Topograph maps or what type of maps to figure out where I was...

what area of the globe are you on?

Subject: Topograph maps or what type of maps to figure out where I was...
From: "Linda and Pete" <A
HREF="[email hidden]">[email hidden]</A>
Date: Sun, Jul 18, 2004 9:17 AM
Message-id: <[email hidden]>

let me explain - did a short run last week - about 4 miles through a park
nearby - the park does not have any detailed maps - I've already asked.
Anyway where I ended up and turned around was an old farmhouse - I was just
curious where I might find some sort of a detailed map that could tell me
where I was. Just for curiosity sake. I did try some topography sites but
really couldn't make heads or tails of them. - Linda

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One dark day on Usenet, "Linda and Pete" <[email hidden]> said
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

let me explain - did a short run last week - about 4 miles through a
park nearby - the park does not have any detailed maps - I've already
asked. Anyway where I ended up and turned around was an old farmhouse
- I was just curious where I might find some sort of a detailed map
that could tell me where I was. Just for curiosity sake. I did try
some topography sites but really couldn't make heads or tails of them.
- Linda

I've found these sites helpful:
http://www.mappoint.msn.com
http://terraserver-usa.com

Phil M.

--
If you can empty your own boat
Crossing the river of the world,
No one will oppose you,
No one will seek to harm you. -Chuang Tzu

Linda and Pete said:

let me explain - did a short run last week - about 4 miles through a park
nearby - the park does not have any detailed maps - I've already asked.

Was this a trail or paved road? That is, do you need a topo map or will
a road map do?

Quoted message said:

Anyway where I ended up and turned around was an old farmhouse - I was just
curious where I might find some sort of a detailed map that could tell me
where I was. Just for curiosity sake. I did try some topography sites but
really couldn't make heads or tails of them. - Linda

What does "couldn't make heads or tails of them mean"? You couldn't find
where you were or you're not familiar with topographical maps or you
couldn't figure out how to use the web site?

You might check with other runners, hiking groups, local outdoor store,
or other users. You also might check for satellite or aerial images on
the web. Where are you geographically?

You might also try asking someone else at the park - different day or
time of day someone else might be on duty - perhaps more knowledgeable -
either of official or unofficial knowledge.

It's also entirely possible there is no way of knowing based on readily
available information, but I'll bet somebody, somewhere has some
information squirreled away. I say that because the local trails
that I use had no readily available map for the entire system (map of one
part existed, but there's 3 main interconnected parts). Signage was also
limited and misleading in some cases. But I eventually found some
information.

I started GPSing trails myself a couple years ago and laying the tracks
on a map so I could find some loops, etc. Then I found the orienteers
map of the area. As it turned out, about the same time I was gpsing
trails, someone from a federal agency trails group was also GPSing them,
but they had a fancier map and digital image to overlay them on. I just
recently (month or so) got hooked up with a couple trail groups and got
copies of those maps (no marked distances, but legend is present). It
had a couple trails I didn't have, and I had some it didn't have, and
others have told me of some other trails in the area. Helping with trail
maintenance (trash pickup and building/rerouting) has provided me a good
way of getting more information on trails. Our borough (county, but
probably 150 miles from south to north) also came out with a trail map
of "official" trails - that is, those where there is a legal right of
way (doesn't include the tons of others where there are still legal
issues). Long-winded example of places where I've found information that
I'd been looking for.

Just as a side note, the maps for individual trail systems are usually
hung on a nail in the outhouse at the trailhead. I discovered that by
accident one day, then started checking the outhouses at the other
trailheads. They're also available in the borough office, as it turns
out. Well, you asked where to get information 😉

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people"
-Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Hey all - thanks for replying - to answer one question, I am in Bucks
County, PA - North America - the second, I was on a trail so I figured topo
was my way to go. Thanks for all help.

"Linda and Pete" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

let me explain - did a short run last week - about 4 miles through a park
nearby - the park does not have any detailed maps - I've already asked.
Anyway where I ended up and turned around was an old farmhouse - I was

just

Quoted message said:

curious where I might find some sort of a detailed map that could tell me
where I was. Just for curiosity sake. I did try some topography sites

but

Quoted message said:

really couldn't make heads or tails of them. - Linda