CannonTracks - Great Divide Ride

[Cannonshot]

Completed the Great Divide Ride from Banff, AB to the border with Mexico.


Prepared a comprehensive .gpx to share.

One version of the .gpx contains a lot of tracks for planning. These include bicycle only, all alternates, and even Big Dog's tracks so you can compare them to the current route in the US.

The other version is a 20 track file that is ready to load and ride.

The ride report that is full of pictures of the route and road surfaces can be found here:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603076

Files can be downloaded here:
http://dco43054.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19

The 660+ waypoints are categorized so you can sort them (fuel, camping, dealers, POIs, hazards, etc).

[Cannonshot]

Origin information for this ride.

Buy maps here:

http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/greatdivide.cfm

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by Countdown

Are the 20 tracks filtered actual active logs?

The 20 tracks are not filtered actual active logs. They are tracks I drew based on the current GDR maps and then verified against my active logs to ensure they were correct. The tracks are drawn in such a way that track points are conserved but there is no confusion in following the route.

Originally Posted by Countdown

Did you look at or compare your tracks to the ones I put together from variious active logs that are on GPSXchange.com?

No. There was no need to.

[Countdown]

Thanks for lots of great way points.

I have scouted a way as close to the divide as possible across NM. I crossed the divide about 40 times. You had some of the same tracks.

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by Countdown

So neither one of your files are based on active logs?

Again, I drew the tracks based on the current GDR maps (or on paths that I worked out for things not on the GDR maps) and later verified what I drew against my active logs.

Originally Posted by Countdown

Thanks for lots of great way points.

You are very welcome. As you know, I routinely share a lot of GPS information with my fellow riders.

Originally Posted by Countdown

I have scouted a way as close to the divide as possible across NM. I crossed the divide about 40 times. You had some of the same tracks.

It would not surprise me that many of us would end up on the same paths since there are only so many ways to go. Where I worked up stuff apart from the GDR (like in Canada, for my side trips, or for my return to Wyoming from the south end) I drew my tracks based on a map recon (that I later verified on the ground).

Keep in mind that my tracks vary from my friend Mark Sampson's tracks and the active logs of those that rode his .gpx in several places. This may be due to updates to the GDR route or my use of some of the alternates that he did not use. That is the reason I added his track segments to the segments I have in the planning file - so people could compare his to the current route and alternates.

[BAGSTR]

Cannonshot,

Major thank you. A great deal of work performed for the troops.

[gabrielzorz]

That was good and thank you!

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by craftycoder

Hey Cannonshot, I put together a GPX storage, search, & display program together last week. I published it last night. Please come and check it out and see if you find it useful. You can store your tracks privately or share them. You can share them but not allow zooming in to close or download. Soon, you will be able to update your tracks online and and export an updated GPX. I've been following you for a while and have noticed how you've been moving your tracks from place to place from time to time. I'm pretty sure this will be the last place you'll want to put them.

I think this tool will make you ride reports even more entertaining because you can add interactivity to them. While you are waxing poetic about someplace you visited we can virtually follow you around. Pretty cool I think.

Thanks, I'll check that out.

[Cannonshot]

There is now gas available in Hachita, NM, at the Hachita Store.
Their business hours at 8-6 M-S and 10-6 on Sunday.
Their number is (575) 436-1100.
I did not have this waypointed on the file I distributed as this is a new development.

[craftycoder]

Pretty soon, you'll be able to update the map online at my site and users can then download the latest version at will. Even now, you can upload an updated version of your GPX and it will update the interactive map. Users can also download the newest version once its uploaded (if you allow downloading).

[lm002e]

Which GPS unit did you use during this trip? Thanks again for your hard work!

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by lm002e

Which GPS unit did you use during this trip? Thanks again for your hard work!

You are quite welcome.

I use a Garmin 60 series (Cx or Csx) on trips like this. They hold the detailed maps, tracks, and waypoints for the entire trip and are rugged enough for this kind of travel. I used Topo for the background maps.

[JohnBryer]

This is awesome!! I'm planning on doing all but the New Mexico part in 2011.

[Cannonshot]

I need to put out a cautionary note about the track. Near Island Park, ID/Sawtell Peak there is a short section of forest road that may be gated when you approach from either end.

If the gates are closed, they clearly state "ROAD CLOSED" and no one should go around the gate. I tried to verify the permanent status of these roads using the MVUM. NF 455 "disappears" from the MVUM for the segment between the gates.


I noted the segment in the ride report and offered an alternative.


It appears that the gated segment may involve private property.

[Pantah]

where can i read up on tracks? how to exchange them and such. i just bought a 60csx with mapsource which i installed in my mac. i want to try and ride the cdr this coming summer. i'll pick it up at the north end and ride south to about chama before heading west to phoenix. 'll be coming from the east coast.

do i have everything i need or do i have to buy some other types of maps too?

thanks