Trail documentation and publishing method
A field method for mapping hiking loops, documenting their points of interest and publishing curated profiles on the hiking platforms less experienced walkers use.
Record classification
Attributes
Summary
What this is
Routes chosen with the local CAI section, base maps prepared in GIS, morning field outings in teams of four researchers and a CAI volunteer — navigator, GPX tracker, point-of-interest documenter, photographer — and afternoons spent cleaning the data. Each trail ends as a description sheet: refined GPX track, georeferenced points of interest, technical data, accessibility and critical points, and a narrative description.
What problem it was made for
Monti Prenestini had few curated, well-described trails on the platforms that less experienced hikers and proximity tourists use to plan a day out.
Where it came from
Reviving Trails, Monti Prenestini, September 2024: 7 itineraries, 41.5 km and 81 points of interest, published as 28 profiles on AllTrails, Komoot, Wikiloc and Outdooractive.
How to use it
Favour loops of low or intermediate difficulty that start from historic centres or accessible points, on CAI trails with signage in good condition. Each description sheet is then adapted to the language and interface of each platform.
Reuse
The report found the method strongly dependent on weather, and photographs and narrative uneven from team to team: consistent quality needs specific training and more detailed guidelines. License to be confirmed.