I have ported all my GPS data and info into Google Earth's 3D format. Hopefully everyone will take the time to install Google Earth, the free version, and download my map. This map covers Coal Creek, Brimstone and all of the North Cumberland WMA.

This version of North Cumberland Trails (821KB) needs Google Earth installed. Get Google Earth here... free. Uncheck "Include Google Chrome". Install Google Earth first. If you already have GE installed, then you are ahead of the game.

Next download North Cumberland Trails.zip and open the archive. Double click the North Cumberland Trails.kml file and it will open in Google Earth. Watch GE zoom to the map.

Layers settings I use...

Roads

Borders and Labels

Borders

1st Level Admin Borders (states)
2nd Level Admin Regions (counties)



Places of Interest

Geographic Features

Mountains

Transportation

Airports
Rail



Terrain

All others are unchecked... but it may be interesting to see the current weather conditions. All you have to do is check the Layer box you want to see.

In Tools / Options / 3D View
True color; Anisotropic Filtering- high; Labels - Medium; Graphics Mode - DirectX; Show Lat/Long - Decimal; Show Elevation - Feet, Miles; Fonts - both - Ariel Normal 14; Terrain Quality - Higher; Elevation Exaggeration - 2 (this make it interesting)

You may need to experiment with some of these settings... how well it works will depend on your graphics card.

My wheel causes the map to zoom. Left click and drag pans the map. Shift, left click, and drag causes the map to tilt into 3D and rotate about the pointer when clicked. Shift-Wheel tilts about center of view. CTRL-Wheel rotates about center of view. If that motion seems to fast, then slow the motion by adding in the Alt key, as Alt-Shift-Wheel slows the tilting to about half speed. The trails go up and down and over the hills in pseudo 3D... enjoy.

Google small roads are in view between ~6000' Eye Alt and ~12000' Eye Alt.

Feel free to ask questions... I'll answer them... if I can.

Latest Update: 5/21/09

That is cool. Thanks Dan I will have plenty of questions after I play for a while.

That is so COOL!!!!!!!!!!! AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!

That is Awesome Dan, that took a lot of work to put together, Good Job

I am making a Garmin GPS version of this data available for $49.95 for online access ($54.95 on cd)

Included are

• riding areas (WMA and CC, Brimstone boundary is missing),
• trails (500+tracks, includes some nearby private property),
• hydro (streams, ponds, & lakes),
• county lines,
• landmarks,
• surrounding roads, and a
• 50' resolution topo.

Each of these layers may be turned off/on as desired. NONE of the normal user space is consumed. File size is ~31 MB.

Known problems exist with "H" and "HC" Garmin units. The file will NOT load and these units are like me, they just don't have enough memory. It should load onto all model "x" units, and others that have the extended microSD card memory chip.

Link to Order Form.

GREAT a new toy I have a new Magellan Crossover haven,t chance to us on trails yyet.

I just uploaded a new update to the GE map...

So if i had your maps down loaded i could pick a trail or place and the garmin would direct me there ?

Well, sort of... I use the Go To navigation function with Lock on Roads disabled... from this you can tell which way to turn by zooming out a bit. I don't have trail routing available, and right now I can't afford it. It doesn't tell you which way, but there is enough info available that you will know which way to turn.

I tested this a few days ago... we were at the back side of New River Unit when I turned Go To Parking WR on... the process never missed giving enough information to make an intelligent choice. My buddy had just purchased a new 60CSx and was following my lead. I was trying to teach him several of the functions available to him. His comment when we arrived at the parking lot was, "The GPS was always right at every intersection."

I used Go To once prior to having the area mapped. In fact, that was our first time in that area. We were three mountains away from Norma on the Brimstone area and wanted to go to Norma. We were starting to run low on fuel and the temp was ~25°F that afternoon. We followed the navigation line and it pointed the way.

Don't take this wrong, I'm not claiming my data is all up to date, or even all there. However, I believe my map is the most complete one available. Several months ago I discovered that a goal like that would be impossible. I am still discovering trails that I don't know exists. Almost every time I go out, I find something I want to add, or improve upon, or a trail has been changed, or closed, or occasionally even one gets added. It is a never ending battle, but it's a hobby I enjoy doing.

Thank you, Sir Rooster...

BUMP
Ill be ordering those as soon as we get back , hopefully ill know how to use umm by then.
And then its off to hatfield, ill be ginning for the jungles of the east.
I think for atving the east coast is where its at.

Thats awesome. Do you have the same for pickett?