Confused

[ksylvester]

I apologize if this is not under the correct category.

Does anyone know why the trail on google maps splits at coordinates 40.552250, -76.115729 into "Appalachian Trail" and "Appalachian Trl Con" ? Does the latter mean AT Connection? It appears to turn into N Northkill Rd.

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Thanks!

[Another Kevin]

It sure looks like a connector trail.

Google Maps is pretty catch-as-catch-can about trail data. Very few of the secondary trails are shown. It's nice for curiosity, but I wouldn't rely on it for much.

[kf1wv]

A "real" map will answer that question for you.

[appompa255]

A "real" map will answer that question for you.

Although your reply was extremely insightful, I'm curious where one finds this "real map." Possibly at a real book store?

[Sarcasm the elf]

Although your reply was extremely insightful, I'm curious where one finds this "real map." Possibly at a real book store?

I get mine from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

https://www.atctrailstore.org/catalo...tid=0&compid=1

[ksylvester]

Thanks Kevin! And yes, I'm only using google maps to satisfy my curiosity. Trinn, I'll have to get a "real" map I guess.

Cheers

[kf1wv]

Kevin's right; Google Maps can be "creative" with its route labels, among other things (Google-Maps-plus-GPS trips into rivers and nonexistent roads comes to mind.) This one's a gated forest road and is very good access to the Trail from the highway. I went back to my AT map, AWOL's Guide, and my recollections for the answer.

Thanks Kevin! And yes, I'm only using google maps to satisfy my curiosity. Trinn, I'll have to get a "real" map I guess.

Cheers

[lilricky]

I get the GPS data from the ATC's GIS page here: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/abou...pping-gis-data That way it shows the actual trail and not connectors or older reroutes. The only problem I have with it is that it breaks up the centerline data into different sections and its in KML format. But what I did was convert the KML data into GPX format, making it much easier to work with, and join the sections together to make a continuous track of the trail. You can download that GPX data from my website. I then use Garmin's free Basecamp software to display and print out the trail along with adding the various shelters, points of interest, nearby cities, etc. You don't need a GPS receiver to use Basecamp in that way.