– The Backcountry Ski Site
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Site

  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

10 Things to Know — Part 7: Read That Topo

by Lou Dawson September 27, 2007
written by Lou Dawson September 27, 2007
Map reading.
Chris Clark map reading on the Trooper Traverse

It’s the days of GPS, but in most cases you still need to read a map. Indeed, even with a GPS you may have a topo map showing in the display and you need to school your mind on how to interpret all those squiggly lines and stuff. Problem is, with guides, marked trails and yes, GPS, we get less and less practice on basic map reading. Apologies to experts out there, this is written for people just starting with map nav.

Reality is that reading a topo isn’t all that tough. What helps is sticking to the basics. Here it is in steps.

1. Get a practice map, USGS 7.5 minute, 1:24000 scale. If those numbers look like gobbledygook don’t despair, you’ll understand them soon enough. A map of your area will work if you live near some natural landscape. WildSnowers say that city folk should get one of their favorite hiking spot or somewhere else in the country they go frequently. Get a full sized printed topo if you can, from an outdoor store or map outlet. You can print topo maps from a variety of sources such as software packages and websites like Topozone.com, but you’ll usually end up with an 8 1/2 x 11 map, and that doesn’t cover enough area for good learning visualization of how these things work. If you print from the web or software, do multiple prints and make a “tile set” you tape together.


2. Figure out what the directions are on the map. You know that up is north, correct?

3. On your practice map, identify some terrain features that require lots of those squiggly contour lines. By taking a few walks, learn to compare how those lines look to the actual landscape. At the same time you’ll learn how different features are marked, such as roads and streams. For learning this you can find tons of help on the web, just google it.

4. Obtain a small, easily carried compass with a clear rectangular base, such as the Brunton Classic.


5. While map experts frequently operate without a compass by comparing their map to terrain features, you can jumpstart your map reading with compass use. The thing to remember about this is for map reading you generally use a compass to match the map to the terrain so you can visualize your route. Other times you may use the compass to point your direction, but here at WildSnow.com we’ve seen this is less common for backcountry skiing and now more easily and better done with a GPS.

Map reading.
North arrows from USGS map, they look confusing. Just line your compass needle up with the one marked “MN,” as that’s magnetic north.

Using a compass is relatively straightforward, with one glitch. The needle points to the magnetic pole of the earth, but geographic north on the map is slightly different. While all sorts of memory tricks exist to help deal with this, here is the foolproof way: Look on your map for a set of north arrows. On regular USGS 7.5 minute maps this is on the bottom map margin, as it is with many other maps. One arrow will line up with the top and bottom of the map, and may be labeled “GN” or “Geographic.” Another arrow will still point up to the top of the map, but will point to the side of the GN arrow. This is the magnetic north arrow and may be labeled “MN” or “Magnetic.”

Simply hold your compass over the map arrows (that’s one reason you use one with a clear base), and rotate the map till the MN arrow on the map lines up with the compass needle. Now your map is “oriented.”


The training is over, on to actual tips.

1. For any mountain navigation you should have a barometric altimeter in addition to your map and compass. Good quality wrist watch units work fine as do GPS units with a barometric altimeter, but learn how to calibrate your chosen instrument. Calibration means manually changing the elevation reading to match that of your location. You generally do this at trailheads and destinations, but during a long day it should be done during travel as well. (Beware that all GPS units will show altitude, but many do NOT have a barometric altimeter and may be somewhat inaccurate due to the nature of how the GPS system renders altitude.)

2. At home, prepare your map by inking in route lines and designating major milestones such as stream crossings and trail forks. If you have a GPS and map software package, use it to get GPS coordinates and exact elevations for these points, and write them on the map. At the same time, for GPS practice get your routes marked in your GPS unit.

3. If your day requires more than a lunchtime map check, keep your map accessible by folding to show your route, and stowing in a flat ziploc bag. When reading frequently, carry by doubling over and sticking it in the thigh pocket of your alpine pants, or behind the zipper of your jacket. Keep your compass and altimeter equally handy.

4. As the day progresses, you want to have that map out often and ALWAYS know where you are on it. You do this by orienting the map up with your compass as described above, then visualizing the terrain. With good visibility, mountain landscapes provide plenty of landmarks that make this easy. In a storm you may find yourself counting things like stream crossings and using estimated travel speed along with altimeter readings to plot your position. Much of this, and that’s where the GPS comes into its own.

5. The key to effective map work in the field is frequent use. Along with that, keep your whole group involved in the map reading — having other sets of eyes on the process will prevent your mind from playing tricks on you.


The list:
10. Jump start a car without blinding yourself.

9. First-aid a serious laceration.

8. Rip skins in the wind without giving your scalp a bikini wax.

7. Fix a broken ski pole with duct tape and pocket knife.

6. Do a jump turn in the face of danger.

5. Start a fire in the snow — while you’re shivering.

4. Read a topo map quickly.

3. Quickly dig a person out of an avalanche.

2. Keep your feet warm.

1. Practice a humble mindset so caution rules the day.

Lou Dawson

WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.

www.loudawson.com
0
Email
previous post
10 Things To Know — Part 6: Make a Hop Turn in the Face of Danger, Chris Davenport’s Take
next post
Backcountry Skiing News Roundup

Trip Reports

  • A Small Hut for Big Skiing in the San Juans: Aladdin’s Lamp

    April 23, 2024
  • Revisiting a 2011 Trip Report: Adventure in the Pickets — Thread of Ice Ski Descent

    December 9, 2022

Avalanche Department

  • Ask a Forecaster: Q&A with CAIC’s Andrew McWilliams

    March 10, 2024

Tips & Tricks

  • Transition Efficiencies 101 with Tech Binding Heel Units

    January 6, 2023
  • Visualizing the Backcountry as a Splitboarder: Minimizing the Challenges of Movement by Anticipating Terrain

    December 5, 2022
  • TURBOCHARGE YOUR TRAILHEAD BEACON CHECK

    November 15, 2022

Recent Comments

  • Daniel on Backcountry Ski Boots Buyer’s Guide: The Touring Boots Worth the Money
  • Jim Milstein on Best Touring Packs for Guides and Daytrippers
  • Bergen Tjossem on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review
  • Maciej on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Terms of Service
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2025 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Visualizing the Backcountry as a Splitboarder:...

December 5, 2022

A.B.T. — Backcountry Skiing Fitness Maintenance...

October 14, 2022

Ski Touring Basics: 16 Things to...

October 11, 2022