Backpacking Maps --
Your Personal Backwoods Guide
You will likely use one of the following two sources of backpacking maps: Topographic (topo) or Guide Book A topographic map shows, by way of contour lines, colors, symbols and sometimes shading, the layout of area in a two-dimensional form. With a little orientation to the lines, colors and symbols used, you will be able to identify the geographic landmarks around you such as rivers, streams, lakes, mountains, roads, even cities. How Did Topographic Maps Begin? The United States began making topographic maps of the east coast as early as 1807. Lewis and Clark mapped their exploration from Missouri to the Pacific Ocean from 1804-1806. The US Geological Survey (USGS) was established in 1879 and has become the standard for topographic maps in the United States. Most of the early work by the USGS required labor-intensive field work to plot out the topography. In the 1930’s the USGS began using aerial photography to produce maps. In the 1980’s they began using computers. As technology developed, the USGS used more advanced techniques in making and updating maps. The USGS now has over 56,000 topographic maps of the United States. Chances are almost certain that the USGS will have a detailed and current map of the hiking location that you choose. Reading a Topographic Map Reading a topographic map takes a little orientation and some practice. Here are a few basics: The brown lines are called contour lines. Connected brown lines shows areas of the same elevation. As contour lines get closer together, the grade is steeper. If you are looking at a mountain, the lines will show the shape of the mountain in circular-like brown lines and the closer the lines get together, the steeper the area. At the base of the mountain, the lines will typically be farther apart, as you ascend, they will become closer together. If the mountain has a flat top, the contour lines will again get further apart. Blue lines indicate water sources. You can even determine the direction of flow of a stream that flows in a valley. Look at a topographic map. Notice a blue line that intersects brown lines forming a “v” pattern. The point of the “v” points upstream. Green areas represented forested areas. Red areas represent cities. Roads and highways are indicated by red or black lines.
 For Email Marketing you can trust Be sure to check the legend at the bottom of the map to understand the symbols used on the map. This is particularly important when traveling to other countries. There is no international consistency between symbols. For example, a symbol for a railroad in Switzerland would equate to the USGS symbol for a secondary road. Just be sure to check the legend on your particular backpacking map to be sure that you understand the symbols. You will also find a symbol for north. It is important to understand that the line indicating true north, often indicated by a star, does NOT correlate with your compass. Your compass will point magnetic north. You will find another line indicating magnetic north, just to the right of true north to which you will orient your compass. Guide Books Guide books go a little further to help you understand the area in which you will be hiking. The better ones include a topo map as we have already discussed. In addition, this they provide a turn-by-turn narrative description of the trail or area. Some of the things that a guide book will tell you are how difficult the trail is, where you might find scenic vistas and good places to camp. Often it will tell you where to find the next water source. It might even point out special points of interest like a 100 year old tree or a special herb or flower that grows in an area. Depending on your personal style, either of these excellent resources will make your hike more enjoyable. More importantly, in the case getting lost, these backpacking maps will help you find your way to a water source, sheltered area to make camp or intersecting road back to civilization. Return from Backpacking Maps to Ten Essentials
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Early on, while planning your hiking trip, you will want to secure backpacking maps of the area in which you will be traveling. For your safety, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area, it would be unwise to neglect this step. Even on known trails, detours can occur requiring you to take a route that may not be familiar to you. Getting off trail can lead to disorientation and you can become lost before you realize it.