Granted, I’d consider myself a bit of a doofus if I misjudged things that badly, but it could still be nice to know the exact distance of a custom-made trail.  Now, as Google’s Keith Golden posted on the Google LatLong Blog, “Whenever you draw a line, you’ll see the current distance as you move the mouse and add new points.  The distance is also displayed in the info window when you click on your completed line.”

This feature is already getting attention from some outdoor enthusiasts; sources such as Free Geography Tools and Team Geared Up have taken (positive) note of it.  Complaints are relatively minor – the feature has not yet been introduced in Google Earth, and it’s also limited to expressing distances in miles.

On the whole, it’s a welcome addition, and one of many, really, which have been made to Google Maps in the recent past – the ability to embed was established less than a month ago, and not so long before that came the introduction of drag-and-drop features.

So go, hike, and rest easy in the knowledge that you can get by with a canteen and a granola bar or two.

Larry Fox, a Trimble employee who works in business development, explained the concept.  “Trimble Outdoors is providing Google Earth users with the first multimedia GPS content layer for outdoor adventure seekers,” he said.

And while the data will be accessible from a number of cell phones and GPS devices, there are also options for those of us sitting at our computers.

“[U]sers can view a 3D trip of running, bicycling or hiking destinations gaining a unique perspective with the addition of audio, video, photos and detailed editorial,” stated Fox.  “Through this interactive interface, users can not only see an activity, they can share an experience.”

The Official Google Blog is carrying two pictures that demonstrate the new data layer at work; the coverage is pretty impressive, at least in the southern California.  And judging from a thread in the Groundspeak Forums, user reactions are tending towards the positive.  “Have to say this is pretty cool,” wrote “Bus36,” a premium member.

So the next time you’re planning a hike, or even after you’re out on the trails, give Google and Trimble a thought.  Just keep an eye out for that rancor while you’re playing with your cell phone.