Well, it figures.
Google Earth comes out with a brand new viewing layer devoted entirely to hiking trails, and my company’s IT department decides to completely cripple my work machine, removing all the programs I use for this site and limiting my internet access to Internet Explorer 6. Blech.
That said, I probably shouldn’t be doing this stuff at work in the first place, but I don’t go on smoke breaks - or leave for lunch most of the time - so I should be allowed this.
Anyway.
Google Earth has a brand new layer, courtesy of Trimble Outdoors and the venerable Backpacker Magazine.
It looks pretty robust, too. Clicking on trailhead icons will get you a detailed map, GPS coordinates and - if you’re lucky - some pictures and a paragraph description. If you’ve got a GPS phone, you can even have the maps sent straight to your gadget. Although if you’re going on the trail solely trusting a phone as your guide, then I hope you won’t be straying too far from civilization.
That said, it looks like it could be pretty cool, eventually. I don’t know about your home area, but right now the map’s Los Angeles hiking trail map looks pretty dang barren.
The trail difficulties seem a bit arbitrary, too. A boulder-hop down the Arroyo Seco is rated the same difficulty as a 12 mile trip up Mount Baldy with almost 4000 feet of elevation gain.
OK. I’m a little jealous. But know that - at least for now - Modern Hiker is your number one source for all things hiking in Los Angeles. Maybe not all. But some. And my write-ups are longer than a paragraph.
So go fool around with Google Earth, but make sure you come back ’round here, alright?
via Besthike.com, via Lifehacker.
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Casey:
I am in the market for a basic handheld GPS device. I’ve been looking at the Garmin Geko 301 as a possible pick.
I’ve scoured your site for GPS reviews and have came up empty handed. What gps device do you use and/or recommend?
And I still haven’t not been to Balanced Rock. Been too busy learning how to ride a hog.
Thanks,
Kristen
Yeah, I really do need to get around to writing that GPS review up, don’t I?
Well, until I do, I use a Garmin Legend Cx, which was very reasonably priced when I bought it last year. I’m *mostly* happy with it - seems to get excellent battery life, but can lose satellites under tree canopies a bit too quickly.
I don’t have much to compare it to, though. While you’re waiting for me to shirk more work responsibilities and write it up, I recommend checking out the GPS Tracklog on my sidebar. They know their stuff. Just wade through all the car-unit reviews.
- Casey
“I’m *mostly* happy with it - seems to get excellent battery life, but can lose satellites under tree canopies a bit too quickly.”
Tree canopies? There are trees in So Cal? ;)