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Big Sur Trailmap Route Metrics

Calculates along-trail metrics
between Start and Finish locations
Metrics = distance, net & cumulative elevation gain/loss
Trail condition = metrics background color



Use
Shortest Route
[Start/Finish from Map or Menu]
OR
Via Points
[select points for complex routes]

To
Display Route on Map
Display Route Metrics
Create Route GPX File
Create Printable PDF Map

Optional
Create Route Link
[for later re‑display or sharing]
Input Route Link
[for re‑creation of GPX file or PDF map]

Mar.22:  Webpage much modified with addition of via points, please report problems on forum or toAddressImage


Mobile users:  note that all functionality except "Route Option" selection is available via a long-press on any marker




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If this message remains, the interactive map could not be displayed, either because your browser does not have Javascript enabled or because the javascript has a bug
In the latter case, you can help fix things by reporting the problem on the Trailmap Forum

"Shortest Route" Method

1  SET:  Start and Finish locations
       using  Interactive Map  OR  using  Menu Input

2  SET:  Route Options
       in   ROUTE CREATION   box

3  CLICK:  Display Route on Map  OR  Display Route Metrics 
OR  Create Route GPX File OR  Create Printable PDF Map
       in   ROUTE CREATION   box

Default route is shortest distance for selected options, excluding Closures/Roads/Usetrails unless selected

  If needed:  Route Alteration  to change default shortest route,
see
  Interactive Map  box  


Start/Finish Location
Right-click/long-press on a marker and select "Start" or "Finish" from popup menu
[also changes Start/Finish menu, sets Start/Finish location = Green/Red marker]

Route Alteration
To obtain a route which is not the shortest route:
   (1)  Click/tap "Display Route on Map" to display default shortest route for the "Start" and "Finish" locations and selected Route Options.
   (2)  At the yellow/green marker after which the route is first incorrect, i.e. where you want the route change to begin, right-click/long-press that marker and select "Alter Route" - this changes the route beyond that marker and draws a new Start-Finish route (the shortest route which avoids the trail section you just "blocked").
   (3)  If needed, make additional alterations by repeating the previous step to produce the desired route - this may require clicking on same marker more than once!
   (4)  To undo/redo last route alteration, use any marker's right-click/long-press menu or keyboard's "Tab"/"Shift-Tab" key.
Start Location  
Start Trail/Road/Camp/Summit/Locale/...

Start Trailhead/Intersection
(needed only if Start Location is a Trail/Road)

Finish Location  
Finish Trail/Road/Camp/Summit/Locale/...

Finish Trailhead/Intersection
(needed only if Finish Location is a Trail/Road)

Interactive Map
Start=Green Intersection=Yellow Finish=Red
Click on marker or trail/road/camp displays name+info

ROUTE CREATION

Route Options:
 Include Hiking Closures in routes
       (else "Closed to Hikers" Trails/Roads excluded)
 Include Roads in routes
       (but: if Start/Finish Location includes a Road,
        that Road always included)

 Include Usetrails in routes
       (but: if Start/Finish Location includes a Usetrail,
        that Usetrail always included)

 Include Camps/Usecamps in metrics
       (else Camps/Usecamps excluded from metrics)
 For lowest total elevation gain
       (else route gives shortest total distance)

'








Route Resets






Tips:

• If unfamiliar with a trail's intersections, use a trailhead (i.e. North/South/East/West end) for the Start or Finish. 

• For loops or complex routes, e.g. travel in two directions along same segment ala lollipop routes, use the alternative "Manual creation of route 'via points'" method. 

• After using 'Via Points' method, may need to uncheck 'Route Options' boxes before using 'Shortest Route' method

• 'Shortest Route' and 'Via Points' methods very different, cannot be combined.  Clicking on a marker 'Shortest Distance' item, e.g. 'Start a new route here', will switch to 'Shortest Route' method.  Clicking on a marker 'Via Points - add location' will switch to 'Via Points' method.  Clicking on a marker 'Un-do/Re-do last Route Alteration' works for both 'Shortest Route' and 'Via Points' methods. 

• Downloaded PDF map prints on 8½×11" sheet


Technical Notes:

• Calculations use digitized trail location and elevation information, primarily obtained by local GPS tracking.

• Mileages are slightly under-estimated, since the digitized data use straight-line segments which omit smaller wiggles.  They are in good agreement with measuring-wheel-obtained distances in the Sierra Club Trail Guide, but are typically 4-10% smaller than GPS "odometer" mileages (but the latter can include "spidering" around a point while stationary).

• Cumulative upward/downward elevation gain/loss ("ftUP" and "ftDN") calculations use smoothed elevation data for better accuracy and are reasonably consistent with barometric GPS data. 

• Historic ("lost") trails are not included in these calculations. 


Errors:
These calculations require several software pieces to interact properly.  If an error occurs, please provide the Start & Finish locations, any options checked, and (if necessary) why the computed route is incorrect to either Jack Glendening at AddressImage or post to the Trailmap Forum.