database of long distance trails

[TinAbbey]

a project for a Mapping/computer person. I think it would be a great idea to have a database of long distance trails that can be viewed all on the same map of the US. Where one could zoom in and out. and also you could check or uncheck a box to add/remove a trail from the map.

I know there are some AT and PCT maps now on programs like google maps. It would be similar to this but a combination of long distance trails with more options loaded into the program.

For instance. One might be able to follow the C2C route if it was all major trails. or say one wanted to hike from seattle to alabama. One could map it out and at the least see what trails connect with each other and where.
From there you'd be on your own researching the trails you would have to use.

any thoughts.

[TinAbbey]

examples of trails that would definately be an option to view on the map:
AT, PCT, CDT, LT, LP, MST, GET,NCST, ADT

[Omarwannahike]

Like peakbagger.com? or wiki-like?

[Uncle Silly]

No, more like a set in Google Earth, where you can expand a tree of trails, each with its own checkbox or so. Maybe you could drill down further, to check various sections of a given trail. You could do this with a custom .kml file, I think, though automatically figuring out a trail route from Seattle to Alabama might be a little sophisticated for GE at the moment.

Interesting idea.

[Sly]

I have the AT, BMT, CDT, GET (west) and PCT on Google Earth.

[ki0eh]

Just discovered the new version of DNR Garmin (download it free from http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/tools/a.../DNRGarmin.html (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/tools/arcview/extensions/DNRGarmin/DNRGarmin.html) ) will take a shapefile (you can get "Arc View shape file" for the A.T. from http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkL...d_Agreement.htm (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.851253/k.68B1/Data_Download_Agreement.htm) and a lot of other trails also have shapefiles available, such as PA Mid State Trail, click link in left column from http://www.hike-mst.org/ ) and save it as a Google Earth .kml file with no Garmin GPSr required.

There is a trick needed, and that is to "set projection" in the DNR Garmin program to what the projection is of the shapefile (in the case of the A.T. shapefile, it is Decimal Degrees, NAD27) before reading the shapefile into the DNR Garmin program and then saving the file as a .kml.

But as these programs go, that's a pretty easy configuration.