How to Hike Using a Topographic Map

If you take part in recreational activities outside, in particular hiking, then the ability to read and interpret a Topographic map is an extremely important tool to have. Although at first glance a Topographic map may seem overwhelming, this instructional guide will help you read this kind of map like an expert. When outside, it is important to know what is around you in order to better prepare yourself for it. Through the use of this informational guide on how to read and interpret Topographic maps, you will never be out on the trails or on hiking trip and become a victim to the unexpected.

To begin with, it is fair to say everyone knows that a map is a representation of the Earth, or a certain part of it. However, the difference between a regular map and a Topographic map is that the shape of the Earth's surface is shown by contour lines on a Topographic map. These contours are imaginary lines that join points of equal elevation on the surface of the land above or below a reference surface, such as mean sea level. Contours make it possible to measure the height of mountains, depths of the ocean bottom, and steepness of slopes. Without contours, you could expect to climb a thirty foot peak, or swim in a ten foot water hole, and end up with a mountain twice the size of what you anticipated, or a water hole so shallow that the only thing it sustains is crayfish.

The initial step in understanding Topographic maps is the ability to comprehend the symbols, areas, and colored lines throughout. For example, there are symbols that indicate things such as vegetation, buildings or houses, streams, and streets. It is highly important that you make sure you have the most up to date topographic map of the area in which you are located because these kinds of symbols are updated very often in order to improve the map's validity. Similar to this idea, we can look at the fact that small black squares most commonly represent small houses. Along the same line of thinking, actual shapes are mapped for bigger sized buildings. Most usually, city life or very high populated urban areas are signified by tinting where each particular building or home would be.

At the outset, most people notice the area features that are associated with Topographic maps first. These typically go in the following manner: water-blue, vegetation-green, and densely populated areas-red/gray. Likewise, lines that are dotted, solid, dashed, straight, or curved can also represent many other different features. What is more, these lines can be used to designate related types of information by what color they are given. For example, things like streams or lakes or other bodies of water are blue, essential roads or landmarks are red, trails, railroads and boundary markers are black, and Topographic contours are almost always brown. Often times, some maps will unfortunately contain different symbols for the same feature because of the constant updating process that Topographic maps undergo. You should watch out for changes among roads and drainage symbols, as these tend to experience significant change most often. Furthermore, multiple types of point symbols are often used to show things such as campgrounds, buildings, mines, and springs. The names of these specific places or features are the same color as the type of feature that they correspond to. However, it is important to look for features simply labeled by their actual name, for example "Golf Course," or "Gas Station."

Topographic contours are signified by brown lines, each a differing width or size. It is very important to note that contours never cross because each is of the exact same elevation. Due to this fact, these contours in effect show the shape of the land or terrain you are looking at. Things called index contours are seen at about every four or five contour lines in order to help you read the elevation. (They are typically wider than the regular line) Additionally, things called supplementary and intermediate contours help show precise detail of the surface of land, and are found between each index contour. When hiking and using a Topographic map, take note of contours that are very close together, as they always represent very steep slopes. Oppositely, when the contours are spread out, the ground is for the most part considered to be level. A contour interval is also something very important to Topographic maps, as it represents the difference in elevation between two consecutive contour lines. Also, keep in mind that there are things that show both the shape and the slope of the bottom surface of the ocean called Bathymetric contours. These have proven to be particularly useful to fisherman looking for fish, and underwater archaeologists looking for forgotten worlds.

Moreover, contours are most definitely one of the most important things to be able to interpret on a map if you are hiking because they tell you what to expect in front of you. As mentioned previously, the way contours are drawn, shaped, and the distance between each line can help you determine exactly what the land is going to look like before you even see it. There are six main characteristics that contour lines on a Topographic map tell the reader: Steep slopes, gentle slopes, valleys, ridges, summits, and depressions. Steep slopes can be found when the contours are very closely spaced together, whereas gentle slopes are noticeable when contours are less closely spaced. Valleys always form a V pointing up the hill, but ridges form a V that points down the hill. These V's are good indicators of either drainage ducts or possibly even a stream or river. Summits are noticeable on a Topographic map when the contours form circles, and depressions can be located by noticing circular contours with lines all ending up at the center.

There are so many different things to look for on the Topographic map's legend when hiking that it can often become confusing. There are nine very important features to make sure you locate when interpreting a Topographic map's legend. They are as follows: Map name, Year of Production and Recent Revision, General Location in State, Next Adjacent Quadrangle Map, Map Scale, Distance Scale, Contour Interval, Magnetic Declination, Latitude and Longitude. Each of these things is as important as the next, although some may look fairly self explanatory. The map name is obviously important to note because if you are using the wrong map you are in some serious trouble. Next, the year the map was produced and when it was most recentlyrevised is very important also because if the map is not a new edition you could be looking at landmarks and locations that no longer exist. Likewise, even if you have a new map, the revisions need to be recent in order to verify that Mother Nature hasn't decided to destroy your favorite hiking trail, or flood a small creak nearby your campsite.

In addition, the general location in the state that the map represents is obvious and self explanatory, as you need to verify what part of the state you are looking at. The next adjacent quadrangle map may sound intimidating, but in fact is very easy to locate and understand. It simply means the next map you would use if the territory you are hiking extends beyond the map you have in your possession. It is usually located in one of the corners of your map. The map scale is also highly important because it helps you determine either how far you will need to travel, or how far you have already come. It is a ratio between a unit of measurement on your map, and the actual distance that the same measurement represents on the ground. Therefore, if one inch on the map represents one mile, then the map's scale would be 1:63,360, because there are 63, 360 inches in a mile. Not to worry if this sounds confusing though, because many Topographic maps have things called scale bars that show certain distances converted out for the viewer. The distance scale directly relates to the map scale in that it shows you how far something on the map is in relation to the ground you are walking on. The contour interval in the legend is also very important, but easy to understand. It simply tells you the number of feet that there are in between each contour line on the map. Magnetic Declination represents the size of the angle between the magnetic north your compass points to, and the actual true north that it actually represents. This may sound complicated, but each map shows you a diagram of a compass with the angle drawn out and labeled, so you don't have to worry about that. Lastly, the latitude and longitude are on the map legend to help you understand exactly where you are going, or exactly where you are in relation to the line of the equator.

Furthermore, planning out the hike itself, that is, the length you will be trudging along and how exactly to prepare yourself to do so is very simple. One thing you can do to help you really understand a Topographic map is to obtain a map of a place you are very familiar with, and then walk around with the map in hand. You should compare the features on the ground to the features on the map. This will help you become familiar with how things actually look in real life. Although reading Topographic maps takes little practice, it is definitely a necessary skill when determining how far your hiking adventure will be. The really simple and somewhat less accurate way of measuring the length of your trip is to take a piece of string, tie one end to the starting place of your trip, and walk with the other end until you are done. Then, simply take the string and compare it to the map scale discussed previously, using mileage as opposed to inches. Although not perfect, this distance should give you a decent estimate of the length of your hiking trip. Similarly, another technique you can use to find out how far you will be going is to buy a measuring tool, which is actually a wheel you can roll along the portion of your proposed trip route. It will keep track of distance usually in inches, which you can convert by once again using the map scale; this time take the number the wheel gives you and converting it into miles. This is a more precise method, but not necessary if you can't swing the extra $40.00 for the measuring wheel.

When planning your hiking trip, another thing that you will have to do is measure and be ready for elevation gain and loss. These basically determine how much physical labor and effort will be needed in order to climb your supposed trail or route. In order to do this, you need to trek carefully over the entire trail as it goes both up and down, adding up each increment of elevation gain and elevation loss. This will give you the actual amount of physical labor you will need to complete your hike. Usually, most people carrying a decent amount of weight that are walking on a level surface walk about two mph. Every one thousand feet of elevation gain adds an hour to the original estimate, and each one thousand feet of elevation loss adds about a half hour. You can't forget to total in time for rest stops, as they are not yet included in the figure.

Lastly, to make sure you end up having the most fun during your trip, it is important to understand your body's physical limits. Although a hiking trip isn't the same as running a Marathon, you should still prepare yourself for strenuous activity. As far as having fun goes, no one will ever tell you that you are unable to go on a hiking trip by yourself, but it is not recommended by any means. You can become injured somewhere off of the beaten bath, and no passerby can help you get home. This is a very easy way to ruin a day meant for fun and adventure. However, if you do feel the need to go hiking in the wilderness alone, try to do so in autumn, spring, or fall, as the winter time brings frigid and dangerous evening temperatures. Always make sure you tell someone precisely where you are going, whether alone or not, and make sure a cell phone and compass are among the things in your backpack. Prepare yourself by becoming familiar with everything a Topographic map has to offer, and there is no doubt you will have an excellent trip. Good Luck.