Searching for "Maps"

Homemade Map Masterpiece

British student uses GPS to meticulously map his campus, and the result is awesome

While we here at BACKPACKER typically highlight GPS usage in the wilds of the Great Outdoors, we’ve found something so completely awesome that we want to give a shout-out to one of the most-innovative uses of GPS we’ve ever seen.

Jeremy Wood, from across the pond in the United Kingdom, created a masterpiece of GPS mapping in his Traverse Me map of The University of Warwick campus drawn on foot at 1:1 scale. This drawing is composed of 238 miles of GPS tracks walked over 17 days.

From the cartographer himself: Read Full Story...

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Friday, July 30, 2010 in: News and Events, Maps
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Be A Backpacker Map Correspondent, Win Gear + Trip

Become an official BACKPACKER Map Correspondent and get free gear and an epic trip

Summer hiking season's on, and we’re looking for a few good hikers to help us expand our digital map room and make even more miles of trails available for download to GPS units, smartphones, and computers. All you need is a GPS unit, a love of the outdoors, and a bit of a gear fetish.

Of course, we're not expecting you to do this out of the goodness of your heart. Nope, potential prizes await for all contributors—with the most productive contributor earning a closet-full of Editors Choice gear and an epic trip to the Colorado Rocky Mountains with our map editors. Read Full Story...

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Thursday, May 06, 2010 in: Maps, News and Events
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Building A Compass Table

Navigation freaks will thrill to this DIY contraption

At BACKPACKER, we consider ourselves to be navigation freaks: maps, compasses, GPSs—we can geek out to them all day. But we've been outdone by this Instructables crew, who've figured out a way to make an entire table out of compasses.

Just watch what happens when you use magnetic coasters:
Read Full Story...

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Monday, March 08, 2010 in: Maps, Weird and Funny
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Better GPS Coverage On The Way

Military plans to activate more GPS satellites over the next year or two

The days of losing your GPS signal while hiking in a deep, forested valley may soon be over, thanks to Uncle Sam. The U.S. military's Strategic Command department plans to activate more GPS satellites over the next year or two, increasing the number from 24 to 27. Read Full Story...

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Thursday, February 25, 2010 in: News and Events, Maps
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Hike of the Day: Yellowstone's Back Basin

String together an impressive collection of thermal features on this 1.7-mile loop in Yellowstone National Park's Norris Geyser Basin.

  This 1.7-mile lasso loop in Norris Geyser Basin visits the ever-changing thermal features of Back Basin. Boasting the hottest thermal landscape in Yellowstone National Park, this area of bubbling caldrons is a memorable stop on your park tour. From the parking area, head west to the Norris Geyser Basin Museum. At the museum, take the left-most path downhill, then veer left at the next junction to enter the stark expanses of Back Basin. Read more trail details, download GPS coordinates, and see short video clips of bubbling springs at backpacker.com/hikes/300076. Read Full Story...

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Tuesday, February 23, 2010 in: Destinations, Hike of the Day, Maps
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Hike of the Day: Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas

Hike near theropod and sauropod dinosaur tracks, then ditch the roadside crowds for some solitude and abundant views of the Paluxy River Valley on this 6.8-mile loop.

  Let your kids' imaginations run wild on a segment or all of this 6.8-mile loop through a state park dedicated to dinosaurs. This route also passes sandstone cliffs with five-star views over the Paluxy River Valley. Print driving directions and see more trail details at backpacker.com/hikes/8350.
Read Full Story...

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Monday, February 22, 2010 in: Destinations, Hike of the Day, Maps
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Hike of the Day: PA's Delaware Water Gap

Trek to the border of New Jersey along PA's finest section of the Appalachian Trail.

  Thru-hikers refer to the Keystone state as “rocksylvania” because the trail seems paved haphazardly with jagged stones. The payoff for the occasional stubbed toe? Long, rolling views from countless outcropping and balds. Access the trail, northbound, in Wind Gap for an easy start along a gentle climb through oak and box elder, crossing the... Read Full Story...

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Tuesday, February 09, 2010 in: Destinations, Hike of the Day, Maps
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Hike of the Day: Superior Hiking Trail, MN

Hike past rushing creeks, numerous overlooks, and verdant hills on the Superior Hiking Trail, then bike back on the Munger Trail on this 14.4-mile loop near Duluth.

Stash your bike at the Superior Hiking Trail’s Kingsbury Creek trailhead, and then start the hiking portion of this route at the Munger trailhead just west of Gary, MN. After a brief walk on the paved Munger Trail, head uphill into an oak and pine forest for an 8.5-mile hike along newer sections of the Superior Hiking Trail. The trail runs... Read Full Story...

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Monday, February 08, 2010 in: Destinations, Hike of the Day, Maps
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Hike of the Day: Alabama's Pinhoti Trail Loop

Ford creeks and rivers and traipse past rocky overlooks on this 17.6-mile loop along Alabama's secluded Pinhoti Trail.

This 17.6-mile loop follows a well-worn path as it crisscrosses numerous creeks and rivers (some of which can be tricky at high water). White quartz outcroppings offer hikers an opportunity to peer beyond dense tree cover, but... Read Full Story...

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Friday, February 05, 2010 in: Destinations, Hike of the Day, Maps
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Hike of the Day: Matthews Arm in Shenandoah

This rugged, 16.8-mile, 2-day backpacking trip reveals classic Appalachian wonders: idyllic waterfall-laden hollows, reborn woodlands, and scenic backcountry campsites.

Here's an ambitious weekend loop in Shenandoah National Park. You'll see: rushing waterfalls, old gravestones, beautiful hardwoods, and hike a series of steps aptly named Little Devils Stairs (see elevation profile). Book this trip in early spring to avoid the crowds and to catch extra views through the leafless trees. Download more details at backpacker.com/hikes/17056. Read Full Story...

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Friday, February 05, 2010 in: Destinations, Hike of the Day, Maps
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