Tech and online tools/links

Links

Weather etc

• Zygrib (http://www.zygrib.org/) - seems to be reliable. Web based or downloadable files and 10 day forecasts. This meant that as I rode through some of the most notoriously wet parts of Chilean Patagonia, I only rode in the rain on three occasions (and one of those was because I hadn't checked it).
• Wunderground (http://www.wunderground.com/) - not as good as Zygrib but easier to use online (i.e. if you haven't downloaded the program onto a computer).
• Earthquakes (Twitter handle - @EarthquakeUSGS) - because it's always interesting to know if the ground actually moved.

Maps and GPS tools (route planning and/or route reviewing)

• Viajeros Mapas (http://viajerosmapas.com/) - Good quality mapping, including topographical information, some street mapping and points of interest for Chile, most of Bolivia and parts of Argentina, Paraguay, Brasil and Peru. Can be uploaded onto Garmin GPS and viewed on computers although this requires Garmin Map Manager and Garmin BaseCamp to be installed. I wish I'd had this for the leg from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama. In fact I wouldn't recommend you do that leg without it.
• Garmin Openstreetmap (http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/) - downloadable openstreetmap files that you can then transfer onto your GPS via Garmin Map Installer and Garmin BaseCamp. Hopefully this will fill a mapping gap I have on the eastern side of Bolivia, into Paraguay and Brasil (and that the gap isn't a result of an absence of roads). Some big files so worth downloading when you have a decent internet connection (i.e. hi-speed and doesn't drop - or not Bolivia).
• Wikiloc (http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/home.do) - this website has GPS tracks that users have uploaded, so you can see the actual route people went for rides and walks, how long it took them and it also includes elevation data. Great for confirming that a road / trail actually exists and for planning treks where the available mapping may not be particularly great.
• JaVaWa GMTK (http://www.javawa.nl/gmtk_en.html) - this program enables you to rename Garmin Openstreetmap files so that you can have multiple loaded into BaseCamp at the same time (otherwise when you load a new one, it over-writes the old one). You still can't view multiple maps at the same time however.
• How to install maps onto the Garmin GPS:
• Go to http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/;
• Choose generic routable, new style map;
• Select the map areas you want to download. Open the email and click on the link;
• On the webpage that opens click on the link to download the "Map installer for BaseCamp/RoadTrip on the Mac OSX platform" version;
• Open Garmin MapManager;
• Go to "File", "Install" and select the new map folder;
• Close Garmin MapManager;
• Open JaVaWa GMTK;
• Go to "Extra", "Change map name and ID";
• Change top number to desired number (sequential), change bottom three items to desired file name;
• Exit JaVaWa GMTK;
• Connect GPS;
• Open Garmin MapInstall;
• Select maps to install;
• Eject GPS once installation process has finished. Check map installation complete.
• Tourstart (http://tourstart.org/drive/) - I use this to create the route maps, which can then either be downloaded as a GPX file for use in GPS or a KML file which can be imported into Google Maps Engine in order to show not only the points on the route, but the way I went.
• GPS visualiser (http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/) - a handy tool that plots a Google Map route onto different mapping and can also create route profiles (elevation) - particularly useful for cyclists.

Borders / Formalities

• Chile (http://www.pasofronerizos.gov.cl/) - As well as the website the major passes have twitter feeds that provide updates on weather conditions and whether or not the route is clear / the pass is open. Useful accounts are @UPFronterizos, @CFLosLibertador, @CFSanFrancisco

Motorbike touring forums

• Adventure Rider (http://www.advrider.com/)
• Horizons Unlimited (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/)
• Ride Chile (http://www.ride-chile.com/) - tours and bike rental