I asked Jim to create
some directions for accessing and printing topo maps online. This is a free
service that FSAR members and others might fine useful. Thanks Jim!
15 minute topos
cover the area of four 7 ½ minute ones. The USGS stopped making new 15 minute
topos as long ago as the 1960s and within the last 15 years they not only
stopped making them but attempted to recall them from sales points in order to
destroy them. Still, they often have useful or even valuable information: many
roads and buildings (for example fire towers and wardens’ camps, and routes to
them) no longer appearing on the newer 7 ½ minute maps show up on these. Also,
I personally “see” many things better on them, especially big mountains or
ranges.
They can easily be downloaded in quarter-panels from the UNH
Historic Maps of New England site: http://docs.unh.edu/nhtopos/nhtopos.htm
Once reaching this point look at Maine maps and find the listing of all their
collection (it is not complete: I have some editions they do not own). You will
notice many have different generations of maps and some have only Provisional
Maps as the series was ended before these areas were deemed worthy of
significant effort.
One ready example of how things have changed is the Katahdin
Map. If you look at the SE corner portion of the Katahdin map for 1930 and then
1949 you will see significant differences (beyond the map color) as the effects
of logging and then Baxter State Park were felt. (The St. Johns Trail of the
1930 quad was a victim of logging more than park development.) There is also an unusual shaded relief
version of this map which makes interesting comparison. There is much to be
learned from these older maps.
Regarding 7 ½
minute maps, there is a State of Maine site but, especially since it
was “improved” last year, I have a lot of trouble with it. I recommend going to
the USGS.gov site, then the Store, then Map Locator & Downloader. Here it
is: http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/maplocator
From here you can drive yourself crazy shrinking the map OR find
the Search box and type in the quadrangle you want. For instance I went to The
Traveler, Maine, and got here:
From here, click on the balloon and you will have choices of
maps and sizes, and the option to download or buy (if you really want to buy
them you should know that some sizes are not available, such as the 15 minute
sheet). I clicked the 7 ½ from 2011 (!) and then the download button above it.
It is downloading as we speak. Printing from the USGS site is your department; I own most of the maps I use, so I have not need
maps printed from this; this is good as I don’t know how to divide the image
into quarters to print it. (Incidentally, regarding printing, the 15 minute
sheets are actually smaller than the
7 ½ sheets and they print easily.)
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