Colorado Passes - Google Earth

Mac · 12-26-2006, 07:19 PM

WARNING: Outside of a dog, this could be the most fun you have today. Inside of a dog, it's a bloody mess. (Sincere apologies to Groucho Marx).

I've created a Google Earth Map of many Colorado Passes. So far, I have 146 different passes mapped. I've divided them into two types:

1) Paved Roads (62 passes), and

2) Unpaved Roads (84 passes).

The master map file is stored on my server. I may update it in the future with additional passes, such as 4WD or trail only passes. All you need to do is follow the instructions below and you will automatically get the added passes, when they are added.

Anyway, here are the simple, management-proof instructions:

1) Get and Install Google Earth. (Not Google Maps).

2) Download Colorado Passes. (Should automatically open inside Google Earth).

To get your fingers wet, so to speak, after you've successfully opened the "Colorado Passes" within "Google Earth", try this (within Google Earth):

1) In the map area, click on any pass, so you see the white bubble. In the bubble, click on "To here".

2) Again in the map area, click on another pass so you see the white bubble. In the bubble, click on "From here".

3) Look at the cool turn-by-turn map.

4) In the left pane, under the turn-by-turn directions, click the little "Play Tour" button (looks like a small right-arrow).

Happy Google Earth-ing...
.

Hondo · 12-26-2006, 09:21 PM

THat is great!

Thanks for mapping this out!

Beemer Pat · 12-26-2006, 11:15 PM

As John Denver would say...... "Far out".....

Lomax · 12-27-2006, 06:17 AM

Very COOL! I have loaded it into my Google Earth and now have no excuse to Really get lost. Thanks for all the hard work. I wish I knew a way to download it to my GPS.

Cheers.
Marc

Hakatan · 12-27-2006, 08:20 AM

Wow, that is cool. Gives us a great planning tool until the snow melts up high.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lomax

I wish I knew a way to download it to my GPS.

Me too. Anyone figure out a work-around to import Mac_'s collection of passes into Mapsource? Looks like GoogleEarth will import from a GPS unit, but not export to one (at least not my 60cx). And GoogleEarth uses a .kml extension, while Garmin GPS uses .mps or .gpx and won't open .kml or .kmz.

Red_Chili · 12-27-2006, 08:46 AM

OK, this GPS noob will dive in...
The .kml is not where it's at. It is a simple .xml file telling GoogleEarth to get the meat from
http://caber.com/maps/co/co-passes.kmz

Now, I got all excited because .gpx is just fancy .xml too. Ah, nuts: the .kmz is binary. Good luck decoding that.

Nothing to see here, move along......

Scary Mc · 12-27-2006, 08:51 AM

I just wasted an hour. Very cool!

andy29847 · 12-27-2006, 08:53 AM

I didn't see Tin Cup Pass. This pass is on CR267 between Tin Cup and St. Elmo. I rode it on my Wee-Strom but I sure needed more ground clearance.

Coordinates for the pass are ~ 38 degrees 42 minutes 33.43 seconds x 106 degrees 26 minutes 3.55 seconds

bross · 12-27-2006, 09:07 AM

That is brilliant! Thanks Mac.

Wanna do British Columbia next?

Mac · 12-27-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red_Chili

OK, this GPS noob will dive in...
The .kml is not where it's at. It is a simple .xml file telling GoogleEarth to get the meat from
http://caber.com/maps/co/co-passes.kmz

Now, I got all excited because .gpx is just fancy .xml too. Ah, nuts: the .kmz is binary. Good luck decoding that.

Nothing to see here, move along......

RC,

Just because you are unable to do it, doesn't mean it's not there. It's working for lots of other people.

The kml file is there. If you have Google Earth installed, save the kml file to your local computer, then open the kml file with Google Earth.

The kml file contains a network link to the kmz file. The kmz is a database file which I will continue to update with additional locations.

It works.

Mac · 12-27-2006, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hakatan

Wow, that is cool. Gives us a great planning tool until the snow melts up high.

Me too. Anyone figure out a work-around to import Mac_'s collection of passes into Mapsource? Looks like GoogleEarth will import from a GPS unit, but not export to one (at least not my 60cx). And GoogleEarth uses a .kml extension, while Garmin GPS uses .mps or .gpx and won't open .kml or .kmz.

Patience.

I'm making this Google Earth version as complete as possible, then will create a Garmin version. I'm a Garmin user, too...

Give me another week or two...

JaySoy · 12-27-2006, 09:27 AM

Wow! This is great! Nice job.

Mac · 12-27-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy29847

I didn't see Tin Cup Pass. This pass is on CR267 between Tin Cup and St. Elmo. I rode it on my Wee-Strom but I sure needed more ground clearance.

Coordinates for the pass are ~ 38 degrees 42 minutes 33.43 seconds x 106 degrees 26 minutes 3.55 seconds

Tin Cup is in my next section to add. I'll be adding a "4WD Passes" folder soon.

ironbrewer · 12-27-2006, 10:23 AM

This is way cool. Thanks for the effort.

Doubletrackmind · 12-27-2006, 11:03 AM

I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the computer and log on to google earth. (Again, sincere apologies to Groucho Marx).

thanks for putting that list together and thanks for posting it after christmas.

12-26-2006, 07:19 PM	#1
Mac ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Colorado Springs Oddometer: 1,949	Colorado Passes - Google Earth WARNING: Outside of a dog, this could be the most fun you have today. Inside of a dog, it's a bloody mess. (Sincere apologies to Groucho Marx). I've created a Google Earth Map of many Colorado Passes. So far, I have 146 different passes mapped. I've divided them into two types: 1) Paved Roads (62 passes), and 2) Unpaved Roads (84 passes). The master map file is stored on my server. I may update it in the future with additional passes, such as 4WD or trail only passes. All you need to do is follow the instructions below and you will automatically get the added passes, when they are added. Anyway, here are the simple, management-proof instructions: 1) Get and Install Google Earth. (Not Google Maps). 2) Download Colorado Passes. (Should automatically open inside Google Earth). To get your fingers wet, so to speak, after you've successfully opened the "Colorado Passes" within "Google Earth", try this (within Google Earth): 1) In the map area, click on any pass, so you see the white bubble. In the bubble, click on "To here". 2) Again in the map area, click on another pass so you see the white bubble. In the bubble, click on "From here". 3) Look at the cool turn-by-turn map. 4) In the left pane, under the turn-by-turn directions, click the little "Play Tour" button (looks like a small right-arrow). Happy Google Earth-ing... . __________________ Mac R1200GSA \| 690E \| 300XCW RMAR Vice President - RMAR Website FaceBook Member: NRA, COHVCO, AMA, TPA, MSF RC Mac screwed with this post 03-06-2008 at 08:04 PM Reason: clarity

12-26-2006, 09:21 PM	#2
Hondo What if its a Samsquamch? Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Oddometer: 7,742	THat is great! Thanks for mapping this out! __________________ LC8World.com - KLRWorld.com Forums - Nighthawk Forums "Life's an adventure, and I refuse to live a boring one."

12-27-2006, 06:17 AM	#4
Lomax Nanu-Nanu Adventurer Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Westminster Colorado Oddometer: 7,018	Very COOL! I have loaded it into my Google Earth and now have no excuse to Really get lost. Thanks for all the hard work. I wish I knew a way to download it to my GPS. Cheers. Marc __________________ 04 R1150RT,06 KTM 450EXC, 84 R100RS LE, 89 XL600V, 2012 Stelvio, 72 Guzzi Eldorado http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b327/lomaxcm/?sc=3

12-27-2006, 08:46 AM	#6
Red_Chili Fresh Ground Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Evergreen, CO Oddometer: 2,077	OK, this GPS noob will dive in... The .kml is not where it's at. It is a simple .xml file telling GoogleEarth to get the meat from http://caber.com/maps/co/co-passes.kmz Now, I got all excited because .gpx is just fancy .xml too. Ah, nuts: the .kmz is binary. Good luck decoding that. Nothing to see here, move along...... __________________ -Bill '06 Buell Ulysses 'Odysseus' a.k.a. 'Ody', '00 XR650R plated & farkled- 'Nuclear Thunderpig' '06 PS1000LE Paul Smart. One cannot do without a Duc or two. '97 KDX 220 for woods work *SMUGMUG COUPON* RSKbiM6oytjtw, save some money and have a great online picture gallery!

12-27-2006, 08:51 AM	#7
Scary Mc hellgrammite Joined: Jul 2001 Location: The Junk, CO Oddometer: 3,709	I just wasted an hour. Very cool! __________________ It's a friggen motorcycle, it's not supposed to be comfortable, quiet or safe. The windnoise is supposed to hurt your ears, the seat should be hard and riding it should make you shit your pants every now and then.

12-26-2006, 11:15 PM	#3
Beemer Pat ... Joined: Feb 2004 Location: rockiesriders.com Oddometer: 2,722	As John Denver would say...... "Far out".....

12-27-2006, 08:53 AM	#8
andy29847 Dirt Road Rider Joined: Dec 2003 Location: South Carolina Oddometer: 1,726	another pass I didn't see Tin Cup Pass. This pass is on CR267 between Tin Cup and St. Elmo. I rode it on my Wee-Strom but I sure needed more ground clearance. Coordinates for the pass are ~ 38 degrees 42 minutes 33.43 seconds x 106 degrees 26 minutes 3.55 seconds __________________ Andy Simons ABC#8350 IBA#7647, Trenton, SC Smugmug coupon code = bQItjZEfrqLkI MOAB Ride Report

12-27-2006, 09:07 AM	#9
bross Where we riding to? Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Osoyoos, BC Oddometer: 3,527	That is brilliant! Thanks Mac. Wanna do British Columbia next?

12-27-2006, 09:27 AM	#12
JaySoy Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Kansas City Oddometer: 336	Wow! This is great! Nice job.

12-27-2006, 10:23 AM	#14
ironbrewer Hopefully Riding Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Broomfield, CO Oddometer: 3,802	This is way cool. Thanks for the effort. __________________ "All the problems we face in the United States today can be traced to an unenlightened immigration policy on the part of the American Indian." Pat Paulsen

12-27-2006, 11:03 AM	#15
Doubletrackmind Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Littleton, Co. Oddometer: 276	I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the computer and log on to google earth. (Again, sincere apologies to Groucho Marx). thanks for putting that list together and thanks for posting it after christmas.

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