VE composed map
Ja I've seen that, and it is a limitation. We may well have to split it up into smaller areas and categories, as you've said, and exclude excess waypoints and tracks.diverian wrote: @ Intrepid I have been experimenting as well and uploaded all my tracks waypoints etc onto a google map, but the one limitation I have come accross is taht it lists all the waypoints first and then all the track in multiple pages. It appears to only display what is on each page at a time, so you will be looking at all the waypoints starting with abc and nothing else, likewise when you page through,(which is quite slow, althouh there is a huge amount of info) to look at tracks, there are no waypoints.
(About the pines, yep need to plan the next one!)
Don't see that happening so easily! Cell phones would probably be a better way anyway. A phone-in weather broadcast does already exist for the Berg. Contact details are available on this site for all KZN Wildlife officials in the Berg - this should be handy on hikes, together with a cell phone, for reporting all emergencies. As for a phone-in hiking update, the question would be who does it and who pays. A weekly(?) hiking report was broadcasted over the radio some time back, but it seems this ran out of steam. Another way might just be to have a simple text page on this site with short updates, which can easily be browsed by cell phones given enough signal strength. Or updates can be posted on Twitter which can send SMS updates if you subscribe to that feed.Boerkie wrote: What if we can persuade officials to tap into their 2 Way radio communications frequency? How awesome would it be to receive a weather forecast and warnings a an set time every day, say 6am & 6pm. The added security by being able to report incidents, injuries, crime, etc on the spot. They can even rent out hand-helds to hikers who don't have their own. Surely it must be a win-win situation for all.
Anyone who wants look into this and experiment with the map feel free. I'm pretty tied up with other things currently.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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I've use the map and its brilliant. It has most of the tracks in the berg. Yes it does not have points of interest eg security risk, good camping spot etc..
But it works well as a layer in your GPS.
Not sure what you guys think? I can get the name of the person responsible for creating and maintaining it.
Let me know what you think?
The disadvantage is that you have to have a GPS and that it cannot be updated real time like Google Maps. But the entries can me moderated.
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I was wondering whether there was a site where one can add trails to a Google Earth map? If such a thing existed, it would be an incredible resource - especially if it were synced with GPS devices to provide pinpoint accuracy!
When I climbed Dutoitskop (near Franschhoek), the path disappeared on a number of occasions. It didn't deter me as I do a lot of hiking, but such a situation might deter a less experienced hiker. A map as described above could solve such a problem... Thoughts?
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- Stockhausen
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This is a pilot project which we did on Google Maps:
maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=214155639705749540351.0004a8326a56c4ca4979e&msa=0
Certainly this has potential, but there are challenges in terms of accuracy, dependability, maintenance etc.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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For some reason you have not stumbled upon this project yet? I know you haven't because otherwise the VE composed map would have been complete by now or surely Gaints Gastle at least
I have just seen the link at the bottom of the page (in the grey box) Maloti-Drakensberg map and believe this is still a viable member collaboration project. Looking at the map in Satellite view is amazing and the more populated it becomes the easier it would be to plan trips. Most newbies, including myself when I joined VE, does so to research hikes, now sometimes they will start a new thread and ask weird questions or we answer questions in such a complicated manner and assume that they will understand. For instance one of the newest members, lerookie, asked regarding possible camping spots at Tugela falls region. The answers are so easy to understand if you know the area but if you don't you are non the wiser. Ghaz your directions to Crow's nest cave, although accurate, had even me confused and I'm sure I'll find it blind folded, no offense. Just imagine how easy it would be to answer that question if you can refer to the the VE map.
All the other benefits like "don't camp here for security reasons" and "pine tree infestation" will be beneficial to all members and Berg lovers.
@Chris - has the technology changed since conception of this project or would we keep populating the existing map? Please go through the trouble of explaining the proses to contribute to the map again, and in no IT language please.
Can you also please add a screenshot of the existing map in Satellite view to this tread so that everyone can see the idea without following the link.
Come on Ghaz, I dare you, go mark Popple summit at least.
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Boerkie wrote: @Ghaz
For some reason you have not stumbled upon this project yet? I know you haven't because otherwise the VE composed map would have been complete by now or surely Gaints Gastle at least
Boerkie wrote: I have just seen the link at the bottom of the page (in the grey box) Maloti-Drakensberg map and believe this is still a viable member collaboration project. Looking at the map in Satellite view is amazing and the more populated it becomes the easier it would be to plan trips. Most newbies, including myself when I joined VE, does so to research hikes, now sometimes they will start a new thread and ask weird questions or we answer questions in such a complicated manner and assume that they will understand. For instance one of the newest members, lerookie, asked regarding possible camping spots at Tugela falls region. The answers are so easy to understand if you know the area but if you don't you are non the wiser. Ghaz your directions to Crow's nest cave, although accurate, had even me confused and I'm sure I'll find it blind folded, no offense. Just imagine how easy it would be to answer that question if you can refer to the the VE map.
I would hope that Lerookie buys a map before heading out for a meeting with the Dragon.
Actually thinking about it, the "turn left at the tree" style of RD is rarely helpful. When I did Sterkhorn a few months back I was running off an excellent RD - but I still took the wrong paths that the RD warned me about. It made a lot of sense after I got back
Boerkie wrote: Come on Ghaz, I dare you, go mark Popple summit at least.
I'll get around to doing that some time soon...
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Boerkie wrote: Come on Ghaz, I dare you, go mark Popple summit at least.
Popple is already marked on the map - its apparently called "Khoko Ntso", presumably the name the locals have for it?
Not sure how to add anything to the map though.
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In order to contribute to the map you have to send me a request privately, with details of a Google account, which I then send an invitation to collaborate.
There are various ways in which you can add stuff to the map.
You can create waypoints with comments (which pop up as a bubble if you click on the waypoint as per the screen shot). In the comments you can create links to VE with relevant pages. You can also embed pictures from the site in the bubbles if you can figure out the image link.
You can also upload GPS data to the map: this can be waypoints or tracks.
Lastly you can also draw polygons (shapes) on the map if you need to refer to an area - useful for indicating general camping spots, pine infestations etc.
The map can be viewed here:
maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=214155639705749540351.0004a8326a56c4ca4979e&msa=0
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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