I'm a bit of a gps simpleton having previously only used one for marking points and transfering to my Arcmap applications and finding my coordinates to confirm my location on a trail map (which are very basic).  I never did any tracking or navigating until resently.  I'm heading out on my first bikepacking trip tomorrow with a gps in track mode.  Still haven't figured out the navigating thing yet. 

With that background, I seem to like the Vista HCx.  First of all, it seems surprisingly durable.  It has good reception even in the dense southeastern woods.  It fits snuggly on my stem.  The batteries seem to last forever.  And I put a micro sd chip in it and have a lot of storage.  The screen is a bit small to actually see  details like topo lines well though. 

Ah, didn't think about needing cell reception for that app to work.  Definitly won't apply for many trips around here at all then.

I've been thinking about getting a Spot but can't get over the $150 plus $100/year price. 

In my search, I came across this.  http://www.instamapper.com/overview.html  Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this Iphone app for realtime Google Maps integrated gps tracker? 

Looks like it does what a Spot does but through an Iphone and for free.  And more generally, I'm a low tech phone guy but it's about shot and I may be interested in one of these "smart" phones if the gps is trail worthy.  Any thoughts on that?

Mike,

I have access to a Garmin Etrex Vista HCx.  It works good in the woods and if it's just for the mapping project, we can use it.

~Shaun

Just read the story.   Wow.....

I wonder if the families know the bikes and gear are there?

We have a call from Doug Johnson. He made it in this morning. His time appears to be 4:20:47! Stefan also made it in at 4:23:22! Incredible riding!

You know what I'm also impressed with is that you posted the last mtbcast last night at midnight then, probably, first thing this morning you posted the next update.  Good coverage!

Kara,

Has anyone called you?

I had about the same criteria for lights as you.  And after getting a lot of input on this thread about lighting   http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,19.0.html a while back, I went with an EOS on the helmet and lucked on a like-new PT Corona Bike for my bar at a gear swap for $30.  Great combo for $75!  Cruising around in the rain, night after night for an investment of $75 has totally gotten me over the feeling of inadequacy when I show up for group night rides and everyone else has their bear blinding laser beams strapped to their heads 

Of course, we're talking bikepacking lights here, not hauling the mail on tech downhill. Oh, and 8 batteries in the Corona seems a bit much but the price was right 

I've wondered about this a bit and truly don't know where I stand on the issue.  I'd like to hear some others' percpectives. 

When is too much route info too much?  For instance, there are routes out there with no published gps tracks, why?  There are likely nice routes out there that no one has even mentioned online, why?  I know I sometimes like to have little knowledge of the route ahead so that I have no expectations to live up to.  But other times, if I want to go fast maybe, I want a lot of details.  I read a lot of trip reports and there's a couple differant styles.  Some have inspiring photos and introspective launguage but no milage, gps tracks, trails names, etc.  Others say how many miles each day, how fast they averaged, calories burned, descriptions of every intersection, etc. 

What factors do you think should factor in to how much info is provided for a route?  Just wondering what some of you think. 

I like the SPOT idea, but I keep thinking that some gps company could easily integrate the web-based tracking feature and alert system into a fully featured gps unit.  Then you wouldn't need to carry two things if you wanted both features.  To you guys who know more about gps than I, is that crazy wishful thinking or does it seem doable?

Did I miss the ride report?

Uh...no, I need to get on that.  I'll try to put up something this week. 

In short, it was fun but we didn't cover a lot of the state. 

More later.

JHL and others,

JHL thanks for all the mapping help and for everyone with the route speculating.  It's nice to bounce ideas like this around with others.  Bikes are packed, chains are lubed and work is about ready for a vacation leave.  We'll be riding out of Damascus wednesday morning.

~Shaun

From Pandapas to North Mountain it looks something like this.

From where Highway 460 meets Craigs Creek Rd we'll either ride up Craigs Creek Rd a little ways and climb up Powerline Trail to the ridge line paralleling Craigs Creek to the south or we'll climb 460 south to Rhea Ridge Dr and take it to the dead end.  Then there's (according to TI) a FS 2 track that runs that ridge all the way over Double Ridge Knob, to the Audie Murphy VFW Monument on the AT.  Just before there we'll drop down the Gravel Hill Rd to SR 624 and take that to North Mountain Trail. 

It's really nice being about to look at the route on the aerial photo's.  Thanks! 

Trails Illustrated Topo!, when it works is a handy product.  The catch is that it is so buggy that it hardly ever works.  It frequently shuts down right in the middle of work and it often plots "ghost" routes that the user never drew (always straight lines).  It's aggrivating and time consuming.

Here is the road section I'm thinking looks okay from near Pulaski to the Pandapas trails area starting on the New River Trail just before it crosses the river toward Pulaski in Shiloh.  Of course, like the rest of the route, I've never traveled any of it so it may not be a good route at all, but it seems to get us back to trail.  Open for suggestions.

Possum Hollow Rd (aka Old 100)>Wilderness Rd>Hazel Hollow Rd>Madison St in Radford (Radford looks like a good place to stop for intown stuff)>Bellsprings Rd to deadend>RR tracks>River Rd (through this section of Bell/RR/RiverRd, we're going to keep our eyes open for an unexpected chance to cross the river, but it's unlikely to happen)>703 across river>Goodwins Ferry Rd>Norris Run Rd>Straley Valley Rd into the Pandapas trails.

On the Damascus to the New River Trail leg, the Trails Illustrated map (bought a hard copy yesterday) shows that between combining the Iron Mountain Trail and the VA Highlands Horse Trail there shouldn't be any bushwacks.  Looks like a fairly well developed route through there.  I'm probably looking at a few bush wacks further north though.  Hopefully not much though because the wife (my trip partner), although a very strong rider, doesn't care too much for the bike hauling. 

Any reports from the Kaibab?

NatGeo's Topo....which, frankly, really sucks. 

...up along the river (road and short section of RR tracks) and cross the river at Eggelston.  But boy, wouldn't it be awesome to drop in a Pakaraft below Claytor Lake beyond Pulaski and float to Eggelston!!

Wooooo....case in point.  NatGeo shows a bridge crossing between Parrot and Dry Branch but thanks to jhl99's map, I just found that it doesn't really exist.  hum?  Guess I can still go with the idea of riding up to Eggleston and crossing then riding back down to Norris Creek Road.  Maybe while we're riding toward Eggleston right along the river we'll find a boat ride across or something. 

People have made similiar trips with much less advanced gear.  Check out the picture on the Tour Divide homepage.

No offense, but I say ride what ya got.  Emphasis on ride!  Rock on Dave 

I have it all mapped on NatGeo's Topo....which, frankly, really sucks.  It says it's about right at 400 miles and 76,000 feet of climbing.  I'd definitly like to hone the route to get a few less PUDs (pointless up and downs).  I'll see how this ride goes and, who knows, maybe it'll be inspiring enough that I'll start linking stuff up further south and north for a future ride.  NC and TN are coming together okay. 

From just before where the New River Trail crosses the river into Pulaski I think I'll hop on the road and ride up along the river through Radford (bike shops, restaurants, groceries, etc) then continue up along the river (road and short section of RR tracks) and cross the river at Eggelston.  But boy, wouldn't it be awesome to drop in a Pakaraft below Claytor Lake beyond Pulaski and float to Eggelston!!

I started tracing the route.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fhome.windstream.net%2FJHLange%2FVA_route.kml&ie=UTF8&ll=37.418163,-80.430908&spn=2.495435,4.064941&z=8

I have no idea of the trail conditions in VA (blowdown, brush, rockiness, etc.), but this is looking like an ambitious ride.  No doubt, some of the climbs on ST will be pushers.  PA USGS 7.5 Quads normally have 20' contour intervals, I noticed that the VA maps are using 40' contour intervals.

He's still going.  4 days 21 hours and 500 miles.  He's making some call-ins at mtbcast.  The last call he made he said he was JB Welding and zip tieing a front rack together  

What's that green chain?

I can't get my maps into a reasonable size to put on here.  But basically here is the route.  Open for local input.

we're riding from Damascus VA>Iron Mountain Trail>VA Highlands Horse Trail>New River Trail>25ish miles of back (hopefully) roads>Pandapas trails>FS114>road>North Mountain Trail>road to Covington>Fore Mountain trail>Middle Mountain Trail>Brushy Ridge Trail>Little Mare Mountain>road>Shenandoah Mountain Trail>North River Trail>Shenandoah Mountain North trail>FS road 85>FS road 232>FS road 302>help?>North Mountain trail>Mill Mountain>Tuscarora County Line>Tuscarora Hawk>?

About 400 miles and 76,000 feet of climbing.  It's not reasonable for us to expect to make it that far in our 8 days, but it's mapped just in case.  We're rolling out the 24th.  I'll report back after the trip.