndrome” in my hikers brain…Seeing if there might be some utility in a Georefrenced map set?


I do enjoy using the HalfMile Maps, Tracks and waypoint files.  They are just top-shelf!

Hope to use all of his info this up-coming 2014 hiking season.

See ya on the trail,

StarMan

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I agree that having Halfmile's maps loaded onto a phone or tablet device is far better than loading the maps onto a handheld GPS device.  The reason is all of the notes would block some of the viewable map.

But, his maps could be geo-referenced using Adobe Acrobat Pro.  Each page would need to be saved as it's own file.  Or you could splice several pages together into a single file.  Then you would need to have accurate coordinates for the 4 corners of the map.  It's lots of work for little or no gain.

Also, if Halfmile wanted his product to be geo-referenced I'm reasonably sure he would have published them that way.  I suspect he doesn't for some very legitimate reasons.  Like the previous post stated, use his track and waypoint files on your handheld GPS.  They work great.

Thumper  


Actually you don't use (in electronic devices) Halfmile "maps", you use his tracks and waypoints (downloaded GPX files) and those are very accurately georeferenced.
I use them with Backcountry Navigator and I'm very happy with the results for thru-hiking, biking, training, and RVing. I load the GPX files on top of the free Caltopo maps.

You can download Lon's map in PDF form into a phone and I did as a third backup .... seemed SUL to me.

I also carry his maps in paper form as first backup with compass but have never needed them.(2-4 oz depending on resupply days)

I'm going to download eTrails 1.3 and see how I like that too.


'til later
Jon (Gandalf)