Six Solid Tips for Picking Out a Camping Map

Using a map in the field can be quite an undertaken if you do not know what you are doing. One of the main tips on camping is to be prepared. The Boy scouts had it right. Here, are tips on using your map that can help ensure you know exactly where you are and have a map that can survive your camping trip.

1. Get the most update map you can locate. Get a map that is no more than five years old. Anything older than this and you run the risk of missing new developments in the area, such as roads or waterways or could fail to find a road while hiking that no longer exists.

2. The map should include important landmarks. Important landmarks are all secondary direction indicators that would help you identify where you are on the map. These could be roads, railroad tracks, streams, creeks, etc. These secondary direction indicators will help save you time and can even create way points or indicators that you have gotten off course. These also can be used as an additional safety measure for younger campers to advise them what to look for in case they get lost. For example, if you get lost and run into the stream fall it down to the road.

3. Choose topographical maps when you can. You want these maps because they provide elevation numbers. These numbers can be used to help gauge how long your travel time will be and what are the best routes to travel on your hike.

4. Save the map from the elements. There can be tons of things going on while camping. One thing you want to ensure is that your map stays in top condition. By taking some steps to protecting your map, you can ensure it will last not only this camping trip, but many more in the future:
a. Laminate the map. This will give the map some rigidity that will protect against wind damage and waterproof it; or
b. Place the map in a plastic bag. This method will allow for protection to the rain. The knock against it is you will end up having to take the map out and fold it another way so this section can be seen through the plastic bag. All this folding puts more wear on your map that a laminated map would be able to easily withstand.

5. Practice using your map at home. Understanding the legend and other indicators on your map is vital to ensuring your map is an asset in the field. If you are unclear about any information on it, contact a map store owner to get clarification. The time to learn about your map is at home not in the field. By swallowing a little pride and asking for help, you may end up saving yourself time and in some instances, possibly your life.

6. Learn a few basic truths. There are few rules and myths you should recognize about how nature tells you what the directions are:
a. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. If the sun is visible, you can use this to help determine all four directions.
b. Moss does not just grow on the north side of trees. It will actually grow anywhere and so this myth should be ignored.
c. Rivers will tend to run south. However, there are a large number of exceptions to this including: St. John’s River in Florida, the Willamette River in Oregon, and the Monongahela River in West Virginia.

With these six solid tips, you next map selection should be fairly straight-forward. As you get more and more experienced with camping, you will recognize a good map not only helps you get you where you are going, it also helps provide you additional safety and protection.

Jeff Marshall believes tent camping is the best camping. His background in camping spans over 20 years of camping and keys on simple and direct camping tips and advice. To read more tent camping tips, please check out: Camping Books.