Topo Maps

Hi everyone! So, I'm spending a romantic afternoon with the dear husband working on our BOBs. Looking at items that we need to add, we think we need some topographical maps.

We've looked on several websites and at several different options. I told him about you marvelous and helpful individuals, and he said well ask them!

Here's what we're looking for in a topo:

~1:50,000 scale (ideally)
~As portable as possible (considering the scale we want)
~Covers our entire state (not just a small portion, which is something we're seeing in a lot of the topos we've looked at).

So far the ones we have found are digital (which is impractical in a no-power situation). If not digital, they are 1:500,000 scale, which seems harder to read.

So, what kinds of topos do you guys use? Any advice on choosing? And please, don't hesitate to provide links!!


PS- Here's something like what we are thinking of: Topo Atlas

For any retreat/home, assuming you have a map type personality, I would recommend that you have a copy, or three, of the USGS topographical maps at as large a scale as you can handle. These can be hung and overlayed with Mylar and marked up as need be with dry-erase markers or grease pencils.

The biggest issue with USGS maps is that they aren't updated very often so sections can benefit if you use Google-earth/map to update changes.

It is an interesting process that greatly increases the understanding and familiarity of the surrounding areas.

For areas not directly surrounding your retreat/s my preference id to get the Atlas/Gazetteer of your state. This is a cross between a topo map and road map that covers the state collected into a handy 16" by 11" format. These have far more detail as to the lay of the land (topography, vegetation, water and drainage) than any road map and have, based on those I have used, about 95% of what I need off a large scale topo map.

http://www.amazon.com/North-Carolina-Atlas-Gazetteer/dp/0899332773

Don't use the cover picture on the gazetteer as a guide. The picture on the cover of my Florida atlas/gazetteer shows a lower scale than what is inside.

Er a quick calculation

North Carolina = approx 140,000 square kilometres. At 1:50,000 scale that would work out to roughly 88 individual 1 metre square maps at 80gms/metre squared = 7kg of paper maps or around 15-16lbs of paper maps.

This would also be very expensive to purchase at this scale as well, but this is the scale required to get topographic information which is of any real use.

Perhaps the electronic solution to display the map info with a solar power source may work out to be more compact and possibly even more cost effective if you need to cover the entire state. You should also be able to get a GPS, which will accurately pin point your position on the map display thrown in for virtually nothing.

This is the sort of device that may suit your requirements

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-atRCeH0IWM

But I don't think it is available in the US.

You can download and print individual USGS quads if you want
http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/maps.html
Everyone uses the USGS quads which means you need a lot, I keep a few pdf's and printed and use a handheld gps for the rest. It can run 24 hours on a pair of rechargeable AA's and I keep several more pairs of AA's ready to go (low self discharge so they can sit charged and waiting)

Personally I use photoshop to cut and edit the USGS maps to get the areas I want, then print them out on Rite in the Rain paper (laser printer so I don't have to worry about ink running). It does get kind of unwieldy printing out the 1:24k maps on 8.5x11 size paper though. But its waterproof, I can do it at home and toner is dirt cheap ($.01/page). You could spend the money on larger format paper and take the USGS pdf files to a print shop.

Eugene you just improved my life!
I didn't know I could get them that way.

Thanks!

I find the useful scale of a topo map varies with the intended activity. 1:24k is great for hiking, while 1:250k has worked well for driving and wider ranging activities. Years ago, we did a fairly large climb using the only available map, an aeronautical chart. Let's just say it was an interesting experience.

USGS maps are typically dead on with respect to contours, but are often out of date with respect to cultural features. Hiking on National Forests, I often will carry the local USFS map, plus the appropriate topo sheet. Recent aerial photos are often useful as well if you are interested in a very specific small area. With practice, you can achieve 3-D vision of them in the field with no equipment.

Personally, I am a big fan of myTopo's Terrain Navigator. Most SAR teams in the Pacific Northwest use it. It's simple to use. National Geo. has a fine topo program too. Water proof paper adds longevity.

Concur with all the comments about the age of data on topo maps. That said, my local butte hasn't move in 4 million years and the topo data is right on.

The Delorme Gasetters are great and I have one in all my cars.

Blake
www.outdoorquest.biz

Thanks everyone, for all your great comments and advice! You've definitely given soe great information to consider. Odds are good we will incorporate a bit of everyone's suggestions, lol!

I love Terrain Navigator and use it quite a bit in my work. I haven't upgraded in a while and my version is a fussy printer. It doesn't remember settings very well but it would allow you to print out exactly the maps you need at any effective scale.

I have used it for generating everything from wall sized maps to quick pocket maps for navigating. I have also installed it on a netbook with a GPS for off road navigation. However, for printed versions to be usable and cover the entire state, it would be very bulky.

I agree that the Delorme Gazetteters might be your best solution if you need non-digital and the entire state. After that, I would suggest the USGS 1:100,000 maps. I think you can order them rolled as (opposed to folded) and possible stash the maps you need in one tube. Though the cost will add up.

Get the best maps you can. The DeLorme atlases are OK, they work, but they don't have the fine detail of the USGS maps (but both are often a bit long in the tooth). For the critical areas, I like having the USGSes, and a chopped DeLorme for the less critical areas in BoB. But if you can afford it, USGSes for the whole thing- a map case made of PVC is bulky, but bugging out by car it is manageable.

By chopped, I mean cover and touristy stuff, gone. Remove the portions of the book you won't need. Fold them consistantly, and put them in something like an AlkoSak or similiar waterproof bag. I"ve got the top half of Vermont in package not a lot bigger than a deck of playing cards after that. It's a good place to put things like photocopies of your liscence, birth certificate and passport, and some cash, along with a spare compass.

Of course, never trust ONE map. DeLorme, USGS, USFS, local parks and recreation agencies, aeronautical and coastal charts, they all end up in my collection along with aerial and satellite photos. Better than just a map is to drive your major routes, best is to drive them all, and bestest is to walk them, learn where the short cuts are, where the river fords are, that kind of thing.

EDIT: "Bestest" is hyperbole, I know quite well it isn't a word. :P

Interesting article on the current and future look of maps in the latest edition of Backpacker magazine. If I call, two of the guys on the Q&A were with Google Maps and USGS and how thats blending everything together physically. Also a good article on a author creating his own maps with infinite deal and then the website prints them out at like $13 bucks a pop. Ideal for what he called, "Locatypograghy"

Krista ... we've got that same NC atlas that we use when we camp/hike all around table rock, tryon, black mtn, etc. It works just fine.

If you go the software route and decide to print your own be sure to print to waterproof paper. I like the rite anywhere brand and it is not that expensive.

David,

Recommend you check out the 8.6 upgrade to Terrain Nav. It's a nice improvement though the print options take a bit getting used to.

Let me know if you need any help.

Blake

Go to the Flight Service desk at your local airport and ask to see a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) chart for your area. They may fit your needs quite well. I carry a few of them to cover the western rivers and all the areas between them and my home. I like the scale.

http://libremap.org/

I download my quads, add UTM grid if necessary, crop my area to hike/backpack, print on regular paper. 1:50K is a good size to me.

But they are 50 years old data, isn't they?

On at least USGS quads, the data are older than that. They are still very useful. Aerial photos came into mapping big time with the advent of WWII, and maps made since that time need updating of their cultural features, but the terrain remains constant.

The current maps for the California Channel Islands date from 1943, when the US military thought it might be useful to obtain accurate maps of coastal regions, and the topography is right on. I used those maps intensively for fifteen years - they were fully satisfactory.