Messages

Thank you for the consideration and reply Maps4GPS!
Maybe someday I'll get around to figuring out some map authoring myself.
FWIW, I have found a good source for trail oriented maps in San Diego county:
http://www.sandiegotrailmap.com/
Bets wishes,
Carl

As I said in my first post, I'd give the older California Topo from 2008 the "star" back and not push people to the 2011 version.

For maps4gps:
Your comments on the darkness of the contour lines is valid and your map is an improvement there. Your efforts to improve the map are commendable. However, my personal suggestion / request would be to modify catopo11 as follows:
- delete the blue water courses (hydrology?)
- delete the green property areas (are these land boundaries or something? They really disrupt the readability of the map)
- add the dirt roads and trails from somewhere? Where did the older California Topo get them?
- also, I'd change the name to something more readable in basecamp from catopo11 to maybe the full name.
Best wishes,
Carl

Just a request! I'm happy using the older map...

Note the missing dirt roads/trails in catopo11. Its like that all over the map, as far as I can tell. Having the old jeep trails marked is critical for back country use in my opinion. That's why I prefer the older California Topo. 

Long time since I've been here, too busy using the maps ;-)

To follow up on the comments below:
Here are two samples from around N32.59068 W116.71972

California Topo:


or this
catopo11


The newer catopo11 map has land areas marked for some reason (I have no idea what those are) and lots of watercourses (Hah! This is SoCal, no water really exists except for the rare rainstorm). But note the missing trails.

The older California Topo map has all the dirt roads/trails and much easier to read gradients (IMO).

Which do you prefer? I think the old map is much better for hiking...
Carl

vintage - thanks for sharing your opinion with some reasons; an all to rare occurrence.
    Before I created CA2011 mapset there were numerous posts from people with issues about ease of use and the overemphasis on contour lines.  The 'original' CA topo was created for a very specific audience and the author's website stated there was no reason to include data from USGS's GNIS database (which most of us use for POIs). 

'hard to read'  - not very specific.

'Covered with watercourses' - specific location?       I have been downloading hydro from USGS for most of this month and noticed USGS is 'improving' the NHD database by adding 'watercourses' which are not on the printed 7-1/2', 1:24,000 topo maps. 

'dirt roads are impossible to make out'  - not specific enough to offer an opinion.

I've noticed that this site has "Starred" "California Topo 2011".
>gpsfiledepot.com/maps/state/ca  (remove the >)

I have to say the newer 2011 version is not as good as the old version! The older version "California Topo" (from 2008) is MUCH better. I've had both on my computer and device for more than a year and the 2011 version is hard to read, covered with watercourses and the dirt roads are impossible to make out.

I highly suggest users pick the older map instead:
>gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/28  (remove the >)

Carl