Staying found is mighty important to outdoor adventurers everywhere, whether they bike, paddle, or hike. Of course, it’s a lot easier if you have the right tools. And despite the proliferation of cheap, compact, and lightweight GPS receivers, the topographic map (aka “topo” or “quad”) is still a mainstay of backcountry navigation. If your favorite route lies south of the border—that’s the Canada-US border!—than no doubt you’ve long relied on the maps published by the US Geological Survey. While these no longer sell for 50 cents each, as they did back in 1968, they remain a bargain at the current price of eight or nine bucks a sheet. The bad news? A single quad is seldom enough, even for day trips, and the cost adds up quickly when you buy all the maps you’ll need for a longer expedition. Luckily, the USGS has now made cash-strapped paddlers, hikers, and cyclists an offer we simply can’t afford to refuse. How does free sound? Yes, free. Free as in “free lunch.” That’s a pretty good deal, right? Well, you don’t need to have an uncle in the business to qualify for this astonishing discount. Uncle Sam has seen to that. You just need a computer, a color printer, and a broadband connection. That’s all it takes to get topos on your desktop. Read more…

 

 
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