Topo maps

Another advantage of Delorme Topo is that you have all the maps on your hard drive, and no requitrement for an internet connection. While Google does a better job of updating its maps, the data transfer can be onerous using a slow connection.

As said, Delorme has powerful route finding tools, including terrain analysis. And the ability to save marked-up maps is valuable.

Been using TOPO maps for many years now... Always great to look at the off-road camping locations with TOPO maps...

We also use the GOOGLE MAPS VIEWs to look down on the camp grounds and see where the best site for us is located. Some camp grounds are totally covered with trees however. Our favorite site in the SMOKY MTN Natl Park ELKMONT CAMP is almost totally covered by trees. Its like a rain forest in there under the trees which drip water for a couple of days after a heavy rain storm goes thru...

Using GOOGLE MAPS if I have time on my hands I will run my new route with side view and actually drive down the roads so to speak seeing what obstacles and hills might be along the way.

Good use for the computers we all have...

Thanks for the new to me TOPO link...

Roy Ken

You can also buy a GPS program that allows planning a trip on your laptop, then plug in the USB port GPS receiver and use the laptop as your 15" screen GPS unit!

DeLorme has TOPO program 10.0 (last time I checked) and higher versions. Once you pick a start and stop, put in any side trips, then you can click something to calculate the hills, it will give the steepest section, and you can look at a profile of the grades!

Planning a alternate route without some of the steep grades is also possible.

Fred.