Lost
and Confused, Mapless and Listless? Join Us!
(Caution, this is only used as a demonstration, there is no current class)
Where am I? How far is it? What are all those strange
marks on my topo
map? These questions and more will be answered with a
two-hour class
session at Colorado State University, and then a weekend
visit to the
Horsetooth Reservoir area. Hosted by Kevin Lee Hayes, this will
be a non-technical, relaxed workshop where we
take the time to explain everything carefully.
Lost
and Confused, Mapless and Listless? Join Us!
Classroom Session
OLD!! Clark C364,Wednesday, July 5th from 7-9pm.
The Clark building is air
conditioned and this room has 24 tables so it will be
cool and there will be
plenty of room for everyone. Campus maps and parking
are available by
clicking CSU_MAP.
Hike
OLD!! Sunday, July 9, we will meet in Fort Collins
at the Drake and Taft Safeway
at 9:00am, for carpooling to Horsetooth
Mountain Park. Parking is about
$4.00 per car. The idea here is to gain an
interesting vantage point, and see
what it looks like on the maps. The best way to
appreciate the difference in
'scale' is to observe it directly while comparing maps.
(Kevin is open to some other options if the group would like to climb
Greyrock, or do an auto-tour to other vantage points.)
Topics
Starting with the most elementary ideas, we will take
the time to
de-mystify the USGS quadrangle map, and carefully explain
use of
compass. We'll also touch on some intermediate orienteering
ideas and
GPS (Global Positioning System) concepts.
What to bring
Participants might bring a compass to class if they have
one, any maps
of interest, and perhaps a long ruler. (A
compass kit has been requested,
but we are not sure if it is available yet.) Kevin
will discuss some features
of simple compasses, and help beginners select
one for purchase. By request,
copies of maps are available.
For the 'field trip', regular hiking items are all that
is needed. Horsetooth Mountain
is a short, steep hike with a scramble at the top.
BRING WATER!! (2-3 quarts)
We will take our time on the way down, but try to get
up there as early as possible
to avoid afternoon lightning. (This is not Horsetooth
Peak in RMNP!)
Maps
Kevin will buy maps for anyone who wants them, just before
the class, and will
make a trip to USGS for special requests.
Optional, but recommended, with approximate (best deal) cost:
Good local sources are:
#1 Jax Surplus, #2 Outdoor World, #3 REI, and The
Mountain Shop.
The map depository for the USA is in Denver at the USGS
Center.
The USDA Forest Service visitor's center is on College
and Pitkin. Forest maps
are available there.
Registration
Please register in advance for this class and hike so
we can provide experienced
assistance to make sure everyone gets personalized attention.
You can reach
Kevin at:
GPS on the Big South Trail: helicopter crash site
I happened to be working on the trail before and after
the search for a boy, possibly lost to a mountain lion.
These bags contain fuel-contaminated soil that was lost
by a military
chopper, crashing while searching for the boy.
Unit: Trimble Pro XR