Maps for Spring trip

baltocharlie

baltocharlie

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Dec 21, 2012
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Hey folks: I've been lurking for a bit and recently posted myself in the noobie intro. I will be doing a trip this spring(April or May) to southern Utah. Plan to mix it up a bit with Mt biking and hiking/basckpacking/canyoneering. At this point I plan to go into the Escalante area for the hiking part and Moab for the biking. So as I prepare I need a good map. What map is best to do do some hiking/backpacking and canyoneering in this region. Will 1 do it or will I need a few to cover the region? There is a Nat Geo one that looks good but not certain it will be good enough for a 2-3 day backpacking trip. @1:75,000 not exactly detailed scale. I'm thinking 1:25,000 or so would be better. Maybe get the Nat Gepo map and a GPS??
I see a book post about the region and will address a few needs there as well.
Lots more Q's to come about canyoneering as well.
Thanks, great site.
Charlie(old but still cranking)
 
This thread helped me a ton: http://backcountrypost.com/forum/index.php?threads/mapping-resources.42/

I used the links to the free Utah USGS maps (http://gis.utah.gov/data/usgs-scanned-topographic-maps-drgs/) and successfully calibrated a couple to OruxMaps on my phone (kinda complicated, but doable). Took it with me on my last trip and it worked fine. For back up, I printed the bits that I needed on a color printer and put them in a zip lock. If you don't want to rely on your phone GPS for an overnighter, I'm pretty sure you can load them into another GPS. I can't help you there but I'm sure someone else here can.

I've used the Trails Illustrated maps for bike trips before and they worked fine. You are right though... not tremendously detailed.

For simple and free on-line recon, I've really started to like the BLM geocomunicator interactive map. Check the box for the "topo map NGS" base map, zoom in, and you'll find that the bottom layer is a very detailed topo map that you can scroll around a la Google maps. Plus there's another check box that let's you overlay a shade for BLM managed land.
 
I've spent quite a bit of time exploring the Escalante. The Escalante Trails Illustrated is an excellent map, highly recommended. Sure, it lacks the detail you get out of a USGS quad but it's awesome for the overall picture. I also find that the extra detail from a quad is often not needed there because of the nature of being down in a canyon. Still pretty easy to identify features, etc. and overall navigation isn't difficult.

For quads, I've really come to appreciate the maps I create on MyTopo Map Pass. The user interface leaves much to be desired, but it's still pretty good at cranking out custom maps. I print mine on 11x17 and usually do an aerial map on the other side, also produced in MyTopo so it all lines up perfectly. It's $30 per year for that service so pretty reasonable if you get out a fair amount.

I do carry a GPS most of the time, a Garmin Oregon 450. It comes in handy for checking distances and getting a quick idea of where I"m at or what I'm looking for. I recently switch to an android phone with replaceable batteries so I'm thinking I'll use it for some trips this year. Probably not for tracking mileage but definitely for canyoneering trips where all I'm really doing is finding the entry to the canyon. I downloaded Backcountry Navigator Pro for the GPS app. Haven't played around with it alot but it looks like it'll be awesome.

As for Mountain Biking, check out Skid Map. Zoom into Moab and watch the trails appear! http://skidmap.com/
 
Wow, that is the mother-load of map info on the links provided. That should keep me busy all weekend. Thanks Noun. I'm not much of a cell phone user so will have to start checking into GPS dedicated systems.
 
Thanks Nick, just replied to Noun's info as you were writing. I will look into the GPS you mentioned. I was playing with the skid map this weekend. It is awesome.
I'll probably buy the Escalante TI map to start planning, perhaps even the Canyonland/Moab TI maps. So you don't think a quad is needed. I've been down in some of the canyons before with very poor maps and kinda agree. However there were a few times I was scratching my head but always figured it out. I was thinking a good map is needed when I go to less traveled areas. Thanks again.
 
More GPS info!!! Quick GPS Q. What is the battery life life in a GPS vs a cell phones? Any GPS using LI 18650 batteries? They kick ass in my lights for night bike commuting. Cheap, small enough, rechargeable and pack a ton of power.
 
I buy the trail illustrated for every area I even intend to visit, they're awesome. And I would still probably carry a quad in most cases, I just don't think it's as important around Escalante as it can be in mountain environments or if you're doing more overland travel. Like I wouldn't bother for the straightforward hikes like Coyote Gulch, Escalante River Gorge, Harris Wash, etc. For ones that require a bit more overland navigation like Fiftymile, Davis, Scorpion, etc. Definitely go for the topo. And when in doubt, bust them all out! If it's easy to print your own, get that Map Pass subscription and go crazy. I print them for every backpacking trip for myself and everyone who joins me.

Note on the Canyonlands TI maps. They have an all-encompassing Canyonlands map or you can buy them individually for iSky, Needles and Maze. I recommend getting them individually. More detail. Also, for Needles and Maze, the terrain is so complex that is one place I would definitely also print the detailed quads.
 
baltocharlie said:
More GPS info!!! Quick GPS Q. What is the battery life life in a GPS vs a cell phones? Any GPS using LI 181650 batteries? They kick ass in my lights for night bike commuting. Cheap, small enough, rechargeable and pack a ton of power.
Click to expand...

My Garmin 450 takes two AA batteries. If I use AA lithiums, I can get nearly four full days of hiking, leaving it on and tracking me the entire time. If I use rechargeable NiMH AA's like the eneloops, I get more like 2 days of hiking. Still very good and that's with none of the 'battery saver' features turned on.
 
Thanks Nick: Plan to buy a bunch this wknd. In fact I bike home past an REI. Good to know about quad use or non-use in the areas mentioned. I was thinking about some of the straight forward Escalante hikes. I was also looking into the Canyonlands as it it closer to Moab thus less driving/more playing. But the canyons of Escalante are really drawing me down there. I'll buy the maps then plan some more.
GPS: battery time seems good. 4 days w/ lithium!! great to hear this.

Well everyone, you have helped me tremendously. I'll report back after spending the next few nights going over everything.
 
Chiming in to say I agree 100% with Nick. The TI maps and quads are not replacements for one another... both are valuable tools with separate (but overlapping) purposes. The individual TI maps for Canyonlands are the way to go.

And if you ever decide to go the phone GPS route, remember that radios you're not using in the backcountry (wifi, Bluetooth, cellular data) will leech power. If your device has toggles for each, use them.
 
BTW -- the Escalante Visitor Center has all the local quads on display with a great amount of notes added for popular/tricky routes and/or water sources. You might want to stop by and check them out before heading out. I like to take digital snapshots of key portions before I head out to have the latest notes with me on the camera I'm going to be using.

- Jamal
 
baltocharlie said:
More GPS info!!! Quick GPS Q. What is the battery life life in a GPS vs a cell phones?
Click to expand...

This is where the standard GPS prevails. I typically carry my phone in my pocket in airplane mode, and only flip on the GPS when I want to check my location, drop a way point, check the elevation, etc. Doing this, I can get a few days out of the battery, if I'm lucky. But if I were to turn the tracking on (GPS on full-time), I'd be lucky to get even a single day out of it.
 
pixie1339 said:
That looks about like my TI maps collection.:) Love those!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...


Same here :)

I have quite a collection right now and each time I find a new one for a possible future hike in an area I've never been before I buy the map.
And it is so much fun to sit in front of one of these maps on rainy days and plan the next trip.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
lostlandscapes said:
BNP blows the Gaia GPS app out of the water (at least on android) .
Click to expand...

I tried Gaia on the iPhone, and yeah, it was terrible. I use MotionX-GPS now. It was a bit of a pain to download all the maps I wanted on it, but it functions more like a real GPS than Gaia does.
 
Well, stopped by REI last Thursday on the way to my train. I got talking to a salesman about GPS, then realized I was going to miss my train. So much to GPS!!! So I had no time to buy them. Plan to score a few this week though.
@Jamal: Good to know about the quads...even pictures, very nice
@phones apps: Wish I was more into the phone but am seriously leaning towards the dedicated GPS. And like lostlandscapes says the battery life is much improved.
I'll post when I score the TI. Then I will start mapping my spring trip. Thanks
 
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