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 10:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

June 5, 2005

Around-n-Over: Human power!

Erden Eruç has set out to conquer the oceans, the mountains, and everything in between. Others have set out to do the same, but Erden is going to do it with only the power of his own arms and legs. He will bicycle across six continents and row the oceans in between, and he will climb the highest peak on each.

The site very eloquently describes a feeling that many lifelong travelers and adventurers have:

There are dreams that never go away. They live inside us. We learn to live with them. We tuck them away. We try to ignore them. We have commitments in the city. We feel guilty to even consider those dreams. Sometimes we indulge, lifting our eyes off the pages of a magazine with colorful pictures, and gaze into the distance. These dreams most often define the true individual inside us that wants to come alive.

Erden's voyage is inspiring in a wholly different way from most others because he is doing everything using the power of his own body. Inspiring the youth of the world and showing them that their dreams are possible if they only try hard enough is one of his goals, and undertaking a voyage without the use of motorized transport will surely make most of us marvel at the power of our bodies when properly motivated.

For an overview of the voyage you can view a map of Erden's route.

For more information on ocean rowing please visit the Ocean Rowing Society's homepage.

Posted by Beau Gunderson at 9:17 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack