I am new to the GPS world. I have always been a map and compass man but was given a Garmin Oregon with the camera for Christmas this past year. I am planning a hike for the fall/ late summer and wonder if anyone can recommend a good source for the NC/ Tennessee areas of the Appalachian Trail. Thanks in advance for the help.
Daniel
You can download as .kml or .shp files from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/about-the-trail/mapping-gis-data/appalachian-trail-gis-gps-data
.kml files are used by Google Earth and other programs. You should be able to use GPS Visualizer to create a track to load into Basecamp and send to your Oregon. http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/
.shp files could be imported into several mapmaking programs - I used these trail files for my NJ 2012 map on this site. But that requires a bit more technical ability. :)
The shelter and parking area files on that site are available as .gpx. Those could be directly read by Basecamp.
I think the Garmin 24k topo will also show the Appalachian trail and will have the advantage of being routable (show you how to follow the trail and provide arrival times). https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=255&pID=35412
You can view it online here:
http://www8.garmin.com/cgi-bin/mapgen/webmap.cgi?p=30539777&u=1&v=0&cp=4C7FBFC890BB2CA8&z=4&w=600&h=450&d=2&rz=0&k=1&sc=1
You might also want to look at "My Trails" http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/53/ by jbensman. It's not routable but could provide you with a transparent overlay map for the full AT. That, combined with state topos from this site should give you a pretty good representation on your OR. Unfortunately, map viewers like BaseCamp won't let you view trails and contours at the same time on your PC.
You should also be able to get a free routable map of the AT and surrounding areas from garmin.openstreetmap.nl . It won't be transparent and won't have contours, but you could overlay a transparent contour map of your area of interest.
Boyd / Seldom-
Thank you for such a quick reply. I have downloaded Basecamp and am feeling my way along that program. I am seeing this will be a new learning experience all the way around for me but I am up for the challenge. :) Thanks again for your help- I am sure I will call on your expertise again in the near future.
Daniel
-Oz- has written several tutorials you will probably find helpful:
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-open-maps-in-garmin-basecamp/
and
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-maps-on-my-garmin-gps-unit/
Or, if you'd like gpx files of the tracks already converted from the SHP files, you may look at these links:
http://www.topofusion.com/at-gps.php (http://www.topofusion.com/at-gps.php)
http://guymott.com/atgps.html (http://guymott.com/atgps.html)
They are both based on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy data. FYI.
There is lots of conflicting data on the trail and the shelters. And many times it is really hard to figure out which dataset is correct. Sometimes it is just a bit off and other times the data sets show the AT way far apart. In My Trails, I have done my best to figure out which is the most accurate data for the AT, shelters and parking. But I can always use feed back from hikers if there are errors.
I do not know about now; however, 1 1/2 decades ago it was common for parts of the trail to be rerouted due to private land ownership and/or usage erosion issues.