Thread: How to graph a ski trail?

I have distance and elevation that someone put on graph paper. But I need something my accurate then this chicken scratch. And it's making my brain hurt, help. I looked at an example and it looked like someone was able to take a topo and do this? I need to get this stuff to USSA by 10/1.

slope is rise/run
rise is straight height and run is straight distance

so if height = 1000 ft and run = 200 slope is 5

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/slope.htm

basically you need two points to form line. or in your case probably many points

topo can be converted into points by drawing a 2D line
1000, 800 600 400, etc this is rise (1000) see point 1
run is distance between lines 200 and so on

hope this helps.

graphing calulator will help. Ask to demo one in store and then print it out....

Can that be done somehow with excel?

graph>scatterplot

hmmmm???...

Something like this (might not have the data points right)?

JC's probably got it right but here it is in cumulative meters. That's what's throwing off your first graph (I assume the distances are the length of the leg, and the elevations are elevations at end of leg? If this is correct you are missing a data point for starting elevation)

Originally Posted by khakis

JC's probably got it right but here it is in cumulative meters. That's what's throwing off your first graph (I assume the distances are the length of the leg, and the elevations are elevations at end of leg? If this is correct you are missing a data point for starting elevation)

Yeah, that's what I couldn't figure out. I assumed it was starting elevation (and ended at the ocean?) - leads to a pretty sick looking trail

This is a sample I was given to use as a guide.