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January 18, 2006

Custom Topographical Maps & Aerial Photos

Using USGS supplied topographical maps and aerial photos can be a pain, as anyone who has tried can attest to. All too often landmarks you're trying to navigate are obscured by seams or you have to piece together multiple paper maps. Only the luckiest of us have used them with any success whatsoever, especially when weather is added into the equation. Soggy, wet and torn maps, unreadable ink, and what seems like a 1:100 million scale drawing hampers anyone but the most serious hiker from using these invaluable maps. MyTopo.com aims to change this, and in doing so is now my only source for topographic maps and aerial photos.

A great user friendly web interface walks you through the entire process. From start to finish I was able to make a GREAT looking custom map of one of my favorite trails in about 5 minutes; the kicker is that it was also the best and easiest to read map I've yet seen of my area. MyTopo.com allows users to navigate the area they wish to map by a common "place name", such as "Snoqualmie Falls" in Washington, by address or GPS coordinates. After the location is zeroed, users will be presented with a basic map of the area. From here they can specify if it's a topographical map they want, or an aerial photo, print size and the scale of the map (lower being higher detail / less area coverage) and a choice of print from waterproof, glossy print, or a full-seam laminated map for the highest protection from the elements.

Finally, users can specify options such as "Relief Shading" to help visually identify the height differences in areas on the map with-out actually having to read the map. It sort of puts a 3d spin on the whole thing, allowing snap glances to quickly orient position.

MyTopo.com should be considered your first source in locating high quality custom maps concerning your next adventure.

Posted by Jesse Gunderson at January 18, 2006 10:51 AM

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