Best maps according to redditors

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.

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

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.

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

Two strong recommendations:

Use hikingupward.com to select a hike. You can sort hikes by a bunch of different factors like length, solitude, views, etc.

I highly recommend this National Geographic trail map. It is made of a tough materials and my experience has shown it to be accurate over the course of 20 - 30 hikes in SNP.

Enjoy your time there! Let me know if you have any more questions.

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..

I think the National Geographic trail maps are far better. They're also made out of a tougher material that seems like it would be water-resistant.

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.

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

I think you're over thinking it. What works for me is to have a plan going in, but if you see something cool, stop and see it while you're there. In other words, have a plan, but you don't have to stick to it.

You got a lot of good places listed. I'd add Hayden Valley to it. You'll most likely drive through it heading to different locations anyway. Just be aware that it's a parking lot in the evening. Very slow moving to get anywhere do to all the cars and buffalo on the road.

You're camera should be great. You're not going to get a good shot of a wolf or coyote unless you have a major telephoto lens. You could get lucky and see a bear close to the road...

Some hikes I'd recommend are: My Washburn (take the Dunraven pass trail, not the North trail). Avalanche Peak, Mystic Falls, and Fairy Falls are some good ones.

If you're going to do some backpacking get a topo map. I'd 2nd Heart Lake. They have an online reservation system that you could try and use. Or if you're flexible, you could just go into one of the backcountry offices (there are many) and ask the ranger whats available and what they would recommend. Most are very helpful.

As for your pass being good for 7 days, this is true. I don't think I would worry about buying another as the only time they check it is when you enter the park. There is a combo pass that will get you into YNP and GTNP, but in your case it will probably be better to buy them separate as your pass will be expired if/when you go to GTNP. It'll cost you a little more than buying the combo. Actually, if you go to GTNP from the north (which will be the best way), I don't think there's a entrance station so you could get away with not buying one, but if you go past any entrance gates you'll have to buy one to get back in (if you pass is expired). Keep in mind that the hwy through GTNP is outside of the permit area.

FYI - make sure you pack bear spray anytime your on a trail and have it ready (not in your pack). You'll want sunscreen and a hat (you burn easier at high altitudes, the avg. elevation is 8,000'). Bring bug spray. There will be bugs, but they don't get really bad until around the 3rd week of July. Always pack your rain jacket on any hike longer than a mile. I thin fleece is a good idea too. It can rain/hail/snow anytime of the year. Drink lots of water, it will help with the altitude adjustment.

There's a good swimming hole near Mammoth. It's very popular though and can get quite busy in the evenings. Head north out of Mammoth on the road to Gardiner MT. A mile or two out of town you'll come to a pullout right before a river crossing. Park here. There's an outhouse you can change in, but you'll probably have a line so it's best to have your swimsuit on already. Take the river trail back to the south following the river for less than a mile. You can't miss it.

There's another swimming hole along the firehole river drive (one way road). It's much cooler/almost cold though.

We have a wildflower guide and a copy hiking books (that I don't find that useful), but I ABSOLUTELY recommend getting the Trails Illustrated maps for the area:

https://smile.amazon.com/Brasstown-Chattooga-Chattahoochee-Geographic-Illustrated/dp/1566954673/ref=pd_sim_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1566954673&pd_rd_r=1NG4PG5T88JR4D8D4ZNY&pd_rd_w=4WY37&pd_rd_wg=AUcqB&psc=1&refRID=1NG4PG5T88JR4D8D4ZNY&dpID=51MopJ4-QUL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail

I have 2 for north GA (the one I linked for for the eastern half of north GA), one for western NC, another for the Smokies, and also one for the Mount Mitchell area.

Other than good maps, I find "thru-hiking guides (AWOL AT; Bartram; Benton MacKayte; etc) to be the best collection of useful hiker info, elevation profiles, and information that is relevant for hikers.

FWIW, I have a collection of some past trips (in GA and NC) with pics, etc:
https://rmignatius.wordpress.com/adventures/

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.

I spent almost 7 weeks this summer on a camping road trip in the western states. A good way to get nice free spots is off of forest service roads or bureau of land management areas. I also picked up a couple of these atlases for a few states to give me better detail. Atlases are awesome because of the incredible detail they give of trails and what areas are bureau of land management.

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

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

I would pick up natgeo map 229 check out the east side around Cosby Park. I was there for a day hike in the middle of summer and there were not many people there and plenty of parking so it would be a good place to leave a car and there are plenty of trails and campgrounds around to make a lot of good loops. There are lot's of nice waterfalls and such to check out in the area. If you want some loop suggestions I can look at my map and come up with some. Clingman's Dome is a nice area but when I was there last, there was no parking and even if I could find one I would feel guilty taking up a space for several days. I'm not sure about this time of year.

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 buy the National Geographic maps. I carry that, and an atlas whenever I go out. I don't have a GPS yet, and even if I did, I still would have these.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0792289897/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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.

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.

The CL50 map that the website usually links to was updated last week, and I don't know if they actually got the update posted online. There's always the NatGeo map that has a realy nice look and feel.

If you're into Facebook, there is a Cranberry Lake 50 group that can answer a lot of your questions.

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.

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.

• You need sunscreen. And a hat. There are very few trees in some areas, and that sun doesn't fuck around at 8,000'. Skin cancer sucks. Add chapstick to that list, something with sun protection.
  
  
• You should probably not drink the water in the Desolation Wilderness. There is high enough traffic that the chance of contamination is moderate, and giardia is shittier than you can imagine. Aquamira water treatment is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to go. Amazon has it for like $12. It doesn't leave a flavor in your water, unlike Iodine and many other tablets and treatments. My wife and I use a ceramic filter, which gets any gunk out of the water too, but that's not really an issue in Desolation. There's a fuckload of lakes. It's really pretty.
  
  
• On that note, you won't need to carry more than 2 liters of water at any time. There's lots of places to refill.
  
  
• Your first aid kit needs bandaids, triple antibiotic ointment, Ibuprofin, athletic tape, a small roll of duct tape, gauze, and ACE bandage wrap. This is by no means a complete list -- we bring substantially more on longer trips. I'd call this a minimum. I never have any luck with Moleskin for blisters, but I've found athletic tape often does a good job for me.
  
  
• You probably won't need bugspray this time of year, except by Lake of the Woods (which is why I don't camp there). If I turn out to be wrong, I'm sorry :P. Poison oak also doesn't grow above 5,000ft, so no worries there.
  
  
• I know it's gross, but get yourself a little trowel, TP, and hand sani. Bury human waste 100' from water or trails, at least 6" down. PLEASE pack your TP out in a ziplock. Pro tip -- a pinch of baking soda in your shitty TP bag will do wonders to eliminate the smell. Toilet paper takes decades to decompose when buried in the Sierra, since there's so little rainfall. Animals dig it up, and it ends up all over the trail. When I hike, I don't want my sunset views ruined when I accidentally sit in turd-covered paper. In return, I hike my paper out too. Please help Desolation stay desolate. You get to keep the moral high ground when you stumble across someone else's poo-sheets!
  
  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!

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!

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.

Rand McNally 2016 Large Scale Road Atlas (Rand Mcnally Large Scale Road Atlas USA)

Bought the physical map on Amazon and scanned it. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1566953014/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sBYKyb1ABXKWY

I think I will end up doing something similar. I am looking at getting the National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps for the regions I like to backpack in. They are waterproof and tear resistant and supposedly have great detail. Do you have any experience with them?

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)

1. Oil, coolant, etc. This depends on your car- I drive a subaru outback that burns through oil annoyingly quick, and have had to top off low oil numerous times on the road. I keep a funnel and 5 quarts in my care usually. I've never needed coolant, but I've also not done the route you're taking during the summer.
   
   
2. Water jug: (e.g. something like this. Fill it up at rest stops, campsites, etc. Came in handy driving through the desert in Nevada last summer.
   
   
3. Power pack & jumper cables, I have [this one] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3142JE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Charges via usb so you can make sure its powered up while you're actually driving, or at hotels/motels, etc. This thing has already more than paid for itself in times I've had to jump a vehicle (myslef and others).
   
   
4. Tire repair kit (slime with compressor, for instance), and some basic tools, duct tape etc. I personally am not particularly competent in basic auto repair, but, there are some things that someone else might be able to help you with if they have even the most rudimentary of tools.
   
   
5. Atlas. Most of the trip sounds like it'll be pretty straight forward, but a large chunk of the country also as pretty terrible service. [this one] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0792289897/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1) also has some national park maps and locations of free campgrounds marked.
   
   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!

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.

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.

This is from national geographic trail map http://www.amazon.com/Pisgah-District-National-Geographic-Illustrated/dp/1566953324

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.

I reccommend you get this NOW. http://www.amazon.com/Polyamory-Roadmaps-Clueless-Anthony-Ravenscroft/dp/1890109533/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278548426&sr=8-1

They may not mean harm, but there's a lot of stress caused on all sides, and it really helps to have a sanity check, shared vocabulary, and a little bit of validation on paper that says you're not making <whatever is stressing you out> up in your head.

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 don't have one of these I highly recommend it.

Also If you don't have much luck here, ask around in the LBS's and touring companies in Moab.

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.

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!

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've never rented an RV, mainly because of the cost. It seems to be more expensive than staying in hotels. The rental RVs you see most often are from Cruise America.

For Zion, there's 2 must see hikes. The first is Angel's landing. It's a relatively short hike (~5 miles) that will take 3-4 hours. The views are great, but the most impressive part is the trail, which is a true masterpiece in trail cutting. The second is the Narrows. The Narrows is often cited as the best hike in America, which I can not argue with. The Narrows is a thin canyon that is as wide as the river which you can hike ~16 miles up. You can do it as an in and out from the bottom or a through hike from the top. If you do it from the top you will need to get a shuttle and it takes ALL day. Ive done it both ways and from the top is the best way to go if you have the time and stamina. Ive rented equipment (which you will want the special shoes either way) and got a shuttle from Zion Outfitters. If you decide to do the through hike from the top you will need a backcountry permit. Try to reserve it ahead of time, but I did the last minute drawing without a problem. The East Rim and West Rim trails provide more typical hiking. I have not done the West Rim and it needs an overnight. The East Rim trail was great. We hitchhiked from the visitors center to the trail head without any problem (people are friendly in NPs) and then took a shuttle back to our car. National Geographic makes a great trail map if you want to see all the trails. In terms of lodging, there's two campgrounds in the park, lots of hotels in the town of Springdale right outside the park, a lodge in the middle of the park which always seems to be booked, and some BLM land a little to the south.

After Zion, Id go to Bryce Canyon for the morning (early) and do the Fairyland loop (~9 miles, mostly flatish) and check out some of the trails near sunset point. There's a shuttle so you don't need to hike back to your vehicle if you don't want. After a nice morning in Bryce, you'll want to drive east along route 12 (not how google takes you) towards Moab. Route 12 is straight out of a road runner cartoon. Along the way there's 3 places worth stopping that Ive found in order of awesomeness: Goblin Valley, Calf Creek Canyon, and Capital Reef. YOu may want to do the drive from Zion to Moab in 2 days depending on your schedule.

Once in Moab your choices for hiking are endless. Moab has lots of hotels, arches and canyonlands have campgrounds, and there's some awesome BLM sites along the Colorado river along route 128 just north of town. The 2 must hikes are Devil's garden loop in Arches and The Needles in Canyonlands. At some point you need to catch the view from Dead Horse Point or Island in the Sky but there's not much hiking there. If you have the time and resources, Id suggest doing some of the "adventure" activities from the outfitters in Moab. There's white water rafting, fan boat rides, canyoneering, and many other options. Ive always wanted to rent a 4 wheel drive high clearance vehicle and tour the Grand Staircase Escalante (which is being turned over to oil companies thanks to our dear leader).

In terms of timing, it seems like May 15th is a critical date. That is when the north rim of the grand canyon reopens after the winter. How does that line up with your schedule?

After you're done with Moab, you're about equidistant from Las Vegas, Denver, Albuquerque and Salt Lake City airports. If you're heading back to Vegas, Id go through Page AZ and hit The Wave (you need a permit) and north rim of the Grand Canyon. If you're heading to Albuquerque, Id spend a night at the Orvis Hot Springs and do a little hike in Ouray CO before heading to Chaco Culture. If you're heading to Denver, there's a million options along highway 70. If you're heading to SLC, it's mostly salt flats and indian reservations until you get close to Provo but there's lots to do near the metropolitian areas.

Hope that helps, let me know if you have any questions or want more details and please let me know how the trip goes!

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.

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

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.

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

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.