Loading KML or GPX Files Into US Topo Maps Pro

US Topo Map Pro is the $8.47 program that I use on my Smartphone for this purpose. The free version of this program lacks the ability to cache maps for off-line use and does not have the ability to import GPS tracks.

The circle with the red dot (when in “My Location” mode), shows your current location on the map. Here I was overlooking Hell’s Gate at Schodack Island State Park.Screenshot_2015-05-09-15-56-05[1]

Earlier this week, I posted 62-county based files (zipped together) containing the source data except for the KMZ version with boundaries.

Google Earth KMZ (individual files, 12 KB – 3 MB): https://andyarthur.org/data/lands/kmzbounds/

Google Earth KMZ Without State Land Boundaries β€” better importing into some GPS (25 MB): https://andyarthur.org/data/lands/kmznobound.zip

GPX Tracks β€” trail data in GPX tracks format for GPS, contains no style data or facilities details except name (15 MB): https://andyarthur.org/data/lands/tracks.zip

GPX Waypoints β€” asset data in GPX waypoints for GPS, contains no style data or asset details except name/type (250 KB): https://andyarthur.org/data/lands/waypoints.zip

Here are screenshots showing the process for loading these files into US Topo Map Pro.

First unzip the file and copy it your GPS device.

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Open up US Topo Maps.

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Click the three lines, then click tracks or waypoints (depending which you want to load).

Screenshot_2015-05-13-15-18-47[1]

The second round button from the left is the import button.Screenshot_2015-05-13-15-24-15[1]

Click the county you would like to load. Sometimes you need to load multiple counties when the locations you plan to explore cross county lines.Screenshot_2015-05-13-14-19-34Click tracks or waypoints to load the track then click import.Screenshot_2015-05-13-14-34-39Then select the track and click show on map.Screenshot_2015-05-13-14-33-35The tracks should appear on the map.Screenshot_2015-05-13-14-21-05Then add the way points. You can click on the waypoints to get the name and feature description.

Screenshot_2015-05-13-14-23-15

Tapping on the balloon (waypoint) brings up a menu that lets you Go To (navigation will appear on the screen directing you to the balloon), share the location, or edit the location.

Screenshot_2015-05-13-14-46-26

Why the bicycle’s future looks bright – BBC News

Why the bicycle’s future looks bright – BBC News

One autumn day in 1865, two men sat in a tavern in Ansonia, Connecticut, calming their nerves with a few stiff drinks.

They had been riding a wagon down a nearby hill when they heard a blood-curdling scream from behind them. What appeared to be the devil himself - with the head of a man and the body of some unknown creature - was flying down the hill towards them, skimming low over the ground.

They whipped their horses and fled, while the devil plunged off the road and into a flooded ditch.

Imagine their fear when the devil himself then came over to introduce himself: the dark-haired Frenchman was bleeding and soaking wet. His name was Pierre Lallement.

The young mechanic had been in the United States for a few months, and had brought with him from France a machine of his own devising - a pedal-cranked, two wheeled construction he called a "velocipede". We would call it a bicycle.

May 6, 2019 Morning

Good morning! Monday’s come back around again. Gotta make that money πŸ’΅ to save for a better tomorrow. Plus buy beer, ammunition and gasoline. Three weeks to Memorial Day πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ. Not that it feels like it. Cloudy, damp and 55 degrees ☁ Calm wind. The dew point is 51 degrees. The skies will clear around 2 pm.

I caught the earlier local bus 🚍 to work today. I was up so I figured I might as well get in the office early. 🏒 No sun now but they are still promising it later. I don’t know about you but I’m tired of all these cloudy, rainy days. Not sure how long the day will be but I’m hoping to get over to Finger Lakes wine night 🍷 for a while this evening. I don’t drink much anymore so it won’t take much free booze to have my share. Tomorrow is mock session so I’ll probably get out at five o’clock tomorrow.

Today will have a slight chance of showers before 10am. Cloudy, then gradual clearing during the afternoon 🌞, with a high of 71 degrees at 3pm. Four degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around May 20th. Maximum dew point of 51 at 7am. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. A year ago, we had light rain in the morning, which became light rain by afternoon. The high last year was 65 degrees. The record high of 89 was set in 1930. There was a dusting of snow in 1994.❄

The sun will set at 8:01 pm with dusk around 8:32 pm, which is one minute and 6 seconds later than yesterday. πŸŒ‡ At sunset, look for partly clear skies πŸŒ„ and temperatures around 66 degrees. The dew point will be 46 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 5 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 18 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 21 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will have a slight chance of showers after 3am. Partly cloudy 🌧, with a low of 53 degrees at 4am. Nine degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around June 2nd. Maximum dew point of 47 at 6pm. South wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. In 2018, we had light rain in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 50 degrees. The record low of 29 occurred back in 1874.

I was thinking more about the weekend and I’m thinking about camping β›Ί up at the campsites near Stewart Landing and then driving down to Little Falls on Saturday. Sunday I could hike some of the upper Glassco Mills trail. 🚢 Never been back that way. I probably wouldn’t bother with bringing my kayak as the water is still pretty cold.

As previously noted, there are 3 weeks until Memorial Day πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ when the sun will be setting at 8:22 pm with dusk at 8:56 pm. On that day in 2018, we had rain showers, partly sunny and temperatures between 68 and 54 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 73 degrees. We hit a record high of 94 back in 1914.

I’m still thinking about the East Branch of the Sacandaga for Memorial Day Weekend. β›Ί But only if the weather is decent and not too ungodly hot although I bet I could find a good swimming hole or two in the East Branch. 🏊 I wonder how much those campsites fill up? I’m thinking mid June heading up to Perkins Clearing lest I’m on call πŸ“ž and I need to do work from camp. I can call my clients from the hammock with my cowboy hat on. 😎 Plus that site is nice and open so I would get a lot of Solar power. β˜€

Looking out my back window