All Things Tracks.org.nz

[groklem]

Creating a thread for all things relating to www.tracks.org.nz.

IMHO the site is awesome. But its not always obvious when fancy features or new tracks are added.

So if you have just done a massive jungle bashing adventure ride, added it to tracks and need somewhere to brag about your exploits? Post here.

Alternatively if there is some aspect of the site that is pissing you off, (maybe it doesn't warm your slippers to 37.5 deg C before your get home in the evening?) vent your spleen by posting here.

[iodi]

http://www.tracks.org.nz is indeed a great resource.

As a bit of background, "Tracks" is a user-created database of mountain biking/running/walking tracks. The concept behind the Tracks site is that anyone can create/edit tracks via the website's wiki-like interface. The site started in Wellington and has recently expanded scope to cover all of NZ. As of today, the site has maps and descriptions for 831 tracks covering 2200km - with more being added almost every day.

Each track includes a detailed description of where, what, how long, grade, access details, an interactive Google map, and links to adjacent tracks. Photos and embedded videos of each track can also be included. It is even possible to show webcam feeds (eg. Makara Peak).

A particularly useful feature is the ability to make track condition reports, so users have up-to-date information about each track - including things like surface conditions, closures, construction progress, maintenance work, etc.

It is easy to add new tracks or edit the existing ones. Just sign up, then have a read of the FAQ. If you have any questions, then this thread would be a good place to ask.

[swtchbckr]

hmmmm... none of these are strictly legal. but... then... if they dont say NO BIKES, then they're fair game, right!?
eg rimjob and
Cass Bay are both on private land... so, strictly, you're trespassing.
gully track into Lyttelton
trail of death?
and altho fun... tors track
and lyttelton express! are all walking tracks.

fucks sake. this guy Riho is gonna piss off some of the more uptight on here, not to mention the oldskool porthills walking brigade...
might have to give one or two of these a go...

[Trail]

Trail of Death? is a fun way down the hill

[swtchbckr]

yeah, guess it'd be more fun than the bridal path, but you miss out on the Castle Rock track!

[iodi]

hmmmm... none of these are strictly legal. but... then... if they dont say NO BIKES, then they're fair game, right!?

Well, no. If the information on Tracks is wrong, then please feel free to correct it.

Everything on the Tracks website is created by the users, so the more it draws upon the collective wisdom of people such as yourself, the better the website will be.

[swtchbckr]

have signed up, and am awaiting permission to add tracks too. i've got one or two up my sleeve that need to go in there. i guess i could put something in there.

[Oli]

Please don't add illegal tracks.

[iodi]

Please don't add illegal tracks.

The "Access" field includes options for "Private" and "Closed", which might be appropriate for the tracks in question. Some land owners allow access if people contact them first - for example Wheeler's Way (though only for foot traffic in that case). If so, then include the contact details (where known).

[iodi]

A new section has recently been added to Big Weta in Belmont Regional Park, Wellington – providing a route that is somewhat easier than the original near-vertical clay slides.

In combination with the Waihora Park track, which I added to Tracks today, we've now mapped a nice round 100km of tracks in Belmont Regional Park.

[groklem]

I know its mentioned in the FAQ but I think its worth reiterating here that you don't need any fancy GPS kit to contribute to tracks.org.nz. You can just trace out where the track goes in Google Earth, Mapmyride or anything else that will give you a KML file.

Also:

You can create elevation profiles, like in the one for Nydia Bay

Just upload your KML file to the Elevation Chart Creator
This will only work if your KML file contained height data.

If your KML was traced from Google Earth it won't contain height data.

To insert height data you can run you KML file through the GPSies site. (Just upload the file then download it again height data gets automagically inserted). The only trick with this is the resolution of the height data is quite coarse so short tracks will appear stepped. Tracks over 10km should be ok...

[groklem]

I have updated the script that puts all Tracks.org.nz content into a single KML file for viewing in google earth.

Will endevour to keep it updated...

All of tracks.org.nz in one KML file

[iodi]

I have updated the script that puts all Tracks.org.nz content into a single KML file for viewing in google earth.

Will endevour to keep it updated...

All of tracks.org.nz in one KML file

Awesome - that's really useful.

It would be helpful to compress the file. Just zip it and change the file extension to kmz, which reduces the file size by more than 75%.

[groklem]

yeah, thats on the todo list. 6 megs is getting a bit weighty... This will need to be done in the script as the plan is to have it run daily so the file is always up to date.

[rackerrack]

How come "The Slide" track in Belmont does not even use "The Slide" that it is named after?