planning a hammock trip using google earth?

[johne]

ok... so i'm trying to plan a hammock trip to someplace i haven't been... i live in az and some places are mostly small shrubs and brush but with trees near the creeks.... some areas are more woodsy with lots of pine trees and sometimes these places are all right next to each other...

so, here is my problem... without going there first, i can't tell if i'm going to be able to find a spot to hang my hammock... except maybe by lookin at google earth... has anyone had any luck with using google earth to look at an area and determine if the green stuff is trees and if so, the right kind of trees and the right density of trees?

thanks,

john

[Nodust]

It won't be a guarantee but google earth can help. Trees look smaller or bigger than they are. Underbrush, rocks, or other undesirable things may not be seen. But you can get a feel for the area and if trees are in the area. Use along with topo maps and I've had good luck with it.

Just have to be flexible and hike on if nothing is where you want to stay.


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[johne]

i'm hiking with my kids... we'll likely have a limited range... and my daughter uses a bivy sack so she'll be all snotty about me needing to find the right tree...

[AScott]

It can be helpful. I did hike out to a spot I had checked out on Google Earth one time that had been logged since the imagery on Google had been updated. Kind of ruined my day for a little while.

[NW Lost Boy]

I think it would be best to use Google Earth as one of several tools. The interwebs are your friend. You can search for camping/hiking reviews for areas you are considering. Many will include pics. Many times, if you're considering a national park or wilderness area, the local ranger's office can help alot with trees as well as current water availability, etc. Sometimes even a call to nearby outfitters can be a wealth of info. With kids, it's best to "know before you go" and if you haven't been there, talk to those who have. There might even be a few on these forums who could lend a hand if they knew what areas you are considering. Best of luck to you and remember, planning is half the fun!

[Gqgeek81]

Make sure to use the timeline feature which will let you see the images take from different times of the year. This will help you confirm for instance that those stands of pine trees are really stands of evergreen.

[OneClick]

Make sure to use the timeline feature which will let you see the images take from different times of the year. This will help you confirm for instance that those stands of pine trees are really stands of evergreen.

Exactly! The summer shots are almost useless to me since I only camp in pines. Too hard to find them with all the other green.