maps & navigation

Adding Google Map API to Mountain Wayfarer's Paddling Destinations: Dillon and Gross Reservoirs

I have started adding Google Maps API to my paddling destinations listed at Mountain Wayfarer. It is not so trivial job in the case of my 10 year old web pages. To correctly display Google Map API the web page should be written in a valid XHTML. While most of web browsers are quite tolerant, I have permanent problems with Internet Explorer which refuses to load pages containing Google map if there are any errors in the XHTML code. It seems to be easier to create new pages than correct my old ones. So, far I have new editions of two paddling destinations in Rocky Mountains: Dillon and Gross Reservoirs.

Gross Reservoir

Denver Water opened the Gross Reservoir for kayak and canoe boating last year, however, the paddling season is restricted to summer months (Memorial Day to September 30). I paddled the Gross Reservoir twice last year and I have posted two slide presentations from these trips. I still hope to go there this year before the end of September.

The lake is very scenic, quiet with a long shoreline. It may be very windy. A lot of wildflowers in summer followed by some fall colors.

Dillon Reservoir

I paddled Dillon Reservoir 12 years ago in October of 1994. Well, it could be 1993. At that time I had only one kayak - Feathercraft Expedition K1. Since I was living in an apartment each trip required assembly of my folder. I remembered that I started my paddling at a picnic area in the northern part of the lake (i.e., near I-70) and paddled around the lake.

I stopped recently at that spot when driving from the Glenwood Canyon. It is now a daytime use fee area.

Posts related to using Google Map API:

Posted at 02:15 PM Read More

Google Earth Release 4 - Reporting and Exchanging Data from Paddling Trips

The latest version of Google Earth is being released in the beta form. They have added several new features including a new, simpler user interface and more very high resolution data.

Good news for non-Windows users too: Google is simultaneously making available versions for Mac OS X and several popular Linux distributions. They've also developed international versions available in French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

I believe that Google Earth can be a great tool in reporting and exchanging data from paddling trips or races. I have started to use it together with GPS tracks to illustrate my paddling during the WaterTribe Ultimate Florida Challenge (UFC) 2006:

Comparison of my GPS tracks from the Everglades Challenge 2004 and Everglades Stage of UFC: 54 miles in circles on Florida Bay
Cross Florida paddling during the UFC from Ft Clinch to Cedar Key

All three tracks are available for downloading in the Google Earth format. You can download them, and then display, zoom, tilt, rotate, and analyze on your computer. I am going to report more of my paddling trips and other outdoor activities in a similar way.

I am using a free version of Google Earth that doesn't allow one to display GPS data. However, my Garmin MapSource has a view option for Google Earth and it works with the free Google just fine.

In addition to Google Earth I am also using Google Maps API (Application Programming Interface) to build online maps for my paddling purposes. Waypoints in both Google Earth and Maps can be linked to additional information or pictures.

DeLORME Atlas & Gazetteer Series

After playing with Google maps something much more low tech in my maps and navigation department: DeLORME Atlas and Gazetteer Series.

I have been using 2nd edition of Colorado Atlas since 1995. It is the most used and worn out one from all my books. I have just order the most recent 7th edition. The new Atlas has somewhat different look with shading added to topo maps. The scale of maps of mountain Colorado is 1:160,000. Unfortunately, the eastern part of the state which is the most interesting for me is represented with scale of 1:320,000.

I am using this atlas mostly for driving and searching for a road access to rivers of northern and eastern Colorado: South Platte, Cache la Poudre, Big Thompson, Saint Vrain. I have also bought DeLORME Atlases for Wyoming (North Platte River) and Nebraska (Dismal River) and Florida for planning WaterTribe Challenges.

I've looked at the Texas Atlas (1:400,000) but I haven't bought it. I was mostly interested in the course of Texas Water Safari: San Marcos and Guadelupe Rivers. However, the Texas Atlas doesn't show all details and even not all roads crossing these rivers. Texas is just too big for detailed maps in one book.

Related posts:

Posted at 05:47 PM Read More

Wayfarer on paddling and photography

Sun - September 17, 2006

Adding Google Map API to Mountain Wayfarer's Paddling Destinations: Dillon and Gross Reservoirs

Gross Reservoir

Dillon Reservoir

Tue - June 13, 2006

Google Earth Release 4 - Reporting and Exchanging Data from Paddling Trips

Fri - January 27, 2006

DeLORME Atlas & Gazetteer Series