I can sit and look at a topographical map for days. It makes me feel like Bilbo Baggins planning my journey to steal a precious gem from the belly of Smaug. To me this isn’t a stretch of the imagination, if you think about what you are looking for. Finding the perfect place to hike, camp, or fish is almost like finding the perfect gem. If you want to be secluded with some nice shade, a beautiful view, and great fishing, good luck. There is a horde of vacationing national lampooners trying to do the same thing.
Information can be found on a topographical map in seconds or minutes when it would take days or weeks to find the same information on the Internet.
From the location, shade, water, and elevation of a campsite to the distance, incline and interesting highlights of a good hike. When you’re hiking or camping you need to know these things. They make a huge difference when it comes to your whole family enjoying themselves. For example, elevations over 9,000 feet can make it difficult for people to breath, light a fire, or boil water. Nights can even get below freezing in summer depending on your elevation.
Knowing your elevation is a key component to picking a great campsite.
If you’re like me, you don’t like to camp at large campsites that everybody knows about. Where everyone is spitting distance from each other and you can’t step out of your tent or camper without seeing someone staring or waving at you, like places the Internet would guide you to.
I like finding campsites off the beaten path, on a topographical map, that no one can find. Spots next to a small stream where I can teach my children how to fish using bait. I like fly-fishing and using lures as much as any serious fisherman would. I like to start my children fishing with bait. It’s gets them used to handling slimy things. They have a better chance of catching something, while getting used to fishing equipment. We all know how frustrating it is not to catch anything.
Great spots are getting harder to find. Growing suburbias and companies looking to capitalize on untapped resources are diminishing such places. With a topographical map, there are still some secret hideaways out there. So grab a map, start planning, and have some adventures. Go camping, hiking, fishing, and experience the great out doors.
