Monthly Archive for December, 2007

Free Garmin GPS Maps

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on December 7, 2007
in Geek Stuff, National Forests and Recreation Areas, Technology, Web Sites and Apps and maps
. 1 Comment

One of the most frustrating (and lame) things I learned when researching GPS units was their crippled map capabilities. I really liked the features and price of the Garmins, but National Geographic TOPO (which, in my opinion, has the most comprehensive and powerful mapping tools) aren’t able to be displayed on the GPS unit’s screen.

Garmin has its own map software, but it’s overpriced, out of date, and missing giant chunks of hikers’ territories in the 1:24k resolution that’s best for the trail. Garmin’s MapSource TOPO West, for instance, covers the Santa Monica Mountains and the San Bernardino National Forest, but not the Angeles, Cleveland, or Los Padres. Until they update their data and give me more detailed maps, I ain’t handin’ over any hard-earned cash.

It’s not easy, but a temporary solution is here — free, user-created, Garmin-compatible GPS maps.

The gearheads over at GPS Tracklog have put together a comprehensive list of sources and instructions on how to get some free 24k maps from the internets into your Garmin GPS. It requires a bunch of different web sites and a Windows freeware download, but hey — that’s what we hax0rs have to do when The Man doesn’t give us what we need, right?

Some of the map sites they link to have great, detailed maps of Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, and Lassen — but still no Angeles National Forest. So we’ve still got a ways to go.

Still, it’s free. So don’t complain.

Forest Service Buyout

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on December 6, 2007
in National Forests and Recreation Areas, Politics and hiking
. 0 Comments

Wild Wilderness is sounding the alarm about a new US Forest Service proposal that would grant preferred National Forest access to outfitters, guides, and non-profits. If this proposal is approved, it would have sweeping and potentially permanent effects on all Forest Service Lands — which is the vast majority of outdoorsy-havens around Los Angeles, by the way.

Their site has a good summary of a potential future:

* Outfitters and guides would be able to pay a small fee for sole and exclusive access to prime camping, hunting, fishing and picnic areas, including boat launch ramps.

* Outfitters, guides and non-profit organizations would be awarded an allocation of public use for ten-year periods. Commonly referred to as a “taking,” of public land the rule would give preferred access to the outfitters at the expense of the do-it-yourself public on all Forest Service-managed lands.

* This rulemaking would force allocating access in management areas where access is presently allocation-free, as it now is at Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the Deschutes River.

* Outfitters, Guides and non-profits become “Priority Users”. The public, who does not use outfitters, guides or non-profits for access would no longer have “priority use.”

* The general public would no longer be able to comment on USFS giving away blocks of access to Forest Service land. Outfitting and guiding in designated wilderness would not require public comment and review through an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement. Additionally, there is no provision to prevent outfitting services from selling their preferred access rights to their successor companies.

* The new proposed rules do not protect wilderness areas from commercialization.

Not all doom and gloom, WildWilderness also has helpful links for ways you can submit a comment on this action, either in writing or online. They suggest you CC your Senator or Representative, too.

Remember all comments have to be received by January 17th, 2008. If you do anything outside on National Forest land, from hiking to mountaineering to horseback riding to shooting, this affects you.

Times Can Be Rough

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on December 5, 2007
in motivations
. 0 Comments

But folks like Nathan Colishaw know what’s up:

Life is good you know, but times can be rough. That’s why sometimes you have to get out and smell the juniper and pinion, and listen to the wind whistle and cut through pine needles. It is a healing song almost, just to hear the wind and the creaking wood of those old trees.

More wonderful writing and photography at the West Desert Journal.

Hiking Iron Mountain (#2)

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on December 4, 2007
in Angeles National Forest, Trail Write-Ups and hiking
. 3 Comments

A short, yet secluded hike to a secluded mountain deep in the western San Gabriels. A trek down a long dirt road gets you to the trailhead, where you’ll walk along unused fire roads and use-trails to the summit of Iron Mountain. While this route to the mountain is relatively short, it’s got a steep incline at the actual summit and a long, drawn out ascent on the return trip to the trailhead.

Continue reading ‘Hiking Iron Mountain (#2)’

Vegas. Again.

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on December 3, 2007
in City Life and The Great Outdoors
. 1 Comment

National Geographic Adventure sang Sin City’s praises as part of its 50 Best Places to Live and Play, crowning it the best of the best.

They make a pretty good case for my Least Favorite City, too, citing the numerous and varied outdoor possibilities within a 200 mile radius.

… Maybe one of my 2008 Resolutions will be to give Vegas another shot. It certainly does look pretty beautiful out there …

Via OutdoorBlog.

200 in 2007

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on December 2, 2007
in hiking, motivations and site news
. 3 Comments

Just hit my 200th mile for 2007, hiking Iron Mountain in the western San Gabriels. I’ll have a full write-up soon, and it will have the honor of being the first major post to come from my shiny new Mac. We’ll see how it goes…