Possible dumb question but where can I get a Topo map of the mt whitney area. I like to have a map of an area i plan to hike or climb.

Mike

You want Tom Harrison Maps. Mt Whitney Zone Trail Map

It was $8.95 when I bought mine a couple of yrs ago. (Looks like
it is now $9.95)

www.tomharrisonmaps.com

harrison's map is the one to have.

however, if you want to look at the usgs topo maps of the area, go here.

you'll want to search - box on the right - for the "mount whitney" map for the summit area and the "mount langley" map which would include whitney portal.

you can either order them for home delivery ($) or download / save them (no $) in PDF format for later viewing. you can then print all or part.

i like to look at them for their info but use the harrison map in the field.

good luck.

There's also a "Mt. Whitney High Country" trail map by Tom Harrison that includes a greater area. I have both and found the High Country map helpful for some of those hikes not immediately near the WZ - the Horseshoe Meadow/Army Pass area in particular.

If you are an REI member, you can order the maps online to have them delivered to your home.

If there is an REI near you (I believe there are 4 stores in the Windy City area), you can purchase them there (you don't have to be a member, but for $20.00 lifetime, you can't beat it). If they don't have the maps, you can order them and pick them up at the store.

Some of your sporting goods stores have these maps. Chances are they may not have the Mt. Whitneys.

Then there is the downloading part which is cheapest but if you print them on an inkjet printer, you are in deep doo-doo.

Harrison maps are waterproof.

Hope our advice is of service to you.

BTW, ain't no such thang as a "dumb question."

Welcome to the Whitney Zone!


Have fun.

Good point Gary about the map that shows more of the surrounding area. But I think the map you refer to is a different scale, ie 1: 63,360 vs the other one I mentioned that is 1:31,680. 2:1 ratio. But still either one is a good map and would serve the purpose to which the ? was asked. I checked Harrison and either map sells for $9.95

Now on to more IMPORTANT STUFF, will the Bulldogs pull off an upset this weekend?

Hey Ernie, Dawgs by 12 in the latest betting line. No upset here - unless Tech wins. Jeez, this year couldn't be THAT bad, could it?

Mike, the Harrison Mt. Whitney Zone trail map is nice to have for study and perusal of the Main Trail beforehand. Once you're on the trail, though - at least in non-winter conditions - you'll most likely find you don't need it. The trail is quite obvious, with the exception of a couple of short, slabby areas where things might appear a bit fuzzy. Even in mild-to-moderate winter conditions there's typically an obvious path beaten in the snow.

An area map, though, is one of the Ten Essentials, so you should have one on you. In reality, you just follow the crowd . . .

Two things not mentioned:

Here's a link to some on-line maps:   Topo Maps of the MR and Main Trail


And you might like to just print one from your computer screen. Here's Mt. Whitney on www.postholer.com.

In both cases, a good color printer are especially good.

Two years ago, I created a set of maps for a PCT hike using Topo, then printed them on waterproof map paper. It's amazing stuff: looks and feels like paper, but try to tear it and it is pvc plastic! And whatever you print on it will not wash off. Of course, the stuff costs about a dollar a sheet.

Actually, I did beat REI's $20 membership. I got mine when it was only $10.

AND how about $5. in the 50s when I was a struggling student financially and thought $5. was alot

here is another using the USGS topo with the main trail drawn on it. Its high resolution and you can enlarge it, but no MR.

I'm old school and old. I prefer USGS 7.5' maps. For this area it's Mt. Whitney and Mt. Langley.

I find it much easier to figure out topography with this format...even in metric.

For planning I use National G's TOPO! California...also 7.5' format.

all the 7.5 minute topos are public domain - you can download TIFF files and edit/print what you need (combine multipe sheets in image editing software to make the section you need the high detail map info).

http://atlas.ca.gov/download.html#/casil/imageryBaseMapsLandCover/baseMaps/drg

That is where you start for anything in California - I grabbed the untrimmed sheets so when I edit I can see the neighboring sheet info, too.

in the download directory below, the Mt. Whitney sheet can be found as o36118e3.tif, Mt. Langley is o36118e2.tif, Mt. Williamson is o36118f3.tif, Johnson Peak is o36118d3.tif, Cirque Peak o36118d2.tif, etc.

http://atlas.ca.gov/download.html#/casil...ntrimmed/36118/

USGS has a map viewer I just came across:

http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/

It allows you to add or subtract the layers you want -- imagery or topo; place names, hydrography etc. Looks cool and allows you to download the maps you create.

In addition ArcGIS is putting together a World Topo map as one of their base layers for their software. Sequoia Kings is currently editing a detailed addition for it. There's a major glitch right now in that you don't see trails until about 1:12,500 -- which is really too close for planning purposes. This is now available using ArcGIS Explorer or, I assume, their online version of Explorer.

The map itself is here to just view, with no reference:

http://services.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Topo_Map/MapServer?f=jsapi

And the metadata for the map is here:

www.arcgisonline.com/home/item.html?id=f2498e3d0ff642bfb4b155828351ef0e

g.