I still go mountain climbing and photo shooting without GPS, but the Google Maps API looked too interesting to be ignored. The API allows a site to control, interact with, and extend Google Maps. After a little programming, you can now track my hikes via satellite.

As an example, take the Schinder. The map link on the trail page will take you to a satellite map centered on the mountain. All interesting locations in the area are marked, and clicking the markers will give you information about each location. You can also view a list of all locations.

This cannot replace a hiking map. But it gives a nice spatial view of the trails database, which previously could only be navigated by browsing discrete, and sometimes arbitrary regions.

The Google Maps API and OpenACS made it very easy to implement this custom application on top of Google Maps. The geographic coordinates and all additional information for the locations are stored by this site, and integrated into the map with a few JavaScript lines. Defining a new location involves not much more than clicking on a map - you don't even have to know the difference between latitude and longitude. If you are interested in the source, let me know.