Acquire an elevation profile for this region. Consult a mapping tool such as Google Maps, MapQuest or Garmin for a topographical representation of this region. Insert the coordinates. Note the elevations. Document the current minimum and maximum elevations of the y-axis for the topographic profile...
Simplified trail maps—such as the JPEG images you might find on anational park’swebsite—don’t always include all the information you need for complete navigation. There’s no elevation data, no magnetic declination, and not as many symbols. If you get lost, these trail maps won’t hel...
To be able to use these types of maps out in the wilderness, you need to learn how to read a topographic map. When reading a topographic map, you need to visualize a 3-dimensional view of what the symbols and contour lines on the map are showing. The following image below illustrates ...
Knowing how to read a topographic map is the foundation of any backcountry adventure. Through the use of contour lines, topo maps bring a 3-dimensional element to a 2-dimensional paper map. Topo maps allow you to visualize the rise and fall of the land and “see” the depths of canyons...
A simple guide on how to read a topographic map and feel confident using it outside, with a 3d video demonstration.
Even if the area is known to you, or you plan on staying on marked trails, you should...Areas They Thought They Were Familiar with
Video: How to Read a Topo Map How Contour Lines Describe Terrain Simple trail maps are useful for trip planning but NOT for navigation in the field. Topographic maps go further, giving you the power to visualize three-dimensional terrain from a flat piece of paper. The feature that makes th...
Topographic maps use contour lines to show the elevation of an area. These lines have rules: they cannot cross, and they form circles around hills or depressions. Explore topographic and geologic maps, and learn how to read their contour lines, geologic markings, and colors. ...
Use these maps to help avoid avalanches by identifying aspect and elevation, slope angle, topography, terrain traps, and avalanche paths.
to see what the danger rating is for the area you plan to ski that day. From the Avalanche Forecast map, click on the shaded area to be able to access a link that will take you directly to the local avalanche center’s website for more information. Be sure to read the entire ...