NZ Route Guides | Report | Help - adding route segments

Help - adding route segments

Route segments are descriptions of how to get from one place to another. Typically this might be a description of the route over a pass, up a catchment, or between one hut and the next. A route can be made up of many segments. Longer routes are broken into sections at each track junction or major confluence to allow the segments to be combined in any way the viewer sees fit.

Generally you will add route segments from the Add -> Route screen which lets you create a route made up on multiple places and segments in one go. You can also add individual segments in Add -> Route Segment.

1) Once on the add route segment screen, complete the fields as follows:

If you used the Add -> Route screen you will already have selected a From: and To: place, and they will be shown in the box. You do not need to select these places again.

From (required): This will already be populated showing the start place you selected / created in Add->Route. If you wish to change this you can click the select place icon

. Then browse the map to locate the start place of the route you are creating. You will need to zoom in to see markers on the map for places. If no place exists for the start of your route you will need to create one, either using the Add->Route screen which lets you create places as you go, or by using Add->Place to add a single place. Once you have selected the place, click the green tick

to confirm it.

To (required): This will already be populated showing the end place you selected / created in Add->Route. If you wish to change this you can click the select place icon

to confirm it.

Via (required): This is a short name for the route segment, to allow users to differentiate between multiple routes between the same two places. E.g. from Broderick Hut to Huxley Forks Hut you could create two route segments, one 'Via: river' and one 'Via: sidle track'. Do not include the names of the start and end places in Via - the eventual name shown for the route segment will be '<start place> to <end place> via <via>'.

Date experienced (required): The date you walked the route, and so the date your information is known to be correct. If you can't remember, guess! This is very useful for people assessing the accuracy of what they read on this site.

If you update a route, you must enter a new 'date experienced; for the update - the date the updated information is known to be correct.

Route points (required): This is the drawing of the route you took, and is the most important bit of information you are entering. You have two options, either draw your route by hand on the map, or use the mouse drag a GPX file from a folder on your computer into this box.

Option A: Draw route on map:
(1) Click the draw icon

to enable drawing from the map.

(2) Scroll the map to the desired start location (the start place you selected above) and zoom in to maximum zoom
(3) Click once to start drawing. A blue circle will appear where you clicked.
(4) Click at each point along the route. A blue line will show the route you have drawn so far
--- You must draw the route in the same direction as you indicated with start and end places above - i.e. from start to end.
--- If you make a mistake, pressing ctrl+z will undo the latest point
--- If you need to scroll the map you can do so by dragging the map in any direction during editing
--- If you need to zoom the map you can do so with the mouse wheel during editing
--- Try to include points at any high and low points along the route, as the altitude profile of the route will only be calculated where you draw points.
(5) When complete, double click to end drawing. The line drawn will change colour to red.

--- The route points will now be listed in the 'Route Points' box.
--- If you made a mistake or if you are editing an existing route, then simply repeat the above process and the new route will overwrite the old one.

--- You can cancel drawing at any time by clicking the red cross. This will reinstate your previous drawing (if there was one)

Option B: Drag and drop a GPX file into the location box.
(1) Use a file explorer to find your GPX file on your computer
(2) Use the mouse to drag and drop the file into the Route Points field below
--- The route points will now be listed in the 'Route Points' box.
--- The route will be shown on the map.

Description (optional): This is the second most important bit of information. Describe the route you took. Keep descriptions functional and clear. Try and use standard terms such as true right/true left or compass directions as people may be following your directions in the reverse.

Reverse Description (optional): This describes the route in the opposite direction - from the end point to the start point. If a user searches for a route in the opposite direction to the direction you created it, this is the description they will see. If you leave this blank then the Description: above will be shown, with a warning that it describes the route in the reverse direction to their travel.

This site will work best if people take the time to enter reverse descriptions where routes are complicated. But if the descriptions is simple (e.g. follow flats on the true right of the river) then there is little to enter a reverse description. Likewise if the route is difficult and walking it in reverse would required identifying obscure locations, then it;s best you don't enter a reverse description unless you have walked the trip in reverse and know how to identify those places.

Time (DOC hours) (required): This is the time it takes to walk the route segment in the direction you have entered it. The unit is DOC Hours - that is the time that is, should be, or would be indicated on a DOC signpost. You will have a feel for how your own times differ from the signposted times. Maybe you typically walk tracks in half the time the signpost says. if so, them multiply your own times by 2 to convert them into DOC hours.

Distance (km) (automatically calculated): This is the length of your route in kilometers. It is automatically calculated based on the route you draw on the map / upload as a GPX file.

Importance (required): This field is used to prioritise route segments when the site suggests a through route from one place to another. The site will suggest primary, mapped routes by preference, and suggest other routes in descending order shown.

Use the slider to select the correct value. A description of the meaning of each type is shown below the slider as you drag it.

Normal conditions: All of the sliders in this section help you describe how difficult the route was, and what level of skill is required to walk it. A separate section covers the winter conditions.

Use the sliders to select the correct value for each category. A description of the meaning of each type is shown below the slider as you drag it. If you don't know, leave the slider at 'unknown' rather than guessing.

Route Type (optional): This is the type of route you are describing. If your route fits multiple categories then use the worst conditions encountered. If this seems unfair, consider splitting your route into multiple segments at the point where the route type changes.

Gradient (optional): This describes how steep the route is - assessed based on how difficult the gradient made it, how much effort the gradient involved. The following is guidance only:

Flat - valley floors, tops with no continuous climbs of over 20m

Gentle - gently rising of falling routes. Typically less then 60m per kilometer.

Moderate - either routes with continuous climbs of 60m to 200m per kilometer, or steeper climbs of no more than 200m total.

Moderate-hard - either routes with continuous climbs of 200m-400m per kilometer, or steeper climbs of no more than 400m total.

Steep - either continuous climbs of >400m per kilometer to shorter climbs that are extremely steep

Veg / Terrain (optional): This describes how scrubby/bouldery the route is - assessed based on how difficult the vegetation and landcover made it, how much effort pushing through /circumnavigating the vegetation / landcover was..

Alpine (optional): This describes the alpine conditions likely to be encountered on the route in summer, and what level of alpine skills are required.

Scrambles refer to sections where hand-and-foot climbing, balancing on narrow ridges / steep faces, etc is required. If technical gear (beyond an ice-axe and crampons) is required, then the route should be considered mountaineering.

Rivers (optional): This describes the difficulty and danger posed by the rivers encountered in typical conditions. Consider the weather leading up to your trip - and take account of the fact that typical conditions may be better or worse than you met. The following are some guidance:

Streams - Minor waterways typically less than 2m wide or below boot depth. Only uncrossable after extreme / atypical rain events.

Occasional rivers - Occasional crossing of rivers less than thigh deep (or deeper in still pools). Crossable by individuals in normal conditions, but likely to be impassible after typical heavy rain.

Prolonged rivers - Either routes which follow a minor river through gorges, etc where you can become trapped in the waterway if weather deteriorates, or routes which cross major rivers repeatedly and run the risk of leaving you stranded in between. Crossable by individuals in normal conditions, but likely to be impassible after typical heavy rain.

Extreme rivers - Major waterways which are typically either over waist deep, or fast moving, and likely to be uncrossable in all but perfect conditions.

Winter conditions Describe how difficult the route was, and what level of skill is required to walk it in typical winter conditions.

Alpine (optional): This describes the alpine conditions likely to be encountered on the route in winter.,Assess what level of alpine skills are required and what the danger level is likely to be.

Winter notes (optional): Comment on and winter-specific conditions, or route instructions not covered elsewhere.

Published: Check the tickbox for this route be published on this site and recommended to others. Leave this unchecked and the route will be saved as draft and available only on your user's profile page. Typical uses of draft routes are

a) you haven't finished entering the information but wish to save it for later completion

b) you are planning a trip and want to sketch it out, but have not yet walked it. You can share the route with others by giving them the URL of the route, or by directing them to your profile pages.

2) When you are happy with the information you have entered, Click Save.

The route segment will be saved. If any errors are found in the data entered then the screen will be re-displayed with a red border, and an error message at the top will explain what is wrong (scroll up to find it).

Created by: Madpom on 2014-12-03 20:13:51. Last updated: 2016-02-20 21:16:29 View history