Maps and directions

[tomdarch]

I was poking around the (very, very cool) online guide. It dawned on me how many crags I've never been to. A frequent occurance is that I look up some route of a certain grade, flip to it in the flamable guide, see that it looks cool, then start trying to figure out where it is. More often than not the written directions to the crag are long and complicated. Yes, I know I'm whining, but that's how it is. I know that part of it is that I'm very, very visual/spatial, and not terribly verbal. I love and need maps! While a mapquest drving directions type function woudl be nice, it's not necessary. What would be nice is a set of maps that clearly show how to get to various crags including the drive and the hike in.

Legion was calling for GPS data collection to put into a geodatabase here:
http://www.redriverclimbing.com/viewtop ... t=gps#6149

and Artsay mentioned her new GIS job here:
http://www.redriverclimbing.com/viewtop ... ight=glory

So there's some GIS skillz out there. It sounds like Legion is working on exactly what I'm whining for. What steps are needed to make something like this happen?

[tomdarch]

On a slightly different point, is there a cheap way to serve up ArcView content as part of the online guide? I had assumed that like all things Arc, a server app would be pricey. Is there an open source or free system for serving up vector GIS content? (I know a bit about GRASS, but it's raster based) Would the solution simply be to generate maps as jpegs and put those up like photos?

[ray]

Yea, I'm still looking for some maps. I'll probably end up drawing some up myself here soon.
One thing I changed in the online guide was having to reference previous crags to string together the directions to the place. I pretty much take you from the rest area to the crag in each of the wall descriptions.

[Legion]

I have been creating GIS layers of the climbing sites in the gorge in ArcView with another climber and I was able to do get a good start on it over the holidays. I am in my last semester of classes and I am in up to my ears in work (18 credits) so I haven't had any time to make it to the Red to either climb or collect data. If anyone out there has a GPS or knows someone who does and wants to help out let me know. I will probably use my spring break to visit the red and collect as many points as I can on my rest days.
I have seen some free GIS servers out there, but I don't know much about their capabilities. If nothing else there are free programs out there for viewing GIS data.

[Jeff]

Kinda takes whatever adventure is left out of it doesn't it? Maybe we can get a shuttle bus to just meet us at the rest area. We tell the driver where we want to go, and he takes us there.

[Bruisebrother]

Jeff, the Forest Service has already considered Shuttle Bus service through the Gorge but they weren't planning on stopping at climbing crags!

[Jeff]

[discojett]

ArcExplorer is a free stripped-down version of ArcView, good for viewing data and images. As far as a Interactive mapping program you're gonna spend $$. Imagemapper is similar to ArcIMS but a lot cheaper ($500). Static maps would be the best choice, but I wouldn't use .jpgs - Use .pdf's or gif's for web viewing. A map gallery might be cool, maybe for each crag, with the ability to zoom in for details (pdf's are definitly best, although viewing them requires Acrobat Reader).
My 2 cents.

[Andrew]

Maybe its just me, but I seem to be able to find the crags with written directions, also I seem to be able to find the routes with a hand drawn map of the cliff, like what is in Johnny's book. just my 2 cents.

[Steve]

Kinda takes whatever adventure is left out of it doesn't it?

I agree.