Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:51:07 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Publisher of Backroads Map Books...
In-Reply-To: <BLU177-W1866462285FCF972CB77E9E0DB0@phx.gbl>
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"Seek" was an autocorrect mistake, should have been "seem".
I'm very guilty of missing those mistakes in my messages. Sometimes it's amusing, most times it just makes nonsense.
I've used the backroad series for at least 20 years. On Vancouver island, the chilcotin and cariboo, okanagon, and kootenays. I've found the most errors on the Vancouver island book. Perhaps I shouldn't be so hard on them, it might be difficult to get updated source material from logging companies. But then again once you find errors on a map, one's confidence in the map evaporates.
There was a time when you could get maps from the logging companies. But now they are very hard to get.
Search and rescue organizations probably have the up to date maps.
Back to satellite images. On the island they are much better than maps in that they show the vegetation growing on the old disused roads. The maps show the roads but can't or don't indicate the condition of them.
Typically red alder grows on the roads ( can deal with the nutrient poor gravel as they can fix atmospheric nitrogen) and their characteristic appearance on sat pics show up clearly.
Sometimes you can still make it down those roads, if you don't mind adding more redneck pinstripes to your van, and sometimes you can't drive the roads.
Alistair
> On Aug 29, 2014, at 9:24 AM, James <jk_eaton@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Alistair,
>
> An impressive - and very safe and sensible - combination of mapping techniques.
>
> I take issue only with your statement: "Those maps seek to use out of date data, de activated logging roads are not marked as such, and some road data is way off."
>
> No map publisher seeks to use out of date data - otherwise they'd be laughed out of the map stores. Their data does get out of date, but that's the nature of anything published. Even satellite photos, as you note, get out of date.
>
> I've met one of the authors of the Backroads Map books - they try very hard to 'get it right' as close to publication as possible, and they make available PDF and GPS mapping updates of their topo maps and other travel materials.
>
> James
> Ottawa, ON
>
>
>
> > Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:48:44 -0700
> > From: albell@SHAW.CA
> > Subject: Re: Publisher of Backroads Map Books...
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> > James,
> >
> > I have to clarify how I use my iPad mini navigating backroads. I don't use a turn by turn nav app on logging roads. What I do is a combination of things. Before the trip and if I know what general area I am going to, I survey the area in google maps and apple map app. So the satellite data is stored in the ipad for off line use.
> >
> > I also use electronic topographic maps and reader and a great PDF map reader app called Avenza. I have topos for all of Vancouver island on the ipad and I have a couple of quite specific PDF maps. One of which has all the logging roads, main ones and spurs, labelled.
> >
> > So in the bush, with no cell coverage, I can locate myself with a very impressive degree of accuracy. I can confirm the accuracy with the satellite pics.
> >
> > The GPS receiver I use is a Bluetooth garmin glonass. Gets Russian and US satellites. Gets a fix quickly and I haven't yet lost signal due to trees or gullies.
> >
> > Despite the fact that the satellite images are at least a year or two old it is much more accurate than the backroad maps I mentioned before. Those maps seek to use out of date data, de activated logging roads are not marked as such, and some road data is way off.
> >
> > Alistair
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Aug 28, 2014, at 10:56 AM, James <jk_eaton@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Excellent back roads maps, but I think Canada only.
> > >
> > > I wouldn't trust an iPad mini or other electronic mapping system either, not since a friend of mine in Montreal was repeatedly sent into a brick wall that was supposed to be an overpass, or since Google maps sent me on a scenic tour of gravel roads in Quebec on the way to Maine.... or onto a left ramp when the desired ramp was clearly on the right (in New Hampshire this August).
> > >
> > > Gotta apply commonsense to either option, I suppose.
> > >
> > > James
> > > Ottawa, ON
> > >
> > > > Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:33:52 -0700
> > > > From: albell@SHAW.CA
> > > > Subject: Re: Publisher of Backroads Map Books...
> > > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > >
> > > > I have copies for various regions of bc of back road maps produced by this company
> > > >
> > > > http://www.backroadmapbooks.com/main/index.html
> > > >
> > > > I don't know, didn't bother to look, if they do the USA.
> > > >
> > > > The books are ok, I guess. But I've found a few errors so I don't trust them fully.
> > > > Pretty well all my backroad navigation is done on my iPad mini now.
> > > >
> > > > Alistair
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > On Aug 27, 2014, at 11:35 AM, Abel Longoria <houstonphotog@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Someone was telling m about a book publisher that makes a book complete
> > > > > with all of a states back roads that aren't normally on some maps etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > I was told they were very detailed and very nice to have when navigating
> > > > > out in rural areas...
> > > > >
> > > > > I forgot the name of the publisher but was hoping that someone here on the
> > > > > list may know of a publishers such as this.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks
> > > > > Abel.
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