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Read Thread: Trail Map-reading Lessons???

Trail Map-reading Lessons???
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
May 31, 2010 10:14pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Okay, so I drag my family out to this park full of hiking trails on Saturday, and of course, there's a letterbox we're trying to find in the process. Had the darndest time figuring out which trail we were on, and if we'd taken the right turns, etc. SAW something that seemed to match a letterboxing clue, but since we hadn't seen the previous clue yet, we passed it by without checking. EVENTUALLY... (now, my hubby, daughter-12 and son-10 were all tired, limping and complaining for a long time by now)... we came to a junction and read the sign there -- and discovered we'd made all the right trail choices, but for one thing -- we'd just done the whole trail (except for getting back to the parking lot) IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!

No WAY was anybody willing to turn around and go back so we could look for the letterbox. It was getting late, everybody was cranky (except for me, I was having fun), yadayadayada... so we chalked it up to a day of good exercise and no letterbox.

Isn't there a class (how about a book?) to teach about how to read a trail map? I need to improve my skills or my family will never go with me again (and we're wanting to get into better shape, since we're heading to Yellowstone this summer).

Any suggestions???

Thanks,

Hansenclan
in Southern California
Re: Trail Map-reading Lessons???
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #519212 by Outdoor Adventurer
Jun 1, 2010 4:15am
Thread (disabled) Board
LOL, I did that once. Thank goodness I was alone. I didn't have a map though, just clues, so I blame the clues, haha. But I realized half way around the loop that I was going in the wrong direction, so I turned around and went back to the start, then headed around the correct way, finally arriving at the box location under moonlight, only to realize it was mere meters from where I'd turned around going the other way. Doh! And by the time I started looking for the box I could barely see the trail, much less the "stump" and "fallen trees", etc. If there hadn't still been some snow on the grow to reflect the moonlight I'd have had to resort to my phone flashlight app. Of course a month later when I went back I knew the correct way to go and found the box straight away.
Better luck next time! Not all maps are very clear, and some are positively miserable, so it may not have been you at all.
Re: Trail Map-reading Lessons???
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #519212 by Outdoor Adventurer
Jun 1, 2010 7:19am
Thread (disabled) Board
I have a series of 3 on a loop. Instead of saying "turn left", it tells the boxer to travel clockwise around the loop. Nearly everyone goes the wrong way. It must be in our nature to turn right.

In this case, no amount of skilled map reading would help!
Re: Trail Map-reading Lessons???
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #519212 by Outdoor Adventurer
Jun 1, 2010 7:22am
Thread (disabled) Board
I agree that not all the trail maps are accurate. More times than not I have been confused about the map the parks offer. One thing I have done that seems to help a little is to take a picture of the trail map (the one at the trailhead) so that I have some kind of reference while I am a mile down the trail and can't rely on my memory to find my way.

It is also good to rely on your instincts. If it doesn't seem right, don't go that way. Look at it this way, at least you racked up some miles for a pathtag if your state offers one. You were letterboxing even though you didn't find the box!

Camp Fire Lady
Re: Trail Map-reading Lessons???
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #519270 by Kizmet
Jun 1, 2010 7:41am
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take a picture of the trail map (the one at the trailhead) so that I have some kind of reference while I am a mile down the trail

We do that, too! :) Often that's the only map in existence it seems -- nothing online or at the park office.

I agree that sometimes maps/markers are just confusing. At the trails here there is often more than one "start point" and many times there are no signs. If that wasn't bad enough we once hiked a trail that was called *different names* depending on which end you started from!

Another time a group of us were on a hike through a state park when the ranger guide who was with us stopped at a trail marker to discuss how to read the markers and didn't even notice that the one he was leaning on (at a five way trail intersection) had been installed backward and pointed in all the wrong directions until we (the hikers) pointed it out because we noticed the blazes on the trees didn't match... talk about getting confused on the trail!!

~Ohana
Re: Trail Map-reading Lessons???
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #519212 by Outdoor Adventurer
Jun 1, 2010 7:53am
Thread (disabled) Board
lmao!!!!! when you find that class drop me a line. i've made a few blunders myself tring to read maps!
Re: Trail Map-reading Lessons???
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #519269 by Fiddleheads
Jun 1, 2010 8:24am
Thread (disabled) Board
I have a series of 3 on a loop. Instead of saying "turn left", it tells the boxer to travel clockwise around the loop. Nearly everyone goes the wrong way. It must be in our nature to turn right.

In this case, no amount of skilled map reading would help!

However, without having a complete area map, the person actually can't KNOW which is clockwise versus counter clockwise...

You can either be starting outside the loop in which case it is left but if you started inside the loop (a perimeter trail around a park for instance) then it is right. ::shrug::
Re: Trail Map-reading Lessons???
Board: Camping, Backpacking, and the Great Outdoors
Reply to: #519212 by Outdoor Adventurer
Jun 2, 2010 1:33pm
Thread (disabled) Board
oh man that so sounds like a couple of the adventures that me and my group went on...my best advice would be practice makes perfect :) and if all else fails you can always do a "dry run" ahead of time with out the kids to be sure box is there and then take them with you once your sure you can find it :)