Creating A Profile Map

[NCYankee]

I have searched and searched and cannot figure out a way to create a profile map. Every time I try to pull something up in google I get results that remind me of that bing.com commercial. Does anyone have any ideas about how to create a profile map of a trail (I’m specifically looking to transcribe the profiles of several sections to one larger one, print it out, and use that as reference point on an upcoming hike of the Lakeshore Trail in GSMNP). Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[Hooch]

Already done for you by Mr. Parkay.

[Alligator]

It can be done in Arcmap, but requires some proficiency in ARCGIS.

The old-fashioned way was to stretch a piece of graph paper across a set of contour lines. An XY graph of distance vs height was then made on the graph paper. You'd use the edge of the graph paper to intersect the contour lines and mark the height on the y axis and convert the x-axis according to the map scale.

Both those ways probably are more work than you want to do. Don't some of the Topo programs do profiles? I had a copy of Topo USA about 6 years back and I remember it did profiles. I had to hand draw the trails I think. Maybe the newer version is better or there's an alternate.

[Alligator]

Already done for you by Mr. Parkay.

Or you can have Mr. Parkay do it.

[NCYankee]

Thanks Hooch... Unfortunately it doesn't look like he has one for the trail I am looking to do, the Lakeshore Trail.

Any other ideas?

[BR360]

What trail(s) are you wanting to profile?

[NCYankee]

What trail(s) are you wanting to profile?

The Lakeshore Trail

[10-K]

The Lakeshore Trail

I'm pretty sure it goes up and down. Generally speaking, whichever way I decide to hike has more up than down.

(sorry, I'm bored, it's safe to say this can be completely ignored)