Re: Google Maps

> > >  Try Google earth  it has more features and is more fun.

Another excellent tool for examining maps and plotting out routes is the GPS Visualizer's map sandbox.

Check out http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/draw/?type=t&zoom=13&center=37.111603,-118.670664 for example (shortened url: http://bit.ly/VHyBnH)

Several advantages:
• Many more maps are available for comparison, especially including topos and Open Street Maps.
• Uses almost all of your screen's real estate, making it easier to plot out routes. (The various boxes on the screen can be moved, or minimized with a double-click on the header bar).
• You can save your tracks to GPX (or KML) and import them into other tools, or load into a GPS unit.  But one very nice way to examine them is with the profile maker at gpsvisualizer.com/profile_input — turn on "Add DEM elevation data" and it'll give a profile for any track, with some great color coding options.  Once it looks right, you could even go to mytopo.com and they'll print it as a custom waterproof map.
-- 
Richard