How To: Reading a Topographic Map

An Age of Accessibility Topographic maps are an essential piece of backcountry equipment that everyone should bring along with them. Especially in areas without established trails. Paired with an orienteering compass and the right skills and knowledge, good topo maps are invaluable in any terrain. Decades ago, the U.S. government took on the enormous task of surveying and mapping the entire United States back [...]