Best altases & maps according to redditors
We found 377 Reddit comments discussing the best altases & maps. We ranked the 241 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 377 Reddit comments discussing the best altases & maps. We ranked the 241 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
![National Geographic Road Atlas 2020: Adventure Edition [United States, Canada, Mexico]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51uGH4bgo3L.jpg)
![Pisgah Ranger District [Pisgah National Forest] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map (780))](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51XS-j4JGaL.jpg)
First some resources. You should read these.
https://www.morethantwo.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Polyamory-Roadmaps-Clueless-Anthony-Ravenscroft/dp/1890109533
Now for my honest opinion ... I'm not going to be polite... sorry.
You should not even think of proposing anything until you educate your self about open relationships... A lot. You have just proposed to walk face first into all of the worst ideas in open relationships, for exactly the same reasons that everyone who's made those mistakes has done in the past.
>I'll propose some ground rules about who is allowed, how often, when and where.
So by saying allow you are assuming you have authority or ownership. That's not going to work in an open relationship. They are built on mutual informed and enthusiastic consent. You agree to and negotiate boundaries.
>I'll remind her that sex with others should never interfere with our lives.
Its going to whether you want it to or not. I've had to tell one partner that I wasn't particularly in the mood because another partner wore me out. Some jokingly call it the law of hydraulics. But the bottom line is when there are more than two people. There will always be things that turn up, interfere, modify, change, alter and upend what you consider to be your life.
>I'll tell her not to introduce me to any future partners, and I won't introduce her to any of mine.
This is some times part of a don't ask don't tell relationship. They never work. Horrid idea. Some one is going to get jealous, ask the wrong question. "What do they do that I don't?" and its easier to hate some one you've never met particularly when they are fucking your wife. Now I'm intentionally using provocative language here. And if you're getting a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach as you are reading this then you may want to think long and hard about how you are going to process those emotions and what they will or won't do to your relationship which is already in an awkward position.
>Not to fall in love with anyone...
Stop loving your wife RIGHT NOW and I'll believe this is possible. Otherwise you are asking for a world of hurt. Because she will fall in love most likely. And you most likely will too. And if you make this rule and break it then you have to deal with the consequences and fall out of that. Some one is going to feel betrayed.
I heard they stopped allowing for reviews in Chicago and have basically closed up shop. That's why we've had a recent flood of people to /r/chicago asking for recommendations.
I've also heard a rumor that Google will be cutting support for their Maps product in the Chicagoland area and we'll have to resort back to the old Rand McNally Road Atlas
sad times friend - sad times.
Bad seeing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_seeing
Take a look at this site:
http://cleardarksky.com/csk/
Find a location nearest your place. Look at the third row in the diagram, the one called "Seeing". It's a seeing forecast. Try and look again at Antares when the little squares in that row are dark blue. Then it should look much better.
Also, pick another big star at the same elevation (distance to horizon) and compare it with Antares. It should be the same. Now look at a big star closer to horizon. It should look worse. That's just seeing.
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BTW, Antares is actually a double star. Its companion is very small and pretty close to the primary, but it could be seen in at least 6" of aperture in good seeing. It looks "faded green-ish" to most people, although that's probably just due to contrast with the red primary (there are no green stars). Try and locate the companion - if seeing is good enough you should be able to see it. Perhaps, part of what you're seeing is the ghost of the companion bouncing around the image of the primary in bad seeing (but most of it should be just the primary distorted by seeing).
If you can't see the companion in a 15" scope, seeing must be pretty bad, or there's some problem with the optics.
Make sure the telescope is well collimated. If collimation is a problem, the image distortion would be static, it would not bounce around, but it's always worth checking it, to make sure the scope is in top shape.
http://www.cloudynights.com/documents/primer.pdf
http://www.stark-labs.com/craig/llcc/llcc.html
http://legault.perso.sfr.fr/collim.html
A 15" reflector would certainly benefit from active cooling:
http://www.garyseronik.com/?q=node/55
http://www.garyseronik.com/?q=node/69
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To remove any doubt as to the location of Antares, perhaps you should get some paper-based charts. The electronic stuff is useful for quick and rough identification, but paper can actually be more precise. A simple planisphere would give you an instant confirmation for big objects like Antares:
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Stars-Ken-Graun/dp/1928771017/
A more detailed atlas can be useful for smaller things:
http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Telescopes-Pocket-Atlas/dp/1931559317/
I would say that the best thing that you can probably do is to join a local astronomy club. They're more than likely going to have "star parties" where they all bring different telescopes and look at different things in the night sky. It should give you a good taste of what you can see, the pros and cons of different telescopes, and real world experience. You're also going to have a ton of experienced observers who you can ask questions and talk with.
Besides that, I would probably pick up a book called Turn Left at Orion and a star atlas (my personal favorite is Sky and telescope Pocket Sky Atlas). Turn Left at Orion is essentially a beginners guide to amateur astronomy. It tells you what the best things to observe are during different times of the year, descriptions of them, how to find them, and other things. A star atlas is essentially a map of the night sky. I would also look into Stellarium. It's a free program that shows you what your night sky looks like based on your date, time, and where you live. It's pretty much an interactive star atlas. Also, if you have any book money left over, you might consider getting RASC's 2017 Observer's Hand. It tells you, in detail, what important things are going to be going on above our heads in 2017. It also has some nice articles for beginning astronomers, a bunch of nice maps, and a lot of helpful charts. I wouldn't call it a necessity, but it's really nice to have.
I would also recommend joining an online astronomy forum. Cloudy Nights is my favorite. The folks there are all passionate about astronomy, very nice, and very knowledgeable.
Lastly, and this is the most important piece of advice I can give, is to just get out there and start observing. You don't need a telescope or even binoculars. Go out and try to find constellations or try to find where the planets currently are or see if you can see some of the brighter Deep Sky Objects (those are essentially anything that isn't a planet or the moon). The Pleiades and the Orion Nebula are great first things to look for, for instance. Just enjoy being out there under the stars. It's a great feeling.
Clear Skies!
If you need some help, there's a planetarium program called Stellarium that shows you most objects in the night sky. You can put information like your telescope and eyepiece to simulate your field of view and magnification.
You can also buy a sky atlas, such as the Sky and Telescope's Pocket Atlas. I've used the Pocket Atlas to find the crab nebula and some small galaxies with my 10 inch dobsonian, so it really helps.
A $50 first telescope is a great thing. You've got a minimal investment in it so you don't have to worry about messing things up.
You get to learn a bunch of things (e.g., how to balance the scope, how an equatorial mount works, how to collimate a Newtonian telescope, etc.) This guy has lots of great helpful video. Some are more advanced but he covers balancing a scope and cleaning mirrors. He even covers making a finder scope. Here's an excellent tutorial for beginners and those new to equatorial mounts.
The scope is 900mm focal length and 114mm in diameter. This means, if it were a camera lens, it would be about f/7.9 (900/114=7.895). This is a pretty standard f-ratio for a Newtonian.
The bottom most adjustment should have degrees listed for latitude. You say you're in central AL, so you'll set it to something close to 33 degrees (Birmingham, AL). You can then roughly polar align the mount and then you'll be moving in right ascension and declination somewhat accurately.
Now that you're polar aligned, you will be able to find objects listed in various star charts. I highly recommend Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas. It's about $15 and everybody (beginner through advanced) I met at a recent star party had one in their kit.
Most important, have fun and enjoy. As I mentioned initially, you've only got $50 invested so don't be afraid to experiment a bit. Soon enough you'll be prepared to drop $500 on a new scope/mount!
This island is featured in the book "Atlas of Remote Islands" by Judith Schalansky
I had made a companion "book" to it via the Wikipedia service:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Xefer/Books/RemoteIsland
a friend of mine had this map in his dorm room when I went to school in NY. It's an old school looking map of the Chicago neighborhoods. As a Chicagoan away from home, I really liked it.
http://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Neighborhood-Second-Maps-Atlases/dp/1929687001
Let's get the first thing straight: there was no assault, and from your description, he was drunk, she was drunk, he made moves on her, she shot him down, and he stopped. That is not sexual assault. Classifying it as such is a way you can justify your negative feelings towards this guy, but you are doing things a disservice by approaching the issue as such.
Next, I can tell you, as a bi man in an open marriage with a bi woman, poly, open arrangements, and other alternatives to monogamy don't work unless both parties are on board. If that is the case, both need to be educated and dedicated: educated on alternatives to monogamy and how to best institute them in the relationship, and dedicated to open communication, honoring the primary partnership, and respecting their partner/s.
In my past experience, it's very difficult to go from mono to poly or open arrangements. There's usually too much past stuff to get through that ends up projected onto the new relationship, and often times, one partner wants it more than the other. For me personally, as someone wo is not poly but is also nonmonogamous, the best relationships I have had have been when the relationship began as an open arrangement.
If you want to begin looking at poly/open/w/e options start reading and researching. Get a couples counselor. Learn how to communicate in new ways. BUT, I have to say, the way that this has been broached in your life is not the best way to get there. Tell her if she is seriously wanting to be poly, you require these things. After a month of research and meeting with a couples counselor, reconvene on the issue. If it's something you both want, then move forward. If not, time to move on.
Required reading:
http://www.amazon.com/Opening-Up-Creating-Sustaining-Relationships/dp/157344295X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310242671&sr=8-1
A great book to get started with, and refer back to.
http://www.amazon.com/Redefining-Our-Relationships-Guidelines-Responsible/dp/1587900157/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310242969&sr=8-1
Great little book.
http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Polyamory-Becoming-Tribe-Hearts/dp/0738707627/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1310242671&sr=8-5
This book is heavy on the woo woo, new age shit, but these people have a lot of good info, if you can separate it from the enya bullshit.
http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Slut-Practical-Relationships-Adventures/dp/1587613379/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1310242671&sr=8-8
Basically, the bible of open relationships for newbs.
http://www.amazon.com/Polyamory-Roadmaps-Clueless-Anthony-Ravenscroft/dp/1890109533/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1310242671&sr=8-16
Decent
Get a copy of the maine atlas and gazetteer. It has a lot of points of interest and campgrounds of different types (developed, primitive, lean-to, etc.). It also has most of the larger trails in the state and info about where the gates are, impasses, etc. Camping locations are everywhere, though i usually find a nice secluded spot on the map away from any marked points of interest or developed camp grounds and drive in, find a spot and set up. More times than not, i'll end up in a great spot and not see another person the whole trip.
Bradbury Mountain is a decent day trip from Portland, plus you could stop in Freeport and shop and eat lunch at the (supposedly) haunted Jameson's Tavern. The staff there will show you a book about the haunting if you ask about it. The hike at Bradbury Mountain is easy, they have one easy trail and one more difficult, but it's not really that hard, either way.
The wildlife refuge in Gray is also nice. Only open in the warmer months, of course:
http://www.state.me.us/ifw/education/wildlifepark/
Wolfe's Neck State Park:
http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/details.pl?park_id=31
And Wolfe's Neck Farm:
http://wolfesneckfarm.org/
If you look on this page, there are several places listed, and Tidebrook is not to be missed:
http://freeportconservationtrust.org/areas/freeport-center-trails/
Gilsland Farm, closer to Portland:
http://maineaudubon.org/find-us/gilsland-farm/
Scarborough Marsh, where we have rented canoes and drifted along, seeing birds and such, very peaceful:
http://maineaudubon.org/find-us/scarborough-marsh/
We have also taken day trips to Boothbay, Bailey's Island, Popham Beach, George Reid State Park, and a lot of places in and around Ellsworth along the coast. Deer Island/Stonington is also a great place, if you go up to Ellsworth and then take the road down to there, the views are fantastic.
I agree Western Maine is fantastic, the drive thru Rangeley and Height of Land, while first visiting Smalls Falls is lovely. You can climb up along the falls, as well as dip into the pool at the bottom.
There is also a place just above Paris, where you can sort and sift for tourmalines, Maine's gemstone, on Route 26:
http://digmainegems.com/
If you go a bit South of them, there is a gas station that serves hot and cold sandwiches, which you could then take a couple miles down the road to Snow Falls Gorge:
http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/eastern-us-snow-falls.html
Other places to consider are The Forks, and Moxie Falls, and there are people who rent and do guides for white water rafting, and perhaps renting a cabin in Belgrade lakes area. We stayed at this place last year, to get away, and it was very quiet, dog friendly, and campfires every night, supper is BYOB:
http://www.whisperwoodlodge.com/
Get you a Maine Gazetteer and just go out and drive around and explore! So much to do and see, especially in the warmer months.
https://www.amazon.com/Maine-Atlas-Gazetteer-Delorme/dp/089933282X
You might need it because cell service is sketchy in a lot of Maine, and well, the GPS always wants you to get on the highway or go the most direct route, but that's not always the most fun, is it? :-)
Great choice! You won't be disappointed. Have a look at this site to get a primer on how to use your scope: http://eyesonthesky.com/Blog/tabid/80/EntryId/179/The-Ultimate-Beginners-Guide-to-Telescopes-and-Amateur-Astronomy.aspx
You'll most likely want to get yourself a star chart too, I recommend the Pocket Sky Atlas: http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Telescopes-Pocket-Atlas/dp/1931559317
And finally, here's a couple articles I wrote about getting the most out of your telescope, both for high-power (planetary) and deep-space observing (there are different techniques for each):
You use one of these (download the TIFF file) and a compass. There are better ones out there (this is a really good one of the same location), but the USGS map does the job just fine. See the Wikipedia page on topo maps. It allows you to determine location (by finding the direction of multiple known locations, like radio antennas, buildings, or mountains, and tracing them back to their intersection) and terrain (how steep inclines are, water, elevation, the easiest routes, etc), in addition to the usual roads, buildings, etc.
Topo maps are a ton of fun to use, especially if you have to figure out exactly where you are (perhaps this could be implemented in a game by only displaying the correct quadrangle (or an equivalent) and it requires you to figure it out for yourself. I really want to play an ES game with a mod that does this now, I might have to start learning how to do it (and figuring out how to make the required maps).
The 3D map (I haven't seen it in use) sounds like it's just a more user-friendly (though less directly informative) way of doing the same thing as a topo map. Topo maps are fun, and not too difficult to learn, but few people know how to read them, and fewer know how to use them properly; to be fair, it's no longer a required skill given the pervasiveness of GPS and turn-by-turn directions (which I have no problem using), but it's invaluable if you ever need it, and helpful even when you don't.
Addresses: For an example of what the other poster wrote, I'll give a specific example. I used to live in Ninomiya 3-5-1. Meaning, I live in a neighborhood called Ninomiya, which itself is divided into several sections, and I live in the 3rd section of Ninomiya. My block is #5, and my building is #1 on the block. A lot of the numbering of blocks and buildings is based on when they were built up.
Directions: The modern version of turning left at the Johnson farm. "Take the expressway and then the exit for Mitsukaido. At the end of the ramp, take a left at the stoplight, then a right at the second 7-11. We live in the 3rd apartment building on the right, next to the ramen shop. At the E entrance, find our name on the list to ring and be let in."
Arrrgh: For those who want a more Western looking map, I recommend books like this one for Tokyo.
I think Sky and Telescope's pocket atlas is a good resource.
This is a great guide for CO.
https://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Gazetteer-DeLorme-Mapping-Company/dp/0899332889
I would highly suggest getting a map so you can see if there are trails there or not instead of just hoping. It's hard to give advice when you're not even sure what you're trying to plan.
The National Geographic maps are the standard for the area. #746 Saranac/Paul Smiths covers the area between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. You can see on the map there is 1 trail that covers part of the distance between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, the Jackrabbit Ski Trail. However, since it is a ski trail, I can't vouch for it's hikability (maybe someone else here can). There would also still be road walking/running you would have to do between the two towns.
The town of Lake Placid and south of there, including the High Peaks Region is covered in map #742 Lake Placid/High Peaks
I will say there are plenty of options for other trails if you were to do more of a "basecamp" thing, especially if you're not planning to actually camp but would prefer to stay at a hotel or something in town. You could just stay town, drive to a trailhead in the morning, do your hike, and then drive back to your lodging place in town. I have done this type of trip numerous times and always enjoy it
This is the White Mountain map I use, along with the AMC White Mountain Guide.
There is also this map of just the Presidential Range.
I don't think any "serious" maps will have interesting information besides trail names and distances. If you want to read thorough descriptions of the trails they I seriously recommend the AMC White Mountain Guide.
I used to use the Tokyo City Atlas in the dark days before smart phones, and it worked quite well for me.
I started driving in the 90's. My dad beat it into my head to always have one of these. They saved my ass plenty of times.
Also taught me the north/south= odd interstates and east/west = even interstates... 3 digit interstates go around a city..
A lot of people recommend the ethical slut. I didn't particularly care for it. I much perfer this book by Ravenscroft:
maybe read this http://www.amazon.com/Polyamory-Roadmaps-Clueless-Anthony-Ravenscroft/dp/1890109533/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382175373&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=polyamory+a+guide+book+for+the+clueless+and+hopeful
By far my favorite area of the sky to explore with binoculars is Sagittarius, as another commenter said below.
Buy yourself a good sky atlas (the de facto standard for my club is http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Telescopes-Pocket-Atlas/dp/1931559317) and get to know how the charts map to the sky. That book is good because it holds up to the elements, is spiral-bound, and if you hold it at arm's length, the distance scale should be about the same as what you see in the sky.
Cruise around the sky and find some of the easier objects and that will give you a good feel for star-hopping and what you can expect to see from your equipment.
Clear skies!
If you ask for GPS, rental car companies will give it to you, but expect them to charge you a ton of money ($5-20 per day). Use a smartphone and save the money. Also find a mount that makes your phone easy to use in any car and is easy to travel with (I like Tetrax).
Also, if for some reason google maps doesn't work out, don't be afraid to go analog.
Monadnock isn't in the White Mountains (it's about 2 hours to the south) but it's definitely a great hike. It's not really a place for an overnight though.
A nice place in the White Mountains for a first overnight is Hermit Lake Shelters. It is in Tuckerman Ravine which is a gorgeous spot. You could hike in on day one, drop your stuff at the shelter and do a quick out and back into the base of the ravine if you feel up for it. Then day two you could hike up to Lion's Head before coming back down, grabbing your stuff and heading back to the car in Pinkham Notch.
Or you could stay at Nauman tentsite next to Mizpah Hut (one of the $100 a night huts in the Whites, but the tentsite is only $8 I believe). Day one go up to Nauman from the Highland Center, maybe including an out and back up Pierce once you drop your stuff at Nauman depending on how you're feeling/time. Day two head south to Jackson and then down to your car from there.
If you are just doing a day hike, Jackson/Webster or Jackson/Pierce make good loops. Or if you want something smaller, you could do Welch/Dickey, Willard or Crawford.
Definitely pick up a trail map of the White Mountains, especially if you are going to be doing more hiking there in the future. The Appalachian Mountain Club makes great ones, like this one.
Astrophotography is a hobby in its own right.
For the budget you have listed, you would most likely end up buying a mount that is not up to the task.
I would suggest a nice pair of 10x50 binoculars and this book first.
If you are committed to getting a scope, then this is my suggestion assuming the $1000 budget is all inclusive meaning scope, accessories, and books.
2)The skywatcher comes with 2 eyepieces (25mm and 10mm IRC) THe light bridge comes with one. In either case I would invest in a NICE barlow like this one Barlows are an inexpensive way to improve your options. A 24 mm EP in a 2x barlow becomes a 12mm a 10mm becomes a 5mm. Its not as great as discrete eps in those sizes, but it is an economical way to get more versatility out of your existing eyepieces. I also can't talk enough about the Televue Panoptic EPs. They are affordable and incredibly nice. Eyepieces are something that will last through many scopes. I have 10 or so but only ever use about 3 of them.
Get a Telrad or a Rigel finder. The Skywatcher has a finderscope, the meade has a red dot finder. Personally I hate red dot finders. I think they are complete junk. Telrad is the defacto standard for zero magnification finders, I prefer the rigel for its smaller size and built in pulse circuit. They are both about the same price. You will need to collimate your scope, a cheshire works great, or a laser collimator will do as well. Many folks use a combination of both. I have gone both ways, cheshire is fine, laser is fine, a combination of both is also fine. Accessories can go on forever, the only other must have that I can think of is a redlight flashlight. This is a good one or you can add red film to an existing flashlight you have or you can do what myself and many others have done and get an LED headlamp and replace the white LEDs with red ones.
I would start with the backyard astronomers guide. Buy that first before you buy anything. It has some very good sections on scopes and observing that can help you answer some questions.
Lastly I always say go with a dobsonian scope. They are easy to setup and use and they force you to learn the sky. Once you are comfortable operating a scope and moving around the night sky, then I would think about investing in an equatorial mount and scope for astrophotography use.
Good luck and Clear Skies!
This is one of my favorites: http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Remote-Islands-Judith-Schalansky/dp/014311820X
a map is probably the most boring thing I've got, until this morning the answer would have been a single No 2 pencil.
To follow up on my earlier comment: in the atlas I referenced, a 5-degree FOV is nearly identical to the diameter of a quarter - so if you go this route, use a quarter to form your circle of wire.
Also -- from my suburban neighborhood (orange according to your map, but probably more likely yellow at the small scale), last year I was able to barely see the Leo Triplet with my 8" Dob so it is possible under your conditions. Just don't expect more than a fuzzy blip for the non-Messier member.
It's an amazing park. You'll have a great time, weather permitting. But warning -- it was a pretty late year in terms of snow, and you should be keeping a very careful eye on how much snow is on the ground. Local ranger stations are your friend. They do pick up their phone -- look up the phone number on the Forest Service website.
A first tip: Buy the Tom Harrison map. By far the best topo map of the area on the market. https://www.amazon.com/Desolation-Wilderness-Trail-Map-Waterproof/dp/1877689610
In terms of routes:
I assume the Echo Lake ferry isn't going to be running yet. But I'd still consider starting at Echo Lake trailhead, then hiking around the lake towards Lake Aloha, along the Pacific Crest Trail. From there, you can cross-country (legally) towards Lake of the Woods, or work your way further towards Susie Lake. Past Susie Lake, it depends on the snow conditions and your energy levels.
I've done a few trips from that side, they've all been great. Aloha Lake is magical.
You can also start at the north side of the park, but I don't know those routes as well in terms of what'll be great early-season. I've always wanted to start at Fallen Leaf Lake, but haven't yet.
Getting your first scope is so exciting! I'm very much an amateur and casual observer myself, but my dad and I have been into astronomy for about four years now.
First, I recommend looking into some space/astro societies in your area, there's Tacoma Astronomical Society and Rose City Astronomers in my area for example! Each club has different resources, but they can be super helpful. You can meet locals and see if they have resources you can rent- like telescopes, or books and whatnot. It's saved me a dime or two. Sometimes they have online forums too. I also highly recommend going to star parties, it's where I've learned the most! You can see other people's set ups, ask loads of questions, and get a better sense for what you might want. We did this for about 6 months before getting our first scope, and before that we nabbed a pair of nice binoculars .
Now, you have to consider, when you get a scope you aren't just getting a scope. You're probably getting filters, eye pieces, protective gear, batteries, red lights, etc. etc. and then probably a tool box to carry all of this- which you might want to customize with foam or something to keep everything safe and tidy. It's an Investment. Now, looking at jupiter and saturn won't require much, but eventually you might want to look at the moon (needs filters), or special eyepieces that let have more magnification, or there's even filters that let you see some colors, etc!
I, personally, would highly recommend getting a manual (specifically, Dobsonian *) scope for your first one- not computerized. Learning the sky and it's constellations is part of astronomy, and having to find stuff yourself is really helpful- and rewarding! Plus, computerized scopes require pretty hardy batteries, especially if you want to take it out to darker skies which usually means more rural aka no plugs. They also require certain stars to be be visible to be able to calibrate. Manual scopes require no plugs, no consistent power source, and no learning computer programs-NexStar can be a pain imo, some reading required (plus Jupiter and Saturn are pretty easy to spot with the naked eye anyways). Plus it's fun being able to point out stuff to friends just by knowing where a few stars are. We only got a computerized equatorial mount (meaning it tracks objects) when we wanted to try out long exposure astro- photography. This 8in dob was our first scope, and I still love it- it's the go-to (Craigslist, amazon used, and other shops are worth a gander too).
*I'm 99% sure dobsonian and newtonian telescopes are the same, except for the mounts they're on (newtonian is tripod, dobsonian is a base that can move up down and in a circle)
Also, I consider Sinnott's Sky Atlas a must!
Lmk if you have any questions!
(Edit: sorry if this is repetitive- reddit says there are four comments, but isn't letting see me them atm.)
Bear can is a food container. REI rents them cheap, they're about $60 to buy (ymmv). A small container is fine for up to 5-6 days solo trekking, depending on what you bring for food.
Apparently you can get your Desolation permits online? Another Redditor had a link.I typically hit the Ranger station on I-50 near Pollack Pines. Do be sure to get a permit. You'll dodge a fine if you're caught by a ranger, and even if you don't get caught you're helping to fund the colossal amount of work required to keep wilderness spaces like this wild.
Your route looks great! 25 miles is a good distance for 3-day solo. Once you get over by Lake Aloha, it's very exposed, and it's easy to explore off-trail all over the place. Make sure to get a map -- Tom Harrison has a great map of the area. Armed with a good map, you can explore to your heart's content. I like to hit camp early, set up shop, and then go for 2-4 mile wanders up to whatever tall thing is nearby. With your route, you could make Aloha (or around it) the first night, leave your pack and tent there and day hike your second day, and then pack up and out day 3. I've never had anyone mess with my stuff backpacking, even leaving things for multiple days in medium-traffic areas (day hikers are another story).
Since it's your first trip out, let me point out some essentials -- things I didn't know when I started in the Sierra.
Have fun and be safe! There's a decent chance you'll have cell reception some of the time, so you'll be fine even if something dumb happens. If you have questions, I spend too much time on Reddit. Cheers!
For a starter book to get the basics of stargazing, I would recommend Nightwatch: A Practical Guide To Viewing the Universe or Turn Left At Orion. They don't have real detailed sky maps, but they give good representations of some of the major constellations and names.
For star maps, I use Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas or Orion's DeepView Star Map. These ones are good for more detailed star maps and require a few basics to figure out. Or you can just match the stars up to known stars and just stumble your way around (which is not a bad learning method either).
This map book of Tokyo was a god send to me even though I had taken one year of Japanese before I spent the summer there. It's bilingual so it'll help with trains and such for kanji you don't recognize.
http://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-City-Atlas-Bilingual-Guide/dp/1568364458/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370577812&sr=8-2&keywords=Tokyo+map
This shall be your bible, then
Every jeep trail, creek, stream, puddle, abandoned mine, ghost town, campground, lake, street, highway and boulevard in the state, with topography. Purchase it immediately.
In Maine, we have public reserved land where you can camp for a much lower rate. Take a peek at your state's official site as they'll probably list something similar.
We also have the Maine Atlas and Gazeteer that has primitive camp sites on it. (if you check some of the images, you'll see how the sites are shown.) I see Florida has one too by the same name, but I don't know if it's the same as Maine's.
The drawback is that you'll be competing with everyone else who's like you and trying to find a quick place to setup, but who knows, it may work or at least get you going in the right direction.
National Geographic has an illustrated map that you could cut out.
$6 on Amazon. Lake Placid, High Peaks: Adirondack Park (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map) https://www.amazon.com/dp/156695357X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9UYqDb133XPDA
You may want two copies as some of them are on the backside.you might even need a second map.
This map links up with a guide for the high peaks by the Adirondak Mountain Club(?) or something like that.
There's also other maps by the AMC(?) but they are likely more technical.
Edit: it's the ADK not AMC.
Wow, I have no idea what that scope is, but it seems like a great deal for $50. Grats!
Definitely collimate it while at home. You'll have to recollimate at your destinations, but hopefully it will be minor, and you don't want to waste precious dark sky time learning how to do it or realizing there's a problem.
As far as gear goes, ergonomics are important! You'll need a good chair, preferably one with some height adjustment. Also, I personally like to use an eye patch for extended viewing sessions. Just pick up a cheap one at a dug store.
Print out a sky map for the month you will travel.
http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html
Google sky is good, but you should also get a good sky atlas. It's a good investment. Sinnot's Pocket Sky Atlas is excellent:
http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Telescopes-Pocket-Atlas/dp/1931559317
Check the weather report and what the moon will be doing during your trip. And one thing about the desert is that high winds can ruin your viewing (vibrates your scope), so you might want to choose a sheltered camping/viewing spot.
As far as the actual viewing, planets are pretty easy targets in general, even in light polluted places, so I would take advantages of those dark skies to see some DSOs. Then again, it all depends on what the skies will be showing during your trip.
Good luck and have fun!
The High Peaks are spread over a fairly broad area. Trails are usually marked, but I'd say going up without a map and a compass (and the knowledge of how to use them) is asking for trouble in a pretty serious way.
If you don't want to spring for a proper trail map, you maybe can make do with the resources on Alltrails.com, though I'm not a user myself and can't vouch personally. I'll link the one I use in the High Peaks.
https://www.amazon.com/Lake-Placid-High-Peaks-Illustrated/dp/156695357X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495934139&sr=8-1&keywords=high+peaks+map
Stay safe, have fun, good luck!
Other than getting out there (I learned firsthand that FS-601 is gawd awful this past summer on a camping trip to the Flattops -- had to turn tail at a creek crossing/mud pit), I study maps quite a bit. Pick a cool place you'd like to visit, and plan your route, rather than outsourcing your brain to Google :)
And buy a good road atlas! I recommend the DeLorme one.
Rand McNally 2016 Large Scale Road Atlas (Rand Mcnally Large Scale Road Atlas USA)
just about any state you want ....
https://www.amazon.com/California-Road-Recreation-Atlas-Benchmark/dp/0929591496/ref=sr_1_45?ie=UTF8&qid=1486500907&sr=8-45&keywords=map+atlas+usa
https://www.amazon.com/California-Atlas-Gazetteer-Delorme/dp/0899333834/ref=pd_sim_14_60?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BZFWVQPP8M10HWEC13BK
have a mind to download or print? ....
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6-eYcf1HwPUUnNwTE00WXlLMkE/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6-eYcf1HwPUbUZ4WlBDNnpsc2c/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6-eYcf1HwPUZkZtX3d1aS1Ybjg/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6-eYcf1HwPUdGY0ZUtEbFY1MlpjS2JQWHU3Y0lsYWZqMHBJ/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6-eYcf1HwPUOFFSQVdhd0hiVm8/view
http://www.abandonedrails.com/
http://trains.rockycrater.org/pfmsig/atlas.php
OK, so the next step are the state-by-state books. That's kind of expensive and for a coast-to-coast tour, you'd probably need to carry a dozen to show all the detail you want. https://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Gazetteer-DeLorme-Mapping-Company/dp/0899332889
Yup. It's overwhelming. Let me know if you want tips, but I'd really need to know:
How long you'll be there
What context (people, occasion) you're there in
What interests you
And buy one of these http://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-City-Atlas-Bilingual-Guide/dp/1568364458/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412357947&sr=8-1&keywords=tokyo+atlas if you don't want to be crazy lost all the time.
And, if you're so inclined, think about learning the japanese alphabets—being able to read is huge bc so many words are english loanwords, you'll be like hey, I know that word! If you have time to learn one of the three writing systems (two of which are alphabets and relatively easy to learn), learn katakana: http://www.realkana.com
OnX is either phone or GPS based maps. You can get 1 time purchase GPS or a subscription. If that's too expensive now a Gazeteer is a brand of paper maps with ownership info.
Mossberg 500 series is the basic and cheap but good pump shotgun. Remington 870 is another decent one (I own one and no major issues) but quality control has been down lately.
Edit: California gazetteer: California Atlas & Gazetteer https://www.amazon.com/dp/0899333834/
I cant find the exact, but I ordered it off of Amazon for like ~$11. This is similar and I think the same seller/maker.
http://www.amazon.com/Rand-Mcnally-World-Classic-Wall/dp/0528934767/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418401746&sr=1-12&keywords=world+map
Here's the trail: https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/351-kingston-peak. Trails Offroad is an awesome resource. I also picked up a copy of this earlier this summer which has been super helpful picking out trails as well: https://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Trails-Front-Range-Region/dp/1930193505/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=colorado+trails&qid=1570566916&sr=8-6
https://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Road-Atlas-Adventure/dp/0792289897
This is my favorite, nation wide and lists an order of magnitude more camp sites than a McNally RV Atlas.
I can indeed. I did the experiment myself a few months ago as a part of my course so I have the activity handbook. I'll go back and read it again tomorrow my time to refresh my memory and post some details at some point tomorrow. If you don't have one, try to get a star atlas. Stellarium is useful but I find using a book easier.
I use this one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sky-Telescopes-Pocket-Atlas/dp/1931559317/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1520534912&sr=8-2&keywords=pocket+star+atlas
Will post details of the experiment tomorrow. Am just going out for dinner.
If you ever want to push the limits of the versys and get off the main roads, I can't recommend this book enough:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930193076/ref=oh_details_o06_s01_i00
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Trails-Central-Region-Backroads/dp/1930193513/ref=pd_sim_b_5
Hi, great that you're taking an interest to get him a book on cartography. I've recently began doing the same, and books are definitely superior over wikipedia etc.
Hi there, I have this map on my wall and I love it. It has South Sudan and pretty sturdy paper (it's not plastic by any means, though.) It's quite large, about a meter lengthwise.
Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas is great if you're just looking to identify constellations. Turn Left at Orion is geared towards people with/wanting telescopes but is great for showing you how to navigate your way around the night sky.
do not use wal mart parking lots. They have 24hr security an the security will kick you out. Source: big road tripper. I use hospitals when I have to. I try my best though to enjoy my drives over making them into some marathon dash. Ill drive back roads and camp off back country roads dirt where no one goes ever. Also in my past I would recommend getting an "adventure atlas" even if it is just this one: http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Road-Atlas-Adventure/dp/0792289897 It will have information on camp grounds and specific details on outdoor recreation. This is incredibly valuable. I use maps from http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/ they provide detailed information and can give you a heads up to things you never knew existed. Also use this website before hand: https://roadtrippers.com/welcome?mode=explore
It sounds like your flying into Denver that kinda sucks because after transportation costs and lodging you will spend the most on food. if you drive yourself you can start stockpiling food for the trip now while you still have an income.
Also, in my experience, dont get too carried away in the over all "mission". If you don't make it to SD who cares. Do what you want when you want and be as free as you can. If you stay shackled to some schedule your going to have a bad time. You will be like "but I got to leave my lake camp site so I can drive to my next destination" if you like where you are stay until you are ready to leave. You are at your destination already: freedom from your everyday life. You will enjoy the trip more. Trust me. Try to find places that cater to multiple activities. You actually dont have to drive very far to get to hiking, fishing,and backpacking. you can literally do all of that in the same place generally. Keep that in mind and try to minimize how often you move location.
Im on a massive road trip now, been out 5 weeks. Im in CO and I havent drove more than 75 miles in the past 2 weeks. I have only spent one night in a hotel and ahve done: rock climbing, white water, desert hiking, backpacking, mountaineering and off road jeeping.
Do not fall into the thoughts that you have to move. you dont. everything you want to do can be found easily in the same place out there.
The best way I've found to discover good National Forest areas is with a Delorme Colorado Atlas and Gazetteer
Even with all the great resources online it's easy to page through the maps and look for the "dark green areas" which are National Forest.
I believe REI still sells the Atlas as well.
Others have already mentioned it but join an astronomy club and download Stellarium. Here's a couple book suggestions:
Turn Left at Orion will get you familiar with some of the more interesting objects to look at in the night's sky. This is definitely a good place to start. You also want to pick up a star atlas to help you navigate the sky and find some of the dimmer objects in the sky. A favorite is Sky and Telescope's Pocket Star Atlas. Another favorite for new astronomers is Nightwatch which will educate you a bit more about astronomical bodies and the night sky.
I just moved here, and
this book
has been a tremendous help. It seems like a good resource for solo trips and outlines everything in amazing detail from road markers, to difficulty scales to trail history. I highly recommend it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0792289897/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Yes, the DeLorme challenges are based on the state map books DeLorme published (such as this one for California).
However, you don't really need a copy of the atlas to do the challenge - which is good, because Garmin (the GPSr maker) just purchased DeLorme, and said the atlases will no longer be published in print form.
The challenge is to find at least one cache for each "page" of the atlas. Specific details vary by state - in some cases, a page might be optional (because there aren't caches there). Sometimes, if a page has a smaller inset map, you'll be required to find a cache in the main area and in the inset; in other cases, finding something in either is sufficient.
The easiest way to check these is to use a challenge checker at Project-GC (search for "California Delorme" or similar), or use the statistics functions at mygeocachingprofile.com. Either one will generate a map showing what areas you have/haven't found.
I've been working on my state (Virginia) for about a year - along with the City and County challenges - and I'm finally at the point that 3 cache trips should finish it off. It takes a decent amount of trip pre-planning to pull these off... but some folks (myself included) find it fun to work towards.
TrailsIllustrated maps are copyrighted and I hope folks respect that by not posting copies here. In my opinion they're well worth the price.
AllTrails.com offers a subscription service where you can view these maps online, print portions at home, etc. I've never used it so I can't vouch for it other than to say it's there.
Amazon also has low-res previews of the map here that may or may not be helpful.
Thanks for catching this, that is my bad. I'll add a mistaken map and wanting to play on the gold color of the photo. I have this poster on my wall (printed in 1999), which shows the Gold Coast reaching south to Olive Park where I took the photo. Wikipedia agrees with you on the boundaries of the Gold Coast Historic District, but this map seems shows a slightly more complex boundary when zoomed in to the area.
I grew up in Colorado. The single biggest things I have seen people who move here struggle with are the altitude and sudden weather changes. Altitude sickness is covered in most basic first aid guides; water is key. Both CU and CSU have some online guides. Also, I have seen some cloud identification pamphlets that are useful.
I own this Gazetteer, and have used it a ton. Hope this helps and welcome to Colorado!
You should all buy a copy of Atlas of Remote Islands.
There's trails all over the white mountains. I'm not familiar with specifically what hits the most 4000 footers but I'd suggest buying a trail map set and finding your own loops/routes based on the trails you can get to.
yeah with a little bit of curiosity (and many repeated visits) you learn some spots to get alternate views and/or a bit of privacy.
as for maps, i don't think nynj trail conference has done anything for the adirondacks. for the high peaks area the two main maps i know of are the nat geo and the one put out by ADK.
personally, i find the nat geo map a little easier to read. i prefer the older version of the adk map to the current, though the new one is made of a better material. the ADK map has a few things the nat geo one doesn't, namely some of the bigger herd paths and camping/lean-to sites.
If you live in the west, there is a lot of public lands. Forest Service, BLM etc.
If you aren't very experienced camping and would like to camp, but also be near a bathroom in the morning, find an established campground, then look on a map like a Benchmark Map or a gazetteer or even google earth for dispersed camping near a campground.
It's usually a rare occurrence that I haven't been able to find out of the way dispersed camping near established campgrounds.
I recently came across an incredible little book called Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Never Set Foot On and Never Will.
After working endlessly for the past 4 years (at a job I love, fortunately) and finding far too much solace in the self-seclusion offered by Minecraft, I'm seriously, seriously wanting to pick one of these uninhabited islands and just finding any way possible to flee to and live there.
Of course, that takes far more balls (and survival skills) than I'll ever wish to have, but that just makes the feeling of entrapment worse. :/
Best Option
Second Best Option
I used the second one for a long time. I've gone through probably 5-6 of those. Picked up the first one a few years ago and I like it much better.
They're also wireless and don't need batteries.
Any outdoor recreation shops will have all the maps you need: REI, Diamond Brand, Frugal Backpacker, a lot of the bike stores, etc. This is the best map you can get for finding trails, planning routes, etc. Although it's not the most detailed map as far as Topography goes, find one of the more specific USFS maps for this.
http://smile.amazon.com/Pisgah-District-National-Geographic-Illustrated/dp/1566953324/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457370678&sr=8-1&keywords=natgeo+pisgah+map
https://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Trails-Central-Region-Backroads/dp/1930193513
This is the book I use, live in Boulder. Best advice is always local and timely, but this should help pass the time and get excited for next summer before you get out here! Hit the high passes! Go to the Maze the canyonlands! He Uncompahgre is one of my favorites. You're gonna have a good time.
Pick up the AMC's white mountain national forest map. Lots of options within 2-3hours.
http://www.amazon.com/White-Mountain-National-Forest-Guide/dp/1934028487/ref=pd_sim_b_3
It depends on how much detail you need. I found the Tokyo City Atlas published by Kodansha essential when I lived there. It was the only way I found to make sense of the fact that there are no street names - just building, block and district (chome) numbers.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tokyo-City-Atlas-Bilingual-Guide/dp/1568364458
If you're visiting well known tourist spots its probably overkill though.
I have the same scope and I use the Telrad as well as the 8x50 included with the scope.
If you can't see any constellations with the naked eye, and you don't plan on doing to darker sites, then the Telrad won't be very useful to you. If the constellations are visible but you can't make out what ones they are, the best advice I can give you is to purchase a star chart like this and use it in conjunction with monthly star charts you can print off. those will help you identify the major constellations visible to you on that particular night and the Telrad can help you move from star to star until you find what you need.
Glad to help. I also use the DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer to get even more detail on rivers and small county roads that don't always show up on larger maps. It has helped me out when getting lost and I have no cell/gps service. If you have these two books, you're pretty much set for Colorado.
Here's how I've always made my long distance trips.
Buy a spiral bound US Road Map
Plan the route and write it on a piece of paper with page numbers next to each route change that correspond to the page in the book
Tape paper to dashboard and drive. If you get confused you know exactly what page to turn to to clarify whats happening.
$15 for the map, leave it in the trunk of your car and never get lost again
I suggest http://www.amazon.com/Polyamory-Roadmaps-Clueless-Anthony-Ravenscroft/dp/1890109533 .
It's a lot better humored and less prescriptive than the other classic books on the subject.
The Pharaoh Lake Wilderness has two great mountains to climb- Pharaoh Mountain and Treadway Mountain. Both have great views- the views from Pharaoh are a little bit better, but it also attracts a lot more hikers, so the summit can get a little crowded if you're up there on the weekend and it's a nice day.
I'd also recommend checking out the Lake George Wild Forest- some great peaks there with awesome views. The Tongue Mountain Range on the west side of Lake George, and Black Mountain, Sleeping Beauty, and Buck Mountain on the east side especially are all worthwhile hiking destinations. There is also some really pretty small ponds and lakes to explore in the vicinity of Black Mountain and Sleeping Beauty- Lapland Pond, Millman Pond, Fishbrook Pond, and Bumps Pond are all worthwhile destinations. In fact, the network of trails on the east side of Lake George is quite extensive, and it would take probably a solid week to explore all that the area has to offer.
There are also some easier hikes in the High Peaks. Cascade and Porter are 4,000 footers, but they can easily be done in a day by anyone who is in reasonable shape. Some shorter mountains in the High Peaks, but still with spectacular views, include Noonmark, Round, Baxter, and Roostercomb.
What I would do is invest in a couple of hiking maps, and maybe some guidebooks. National Geographic makes a map set that covers the entire park in 5 different maps- one of the five covers the Lake George region, while another covers the High Peaks region. The Adirondack Mountain Club also publishes some great guidebooks- there's one for the Eastern region (including Lake George and Pharaoh Lake), and one for the High Peaks.
Hope that helps!
I just read a lot.
Here are some examples.
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/holidays/editorial-feature/feature/20-islands-you-never-knew-existed
https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Remote-Islands-Fifty-Never/dp/014311820X
(some are accessible but this woman is too lazy to go to there. Others are off limits.)
There is this island in the Andamans which is deliberately kept off-limits, although I think if the need arises the natives will be wiped out within 24 hrs.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2015/09/28/will-the-worlds-most-dangerous-island-become-a-human-zoo-the-shocking-future-of-north-sentinel/#476117a46034
(the natives think they are keeping the outsiders off; in reality they will be human zoo animals to wealthy outsiders who feel like seeing them from the air)
GoTo mounts (counterintuitively) aren't useful until you're somewhat familiar with the sky, but they are absolutely fantastic when trying to share your views with a group.
I'll second the book recommendations above (I own TLAO, and borrowed Night watch). In my opinion, Nightwatch did a better job explaining the hardware, though they're both great.
After going out a few nights, if you enjoy it, I emplore you (and everyone else here for that matter) to pick up Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas. When you outgrow the beginner books, and get fed up picking random objects from the GoTo, this thing is absolutely brilliant.
This is from national geographic trail map http://www.amazon.com/Pisgah-District-National-Geographic-Illustrated/dp/1566953324
I am also a not particularly threatening young woman who's done a fair amount of cross-country and weekend trips solo.
First- stay aware of your surroundings, and try to hide expensive stuff either in the trunk or under not-exciting looking things. I keep a lot of my stuff in opaque rubbermaid-esque tubs. (This also helps for organization). I travel with a cooler and prefer to make my own meals- so long as you don't mind picking up ice every once in a while, you can make some pretty robust sandwiches and have good snacks, etc. on the way.
I recommend that you keep a few things with you (some especailly if you're going through the desert)
I've never had any issues travelling solo, stopping at rest stops, truck stops, etc. That said, I recommend avoiding rest stops at night and instead going to well-lit gas stations (Pilot, Flying J's, Love's, other travel Plazas) if you can.
I've also never had issues travelling to weird road side attractions, touristy things, or hiking trails by myself, and would recommend stopping at as many of these things as you can. Travelling solo is awesome because you get to stop exactly where you want for as long as you want to. If you see some random attraction that you want to see on the side of the road, go check it out.
Regarding the move-- depends on how much you're attached to any of your things. When I moved to Houston for an internship, I bought a queen size frame and matress online (13" box spring/memory foam that compacts into a small box for free shipping with prime), and brought only what I could fit in my outback. I took a uhaul back to TN afterwards. Travelling cross-country is way less stressful when you're not worried about people stealing things, so if you can- I'd recommend starting fresh with what you can. Just keep in mind that that can end up being pretty pricy.
Didn't intend for that to be a huge word wall. Hopefully something in that is helpful!
There's a beautiful little book about tiny random islands and their stories. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/014311820X
The JR Pass is a 7 day or more pass that gives you access to most JR trains (JR is a train company in Japan). JR is the main company, but note that JR is not the only company, and the JR pass does not cover any other company's fares. Off the top of my head there's 7 or 8 train companies or public authorities aside from JR in the Tokyo area, although the vast majority of these are commuter lines -- 'spokes' out from central Tokyo. It's important to note that JR doesn't service most of central Tokyo (inside the JR Yamanote line) -- that's done by 2 subway operators.
The other important note is that if you are coming to Japan on any real visa status (ie, not on a tourist visa or visa exception) you CANNOT use a JR Pass. They will let you buy it, but when you go to register it after landing in Japan, you'll be SOL.
Only to a small extent, unless you wanted to stick to Yamanote and Chuo/Sobu line stops and walk/take a taxi the rest of the way. See above.
Probably not. You would practically committing a crime against tourism if you are going from Fukuoka to Tokyo and you don't stop in Kyoto and Nara, etc, however. There's timetables and prices out there- I don't have the URL handy at the moment.
Domestic flights between Fukuoka and Tokyo are somewhat cheaper than the Shinkansen, and faster. If you only want to go to Tokyo that might be the way to go.
There's plenty of travel advice here, in /r/tokyo, and in /r/japantravel that covers this. Capsule hotels are a pain in the ass if you have luggage.
There's some train/metro maps that are offline. Tokyo is a huge place, and their addressing system is totally different than the Western world. However, if you plan ahead, it's fairly easy to find what you want. There's area maps everywhere. You might want to consider learning some basic Japanese before you go.
Sure. There's a great bilingual book of Tokyo maps. It's probably overkill for coming here for a week or so, but if you don't have a smartphone and are afraid of getting lost, it might be worth it.
I highly recommend Judith Schalansky's Atlas of Remote Islands: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/014311820X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491902409&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=atlas+of+remote+islands
That's a great book. English link. I've enjoyed flipping through it but nearly all of the islands listed were inaccessible (except maybe with a yacht or special expedition). Good for daydreaming!
This is what you want...
A gazatteer is very useful:
https://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Benchmark-Road-Recreation-Atlas/dp/0929591127/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527736942&sr=8-1&keywords=colorado+gazetteer
Otherwise I check out areas that look interesting on google maps, see where the roads go, look for trails or trailheads marked. Switch to aerial view and see if there are trails, etc. It not super easy but with some determination it's not hard by any means.