New Adirondacks Map series - review

[Puma concolor]

As a point of clarification with respect to the new ADK Club High Peaks map, SOME but not all herd paths for the 46 are shown ... Allen, Tabletop, Street, Nye, Marshall are marked with dots but the Dix Range, Santanoni Range and Seward Range are not. The explanation in the guide suggests that the High Peaks Wilderness Area Unit Management Plan led to the "designation" of certain herd paths on the 20 trailless peaks. Further explanation states that some maintainence - either to clear blowdown or block off multiple paths - has been done on the "designated" herd paths. Sounds like the NGS maps reflect the same designation.

 

[Warren]

I talked with some one from the NY/NJ TC about a year ago. All maps when revised will be done in the format of the current east hudson maps. They sounded very open to input on map design, though I never followed up with them on it.

Map shading is great for beginners who seem to easily invert topo lines though yes, it does make the map harder to read. I find that when I print via the topo software I do use the shading but only at it's lightest shade.

Relief shading should not be done by adding a tint of black to indicated relief, but rather by increasing the background tint already being used (green for wilderness, brown for private). I haven't tried this and proofed it so it may be unreadable but I think it would be an improvement.

Getting all the info you want on a map and keeping the contrast high enough for it to be readable is a major challenge. The NY/NJ TC maps have suffered and still suffer from this. The new NG maps for the Daks are a bit busy but do an excellent job packing a lot of info in and still remaining readable.

 

[The Sikes]

adk maps

where did you get them? I tried to get some a little bit ago but they were out of stock. I would like to try to start hiking out there but need the maps.

Thanks

 

[Mark Schaefer]

I did a weborder from the Adk Club website. (currently on pages 6 and 7 of the ADK publications, they were produced jointly by NGS and ADK). Member price is $8.96, nonmember price is $9.95. You might also want to consider the "Adirondack Trails: High Peaks Region" guidebook (on page 2 of the ADK publications). It has trail/herd path coverage for all 46 high peaks (and other mountains in Lake Placid / Keene area). It also has a high peaks map. It was published early in 2004 so it is up to date. The "Adirondack Trails: Central Region" guidebook/map (Blue Mountain Lake / Siamese Ponds) is also newly updated. Unless you immediately need any other region you might want to hold off on the other ADK club Adirondack Trails books as new editions will be published later this year and early 2005. My order took 1 week to arrive by mail.

EMS stores appear to have the NGS maps. Probably other large hiking supply stores and the big box book stores (that carry hiking books) would have the maps also.

 

[stoopid]

To expand on Mark's post, in addition to the ADK stuff (which is the best because it's updated regularly), the Barbara McMartin book "Discover the High Peaks" is great for finding out the little things not covered in the ADK guide (like locations of paths to slides, waterfalls, etc). I consult both now prior to and during a trip, in addition to asking folks online about their experiences.

 

[alistair]

missing peaks

I just bought the new High Peaks map from Campmor (plenty left in stock) in preparation for a traverse of teh Dix Range.
I was disapointed to find that a map of the High Peak area had at least one of the High Peaks NOT marked ......MacComb is missing!