Archive for the ‘Map’ Category

New Trail Maps for the Great Smoky Mountains

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
National Geographic now has two separate Trails Illustrated Maps for the Great Smoky Mountains - in addition to the old map. National Geographic has divided the Park in two, thus allowing each map to show much greater detail. The original map, which covered the entire Park, had a scale 1:70,000. The two new maps now have a scale of 1:40,000 (1” = .6 miles) and provide much greater detail such as backcountry campsites, footbridges, fords and stream crossings, nature/interpretive trails, as well as detailed trail mileages.

The map for the western section of the Park includes the Cades Cove and Elkmont areas.

The map for the eastern section includes Clingmans Dome, Mt. LeConte and the Cataloochee areas.

Coverage Highlights Areas and places featured in this map series include: the Appalachian Trail, Benton Mackaye Trail, and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The maps also include scenic overlooks and roadside pull-outs.

Of course the original map, which covers the entire Park, is still available.


Nat Geo Maps now available on a GPS!

National Geographic Maps and Satmap Systems have teamed up for the new Active 10 TREK GPS system. The system integrates the best-selling National Geographic outdoor recreation maps with the award-winning Satmap Active 10 handheld GPS unit.

The content offered on the GPS device includes the complete line of National Geographic outdoor recreation maps, including the TOPO! USGS topographic map series, the AdventureMap series of international adventure travel maps, and, for the first time on any GPS, National Geographic’s premier Trails Illustrated series of maps for national parks, national forests and many popular recreation areas. National Geographic maps will be available via SD-Cards, which will plug-and-play into the Active 10 TREK handheld GPS.

The Active 10 TREK comes pre-loaded with World and USA Base Maps. Customers can purchase a variety of Nat Geo SD Map Cards that slot into the GPS, making map reading fast and easy. The map is displayed on a large 3.5” screen in full color suitable for day and night use, including a red backlight option to help protect night vision.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is included on each of the Southern Appalachians, National Parks and the North and South Carolina SD Map Cards.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Brand New Trails Illustrated Maps for the Smokies

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
National Geographic now has two separate Trails Illustrated Maps for the Great Smoky Mountains - in addition to the old map. National Geographic has divided the Park in two, thus allowing each map to show much greater detail. The original map, which covered the entire Park, had a scale 1:70,000. The two new maps now have a scale of 1:40,000 (1” = .6 miles) and provide much greater detail such as backcountry campsites, footbridges, fords and stream crossings, nature/interpretive trails, as well as detailed trail mileages.

The map for the western section of the Park includes the Cades Cove and Elkmont areas. The map for the eastern section includes Clingmans Dome, Mt. LeConte and the Cataloochee areas.

Coverage Highlights Areas and places featured in this map series include: the Appalachian Trail, Benton Mackaye Trail, and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The maps also include scenic overlooks and roadside pull-outs.

Of course you can still purchase the original map that includes the entire Park.

Thanks to the blog reader that was kind enough to drop me an email informing me of these new items.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Google Maps adds “bicycle route finder”

Monday, March 15th, 2010
Last week, in conjuction with the opening day of the National Bike Summit in Washington DC, Google maps launched a Beta version of its new direction finder for bicycle routes.

The new map tool will help cyclists find the quickest, safest way from Point A to Point B.

Apparently cyclists have been advocating for Google to add a layer for bicycles to its "Get Directions" function for some time now.

A petition started by Peter Smith at Google Maps 'BikeThere' received more than 50,000 signatures from bicyclists who wanted the service.

The bicycle route finder uses data gathered on bike paths, bike lanes and low-traffic streets to arrive at the suggested route. Google staffers are emphasizing that this project is in Beta, and have built in ways that users can inject their feedback into the results at the "Report a Problem" area.

The results may not show the most direct route in some cases. Not only safety, but topography is also factored into the route-finding formula so that cyclists can avoid steep hills, etc.

Google has produced a "how to" video explaining how to use the new service:




> Please click here to give the new map tool a "test drive."

> Click here for information on bicycling in and around the Great Smokies.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

New Smoky Mountains related books

Monday, November 30th, 2009
If you're looking for a great gift idea, or something new to add to your own reading list, there are a handful of books that have been published in recent months that you might be interested in:

3000 Miles in the Great Smokies

Author Bill Hart has hiked, camped and fished in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 40 years. In over three thousand miles of walking, he has recorded his experiences and impressions. Whether exploring some of the most remote sections of the Smokies, angling for trout, meeting mountain folk or marveling at the flora and fauna around him, Hart has a gift for heartfelt storytelling and a wealth of knowledge to share about the park.



Sanctuary: Meditations from the Great Smoky Mountains

Sanctuary, by Greg Johnson, is a collection of essays on the highlights of hiking the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Johnson originally intended to write the book as a guide for hikers, but it ended up being partly as a language for pain as a result of a divorce he went through. He turned to the mountains for healing.



Historic Photos of Appalachia

Kevin O'Donnell's book, published last month, contains nearly 200 photographs that portray the region's land and people, including views of towns, houses, and farms; families at home and on the job; railroads, mining, and logging; and beautiful streams and mountain landscapes.


Waterfalls of North Carolina

Waterfalls of North Carolina is the very first map available that features over 300 waterfalls in the western North Carolina region. To create the map, photographer Kevin Adams partnered with Larry Odoski of Outdoor Paths Publishing and two of the best cartographers in the business, Jack Mohr and Pete Kennedy. The four of them devoted more than a year of painstaking work to complete this comprehensive source of information. In addition to the WNC region, the map includes falls on the Tennessee side of the Smokies.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store Quality gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands.

New map for Western North Carolina waterfalls

Friday, October 16th, 2009
Waterfalls of North Carolina is the very first map available that features over 300 waterfalls in the western North Carolina region. To create the map, photographer Kevin Adams partnered with Larry Odoski of Outdoor Paths Publishing and two of the best cartographers in the business, Jack Mohr and Pete Kennedy. The four of them devoted more than a year of painstaking work to complete this comprehensive source of information.

The falls are color coded and rated: Blue for higher beauty rating and ease of access or Red for lower beauty rating and more difficult access. On the back is a chart with detailed information and directions to 128 falls.

Features of the Waterfalls of North Carolina Map:
* Map measures approximately 26 x 38 inches and folds to 4 x 9 inches
* Printed on waterproof and tearproof paper
* Includes 301 waterfalls
* Detailed information for 128 falls
* 44 waterfall photographs
* GPS coordinates for the waterfalls and the waterfall trailheads

Detailed inset maps for:
* Looking Glass Rock region of Pisgah National Forest
* Wilson Creek Region of Pisgah National Forest
* Standing Indian region of Nantahala National Forest
* Snowbird Creek region of Nantahala National Forest
* DuPont State Forest
* Lake Jocassee Gorges region
* Great Smoky Mountains National Park (including falls on the Tennessee side of the Smokies)

You can purchase the map through Amazon by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.