Tracing the Appalachian Trail

And Meat said in a PM he was loading up an older version of Mapsource that was at least a year old. My first guess is older version of MS that isn't compatible.

C'mon Meat - who gets the prize?

Dave

You get it, but with Meat, you gotta be careful, you don't know what it might be

:eek1

Phil's right, Dave. It was the older version's incompatibility causing the problem - once I upgraded, I loaded it directly from the link in the OP, so you win.

Just found this thread while researching a mountian route from Ga. to Va and back home to Tenn.
Kudo's for all the work done here. I think this will be the foundation for my next trip.

Why not update or alter the routes in your area that you know for sure are doable or off limits and then maybe it can be a viable route. Only do this if you know for sure any roads don't exist ao aren't passable. Heck, we all know where the best roads are in our own back yards. If we all work on it a little and add some things and not take away from the effort already expended by the starter of this thread.

?

Yes, that was my intent. Ride and enhance this file, drop waypoints with notes. record tracks, post your version and I will combine and enhance the route.

This is what we did in NJ:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247636

I got it to open with a copy of GPX Trackmaker, it's a free download I got somewhere.

First, I live in sw Virginia and a lot of roads are missing on the map you have put together. In fact, none of the really nice back roads I know are on there.
Or at least I can't see them, it could be me.

Anyway, here is a question about mapping roads into my GPS.

I have a Garmin Vista C that I use to map logging boundaries and such.
Works real nice for figuring acerage etc....

But the base map shows the same roads you sent and none of the
better back roads, roads which I consider main roads around here.
For instance, my land looks like it's a long way from any road.

How can I map roads and put them into my Vista?
If it's possible?

Thanks, Robert

Use Garmin's MapSource with US Topo or another map to draw a route. Send me your route and I'll update the source. Or just go out and ride your best roads and send me your tracks. That's the best way for me to update the route.

hope that helps..

sorry I didn't choose your favorites, that's why I need input from all the locals to build the best route possible.

PS the more dirt road the better

I really don't know what I'm doing with this GPS stuff as far as roads go.
I can track them and send you a file so I can see how it works.

Your roads are probably in there and I just can't see them with my program.
I tried opening it with a Garmin program which has no good base map.

GPS ignorant, Robert

You need to get a base map like US Topo or CityNavigator NA v8. Load them to MapSource and your GPS and you'll see a lot more roads but not all of them. Often the dirt roads aren't in the mapping software. That's why I use point to point navigation. It's hard for me to tell if a dirt road connects or not by looking at the map so I avoided dead ends and question marks in these routes. However, if you send me tracks of roads that connect that aren't on the map I'll update the route.

Another tip, don't save your tracks to your gps before uploading. Upload them directly to your compter, save the file and send it to me. PM me for my email address.

The best way to learn is by doing.

Take notes while you ride by dropping waypoints and marking trail heads. Just make sure it's all legal to ride, we don't want to get anyone in trouble with Jonny Law by ridding the route.

Thanks,

What a cool route! I'm planning on doing the tat from arkansas going east. Now I can hit this route and head up into PA south of allentown, then head over into central NJ. I'm also planning on doing the stumpjumper enduro april 20th. My ride back is a jeep grand cherokee that I'm buying from my mom and will use a hitch carrier to tote my wr250f home with. Two thousand miles to do an enduro, yeah, that's crazy .......

Now, I've heard something about some cool dirt roads not on this route?

My son and I are going to try some of this route in May. We have to get his bike to his home in Maine. We are starting in Grand Jct CO and finishing in Lisbon Maine with me heading back to Nevada by my self. Our hope is to blaze to the Ga start and then see how fast we go. Time may be the main factor against us. I have to be back at work on June 2 so we have just over 3 weeks. Ill keep a log of where we ride but I am not too good about details, I know big downfall.
Hope most of the route is not too tough for a GS. Finding this was just what we wanted to try for this bike shuttle.
Thanks

cool, should be fine for GS.. post a ride report link here and send my your tracks so I can update the routes woodsracer23@gmail.com

Thanks,

I dont have a GPS but I live near the Blue Ridge mountains area. I used Google Earth to open your map. I'm a bit confused about reading it but I'm not proficiecnt at Google Earth either.

It shows two solid blue lines on the route which intersect along the way.

Points off the lines are the BRparkway and the skyline drive. I was looking for dirt trails that intesect with those main roads. I'm sure your gps maps show them but I'm having a hard time seeing it. Basically for me any trails near Waynesboro VA along the Blue Ridge Parkway I'd be interested in.

Thanks

Rob...just wanted to post a thank you! Rode the portion between Carlisle, PA down to Harpers Ferry today since it's the closest leg to my place in md. Let me just say...it's freakin' awsome!

The first portion of Ridge is pretty much a slap in the face not to push on unless you think you can handle it. While that was the worse conditions we hit, that was the most fun as well. A bit more techincal and challanging then the rest. Probably a good thing since towards the end of the day I started getting sloppy and making stupid mistakes.

I'm sure that the trans-nj trail and the TAT itself are cool in their own way, but this is pretty freakin' wild for people new to the scene.

A few friends and I are putting together some plans to do the entire trip from Maine to Georgia, however, after todays experiences I think we're going to have to reconsider the amount of time to do it all. We only did roughly 150 miles today and it took the better portion of the day to pull through. The skyline section further south is easily feasible, however, I can see portions further north and far south that will eat up days if we're only pulling 150 - 200 miles in those sections.

Will let ya know what other portions I hit..but the pa - harpers ferry section seems good to go.

I'm glad you got out there and are using the routes. Just keep in mind it is a Work In Progress and many of the routes have not been proofed.

Can you please email me your tracks, waypoints and notes so I may improve the routes?

You may also find additional options through those areas in this file:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=356882

Am actually headed out to pa. on monday to hit some more of the trail..after that I'll send the tracks from both days back to you. Am hoping by next year to of ridden about 1/2 of this at the very least, if not 2/3's.
Here's a link to my ride report...
http://www.stromtrooper.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29359

great report, that's what it's all about!

please send me your tracks and routes so I can perfect the route for everyone to enjoy.

email me at: rob23@gpsroutebuilder.com

thanks,