Cut River Bridge

[ToddMeister]

Attached are a few pics from the Cut River Bridge. Pretty easy to get to from the trail to Cut River. I found a couple different ways, there are probably many more. The last 1/2 mile to the CR bridge was interesting, we had to go around/under fallen trees, hopefully the locals can get them cleaned up soon.

(I need to carry a chain saw with me on the sled <LOL>)

Seems like a really small river for such a big bridge!!!!

[ToddMeister]

Here's a few more pics

[Big Daddy D]

Sis Vic from Iggy wants to know how you got down there! We want to make that trip.
Great Pictures you should bring to share at next weeks P Run.

[ToddMeister]

Sis Vic from Iggy wants to know how you got down there! We want to make that trip.
Great Pictures you should bring to share at next weeks P Run.

I'll get the tracks from my GPS and put them into my map program this week, then make a pic of how to get to the CR bridge. Stay tuned...

[Snobooger]

Hey T, what kind of GPS and mapping software do you use? i have a Garmin map 76s. It works great, but I have the mapsource topo software and am not sure what i can do with it. I have lots of saved tracks (trails in LP and UP with various points of interest)...but is there a way to share them? I had heard somewhere in the past that some clubs were interested in having the tracks to share with members and guests so they could download trails before actually riding them. This would be great to do if there is a way! Just an idea...glad you had a good trip!

Josh

[ToddMeister]

Hey T, what kind of GPS and mapping software do you use? i have a Garmin map 76s. It works great, but I have the mapsource topo software and am not sure what i can do with it. I have lots of saved tracks (trails in LP and UP with various points of interest)...but is there a way to share them? I had heard somewhere in the past that some clubs were interested in having the tracks to share with members and guests so they could download trails before actually riding them. This would be great to do if there is a way! Just an idea...glad you had a good trip!

Josh

Hi Josh,

I use the Garmin Mapsource US Roads and Recreation map program. It is much better than the TOPO maps. USR&R is an older Garmin product that is now discontinued, but it works good enough for me. You can upload the tracks from the GPS and then edit the tracks and save them to a file. I have been adding my on and off trail tracks to a single file. I need to edit the duplicate tracks out. And I need to experiment more to see how to exchange data with other GPS mfgr's.

[Snobooger]

Yeah i've been doing something similar so far. I upload to the computer and then edit place-names and delete duplicate tracks. i keep the UP and LP separate due to lengthy re-uploading to the GPS before riding. Its nice to have the trail on the GPS before going and finding the hiden off trail spots that have been visited before. How do you combine tracks with map software. i guess i am asking what map software you are talking about. It sounds like a useful skill! I have visited Hardcoresledder.com's GPS forum and am trying to learn the ins and outs of GPS. Those guys kinda speak over my head...but they do provide great links to GPS sites. dunno...so much to learn! What kind of set-up do you have on the sled? took me a while and some tinkering to get a set up that works well. I'll post a pic shortly...

Josh :rolleyes:

[ToddMeister]

Josh,

I'm only using the Mapsource program right now, you can get the latest version from Garmins website, currently at Version 6.9. I am able to copy and paste tracks from multiple files. Select the tracks from one file, right click and select copy, go to the other file and paste them in.

Attached is a pic of my GPS setup on the sled. It is a RAM Mount system (originally created for motorcycles). This is good tuff stuff, not the flimsy plastic Garmin stuff. I wired a 12V plug with the Garmin adapter cord into the sled ignition switched power circuit.

[Snobooger]

This is my set-up. It took some time to get the mount to take ALL bumps and jumps on a 200+ mile day. Finally got it rock solid and have tested it plenty in the rough stuff.
160
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did have trouble with batteries in the cold...so i installed a $6 12V outlet in the sled from radio shack. Works great (in-line fuse and all)!
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installed it so it would look pretty, and soon learned the unstable current off the sled was going to be a problem...seems with a fresh set of batteries AND the 12V I have no problems. The unit shuts off automatically after 30 seconds of no 12V. The user has to press a button within 30 seconds to switch the unit to battery power. At stop signs my low idle was not prviding the 12V necessary, and with dead batteries, I was losing all power and not noticing until there was already gaps in my tracks. NOW, i have one of those $19 battery chargers that i keep in my gear bag, so I will always have fresh batteries. The cold usually kills two AA's after a couple hundred miles.
Also, installed the external antenea that came with my unit and have never lost a signal yet. Next ride, i'm gonna try running without the external to see if i lose a signal. I doubt i will, as i use it for hunting and don't lose signals then. But it's nice to have...
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Josh

[Snobooger]

Nice set-up...I tried a handlebar mount originally, but my bars are too tall, and the unit was right in-your-face, and high enough to catch tree limbs! I like the dash mount, as it keeps the unit out of the wind/snow dust etc. and is still easy to see. I'm pretty pleased with my Garmin mount...with some of the beatings it has taken, i cannot see it breaking! My goal would ultimately be to figure out how to share and trade tracks or routes with other club members/riders. It would be a nice feature for the club to be able to provide GPS using visitors with downloadable trails! who knows...

Josh

[Snow VP]

Nice set-ups guys! I don’t have a permanent install on the sled, but when I hook it up, I use a Magellan –Meridian color (a battery HOG).

Josh, with that unit installed so low, without the external antenna, you might have a bit of a problem getting signal, while traveling South (Most sats are in the Southern sky at this latitude). I find that signal loss is not as bad while moving though. You could also check into a 12v slow discharge capacitor to help with those voltage drops. In theory it would help the GPS, but I do not know what it would do to the sled, so check with a dealer. Once it was charged, as the voltage on the sled dropped, the capacitor would supply the juice to the GPS, until the sled voltage came back up again. I think that is basically what is happening to the unit now, with the internal batteries acting as the capacitor.
Gotta love high-tech sledding!

[ToddMeister]

Nice setup Josh, I originally used the Garmin Marine mount right where the coolant gauge (left of gauge pod) is now. It wasn't strong enough, kept loosening up from vibration.

The cold definitely puts the hurt on batteries, I would get about 4 hours on a set of alkalines, less with NiMH rechargables. Running the GPS off sled power is much better now.

[ToddMeister]

As promised here is a map showing a couple different ways to get to the Cut River bridge.

[Snow VP]

NICE MAP !!!! :thumb: (for not being a surveyor :rolleyes: )

Now the cats out of the bag ! :wowza:

In a couple of weeks, I will be taking anyone who wants to go on a ride, and that will be one of the stops.

[ToddMeister]

Thanks, and don't worry Neil I won't give out all my secrets.....LOL :wowza: