usgs charts

[blw2]

You folks were helping me with lots of great suggestions for alternative trails over in another thread
I'm old fashioned I guess, wasn't liking flipping and zooming around the online maps to find all the places

So I was figuring to buy some paper topo maps that I could pencil and high lite. About to order some from the USGS, but when I looked at the downloaded version of the latest issues
They are not what I used to know....
they had the topo info, and some roads, but things like trails and structures are not shown.

Does anyone know off hand if this is just a fluke in the online download versions?

What's the best sources for large scale paper charts if not the USGS?
I'm looking not only as AT sections in GA and NC, but also areas such as Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness, the BMT maybe, or perhaps some other trails.
I did order something from the US forest service for Chatahooche NF, but they were out of stock for the Kilmer Slickrock area.

[Venchka]

Maybe you didn't have the right layers turned on?
CalTopo.com has the entire USA in old school topo detail. You can print them letter size for free. For a modest donation you can print larger.
Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[REWB]

CalTopo.com has the entire USA in old school topo detail. You can print them letter size for free. For a modest donation you can print larger.
Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow! Very cool application! Looks like a bit of a learning curve but I can see this as a valuable tool. TY for sharing Venchka!

[tenter]

I will check out this app too. What do you mean when you write "modest donation:?

[nsherry61]

A couple of potentially useful thoughts:

1) The USGS maps are not charts. Charts come from NOAA and the like and are focused on bathymetry and water navigation information.
2) The USGS budget has been dramatically cut over the years to the point that they cannot ground-truth structures, trails, etc., and so a deliberate decision was made to maintain the relatively robust topographic features, but remove the unverifiable details on all new and forthcoming datasets/maps.

Therefore, at this time and into the foreseeable future, maps that include trails and structures all have to come from private or local government sources, NOT the USGS!

3) If you want the best USGS maps with trails and structures that are available, you can just download the older versions of the maps from the USGS site, and they will have all those details you value. They are all just details that have not been verified or updated since the old maps were made.

I find it quite fun sometimes to hike with both current and old maps and see where they differ and see if the old routes are still visible. Sometimes the old routes have interesting points of interest or features, or are still there as poorly maintained trails or overgrown roads to areas that no current trails are officially routed or mapped. For instance, I have found mines, caves and/or cave entrances that are not on newer maps either to reduce liability of people exploring dangerous mine areas or to protect fragile caves from overuse or abuse.

[Dogwood]

A couple of potentially useful thoughts:

1) The USGS maps are not charts. Charts come from NOAA and the like and are focused on bathymetry and water navigation information.
2) The USGS budget has been dramatically cut over the years to the point that they cannot ground-truth structures, trails, etc., and so a deliberate decision was made to maintain the relatively robust topographic features, but remove the unverifiable details on all new and forthcoming datasets/maps.

Therefore, at this time and into the foreseeable future, maps that include trails and structures all have to come from private or local government sources, NOT the USGS!

3) If you want the best USGS maps with trails and structures that are available, you can just download the older versions of the maps from the USGS site, and they will have all those details you value. They are all just details that have not been verified or updated since the old maps were made.

I find it quite fun sometimes to hike with both current and old maps and see where they differ and see if the old routes are still visible. Sometimes the old routes have interesting points of interest or features, or are still there as poorly maintained trails or overgrown roads to areas that no current trails are officially routed or mapped. For instance, I have found mines, caves and/or cave entrances that are not on newer maps either to reduce liability of people exploring dangerous mine areas or to protect fragile caves from overuse or abuse.


TY. Wasn't aware of this.

[rocketsocks]

Words the live by
"roll the maps, don't fold the maps"~rabbit-"Twister"