[pct-l] Was: Looking for Photos - Now: Create the ultimate PCT website

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

I carry a GPS when I hike and I've encountered varying mileage between
the data book and what I read off my GPS. I think the reason for this is
that I probably don't step the exact line rolled when the mileage data
was recorded. I believe that if I step a half foot to one side or the
other of that original line, my mileage truly would vary. In any case,
synchronizing GPS waypoints and mileage to the data book would be
problematic at best.

Also, those mapping programs are notorious for mis-calculating mileage.

I think the data book is the best source for "average" mileage.

Long/Lat coordinates, however are a great idea to include in a map based
interface! Long/Lat coordinates are easy to program into a GPS in the
field and then the GPS can be made to "go to" that coordinate.

I think someone's already posted a web site that had the entire PCT
waypoints! If the slippery slope of my memory serves me well, I believe
it was programmed into one of the mapping software programs and the raw
data can be downloaded...  Anyone remember where that is?

Yeah, I can imagine a site with all this info! Click on a spot on the
trail and find out the mileage (NOBO & SOBO), section, photos,
elevation, Long/Lat/UTM coordinates, nearest water source, nearest
resupply, hot link to weather...even interesting trivia about that
location! Click two points and find out the distance between them, the
elevation gain/loss, print a map from the first point to the second
(section hikers like me would LOVE that!) maybe even click on two points
and get a photo of the second point viewed from the first!

A web site like that would soon become the most visited by all PCT
hikers! Include links to all the other PCT sites (PCTA.org, AsABat's
water page, trail journals, gear makers, gear testers, etc.). Add a
thru-hiker progress log that thru-hikers can post their locations/dates.
Add a message board for thru-hikers to communicate with those of us who
follow their progress. Web cam links to places close or on the PCT (PS
Tram and the Idyllwild "robocam" come to mind). My DeLome map software
creates 3D maps! SEE that climb you're facing!

This could be BIG. Now if only someone who knows how to do this steps up
and gets this going...


Michael Saenz ,  Associate Partner
McLarand    Vasquez    Emsiek   &   Partners,   Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e  |  P l a n n i n g  |  I n t e r i o r s
MVE          MVE    Institutional         MVE    S t u d i o
w  w  w   .   m  v  e   -   a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s   .   c  o m

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Rathmann [mailto:carcinomad@gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 3:59 PM
To: Mike Saenz
Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Looking for Photos

Mike-

any ideas on cross referencing mile points from the PCT data book to
their GPS locations?  is there any software that can 'straighten' a
curved waypoint file to get the linear distance between the points
(thinking back to calculus, i think i remember how to do this, but why
reinvent the wheel)?  if you had the linear distance of each waypoint
and the waypoints were gapped very close together, you could merge it
with the data book.

and is there really an extremely accurate, closely spaced waypoint file
of the entire PCT?

i scanned the databook, used ocr software to convert to text and
imported it into a database to generate the daily elevation profiles for
my site.

imagine a site that not only links photos to their exact position on the
pct, but also the direction the photo was taken: "looking East from
Campo, Mile 0, lat xxx lon yyy".  i know the latest high end digital
cameras have a serial port to interface a gps unit and record positions
in the EXIF meta data.  i might just have to hike the pct again to
collect more data...

bearcan't


On 3/22/06, Mike Saenz <msaenz@mve-architects.com> wrote:
> GE doesn't have a high enough resolution to provide any real info on 
> the PCT. Or at least nothing that isn't already covered by the data 
> and guide books. But hey! It's info nonetheless! Hot link this to a
map!
>
> I imagine that, within the PCT-L community, we can provide photos for 
> all the significant locations. Hi-Res scans of USGS topos of all of 
> California are available through Casil. Long/Lat (I still haven't 
> converted to UTM) info can be pulled from any of the map software 
> (retail or free on-line). GPS waypoints have been recorded through the

> entire trail. AsABat has all the SoCal water data. You can even hot 
> link the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's web site 
> http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ to get real-time weather info on any portion 
> of the trail (along with historic data!).
>
> Check out
> http://friends.backcountry.net/rogers/PCT00webpages/SectionA00.html
> This guy has something like what I'm thinking about going on his web 
> site.
>
> I think all the raw data is out there already. Photos and this data 
> hot linked on a map interface would really make for a user-friendly, 
> comprehensive source of info that a lot of hikers would take advantage

> of!
>
>
> Michael Saenz ,  Associate Partner
> McLarand    Vasquez    Emsiek   &   Partners,   Inc.
> A r c h i t e c t u r e  |  P l a n n i n g  |  I n t e r i o r s
> MVE          MVE    Institutional         MVE    S t u d i o
> w  w  w   .   m  v  e   -   a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s   .   c  o m
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Craig Stanton [mailto:craigstanton@mac.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 12:49 PM
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Cc: Mike Saenz
> Subject: RE: [pct-l] Looking for Photos
>
> Google Earth is your friend.
> The PCT trace that someone made keeps me busy every lunch time, 
> trawling up and down, seeing the sort of landscape it covers. It'd be 
> excellent to have annotated points along the route, pictures from 
> ground level, showing water supplies, camping spots, vegetation, 
> anything. The placemarks can contain any HTML so you'd be free to put 
> in as much detail as you had for each place.
> If you have this data (i'm thinking photos and approx lat longs) but 
> no Google Earth or time to convert it I'd defintitely offer my
servcies.
> I'm a big GE junkie and would gladly spend my time creating the links,

> if only I knew what goes where. When I get around to buying the data 
> book I might make a start on it and put photos in when I complete the 
> trail.
>
> ~Craig
>
> On Thursday, March 23, 2006, at 04:24AM, Mike Saenz 
> <msaenz@mve-architects.com> wrote:
>
>
> >I've been rolling an idea around in my head about a useful web site: 
> >A map with hot links to photos, data, water report, etc. for at least

> >all
>
> >the points listed in the Data Book. Digitized USGS topos are 
> >available for all of California from Casil ( 
> >http://casil.ucdavis.edu/mapsurfer/
> >).
> >
> >Just click on the map and see photos of the trail, it's mile marker, 
> >closest water locations (maybe linked to AsABat's site) and any other

> >useful info available.
> >
> >Not so much a collage of hiker pics, but photos of significant trail 
> >conditions, junctions and stuff like that.
> >
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