Comments on: How to Read a Topographic Map

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:06:20 +0000

As an employee of the USGS, at a recent field site in Turkey, I got frustrated enough with my $650 GPS to pull out my compass and map. I was able to navigate and place markers much much faster using a combination of GPS and map/compass than just GPS alone. Use the map to navigate close to the spot, and the GPS to nail it down (within a few meters at least…). Don’t think it’s a useless skill!

By: Tonia Moxley

Tonia Moxley — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 21:13:18 +0000

Your print button gives an error on every story I’ve tried. FYI.

By: Jared

Jared — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 15:42:28 +0000

dannyb278, I’ll definitely look for that!

By: Tyler S.

Tyler S. — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:23:46 +0000

P.S. Always have to compasses on you. Should you make a mistake, you will begin to second guess the compass…having the second puts your mind at ease so you don’t start to make mistakes.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 02:21:28 +0000

I remember doing this stuff first in almost all of my subjects in school in one form or another. I hadn’t heard of orienting the map, however. That seems really useful.

By: WhtWolf

WhtWolf — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 06:01:18 +0000

For anyone looking for topo maps try
http://www.mytopo.com
You can create custom maps that include size, scale and datum. You can also add Lat/Lon or UTM/MGRS (grid square) lines or tic marks on the side of the map. I’ve ordered several maps from them and think they’re great.

By: MaThomas

MaThomas — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 05:28:09 +0000

My 12 year old nephew made a video for his class on Topographical Maps. I think you might enjoy a young man using his imagination and creativity to describe easily what seems like a complex map.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhGfAEElgCQ

By: dannyb278

dannyb278 — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 03:55:53 +0000

Jared,
go back a few years on this site, and i did in fact did a “so you want my job” artical. i think back in 2009. probably buried in the archives somewhere.
A lots changed since then, but i am still a USFS Archaeologist, and still loving it.

By: Jared

Jared — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 07:38:18 +0000

dannyb278: “I love maps, and as a Archaeologist for the US Forest Service, i get to use them on a daily basis. Love it.”

Jeez, talk about someone who needs to write a “So you want my job?” article! :)

By: dannyb278

dannyb278 — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:32:11 +0000

Guy,
Most states have a GIS Data site that you can download topo maps, deer harvest stats, bodies of water, etc, from the site for free. One must have software however to open/view it. I live in Minnesota and (for reference) this is the website. i use it all the time to download local data.

http://deli.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html

Let me know on this forum if you need any help for your particular state, i could probably help you out.