KML Guidelines
Please try to follow these guidelines when you create maps to be uploaded to Ropewiki. Following some basic color and naming conventions will make it a lot easier for others to use your map and will also allow the system to seamlessly integrate your maps with the maps provided by other people for display and download.
Names
Map Examples:
- Quick map: only approach and descent shown
- In&Back: exit route shown, even if overlaps
- Loop: approach one way and exit another
- Shuttle: different parking for Approach and Exit
- Combo: Up one canyon and down another one
- Multiple: Multiple canyons, multiple parkings and connection options
| Ice Cube Canyon (The Maze) |
| Show Printable Map |
Name the routes using the same name conventions used for the sections in the description page (Introduction, Approach, Descent, Exit, etc.).
- Approach (Approach): hike in route, usually starts where a vehicle is parked and proceeds on some sort of trail
- Descent (Descent): technical route going up or down, usually the main attraction or where wetsuit/harness are needed
- Connection (Connection): hike required to connect multiple technical routes, usually will combine ascents and descents to form a loop
- Exit (Exit): hike out route, usually on some sort of trail and ending where a vehicle is parked
- Road (Road): road to access the trailhead or shuttle route between the Approach and the Exit
It is also useful to create waypoints for those locations where vehicles are parked so that GPS devices can help navigating there.
- Parking (Parking): waypoint where a vehicle is parked
- Parking Approach (Parking Approach): waypoints usually needed for a shuttle route
- Parking Exit (Parking Exit): waypoints usually needed for a shuttle route
Sometimes it may also be useful to create other waypoints too:
- Start (Start): the start of the descent
- End (End): the end of the descent
- Checkpoint (Checkpoint): waterflow reference picture location
In general, you don't need to add stats (mileage or elevation) to the name of the routes because the system automatically computes route length and elevation profiles are shown with just a click.
In general, rather than to mix several canyons in one single map it is better to have a separate map and separate page for each canyon and let the system combine them when users click on the 'Show Routes' checkbox in the region map.
Colors
- Green: Approach / Aproximación / Connection / Conexión
- Red: Descent / Descenso
- Yellow: Exit / Retorno
- Orange: Bypass, Escape, Bushwack, Scramble or other highlights
- Black: Road access or shuttle route
- Cyan: Water Approach (canoe/kayak/packraft/boat)
- Blue: Water Exit (canoe/kayak/packraft/boat)
- Magenta: Special routes that don't fit previous categories
If you want to display multiple routes of the same type, for instance multiple descent routes:
- use thicker lines and/or brighter colors for the main routes
- use thinner lines and/or darker colors for the secondary routes
Styles
Use thick solid line styles for main routes to facilitate display/printing.
- 5 pix width: main routes
- 2-4 pix width: alternate routes
- 1 pix width: hint routes
Markers
Different software uses different markers, but in general they all offer generic symbols for Parking, Camping, Camera. These generic symbols will convert well to GPX.
