The Grand Canyon, Tioga County, Pa.
Posted on 10/25/2012 5:30:07 AM PDT by SJackson
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — Google and its street-view cameras already have taken users to narrow cobblestone alleys in Spain using a tricycle, inside the Smithsonian with a push cart and to British Columbia's snow-covered slopes by snowmobile.
The search giant now has brought its all-seeing eyes — mounted for the first time on a backpack — down into the Grand Canyon, showcasing the attraction's most popular hiking trails on the South Rim and other walkways.
It's the latest evolution in mapping technology for the Mountain View, Calif., company, which has used a rosette of cameras to photograph thousands of cities and towns in dozens of countries for its Street View feature. With a click of the mouse, Internet users are transported virtually for a 360-degree view of locales they may have read about only in tourist books and seen in flat, 2-D images.
"Any of these sort of iconic, cultural, historical locations that are not accessible by road is where we want to go," said Ryan Falor, product manager at Google.
Google announced the trekker earlier this year but made its first official collection of data this week at the Grand Canyon.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Interesting. Not sure it's particularly important, but fun to look at
I’d like to be on your ping list SJackson. Thank you.
I hiked the Bright Angel 20 years ago on an overnighter and thought I was going to die getting out of there. It is really cool that google is doing this.
I have trouble with my webtv viewing most graphics. BUT I have hiked the Grand Canyon 4 times, Once down to the river,once part way down the N rim. To anyone who will listen, foreign or American, I say there is ONE place to visit in your liftime, if just to peer out over, The Grand Canyon.
I walk and ride bikes on trails a lot and my phone app (iPhone) although I can set it for the best walking route, doesn’t show them. Is there a google app that does?
In 1969, I hiked the Bright Angel Trail in one day - down to the river in the morning and back up by supper time.
This year when the family and I went to the Park, the trail signs didn’t even mention that it was a day hike. I asked a Ranger about it and told him what I did. He said that I had Testosterone disease.
There were some doing just what you did. I had a 60lb pack on my back. Food water tent sleeping bag etc. I wasn’t prepared physically either. It is a wonderful hike but I would suggest people get the upper thigh strength maxed out.
I was just there and hiked N. and S. Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails. I’m an engineer and coulda’ done it for Google easily.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.