Be Sure to Check the Date
Before you take any map into wilderness be sure to check the publication date. Road, trail and land information can go out of date over time, make sure you have the latest maps available for the area you want to go and explore.
First Step: Consider the Kinds of Trips You Have Planned
The map or maps you bring with you on a backpacking trip should match with route you have planned before, The longer and more complex that route is more detail you will need to keep track of where you are.
On the short trips over popular well-marked trails, you will need a map that helps you find basic features like campsites, water supplies and points of your interest. you will need details about the lay of the land so that you can make it from point 1 to point 2 even if you lose the trail.
Second Step: Consider Your Options
- Planimetric maps: Planimetric maps describe the world as if it were a flat surface, They typically show basic details like main trails, lakes, jungle and campsites. they do not provide any elevation information. Use a planimetric map only when traveling short distances along well established trails.
- Topographic maps: Topographic maps describe the physical features of the land. They show elevation gains and losses , steepness of hills and valleys, and the location of natural features. This topographic information is essential for navigating using a map and compass or gps. Some topographic maps (but not all) combine topographic information with basic information about trails, campsites and natural attractions. Authorized main supplier of the topographic maps in the US is the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- Special interest maps: These one special topographic maps cater specifically to outdoor enthusiasts. They combine basic topographic information with detailed information about the backpacking trails, established campsites, interesting side trips, and recreational opportunities most are produced by private companies rather than the US government. the special interest maps covering popular backpacking spots (state parks, national parks, national forests) all over the country.
Between Quadrangles and specialty maps
Topographic maps sold by the USGS cover rectangular areas of land called quadrangles A borders of these maps are determined by latitude lines, longitude lines and the smaller divisions between them (minutes and seconds), The benefit of this system is that every square inch of the United States is covered by a USGS quadrangle map, and that each map lines up exactly flush with the ones around it. The down-side is that backpacking trails often wander across these predetermined border you may have to carry more than one map.
Some private map companies address this situation by offering topographic maps that are drawn specifically to cover popular backpacking trails these maps offer the same basic information as USGS maps. But they have irregularly shaped borders so they cover the entire route or area with a single map.
Third Step: Choose the Right Scale
The scale of a topographic map determines how much land the map covers and how much detail can provides, Scales are described in ratios 1:24,000, for example, means that one inch on the map is equal to 24,000 inches or 2,000 feet on the ground. The scale of a map is usually displayed along the bottom of the map.
# Small scale maps, maps with scales smaller than 1:62,500 cover a lot of area, but they can not provide detail as a result. They tend to be a poor choice for beginning backpackers and travellers.
# Large scale maps 1:62,500 or larger focus on more specific areas and can provide more detail lands. You may have to carry more than one to cover your route and your destination But they provide much more useful information for basic traveling.
The most popular map scale choice for basic backpacking trips is 1:24,000 (also known as 7.5 minutes of longitude wide). 1:62,500 scale maps (also known as 15 minutes maps) , though they are no longer produced by the USGS and are becoming more difficult to find.
Fourth Step: Learn How to Navigate
Simply having the right map in your backpack won't protect you from getting lost. You still have to learn how to use a map and compass to navigate in the wilderness area. pick up an introductory book on map and compass navigation or take a class from an experienced guider. It is never too early to learn the basics of navigating in the backcountry and the sooner you understand the basics, the safer you will be.