Monthly Archives: July 2018

Pumpkinvine Nature Trail now on Street View in Google maps

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In 2016, the Goshen Park department used the Goggle Trekker to map the major trails in Goshen, including all of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. The results are available for use in Google Maps. Google Trekker allows you to see any part of the trail you choose. You can move the "trail view" along the trail by manipulating an arrow.  Follow these steps to see any portion of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.

  1. In your browser, type maps.google.com
  2. In either the road view or satellite view (which you can toggle with the little box in the bottom left side of the screen), move the map, using your cursor, to the portion of the Pumpkinvine you want to look at. (The Pumpkinvine shows up as a green dotted line on the map.)
  3. Then click on the location on the Pumpkinvine you want to look at. A box opens at the bottom of the map with a photo of that location.
  4. Click on the photo and the "trail view" will open. You may need to rotate the map to see the trail by grabbing the map and turning it left or right.
  5. You can move down the trail by clicking on the ^ arrow.
  6. Hit Escape to exit Street View.

 

Smart phone and tablet, too

You can also see a Pumpkinvine Nature Trail "trail view"  in Google Maps on your smart phone or tablet.

  1. Download Google Maps from Google Play (Android) or Apple App store.
  2. In the Google Maps app, navigate to or search for the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.
  3. Once you see the trail, hold your finger on the location you want to see until a small picture frame of that location opens.
  4. Tap on the picture and a view of the trail will open.
  5. You may need to rotate the image to see the trail.

Midsummer Progress Report

Pumpkinvine Nature Trail Posted on by

So what have I been up to this summer?

I’ve been working on creating a management plan to help improve the quality of the nature bordering the trail. This entails sitting on my computer for hours creating maps of the different regions along the trail that have the best chance of not being overrun by invasive species (specifically -1, 4.5, 8.5 and 12.5). Here is a draft of my map of the region along mile marker 12.5:

It’s definitely a rough first draft, but the purpose of it is to show where different invasive species exist within Pumpkinvine trail property so that the parks departments and volunteers know where to focus their energy for removal in the coming years.
In the next week or two I hope to finalize the first draft of my management plan, and then get out along the trail and start implementing it. This will hopefully give me a chance to figure out what elements I may need to add or alter in future drafts.
If you’re interested in helping out with species removal this summer, looking for a volunteer opportunity for a group either now or in the future, please feel free to reach out to us in the comments (or email itorres19@amherst.edu) as we’d love to get you involved — the more the merrier!
Questions? Comments? Ideas? I’d love to hear from people who are interested in improving the quality of natural areas and/or have areas along the trail that are near and dear to their hearts!
-Isabela Torres