[pct-l] PCT maps are all the same! What's the big deal?

[Scott]

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. For a very stark look 
at the difference between digitized and old scanned topo maps, you need 
to look at them side by side:

http://postholer.com/mapcompare

Given the technology and methods used to create maps in days gone by, 
the old scanned topo maps are nothing short of an act of sorcery. And 
those 24K maps are still mainstream today.

Today that magic continues in the form of continuing advances in 
technology. Most notably, collecting the data by satellite and other 
clever, non-labor intensive techniques.

If the technology is so much better today the question is, why are the 
old maps still the most widely used?

Until the popular vendors (such as National Geographic) update their 
software, I suspect old scanned maps will continue to be the norm.

That leads to data coverage. The old scanned maps cover every square 
inch of the United States and these large vendors are built around 
working with this old data. Digitized data has gaps, some pretty big. 
Why would a vendor offer only a partial product? Well, that just doesn't 
make sense. Their cash cow is the software with complete coverage, don't 
mess with it.

Big wheels turn slow. I suspect the data coverage also affects 
organizations like the USGS and USFS with their map offerings. Not to 
mention being tasked with compiling all this data. It's not a small task 
especially on dwindling resources.

Fortunately, that data coverage is particularly complete in the west. 
Not so much in the east. That's good for us western hikers! Especially 
us PCT enthusiasts.

Why? Because you get the whole package. The latest digitized PCT maps, 
complete with a 60 page, free data book.

Pocket Maps:
http://postholer.com/pacificcresttrailmap

Free data book:
http://postholer.com/PCTDatabook

And the price tag is about equal to printing out 'free' 20-50 year old 
scanned topo maps.

-postholer

-- 
www.postholer.com