Mapping Lebanon

[gopherhockey]

I have been working on getting some GPS data and completing the maps of Lebanon, which are difficult to keep updated due to the work being done there. Dakota's maps from this spring and summer didn't even have the second intermediate trail shown, nor the beginner trail or obviously the new (and not opened yet) expert loop.

here is preliminary map information that I have come up with. This shows biking and shared trails in bold and I'm trying to lighten the trails used for walking etc.

It would be fun if someone out there had good map skills that could actually do up a real map... maybe we'll get there eventually.

[gopherhockey]

Totally agree with you. We are in the process of labeling trails - once we do that, I'll get them marked properly.

Jan said the map looks like an ant farm.. not too far off! ;-)

[Trevize1138]

Here's my try at it. I have no "mapping skills" but I've got Paint Shop Pro! First step was to figure out where the parking lot was =)

http://www.planetquake.com/sven/images/leb1.gif

[martini]

I could try to do something with it. I've got experience with making maps(it was my undergrad degree afterall), and I've got a few programs here at home and at school that should be able to take this data and convert it to a real map.

I hope that you have the Lebanon MTB section as a DRG, that would make things much easier for me. If you don't have it, it sounds like we could get it from Dakota Cnty pretty easy. They did give you some hard copies, right? I'd also need the coordinates from your GPS, and the associated data(UTM coordinate zone) that you used when taking the points. I'm not garanteeing much, but I'll do my best if you can get me the stuff!

All this info is way to big for my Hotmail account, so either burning it and mailing it, or my coming up to the trail to get it would probably work out best. Does this mean I'll have to ride?:eyeroll:

ml

[gopherhockey]

This is getting quite messy. Probably only good now for doing trail work maps or general discussion of the trails. Better than nothing though!

http://www.morcmtb.org/images/temp/leb1color.gif

[SPR]

Good job with mapping the trails and the use of color. This certainly gives me a better perspective on how the trails are laid out in relation to each other.
See you next week for more trail building.

[gopherhockey]

The map tells a lot of things if you look at it long enough.

Things like the grey area that are considered hiking trails. You can see areas that could lead a hiker right into our trails if no signs are posted. (e.g. from the Galaxy entrance the grey path that leads right into our bypass vs. having the hiker turn south and go around the outside of our trails).

You can see what a good job Tim & Dale have done laying out the basic trail design and coming up with a good area where hikers and bikers can all be in the park... but you can also see that it is not complete. There are still a few areas that could use some work, and hopefully Dakota County will approve a few more projects.

The initial climb out of the parking lot for instance. Look at all the wasted area to the north just under the hiking trail. This is another example where a properly placed trail would eliminate the eroding trail we currently use.

The bombing run out of the park is another example. We currently fly down the hill and blast right through a few legit walking trails. It is fun, but dangerous. There is a better line there.. (Tim has a dream...)

[gopherhockey]

Another hiker trap I found. Look at the initial climb out of the parking lot (north most green trail going from right to left). You can see the hiking trail cross at one point and head to the north end of the park. Just a short while later, you see the green trail split off and head south (why anyone would take it is beyond me). If we placed a no hiking sign at that junction and did not allow them to continue on down the green trail, we could really avoid a problem.

The problem being if they continue on down the doubletrack toward the first (blue) singletrack, they get stuck. That orange fence we put up blocks them from getting to the outer walking loop. Because of this, they either have to walk around the orange fence (which is a no-no), hike down OUR trail, or turn around and go back. (and you think they are going to turn around and go back?)

So... just 2 spots. Nice big NO HIKING sign (if Dakota were to approve, of course) and a lot less confusion.