GPSies, the basic map on the index page seems to be the best way to search, I can't even figure out how to search for things locally using the extended search tools. That index page map is actually a decent product for quickly finding routes, however there is limited data. For instance there are just 2 tracks on Larch Mountain, 8 at Multnomah Falls.
Wikiloc, there are also only 2 tracks on Larch, 8 at MF too.
Everytrail has a decent selection, but still not the numbers I'm seeing on gpsfly. Their search function isn't great either.
What exactly is the deal with hosting GPX/KML/etc. files? Would it not be relatively easy to have a script that compresses them and then mirrors them on Amazon's servers? I have no idea what kind of bandwidth hosting zipped text files would take up, but I don't think the world's demands for them is that great.
Peabody wrote:
1) Start with cool base maps and markup features, think Caltopo.
2) Include some rough tracks of trails, a starter set
3) Have members upload their GPS tracks, just the raw files, no clean-up, just upload.
4) Allow the starter set of trails to be slightly pushed and pulled by the tracks uploaded by members, given enough participation, the starter set of tracks would become very accurate.
5) Allow members to create and download custom routes based on this data.
6) For a social media aspect you could rank members based on distance uploaded, accuracy improved %, etc. etc.
I like the idea of averaging out the GPS tracks, that's a good one. IMO each one should be reviewed before being put into the set. Anomalies will mess up averages and sometimes there are just bad tracks that shouldn't be used, such as switchbacks that loop on the track.
I use products derived from OSM and Graphhopper to do my route planning (Graphhopper maps directly or RideWithGPS, GPSies, GaiaGPS). Graphhopper is the supplier to I believe most routing applications based on OSM (outside Google actually getting used the most) and they seem to update their maps on the fastest schedule. The people who license Graphhopper update them whenever they feel like it.
I also spend a lot of time 'averaging' GPS tracks on OSM by hand. Comparing usually 4-6 tracks and making sure they all basically fit the trails.
P.S. I finally moved a portion of Angel's Rest and Horsetail Creek Trail to their proper locations Angel's was off about 90 meters and Horsetail was off almost 200 meters
I havent used it in years and was just noting their main page said they "upgraded it". The only thing I never liked about it was the poor quality topo maps they use when so many others are available free
