1leglance
2007 Expedition Trophy Champion, Overland Certifie
Pre-Run Prep: Navigation
This is a multi-part series to get ideas flowing on what folks do to get ready for a day trip or longer off highway adventure. For the first of many explorations into my twisted way of making things happen let’s take a look at Navigation.
The Prelude
First you hear about a great sounding trail or camping area. So if you are like me your first question is "Who is taking me there?” Then again if you are like me the answer to that question is usually "Oh yeah sometime soon". So after waiting a suitable amount of time, like 5 minutes or so, or at least the amount of time to gas up and get snacks I figure I need to figure on figuring it out on my own.
The Search Begins
I am on my own at this point so time to start the same place every elementary school kid does...Google. Of course if it is a little less well known area then it’s off to trails.com (which has pdf’s of most books) or off-road websites and forums.
www.adventure4x4.net
www.expeditionportal.com
www.4wdtrips.com
But wait, you are thinking, surely he will pull out the trusty paper maps that are so colorful and don’t require batteries. Well I admit that other than to make sure I have a map of the area I usually don’t play with paper too much. Can I use a map and compass? Yes and well since I teach it to cubscouts. Does it feed my techno-lust? No, not really.
Next comes my favorite part, using any landmarks or gps info I have, Google Earth gets fired up and off I go flying around the terrain of my choice looking at ways in, ways out and ways around. I can also lay down some placemarks / waypoints then once I have something I like the general look of, phase 3 begins.
The Laptop & Ozi
Saving my Google Earth escapades as a .kml file allows me to import directly into Oziexplorer on my laptop. This beat up Panasonic Toughbook is filled with free maps from the http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/ which has just about any ol' map you could want.
Since Google Earth is fast and fun I already have the majority of my work done. Now I like to just go in and make sure all the waypoints are in order, match up to maps I have and add any notes to the trip.
I will also note the closest cross streets and plug this info into Iguidance which is the best street navigation software I have used. It not only gives those fun "Turn left in 500 yards" tidbits, but it also includes most Forest Service and known or marked roads I have traveled.
On the Run again, just me and my friends on the Run again,
I know I titled this as a pre-run insight...but you are kind of pre-running until you are done running right?
Either way one of the things I am trying to get better at since I now have the pre-run stuff down well is to add waypoints, events, and notes as I am on the trail. Things I want to know for my return to that place in the future or things for others to know if I save the file and pass it around. Lookouts, shade, water to play in, animal spotting are all great things to note on your run.
I hope this gets a good bit of chatter going on my methods and what others do to prep for a run when it comes to navigation...
If not then just follow me because we are only one U-turn away from a good time on the trail.
This is a multi-part series to get ideas flowing on what folks do to get ready for a day trip or longer off highway adventure. For the first of many explorations into my twisted way of making things happen let’s take a look at Navigation.
The Prelude
First you hear about a great sounding trail or camping area. So if you are like me your first question is "Who is taking me there?” Then again if you are like me the answer to that question is usually "Oh yeah sometime soon". So after waiting a suitable amount of time, like 5 minutes or so, or at least the amount of time to gas up and get snacks I figure I need to figure on figuring it out on my own.
The Search Begins
I am on my own at this point so time to start the same place every elementary school kid does...Google. Of course if it is a little less well known area then it’s off to trails.com (which has pdf’s of most books) or off-road websites and forums.
www.adventure4x4.net
www.expeditionportal.com
www.4wdtrips.com
But wait, you are thinking, surely he will pull out the trusty paper maps that are so colorful and don’t require batteries. Well I admit that other than to make sure I have a map of the area I usually don’t play with paper too much. Can I use a map and compass? Yes and well since I teach it to cubscouts. Does it feed my techno-lust? No, not really.
Next comes my favorite part, using any landmarks or gps info I have, Google Earth gets fired up and off I go flying around the terrain of my choice looking at ways in, ways out and ways around. I can also lay down some placemarks / waypoints then once I have something I like the general look of, phase 3 begins.
The Laptop & Ozi
Saving my Google Earth escapades as a .kml file allows me to import directly into Oziexplorer on my laptop. This beat up Panasonic Toughbook is filled with free maps from the http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/ which has just about any ol' map you could want.
Since Google Earth is fast and fun I already have the majority of my work done. Now I like to just go in and make sure all the waypoints are in order, match up to maps I have and add any notes to the trip.
I will also note the closest cross streets and plug this info into Iguidance which is the best street navigation software I have used. It not only gives those fun "Turn left in 500 yards" tidbits, but it also includes most Forest Service and known or marked roads I have traveled.
On the Run again, just me and my friends on the Run again,
I know I titled this as a pre-run insight...but you are kind of pre-running until you are done running right?
Either way one of the things I am trying to get better at since I now have the pre-run stuff down well is to add waypoints, events, and notes as I am on the trail. Things I want to know for my return to that place in the future or things for others to know if I save the file and pass it around. Lookouts, shade, water to play in, animal spotting are all great things to note on your run.
I hope this gets a good bit of chatter going on my methods and what others do to prep for a run when it comes to navigation...
If not then just follow me because we are only one U-turn away from a good time on the trail.