Map
From Trail-Finder -- Dedicated to getting you outside
Contents |
Overview
Maps come in many forms, and each different form has its uses. For each type of map, map reading skills, often combined with a good compass or GPS, will allow you varying degrees of knowledge, not only of where you are, but also how to get where you're going. Whether you're hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, or participating in nearly any other outdoor activity, a map can help you to know where you are, where you're going, and how to get there.
Highway maps
Highway maps are drawn to scale and generally just show roads, cities, and a few other points along the way. They're great for finding the neighborhood of your trail, but generally useless for finding the actual trailhead, and rarely worth carrying in your pack, unless you plan a one-way trip in backcountry, traveling back by road, perhaps hitchhiking.
Topo maps
Topo maps, also called topographic maps, are drawn to scale, with a great deal of detail, including some trails, most water sources, etc. The true, unique feature of topo maps is that they include terrain details, including elevation contours and ground cover (water, forest, rock, etc). Paper versions usually cover less than 15 miles side to side, and a single hike will often require more than one hike. Fortunately, there are some options.
Printed Topo Maps
Traditionally, all topo maps come from government survey organizations like [USGS]. These maps are still available, either through direct purchase from the government, and through outdoor stores, bookshops, and specialty map stores. If you just want to look at them, and don't necessarily need to take them on the trail, most large libraries, especially university libraries, tend to have complete sets.
Trails Illustrated Maps
Trails Illustrated Maps, produced by National Geographic, cover specific areas, usually major national parks, on a single, water-resistant, tear-resistant map. Hiking trails are prominently featured, along with other information more useful to hikers in the park than to non-hikers.
With low cost and durability, Trails Illustrated maps are worth carrying, if you happen to be lucky enough to be traveling in an area with coverage.
Electronic Topo Maps
With GPSs becoming cheap and plentiful, and computer memory becoming even cheaper, it's now possible to buy, often for $100US or less, a full, nation-wide set of topo maps which you can load to your PC, then upload to your GPS. This may be the ultimate trail map, since you not only have a full map, but you also always have a "you are here" mark on that map.
Trailhead Maps
These maps, sometimes drawn to scale, sometimes not, are usually posted as signs at the trailhead. The main objective of these maps is to show what trails to follow to get to specific destinations. Very useful for taking a quick glance at them and remembering things like, "Turn left, left, right, straight." Not so useful for figuring out what the trail will be like. These are increasingly being replaced with subway maps.
Handout Trail Maps
These maps, usually photocopied by the park service or downloaded from the park's web site, are a combination of highway map, to get you to the trailhead, and trailhead map, to help you find your way around on the trail. In most parks, if you have one of these in your pocket, and know how to read it, you're probably not going to get lost.
Subway Maps
The old trail intersection signs which used to be scattered around parks are gradually being replaced by newer subway maps. Named after the map first produced by Harry Beck in 1933, subway maps don't pay much attention to the actual geography, instead focusing on the trails. These maps are never drawn to scale, although they may approximate it. The objective is to show trails relative to each other and make the trail intersections clear.
If you haven't seen these yet, they probably seem quite useless, however, they're some of the most useful maps that can be posted at trail intersections. When you are on a trail with subway maps, every intersection has a map on a post. At the top of the post is a number or letter corresponding to your current location. Below that is the map itself. Below the map, there are other numbers or letters with arrows pointing the direction on the trail to get to that next point. Just find your current location, decide which point you want to go to next, and follow the arrow.
Categories: Gear | Maps
