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Back in July, we told you about Google’s roving mobile camera and that they captured the roads in Yosemite.

Now the Mt View, CA has taken the technology one step further. They have released a new program under Google maps that will let you take a virtual hike in the Grand Canyon. They claim to have 75 miles of trails that you can “walk” at home. Their staff strapped on the video capture device shown below.

Google’s video capture device

That looks like a pretty hefty weight to be hauling all the way to the Colorado River down the Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch. And back up. They used images from an October trip.

What do you think? Will people use this to help plan their trip to see “what it’s like?” Or will they sit on their recliner and save the money and sweat and “check off” that they’ve “been there?” Here’s what a snapshot looks like:

Grand Canyon hike with Google

I’d guess they will do Yosemite next. I’ve already seen a commercial video of the entire Half Dome hike – done with a hand held videocam. The Google method lets you “turn around” and zoom into things of interest. I have no idea what their rig weighs, but getting it up 4,737 feet and negotiating the cables would be a massive effort. But then, the Bright Angel Trail is nothing to sneeze at either. One thing that still botyhers me is that even though the fuzz human faces, it sure would be easy to recognize someone based on their physique, clothing, etc.

Just go to your browser and get on Google maps. Enter Grand Canyon and then place the street views little man down on a trail and have fun.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary

MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome