Re: CS6 vrs CS7 and what else is better?

I have one GPSr (Garmin 76CS) I use for both driving and hiking. I normally keep City Navigator area maps in the unit. Before going hiking, I also load the Topo US maps for the area where I'll be hiking. It's easy to switch the display from one map set to the other.

As I mentioned before, the 24k maps have no coverage of national forests or wilderness areas in the Cascades of Oregon and Washington, so it's of no use to me. About all it has in Oregon is Crater Lake National Park. I don't know about Washington -- possibly the Olympics and a little else. Coverage is better in some other areas of the country, and it might or might not include areas that interest you -- you should investigate before purchasing.

Topo US has trails, logging roads, and elevation contours, although the latter with not very fine resolution. With it, I can tell at a glance where I am on a trail (or how far and in what direction to a trail or road when I'm hiking cross-country), and where I am relative to features like creeks, peaks, and lakes, which are also included. I can easily tell if the trail that's only a mile away is on the other side of a canyon or ridge, something no non-topo map would show. There are no motels, restaurants, or other "points of interest" where I hike, so I couldn't care less if they're missing. Topo US isn't a substitute for City Navigator or other street-mapping software, it's intended for a different purpose. And to my mind it suits that purpose quite well. Except, of course, I'd love more resolution in the elevation contours. As it is now, I just check my paper map if I want more detail. (I never, ever go without a paper map and mechanical compass.) It's easy to locate my position on the paper map from what I see on the Topo US map on the GPS.

Oh, and let me tell you, it's worth its weight in gold when trying to navigate the spider's web of logging roads we have around here.

Roy Lewallen
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Relevant Pages

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