What is better USGS maps or TOPO program s?

“whats the best Topo program and how dose it compare to USGS maps?”

“Hello???????

I am also looking for a good guide book to the Lost Coast Trail.”

“hello?”

“just wanted to say hi”

“hey look now i'm talking to myself?

Hows the cold going?”

“fine Still no responses to my thread.”

“Never used TOPO, poppinfresh, so I can't say...I have used a lot of USGS quads though...the only problem with them is that they don't always show trails...sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

At my last job, when I had plenty of time to do stuff like waste company bandwidth, I downloaded every USGS 1:100000 map for the entire AT. All of them. There's like 40 or so of them that you need.

And yes, I am a little OCD.”

“where did you find them?”

“Oh yeah, I guess that information would have been helpful. The GIS Data Depot, at the following address:

http://www.gisdatadepot.com/

The maps are arranged by state and county, so you have to know what county the quad you want is in. Also, they have a lot of different kinds of data. If you want maps, then the data type DRG is what you want. They have 1:24000, 1:100000, and 1:250000 of just about the entire country. The only real problem is that unless you buy into their "fast download" program, you're limited to dialup speeds. So it can take awhile to download some of the files, since they tend to be HUGE, even compressed. Also, they are in TIF format, so you need something that will display TIF.

But if you don't mind long download times, it's free.”

“cool”

“I use ”

“oops. Topozone”

“IMV, learn your USGS maps first, then move to TOPO. The software will just automate your navigation skills for trip planning.

Consider the 7.5 minute quad program. From National Geographic, I think. That is impressive software. Last I checked, the TOPO! series discs do not have the 3D contour shading. They're both GPS compatible.”

“Hey there.
I've been using the Natl, Geographic Topo program, and it is all seamless USGS quads put together on on CD-ROM(S). I have not had any problems with not trails on any of the maps I've made. You can make your own freehand routes over trails and it will give you elevation profiles, and various other types of info. I highly recommend it. Also, it will interface will about every brand of GPS you can find in the U.S., and even a few you cant. I bought the 8cd set for Oregon at REI, but you might also at other outdoor chains.”

“ok I dont understand the GIS Data Place

I like the topozone but how acurete is it?

Which do i use?

1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:100,000, or 1:200,000?”

“its all confusing to me i need lost coast trail maps and in need to find out how to get them?
can any one help me?
i may need step by step intructions”

“i really need some help?”

“...can be hard to understand. You have to look in "Free Data" section. Where is the Lost Coast Trail?”

“I'VE HAD IT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.......

*@&$ &3*%$^ &%##$&)))^@h

&^^^^^^^^^^^^^$##%&*(*^$#@@@%&*(()”

“ok i'm in the free data section what next?”

“poppinfresh, now that you've had your epiphany ... Here's a link I found....

Lost Coast Trail

I hope this helps you some...”

“Here's a link to the California County page. You have to know what county the topo map you want is in.

California Counties”

“USGS Quad Grid: The Lat/Long projection quad grid that was posted here had some errors. If you downloaded this data please be advised that it is not accurate. This grid is off line until we get an accurate file. The data in Lambert Azimuthal Projection is fine. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you

this what i found?”

“that's accuracy for people who need to know where to launch cruise missiles. for hikers, the accuracy is fine. I don't think you need the Quad Grid anyway.
what you are looking for are DRG's.

here's a GORP link

It looks like humboldt county is the one you need to go to.”

“I'd start with the Garberville and Eureka 1:100000 maps. They're kinda big, but you can get a good idea of where you want to go from them.

Get them from this page.”

“I print out 1:25,000 for my actual trip, kind of like a AAA "trip tick". I go to the 1:50,000 or 1:100,000 for route planning.

As for accuracy, they have the same errors as the USGS maps. I couldn't find one spring that I was looking for, because it was placed wrong on the map.”

“OK i found out how to use topo zone but need to know how to mark the trail”

“ok can some one see what they can do with this quad from topo zone?

co-ords are:

39 53.000 by
-123 57.000 topo name mistake point

it lables the lost coast but shows no trail

also i notice on the quad info that it dates to 1982 is this good? I dont think so i have the quad co-ords so i am really thinking of ordering a USGS map.”

“Poppy,

Sounds like you should stick to the USGS quads ordered through the mail. You don't want to pack your computer down the trail anyway!

I've got USGS quads last updated in the 60's and the mountains haven't changed any. The trails were never marked very accurately and change a little from year to year. Guide books from people real familiar with the trail are much more helpful.”

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

Conversely, in this case, give a man a map and he will be lost forever.”

“Regions vary but old USDA NFS maps (pre-1982-1974) will have old trails not on the current ones, at least in my region. Perhaps I'm giving a little bit away but if the trails were no longer officially maintained or abondoned (Reagan policies)they were excluded on post 1974 updates. I was observant enough to notice when I started to replace the worn out ones. I've photo-copied and repaired and am still able to find traces of the old trails. You have to like threading thru Doug Fir blowdown and rockslides, etc.”