Map threads in one....

[WapitiTalk1]

92xj, great idea to sticky these!  Here's something folks may be interested in:   

Pretty cool and free way to download your own 7.5 M USGS Topos.  Free!

1. Go to http://store.usgs.gov.

2. Once the page loads, click on the Map Locator and Downloader link in the upper left corner.

3. With the Map Locator page up, you can either click around on the map (rolling your mouse to zoom in/dragging map left, right, up, down) or enter the location of the USGS Quad you want (if you know it). If you scroll in, you'll see the quads start popping up so you can choose the one you want. For example purposes, I’ll use a known quad from here in WA; Sleeping Beauty, WA. After you enter Sleeping Beauty, WA in the Search line, make sure you click "USGS Map Name" from the drop down to the right then, click GO.

4. You’ll see your map pop up in the middle of the screen with an upside down pink teardrop in it. Left click on the teardrop. A selection screen will pop up on your map (you may have to adjust the page down a little by dragging the bar on the side so you can see the selection screen pop up). Go to the top link below the blue download button with the white arrow. You should see 29.89M. Left click on it, then save (select your desktop as destination), and a file name for the map, i.e., SleepingBeautyWA.zip. Yes, it’s a big file and will take some time to download.

5. Once done, open up your “free” USGS top map. You can manipulate it a bit once you get into the map you’ve downloaded and can adjust the print size. There are map option selections on the left side of the window. On the very bottom, you can select images to change your map to a SAT view.

6. To select an adjacent map to the one you chose earlier, simply go back to the internet page, click on the “mark point” button on the right side, move your mouse to the next quad you want, and left click on the map. The upside down teardrop should appear. Just like before, follow the instructions starting with the left click on the teardrop in the new map to save.

7. Lastly, because your saved file is a PDF, you can do a “snapshot” of an area, paste it into MS Paint, and mark it up. If you need some notes on how to do that, let me know.

Have fun.

[Simcoe hunter]

To Phantom16- you sir, are a rock star.  Thank you very much.

[Duckhunter14]

To Phantom16- you sir, are a rock star.  Thank you very much.

 

Tag

[TommyH]

Tagged. Good stuff!

[nastybynature]

Tagging and adding a local map maker in Vancouver,WA.
Arnold's Maps
http://home.pacifier.com/~mapman/

Not quite what it used to be since the old man passed but is still a good resource for SW Washington maps. Back in the 90's before Google maps etc, this was the best for Forest Roads in the Southern Cascades. Much has changed since then.

[danderson]

I just discovered this one a few months ago, CalTopo.com

[Seahawk12]

Free topo maps of anywhere in the USA.
http://libremap.org/data/

[luvmystang67]

I just discovered this one a few months ago, CalTopo.com

This site is a goldmine.   

[Eric M]

tag

[92xj]

adding these gems.

And for those doing some armchair scouting and looking for their own sekrit spot on public land, keep in mind that Gmap4 can show you public land boundaries.  Just scroll down a bit on this page for the map links.

http://www.propertylinemaps.com/p/public_land_map/state/WA/_washington_layers_off.html

Each map can show a bunch of different GIS overlays.

To get the most out of these maps, please click "About this map" in the upper left corner.

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy

This is a good one. You can have your topo with trail maps rite next to the satellite image.
http://www.hillmap.com/

[Hunting CPO]

http://caltopo.com/map.html
Create you own maps anyway you want and I hear its good for prescouting trips. Still learning myself. Also you can print the maps and take them with you for backup.

[Special T]

Ok so I've been playing with the Avenza Maps app for smart  phones. I got started with this app because our Club posted up its course. I've been playing around with it. It appears that there are a series of free maps in  certain locations. The mapping requires no cell coverage unlike some.  I'd like some discussion on phone apps pros and cons for backcountry use.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[cougforester]

Ok so I've been playing with the Avenza Maps app for smart  phones. I got started with this app because our Club posted up its course. I've been playing around with it. It appears that there are a series of free maps in  certain locations. The mapping requires no cell coverage unlike some.  I'd like some discussion on phone apps pros and cons for backcountry use.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Avenza is great. Put your phone on airplane mode and it'll run for hours. Can download USGS topo maps showing old trails and the like, then will show you on there quite accurately. Can drop pins, take pictures at those pins (at a wallow or something) and it's free. Can set the app to follow your tracks too, which is quite useful.