+briansnat Posted February 20, 2003 Share Posted February 20, 2003 I received the National Geographic Northeastern USA Topo! and the Topo! Sync USA software as a Valentines Day gift (good wife or what!). I'm an avid backpacker, hiker and, of course, Geocacher. How can I put this software to use? The manual claims that it's compatable with most GPS's, but I know my Vista only accepts Mapsource maps. If you have this software, how do you use it for Geocaching and hiking? What exactly can I do with it beyond simply printing maps? How do I use it with my GPS? A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away. -Barry Goldwater Quote Link to comment
+georgeandmary Posted February 20, 2003 Share Posted February 20, 2003 I make my own trail maps for bike rides. I save the tracks and then upload them to the maps so I can overlay them the print and share with friends. george Pedal until your legs cramp up and then pedal some more. Quote Link to comment
+Planet Posted February 20, 2003 Share Posted February 20, 2003 some good things. You can map your route before you leave and load it into you GPS. You can track yourself when your out there and save it into the program when you get back. You can mark waypoints, routes, tracks, and maps. You can move them back and forth from computer to GPS. You can send a map file to a friend who is meeting you for the day and they can open it in their map program and see what you saw, and you're both prepared. As a Realtor, I use it to map my route for showings. You can use it to map your route of caches for the day. Play with it, you have all kinds of icons for different waypoints, you can mark trailheads and parking, swimming, fishing, restaurants, gas stations, pit stops, and save all the info for future reference. Good luck and have fun. (oh and start by putting the CD in your computer ) Cache you later, Planet I feel much more like I do now than when I first got here. Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted February 20, 2003 Share Posted February 20, 2003 Brian: Although I have not hit them yet, I've prepared to “assault” your Ramapo Mountain caches (4 of them) by downloading the waypoints from my Vista into the NG Topo and printing with UTM grids on NG waterproof/tearproof paper. You can also enlarge the area where're your caching to make it easier to read in the field. Although not related to the programs, I them scanned the North Jersey Trails map for Ramapo which happens to have UTM grids marked on them. I then enlarged, printed in color on the NG waterproof/teareproof paper and wrote in the major UTM grid coordinates so I have a companion trail map to match the NG Topo . By the way, the grids on the trail maps don't line up with Topo's grids - I believe the trail grids not the NG Topo grid locations are wrong. I did something similar in Harriman Park when I hit multiple caches putting them on one NG Topo printout. I then marked switchpoints between trails on the NG Topo screen and downloaded those into the GPS. Then while hiking I knew when I was approaching the switch. For the heck of it, I tried tracing the trails shown on the NYNJTC onto NG Topo. You then can create waypoints automatically in NG Topo by distance or quantity or other variables and download into the GPS. Downloading tracks after caching is fun as you can see your tracks and get an elevation profile and check you total gain in elevation. Of course you can plot your hikes and routes before you go to check the gain and pick easier routes around mountains and hills. I also use the track "pictures" and included them in my own multicaches such as this Check NG Topo site for Map-x-change. People post their hikes and waypoints for interesting places including all the major hiking trails around such as AT. You can then download the waypoint and tracks into you program and transfer them into the GPS. One idea that might interest you getting back to NYNJTC maps that do not have grids is to create your own grid template. You need clear plastic sheets that you might use for those overhead projection displays. You can probably biuy a packet at Staples. Scale a Topo map on you screen to match the NYNJTC map. You have to play with it and it will be off slightly since Topo only scales in integers. Once it matches the Trail Map in size, switch topo off to a different area so no map shows – only the grid lines. Then hit print to print out the UTM grids. Replace the sheet into the printer and switch to Deg Min Sec grids and re-print onto the same sheet. You can now line up the Deg Min Sec grids with the Trail Map and immediately see the UTM location from the UTM grids. I haven't done this much more than experimenting. But I recall that you use these trail maps a lot and might find this procedure helpful. Overkill, of course, but who says any of this makes sense? Have fun with NG Topo – great program. Don’t now anything about the other one. Alan Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted February 20, 2003 Share Posted February 20, 2003 I forgot to mention they nhave all the trails for Harriman and a bunch for the Catskills which you frequent. Here's a list of all the current Map-x-change for the northeastern states. Northeastern USA: CT, MA, ME, NJ, NH, NY, RI, VT TOPO! Northeastern 46 Highest Peaks of the Adirondacks Glenn Bock, 04/24/00 Hiking, Peak Bagging High Points of Adirondacks - South Glenn Bock, 03/23/00 Hiking Adirondack Peak Tom Pennington, 09/17/99 Hiking, Peak Climbing, Snow-shoeing High Points of New Hampshire Glenn Bock, 03/23/00 Hiking Adirondack Peaks Over 3000 Feet QAM1, 06/09/00 Hiking, Peakbagging, Bushwhacking Highland Forest Mike Sporer, 11/06/02 Hiking Allamuchy Mountain State Park Mountain Biking Jon Petersen, 09/14/01 mountain biking Highland Forest Mike Sporer, 11/06/02 Hiking Appalachian Trail -- Maine Data Source: National Park Service, 07/03/01 Hiking, Cross Country Skiing Holmdel Park Ramesh Viswanathan, 12/17/02 hiking, skiing Appalachian Trail - New Hampshire Jeremy Osgood, 08/07/01 hiking Katahdin_Trip.tpo, Katahdin_trip.tpg Samara Anderson, 07/03/01 hiking Appalachian Trail -- White Mtns. Data Source: National Park Service, 03/23/00 Hiking, Cross Country Skiing Lake George Glenn Bock, 04/24/00 Hiking, Biking, Canoeing, History Appalachian Trail- Berkshire Data Source: National Park Service, 03/22/00 Hiking, Cross Country Skiing Lake Winnipesaukee Numbered Buoys BlueDolphin, 07/28/01 Boating Appalachian Trail- NYC area Data Source: National Park Service, 03/23/00 Hiking, Cross Country Skiing Long Trail Data Source: US Forest Service, 02/11/00 Hiking, Snowshoeing Appalachian Trail- So. Vermont Data Source: National Park Service, 03/23/00 Hiking, Cross Country Skiing Lowell NHP Glenn Bock, 08/02/01 Arcadia North Cabby, 11/06/01 Mountain Biking, Hiking, Equestrian and Fishing Maine Shore Hikes Glenn Bock, 07/03/01 Hiking Balsam Lake -- Catskills James P. Lambert, 06/27/01 hiking Martha's Vineyard Adventure Kayaking David Weintraub, 08/03/01 paddling, hiking Bog River Adirondack Willy, 04/24/00 Canoeing, Hiking Mason Hill Tom Ekman, 09/17/99 Biking Boston Trails Dan Braun, 09/17/99 Hiking, Biking, Birding Mount Desert Data Source: National Park Service, 07/03/01 hiking Briarcliff Peekskill Trail and Blue Mountain John B. Graham, 03/30/02 Hiking, Bird Watching (Teatown), Mountain Biking (Blue Mountain) Mount Marcy of Adirondacks Glenn Bock, 04/24/00 Hiking Butler Sanctuary John B. Graham, 03/30/02 Hiking, Bird Watching Nassau-Suffolk Trail: Stillwell Woods-St Pius X Donald House, 11/25/02 Canoe and Kayak Put-in Spots in Connecticut - .tpg file Gregory Hanson, 06/28/01 canoeing, kayaking, boating New Hampshire Appalachian Trail Jeremy "Swamp Donkey" Osgood, Eastern Sales Manager for National Geographic Maps, 01/14/00 Hiking Canoe and Kayak Put-in Spots in Connecticut - .tpo file Gregory Hanson, 06/28/01 kayaking, canoeing, boating Northville Placid Trail - North section Kenneth A. Reek, 08/11/00 Hiking, Canoeing Cape cod - Trail of Tears - mountain biking Jon Petersen, 05/08/01 Mountain Biking Northville Placid Trail - Southern Section Kenneth A. Reek, 08/11/00 Hiking, Canoeing Cape Cod Adventure Kayaking David Weintraub, 08/03/01 paddling, hiking Oswegatchie River Adirondack Willy, 03/22/00 Hiking, Canoeing Cape Cod Hikes Glenn Bock, 08/09/00 Hiking, Historical Touring Panther Mountain Peter Sniderman, 09/17/99 Hiking, birding Catskills Hiking Data Source: NY State Department of Environmental Conservation, 02/22/00 Hiking Pochuck Relocation Mark Koenig, 09/24/01 Hiking Catskills Horseback Riding Data Source: NY State Department of Environmental Conservation, 02/22/00 Horseback Riding Rail Trail Gregory Hanson, 03/22/00 Bicycling Catskills Snowmobiling Data Source: NY State Department of Environmental Conservation, 02/22/00 Snowmobiling Raquette River Adirondack Willy, 08/03/01 canoeing, hiking Delaware Water Gap NRA Data Source: National Park Service, 03/15/00 Hiking Ringwood State Park Mountain Biking Jon Petersen, 09/14/01 biking Dorr Mountain Loop- Acadia National Park Jesse Fulkerson, 09/17/99 Hiking Ruins -- Catskills James Lambert, 06/27/01 hiking Eagle Mountain -- Catskills James Lambert, 06/27/01 hiking Sandwich Range Nancy Klinger, 09/17/99 Hiking, snowshoeing Eastern Massachusetts Hikes Jeff Schlueter, 06/02/00 Hiking, Dog Walking Saranac Lakes Adirondack Willy, 07/06/00 Hiking, Canoeing F. Gilbert Hills State Forest (Foxboro) Cabby, 07/15/01 Mountain Biking, hiking. Saratoga National Historical Park Glenn Bock, 03/23/00 Hiking Fahnestock State Park Area Trails John Graham, 05/13/02 Hiking, Mountain Biking, Cross Country Skiing, Camping, Boating and Swimming South Vermont Hikes Glenn Bock, 08/11/00 Hiking Features - Boston Glenn Bock, 08/02/01 Southern Vermont Hikes Glenn Bock, 09/17/99 Hiking Features of New Hampshire Glenn Bock, 03/23/00 Hiking Sterling Forest, Ringwood and the Ramapo Mountains John Graham, 05/14/02 Hiking, Mountain Biking and Birdwatching Freedom Trail Glenn Bock, 07/03/01 Terrain Features - Berkshires Glenn Bock, 08/02/01 Freetown State Forest Cabby, 11/06/01 Mountain Biking, Hiking, X-Country Skiing, and Snow Mobile Terrain Features - Maine Glenn Bock, 08/02/01 Fulton Chain Adirondack Willy, 04/24/00 Hiking, Canoeing The Presidential Range Jeremy "Swamp Donkey" Osgood, Eastern Sales Manager for National Geographic Maps, 01/14/00 Hiking Green Mountain NF Ownership Data Source: US Forest Service, 07/03/01 Triple R Brooks Ride Tom Ekman, 08/03/01 biking, hiking Green Mountain NF rec sites Data Source: US Forest Service, 07/03/01 Hiking, Snowshoeing, Mountain Biking Undercliff Circular David Sutter, 08/02/01 hiking Green Mountain NF Vistas Data Source: US Forest Service, 08/08/01 US Earthquakes Data Source: USGS, 04/14/00 Quaking in your boots Green Mountains USDA Forest Service, 02/11/00 Hiking, Snowshoeing, Mountain Biking US Hot Springs Data Source: US Geological Survey, 09/17/99 Hot spring enjoyment Harriman State Park Trails John Graham, 05/18/02 Hiking,Backpacking, Mountain Biking, Camping, Boating & Fishing US State Highpoints Glenn Bock, 09/12/01 hiking Hartford Hikes Dan Braun, 09/17/99 Hiking, Birding Ward Pound Ridge Reservation John B. Graham, 03/30/02 Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Camping and Fishing Hawkins Pond Nature Area Mike Sporer, 11/06/02 Hiking Wawayanda Highlands Rod Johnson, 08/02/01 Hiking, biking High Peaks of the White Mountains Glenn Bock, 04/24/00 Hiking, Peakbagging Williamstown Backcountry Skiing Tom Ekman, 08/03/01 skiing High Points of Adirondacks - North Glenn Bock, 03/23/00 Hiking Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted February 20, 2003 Share Posted February 20, 2003 Brian: I just realized ther are the Trail tracks for Ramapo Mtns. I just downloaded the trail tracks from NG Topo Mapxchange. Once you get the tracks into NG Topo, creat waypoints of the tracks using that feature. I can now transfer your cache waypoints to those maps and create waypoints for the trails so there will be trails and cache waypoints in the GPS with a printout of the combined map showijng the trails and the cache waypoints. That's better then drawing them yourself. That's great. Alan Quote Link to comment
+Marky Posted February 20, 2003 Share Posted February 20, 2003 quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat:The manual claims that it's compatable with most GPS's, but I know my Vista only accepts Mapsource maps. By compatable, it is refering to the capability to upload and download waypoints and routes. It doesn't download maps to any GPS as far as I can tell. --Marky "All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer with a backlit GPSr" Quote Link to comment
+IV_Warrior Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat:I received the National Geographic Northeastern USA Topo! and the Topo! Sync USA software as a Valentines Day gift (good wife or what!). I'm an avid backpacker, hiker and, of course, Geocacher. How can I put this software to use? The manual claims that it's compatable with most GPS's, but I know my Vista only accepts Mapsource maps. If you have this software, how do you use it for Geocaching and hiking? What exactly can I do with it beyond simply printing maps? How do I use it with my GPS? _A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away._ -Barry Goldwater I know some of the mapping programs will read from your GPS and show your location on the map. So, if you have a laptop, you can basically have a really big map screen for the GPSr while driving, or even hiking if you feel like lugging a laptop through the woods... I'm lost. I've gone to find myself. If I should happen to get back before I return, please ask me to wait. Quote Link to comment
+evergreenhiker! Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 I'm an avid hiker myself and use the software to figure out routes. Topo! is a great piece of software. You'll love the UI. It's a very easy program to use. The elevation profile is very handy in determing the best route and you can easily check that by drawing a route and right clicking for the elev profile command. I do wish the garmin would accept Topo! maps but they don't. just Mapsource. The other software is what allows you to upload the coords up to your gps or down to the map program. Sometimes, I'll go off trail on a whim and take waypoints and it's nice to be able to download the points and see exactly where you were. [This message was edited by evergreenhiker! on February 21, 2003 at 05:56 PM.] Quote Link to comment
+Alan2 Posted February 21, 2003 Share Posted February 21, 2003 Brian: One thing. You don't need Topo sync to upload and download waypoints. Northeastern Topo has that in its own software so Sync is redundant or superfluous. Alan Quote Link to comment
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