More of this Feature • Maps • The Compass • GPS • Why You Still Need A Map

Join the Discussion "Which Gadget is your next purchase?" Forum Poll

Related Resources • Gadgets for Your Vehicle • Citizen Band Radios • Accessories

From Other Guides • Uses for GPS • Reading Geological Maps • History of the Compass • Cartography - Far Out

Elsewhere on the Web • How To Plot Your Course On Open Waters • Topo Maps - How To Read Them

Maps provide you with a bird's-eye view of the prominent features in a given area. Knowing how these features relate spatially to one another can help you: a) Figure out where you are on your map simply by looking at the world around you and b) Figure out where your final destination is in relation to you -- assuming you know your location on your map.

The most common maps used for wilderness navigation are topographic (or topo) maps. Developed from aerial photographs, topo maps provide information about the physical contours of the land (elevations, the steepness of hills, the deepness of valleys and the location and shape of natural features). Many also include information about prominent man-made features like trails, roads and bridges.

On the other hand, planimetric maps show the earth as if it were a flat surface. They provide basic information about distances, directions and the locations of prominent features (natural and man-made), but they do not provide elevation information. They are good for determining where point A and point B are in relation to one another, but they cannot tell you what the terrain is like between the two, so it's difficult to plan the best route to get from one to the other.

It is important to remember that topographic maps are not always accurate, especially when it comes to depicting water levels. Since topo maps are developed from aerial photographs, if the photo was taken when water levels were higher (or lower) than current conditions, the representation they convey may not be completely accurate. Many topo maps show rapids and falls where there are none, and some don't show the rapids and falls when they do exist. 

In general, maps can be somewhat of a hassle to carry around and open up during your trip, but they are a valuable asset to keep with you at all times. They provide an additional source of verification in your navigational route.

Next page > The Compass > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5