Panthertown Valley, located east of Cashiers, North Carolina, is a high-altitude valley (by East Coast standards) that contains and is ringed by tall mountains with several massive granite faces. This unique topography has earned it the title “Yosemite of the East.”
Andrew hiking along the top of the Big Green Mountain cliff.
Contributing to the Yosemite-feel are several granite faces that stretch for thousands of feet along the sides of some of the mountains, with cliffs as high as 300-400 feet. As you can imagine, the views from the top are fantastic! But Panthertown isn’t just a one-trick pony: there are many more natural attractions, including at least 8 major waterfalls, many more minor waterfalls, beautiful streams and rivers, and unique flora and ecosystems.
As a result of all of these things to see and do, this breathtaking valley is an increasingly popular hiking and backpacking destination. Despite the increasing traffic, Panthertown still maintains a very raw, wilderness feel. While it might feel like wilderness, it is technically a part of the Nantahala National Forest. As a result, many of the trails are also open to mountain bikes and some are open to horses, although there is little indication of significant traffic from either.
In my opinion, this is one of the things that truly sets Panthertown apart: there are just so many different ways you can enjoy its wild beauty! While you can always come to hike and backpack, be sure to pack the rock climbing gear, the mountain bike, and the fishing pole too!
The network design of the trail system can make it easy to get lost at times, so bring a map. Most of the main trails are marked on National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map #785 and have corresponding USFS trail markers. However, there is veritable spider web of unmarked footpaths branching off the main conduits that generally lead to interesting attractions like cliff access points, waterfalls, and rivers. There is officially about 30 miles of trails in the valley, but if you factor in the plethora of spur trails, there is no telling how many miles of trail there are to explore!
While the scope of the trail system can be daunting, if you buy a good map (see above) and stick to the main paths, the network design can transform Panthertown into a great beginner’s backpacking destination. Since you are never more than a few miles from your car, the commitment is very minimal. You can do a multi-day backpacking expedition, see a significant amount of the area, and still end up back at your car where you started. Or, if you’d rather, you can just do a quick overnight and only cover a few miles. As a result, the logistics of hiking in Panthertown are much simpler than doing an epic point-to-point hike on the Appalachian Trail. There’s no need to worry about reaching your destination in a set amount of time to meet your shuttle, removing all of the headache and letting the submersive experience of backpacking in the wilderness take over.
If you are looking for a great East Coast destination for your next backpacking trip, be sure to put the Yosemite of the East on your short list!
National Geographic – America’s Wild Spaces: Appalachian Trail
You can never go wrong with the cinematography of a National Geographic Documentary, and this film is no exception. I would suggest finding a friend with the largest and highest-def TV to watch the breathtaking panoramic views that will inspire anyone to get out on the Appalachian Trail, also known as the AT.
The film divides the AT up into its regions starting in the Southern Appalachians, working its way northward through the Virginia Highlands, the Mid-Atlantic Lowlands, and finally to the Northeast. Along the way you will learn the history, culture and secrets of the AT. You will be introduced to the hikers and individuals who are the heart and soul of the Trail while getting rare a glimpse into their lives.
I was surprised to learn a few things from this documentary such as the term “trail magic,” a random act of kindness one experiences along the trail. This is something you cannot truly appreciate until you have actually been on the trail and once you do, it’s something that sticks with you the whole trip.
Overall this film is great for anyone, from the experienced outdoorsman to the novice, this film will inspire you to get out on the trail. This is a great introduction to the AT and may be helpful if you know someone who has, or will be embarking on a pilgrimage into the wilds of the Eastern United States.
As the film states, the Appalachian Trail is about overcoming obstacles, from our personal challenges found out on the trail to trail preservation. Whatever the obstacle, we can overcome it one step at a time.
America’s Wild Spaces: Appalachian Trail. National Geographic. 2009. (50 min)
With an epic through-hike of the Appalachian Trail planned for next summer, my girlfriend Shalimar and I set out on our first backpacking trip together. Growing up I have been on backpacking trips, but for Shalimar this was all new to her. We loaded up our packs and headed north to Ocala National Forest for a 2 day, 1 night hike from Clearwater Lake Recreation Area to Alexander Springs Recreation Area.
We started the hike early in the morning as my grandfather dropped us off at the trailhead and took our picture. The morning was just cool enough to require the use of a lightweight jacket; actually it was perfect hiking weather. We started down the trail that wandered its way up and down the sandy hills of Ocala. The trail was mostly compact sand, but in places there was loose “sugar sand” as we call it due to its grain size. This area of Florida is actually quite hilly and has some of the higher elevations in the state. The hills of Ocala were created millions of years ago as the limestone bedrock eroded then uplifted, creating peaks as high as 312 feet (that is high for Florida!). During the last ice age, Florida was connected to what is now the southwestern region of the United States, which explains the cactus and other desert-looking plant life we encountered.
A few hours later and five miles down the trail we slumped on the side of the trail to take a break along a small creek. We were surrounded by brilliant shades green – new leaves of Hickory, Maple, Cypress and Red Bay – while our ears were filled with the sounds of the birds, insects, and the wind brushing across the leaves. I could make out the call of mocking birds and cardinals; then in the distance came the call of the large Pileated Woodpecker. As he flew closer, the woods filled with its call, giving us the feeling we were in the middle of a humid Jurassic Forest with the possibility of a dinosaur around the next bend of the trail.
Lucky for us the only blood-thirsty animals around were mosquitoes – oh, and the ever active Florida Black Bear. Every road crossing had signs warning about bear activity in the area, but these signs never provided any pointers to avoid an unwanted visit. The longer we sat there absorbing our surroundings we started to notice more – a mouse squeaking in the bushes, the fragrant smell of spring blooms in the breeze, and then Shalimar noticed it first… TICKS! They were everywhere! We quickly threw on our packs and continued northward toward Alexander Springs, adding “ticks” to the list of blood thirsty killers surrounding us.
Toward the end of the day we ran into two thru-hikers on the Florida Trail who had started a few months earlier down at Big Cypress National Park on the northern border of the Everglades National Park. The first guy was older – probably in his late 50′s / early 60′s and was resting inside his tent, probably to stay away from the millions of ticks that seemed to multiply the farther north we traveled. The second guy was a younger – in his late 20′s – from North Carolina. We crashed alongside the trail looking exhausted, back and shoulders sore and feet blistered.
At this point Shalimar and I decided we’re going to get ourselves “real” packs since we were using old external frame packs that my brothers and I used for Boy Scouts. I was never a fan of these packs and Shalimar was already planning how she was going to throw down the pack she borrowed from my dad and give him a piece of her mind on his choice of such a heavy, uncomfortable backpack. We loaded up our packs one more time then went down the trail a little farther and found the spur trail to Alexander Springs to fill up on water for dinner, then returned to the trail to set up camp and eat.
Our dinner consisted of freeze-dried food that asked for too much water and turned into more of a soupy slop than actual food, but it was warm and had flavor so it was somewhat enjoyable. With over 10 miles under our feet today we decided to call it an early night. I dreamed of ticks and bears all night long. In the middle of the night we woke to coyotes yelping and howling in the distance. As we lay there in silence listening, Shalimar thought they sounded like they wanted to play; I on the other hand was wondering how fast I could get out of my sleeping bag and what I should arm myself with in the case of an attack. All through the night we woke up hearing the same things – a mouse squeaking from the general location of our bear bag, the occasional breeze, and a few times eerie silence which invokes the feeling that someone or something is lurking outside.
After a rather uncomfortable night we packed up our gear and headed back to Alexander Springs to wait for a ride back to our car. While we waited for the rangers to finish their meeting we took a nap along the spring and enjoyed a wonderful spring day in Florida. The temperature was in the low 80s and sunny, all around enjoyable. The spring water was nice and cold and felt good on my sore feet, but was just little to cold for me to submerge my grubby body.
With a ride back to our car we were back to civilization after an adventure in the woods. We were glad to be inside, away from the millions of ticks with running water and all the food we could eat. After we cleaned up and had dinner with my grandparents, Shalimar admitted she had fun, but we both decided to invest in new backpacks, hiking shoes, and to adopt lightweight backpacking techniques for our next adventure to make it a little more enjoyable.
A Walk in the Woods chronicles author Bill Bryson’s hope of rediscovering America through the Appalachian Trail after living abroad for two decades. His goal is to hike the 2,146 mile trail from Maine to Georgia but his adventure does not meet the idea of a typical through hike approach. The stories of Bryson, his friend Katz, and the many wild characters they encounter along the trail kept me reading and laughing late into the night.
Bryson’s goal was simple: “I wanted a little of that swagger that comes with being able to gaze at afar horizon through eyes of chipped granite and say with a slow manly sniff ‘Yeah, I’ve shit in the woods.’” From a fellow hiker that wouldn’t stop talking to arming himself with toenail clippers to fight off a bear, Bryson found a way to turn every moment into something that would make you really laugh.
Bryson’s attention to detail in this book stood out. At the end of the book, he offers a list of suggested reading material which he also references throughout the book. Information about the geology, ecology, and history of the Appalachians leaves the reader not only understanding Bryson’s personal adventure, but also the factors that have shaped the trail into what it is today. At times he takes on hard issues, such as the Department of Interior’s land usage and preservation policies and at other times he shares his fear of bears by quoting selections of Bear attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance (Stephen Herreos. Harmony Books, 1992), a book I will not be reading anytime soon!
Overall I think A Walk in the Woods is a great book and may even be a great primer for through hiking the AT as it provides insight into the politics, the geologic and more recent history, and what it means to be on the trail. I give it two thumbs up and suggest it to anyone who wants a good laugh and an introduction to the Appalachian Trail.
As a new dad I’ve been eager to find ways to include my daughter in all the outdoor activities I enjoyed before she was born. Of course the jogging stroller was a no-brainer but for our summer trip to Colorado we wanted to hike trails like Mt. Sanitas where even a burly stroller just wasn’t an option. After a little research we chose the Kelty FC 1.0 for its simple, lightweight design, kid-friendly features, and comfort on the trail.
At just under 5 pounds empty, the FC 1.0 is surprisingly lightweight thanks to its aluminum frame and lightweight fabric and padding. The pack features two decent-sized storage compartments behind the kid cockpit with about 1,000 cubic inches of capacity, though unfortunately the pockets aren’t easily accessible when wearing the pack. Kelty has included a small mesh pocket on the hip belt that is easy to access, though it really doesn’t provide room for more than a Cliff Bar or cellphone. If you plan on going longer than a day hike, consider a pack with more storage like the FC 2.0 or FC 3.0.
The FC 1.0 features a patented auto-deploy kickstand which is super handy when you’re strapping your future hiker into the pack. Once you put the pack on your back and adjust the shoulder straps, the kickstand is pulled in so you don’t have to worry about snagging branches or bushes on the trail. Just don’t forget to loosen the shoulder straps before taking the pack off so the kickstand can spring out (especially important on uneven ground). I was a little uncomfortable standing up and sitting down with my daughter in the pack without a spotter, though others may find it more natural.
The kid cockpit in the FC 1.0 is best described as outdoor luxe. The entire cockpit is lined with padded and ultra-soft material that kept my little one smiling for miles. Child straps are easy to buckle and unbuckle and there are several levels of adjustments that let the pack grow with your child. On summer hikes the padding seemed a little hot and confining but for fall and spring hikes this pack should be just right! Kelty also thought to include toy hooks to keep kids entertained for times when the scenery just isn’t enough.
Of course comfort is just as important for the person wearing the FC 1.0 and Kelty has clearly used their experience designing serious backpacks to make this pack a winner. The padded waist strap does a good job shifting the pack’s weight to your hips (saving your shoulders) and it’s easy to cinch thanks to Kelty’s patented Scherer Cinch. My only complaint is the waist strap seems way too long and there’s no system for managing the excess strap length. The FC packs feature mesh on waist and shoulder straps which kept me cool on the trail, even in mid-day summer sun. There’s also a mesh back to improve air flow even further, though my daughter enjoyed kicking me in the back through the springy fabric. A chest strap rounds out the harness system for a great fit for most any body shape and size.
The nylon fabric covering the pack is easy to clean with soap and water which is good; you are, after all, transporting a random mess generator. As a dad I wasn’t too excited about the color choices (no pink fortunately) and I’m surprised the pack colors aren’t more subtle like the outdoorsy-looking Kelty adult packs.
Easily the best thing about the FC 1.0 is its ability to transport a child into the great outdoors and our entire family loves this pack. If you’re looking for a child carrier backpack, the FC 1.0 offers one of the best values you’ll find. No more excuses – get out and hike with your family!
At first I thought this news item was a joke or perhaps one of those co-branded things like the “Boston Marathon in Iraq.” Nope, it turns out Appalachian Trail enthusiasts are serious about adding the “other half” of the Appalachians to the world-famous route.
To be honest I didn’t realize there was already the 2,175 mile Appalachian Trail AND the 1,862 mile International Appalachian Trail (IAT) which extends far north into Canada. Unfortunately portions of the Canadian IAT require train and ferry connections and as such only about 100 folks have completed the whole thing.
Technically the Appalachian mountain range exists in Europe as well (you know, the whole Pangea thing) and runs through Greenland, the UK, Norway, France, Spain, and Morocco. The newest IAT extension will also require train and ferry connections and perhaps even a passport. Could the IAT one day become the longest (non-continuous) trail in the world? Stay tuned.
It is not every day that new gear catches me by surprise for its usefulness and simplicity, but that is exactly what happened when I started using the X-Bowl, manufactured by Sea to Summit.
The X-Bowl, and its companions — the X-Plate and X-Cup — are collapsible food-grade bowls and plates made out of a hard, cut-resistant nylon base and a flexible silicon wall. This innovative design allows the X-Bowl to collapse from about 2″ to about a ½” thick.
I have been using the X-Bowl for about four weeks now, and I have to admit that I like it so much that its found its way into my backpack (and briefcase) along side my spork.
Here’s what I like about the X-Bowl. When extended, the sides of the X-Bowl are high enough to create a very functional bowl. When collapsed, the X-Bowl is super easy to pack. You can use a sharp knife against the bottom without causing damage, which make it easy to cut up your meal including meat, fruits, and veggies. The sides can handle hot food (up to 300 degrees according to the manufacturer), and you can compress the walls to make it easy to pour liquids. This makes it perfect for pasta, soup or cereal. You can toss it into the microwave to heat up leftovers and its easy to clean by hand or in a dishwasher. There are easy-to-read measurements on the inside walls so you can use the X-Bowl to mix freeze-dried food. The nylon base and silicon walls are BPA-free. In other words, it does it ALL!
I like gear that is simple and useful and there’s nothing worse than trying to eat cereal or soup out of a cup or pot. For backpacking, I’ve always wanted a “real” bowl that didn’t take up a lot of space. The X-Bowl and X-Plate are no-brainers. They’re easy to pack, lightweight and functional. I have to hand it to Sea and Summit. I think their “X” products are real winners. I’ll be getting the X-Plate and X-Cup.
What do you get when you combine backpacking with trail running? If you read the title of this post you know it’s Fastpacking – and here’s what you need to know about the latest outdoor recreation mashup.
If you’re a long distance runner you’ve probably seen the hydration belts and backpacks that some folks use to carry water and nutrition on long runs. Technically, carrying only food and water is not fastpacking – unless, that is, you spend the night out on the trail! Fastpackers carry everything they need with them to survive overnight and unsupported fastpackers have been known to cover nearly 600 miles at a stretch.
Fastpackers working with support teams have accomplished some pretty amazing stuff as well. In 2005 Andrew Thompson hiked/ran the entire 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail in just 47 days, 13 hours. In 2001 Ted Keizer summited all 55 of Colorado’s Fourteeners (mountain peaks over 14,000 feet high) in just 10 days, 20 hours with the help of a dedicated support team. Now that’s fast packing!
Over on the Serious Running trail running blog they have some tips for what to pack in a fastpack and they suggest keeping the whole thing under 3 pounds (not including water of course). The next time you’re strapped for vacation days, cram it all in with a fastpacking trip!
Over on Examiner.com Jay Werth shares his tips for pooping outdoors – a must read for anyone planning on a “primitive” camping trip this summer. To be honest I’ve camped in very few places that didn’t at least have a vault-style toilet with the exception of backpacking along the Appalachian Trail. Even then, many shelters along the trail have privys for hikers’ convenience.
Anyway, the #1 tip offered by Mr. Werth seems to be to poop as far away from streams and lakes as possible. Werth also mentions a good tip for setting up a simple folding toilet seat and talks about strategies for burying waste.
In some highly trafficked and desert areas like the Grand Canyon, hikers and campers are required to pack toilet paper out with them to protect the environment. A friend told me a story about hiking in the Grand Canyon with an inexperienced backpacker who misunderstood and carried her toilet paper and waste out with her. Needless to say her backpack was a little smelly on the way up
For some the question of pooping outdoors may be keeping them from giving camping a try but it’s really not rocket science. Just keep the basics in mind and the rest will come naturally!
This story is getting picked up all over the place so apologies if you already read it elsewhere. Last week three young guys from Texas were sent back to the Lone Star state after arriving in Dublin, Ireland for a backpacking trip. Their offense? No address for the place where they planned to stay and no demonstrable money on hand (apparently immigration officials wanted to see bank statements).
Anyway, the whole incident resulted in major media coverage in Ireland and now the guys are being showered with offers for free hotel stays, interviews, and even an ad campaign on the Emerald Isle. Apparently those in the tourism biz are a little upset that their potential “customers” were treated so rudely and they’re trying to make up for it.
Admittedly the 3 men hadn’t done a lot of planning for their trip:
We learned it the hard way. We recognize now that we were less prepared than we should have been.
Then again, I suppose I’ve been guilty of this myself too. A few years back my brother and I planned to meet in Europe for an epic trip through Germany, Italy, and France. The only hotel we booked ahead of time was for our first night in Mainz and beyond that we basically winged it (which, in hindsight, was pretty stressful). To top it off my brother didn’t even have a passport with him which meant our transportation options were pretty limited. Fortunately we didn’t run into any snags but that’s probably just because we were lucky.
But what if these guys had planned to spend their nights outdoors as they truly “backpacked” across Western Europe. Is that allowed? Judging by immigration officials’ response, it isn’t – unless you have a fat bank account
Many long distance and through hikers tell themselves that they’ll blog about their trip in real time so friends and family back home can keep track of their progress – but often fail to deliver. Sure, updates come pretty regularly the first few weeks but then they typically trail off as the hike goes on. Mike McCollum is actually doing a pretty good job so far, though it looks like he’s posting his daily journal once every two weeks or so (not exactly real time). Mike did manage to invest in a Spot Messenger which shows his location on a map using GPS and he’s even posting videos along they way. Still, no one has figured out how to do a trailside version of Justin.tv…
Even in this hyper-connected age there are still places you can’t get wi-fi or even a cell phone signal (like much of the Appalachian trail) so live-blogging your hike is difficult if not nearly impossible. Here are some tips for providing frequent, nearly real-time online updates on your hike:
1. Get a Spot Messenger. This device actually uses satellites to pinpoint your location and beam it to a website where others can track your progress (no cell signal required). The Spot is great in emergencies but it also provides passive real-time location updates without having to touch a keyboard.
2. Keep your journal old school using paper and pen. Keeping a written journal each day will help you write your blog much faster during the times when you do have access to the internet. In the old days folks used to mail journal updates to friends and family so consider having one of your peeps type up and post your notes online for you. Or map out wi-fi hotspots before your hike and blast out the updates when you head into town for resupply. If you must bring your own laptop, get an inexpensive and lightweight netbook.
3. Apple iPhones are great tools because you can use them to access the internet and email but good luck getting a signal in wild areas. Still, bring your phone (along with a way to charge the battery) and consider using your phone to beam pics, journal entries, and even your location (using the built-in GPS) whenever you can.
4. Bring extra memory cards for your camera. Most digital cameras include features that allow you to capture audio and video which can be great for a trail blog. Just remember that audio and video eat up memory fast and also that you’ll need a fast internet connection to send the files to the web.
With a little planning you can provide frequent updates from the trail on your next backpacking adventure!
Two Appalachian Trail news items of interest this week:
Mike Caetano of Pensacola, FL is hoping to become the oldest person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail and he’s already on his way into the record books. The 86-year-old man started his hike this spring and hopes to complete the journey in November. Caetano is planning a “flip-flop” hike where he’ll skip some southern sections of the trail this summer and will return to them in the fall to complete the hike. This is not Caetano’s first time on the trail as he’s “section-hiked” the entire Appalachian trail in the past. The current record holder, 81-year-old Lee Barry, completed his thru-hike in 2004. We’ll try to keep you posted on Caetano’s progress as we hear more…
A legally blind hiker was rescued after becoming lost on the Appalachian Trail last week where he spent 6 days alone in Amherst County, VA. Ken Knight became separated from his group while hiking on the trail and it took rescuers three days of searching to locate the man (he wasn’t reported missing until three days after he disappeared). After lighting a signal fire that turned into a 2-acre brush fire, Knight was found by rescuers mostly unharmed.
Knight says he’ll consider hiking with a satellite beacon or a cell phone next time but points out that the most important things hikers should bring along are survival skills. Technology can fail he says and survival skills may be the only thing that keep you alive until help arrives. Amen to that.
While it’s still way too early to backpack in the Colorado high country, right now is the perfect time to hit the lower elevation trails in canyon country. The western part of the state near Grand Junction and Fruita is dry and quite pleasant this time of year and offers up some incredible desert scenery.
Joe Wiggins posted his take on backpacking Colorado canyon country on Examiner.com and it’s a good read if you’re serious about finding a good spot to hike and camp. Wiggins points out this time of year offers up great weather plus water sources are more readily available now than in the summer. Even if you plan on getting in high country trips later this year an early season trip to western Colorado can help you shake down your gear and get acclimated for climbs about 12,000 feet. Ain’t Colorado great?
According to a recent article in Backpacker Magazine, the popularity of hiking and backpacking is growing in China and that could be good news for the environment. The author reasons that increasing prosperity gives citizens more time to pursue recreational activities which should in turn increase appreciation for nature and the environment. Of course the article starts off with a story about one backpacker who simply tosses his garbage by the trailside as he hikes but it’s still early in the Chinese environmental movement…
The article also makes an interesting point that the environmental movement in the US really got started in the 1960s as hiking became more popular here. But what about the impact of millions of new hikers exploring previously untouched wilderness in China? Isn’t a robust national park system and supportive non-profit network critical to preserving what’s left? Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?
Either way, in the end I think increased outdoor recreation is a good thing for the environment because it means people place a value on natural beauty. And once a society values something it will want to take care of it. Although much damage has already been done to the environment around the world, the good news is that mother nature is pretty good at healing herself, given time. The sooner folks start respecting nature, the sooner she’ll be able to give back.
We wrote about night hiking back in January and this month Backpacker.com posted an article with some more tips for getting started. While we can’t recommend ditching the headlamp and flashlight entirely, Backpacker tells us how to maximize night vision using the moon and stars plus our own rods ‘n cones.
With days getting longer night hikes are becoming less of a necessity and more of a new way to experience familiar trails. In some areas like Death Valley, backpacking at night and sleeping during the hotest part of the day is a valid strategy – plus you get a chance to see wildlife that isn’t otherwise active.
Hiking at night can be dangerous but it can also be pretty fun and exciting, provided you are prepared and know what you’re getting into. Too bad you won’t be able to work on your tan at the same time
Camelback Mountain is a popular hiking destination in Phoenix.
Over at Fit Sugar a reader wrote in asking about fitness training for hiking. Specifically the reader was completely exhausted after a weekend hike at Camelback Mountain in Phoenix and wanted some tips for becoming a better hiker.
If you’ve hiked Camelback you know it’s a steep climb but not all that long (less than a mile or so as I recall). Fit Sugar offered some good tips about doing shorter hikes to build up strength and endurance and general fitness stuff like working on quads and glutes at the gym. But training for hiking doesn’t have to be a boring fitness routine – there are fun things you can do outdoors to get ready for a big hike.
Hiking is, for the most part, all about aerobic endurance and leg strength (especially if you’re heading to the mountains). I run on the road during the week but an even better choice for getting in shape for hiking is cycling (or mountain biking if you’re into that). Bicycling builds the leg muscles you need for mountain hikes (quads and glutes) plus it’s a low impact, aerobic workout similar to hiking.
If it’s a backpacking trip you’re training for it’s a good idea to include a weighted pack as a part of your fitness routine. Even if you live in a place where hills are few and far between, head to the local high school and trek up and down the football stadium stands with your pack on – you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll sweat after just a few minutes. The point is that the closer your workout to the thing you’re training for, the better your preparation will be.
Hiking isn’t a competitive sport so getting in shape to hit the trail should just be about making your next trek more enjoyable!
If you’re a serious hiker or backpacker and you use a GPS, you know it can be frustrating to manage your trail and map data using the free software included with your GPS. We’ve tested half a dozen GPS and mapping software packages and our favorite is still TopoFusion. In fact, TopoFusion is really three products in one: mapping software, photo management & publishing software, and activity logging/training software. The crazy thing: it does all three better than virtually any other product we’ve seen.
Mapping
Of course TopoFusion is first and foremost an outdoor mapping program and it includes all the features you’d expect like support for GPX files, USGS topo maps, and elevation profile charts of your GPS tracks. But TopoFusion goes way beyond what you’d expect, starting with the inclusion of black and white or color aerial photos, satellite imagery, GIS data from TIGER, and even maps and imagery covering Mexico and Canada. My personal favorite is the “Combo” map setting that blends USGS topo maps with aerial photos – an amazing feature I haven’t seen anywhere else.
TopoFusion also features tools for visualizing trails and routes in 3D to give you a totally new perspective on familiar trails. The best part is you can view any map in 3D – topographic, aerial photo, satellite, even Combo! Simple and intuitive tools allow you to rotate, zoom, and flip 3D maps and the latest version is super responsive even on my slow 3-year old eMachines desktop.
Hiking and backpacking are all about motion along a trail and TopoFusion includes powerful tools for dynamically visualizing GPS tracks. Plug in a GPS track from your latest adventure and TopoFusion adds arrows to the map showing the direction of travel – a helpful and seemingly obvious feature that’s missing from other mapping programs I’ve used. Even cooler than that: you can play back tracks as they were hiked. TopoFusion calls this ‘multi-track playback’ and you can use the feature to show the progression of multiple hikers along the same trail or even play back hikes of the same trail on different days to see how your pace compares (see video below). I can seriously sit and stare at replays of my own hikes in TopoFusion for hours…
Trail Photo Management
Topofusion includes a feature called ‘PhotoFusion’ that dynamically places photos onto your maps. Now I’ve been hesitant to try this myself for a while – geo-tagging photos just seems too geeky and time consuming. Topofusion actually makes the process dead simple: open a GPS track, click on PhotoFusion and point to a directory with photos taken on your hike. TopoFusion then matches the timestamps on your photos with track point timestamps and places the photos where they belong on your route. Even if your GPS and camera times don’t match up, Topofusion attempts to help you resolve differences using time offsets – incredible! Photo thumbnails appear on the map as waypoints and can be moved around plus you can zoom in on pics with a click of the mouse.
Building photo maps on your computer is cool but what good is a slick photo map if you can’t share it with your friends? TopoFusion understands this and allows you to export your photos and maps to post on the web and even writes the complex HTML for you at the click of a button. Here’s my interactive photo map from a mountain bike ride at Heritage Park last month. Amazing!
Endurance Training / Activity Tracker
If you’re preparing for a big backpacking or multi-day hiking trip, TopoFusion has some great features to keep track of your training data. ‘Log Book’ is a feature that saves your hiking, running, or riding data to a calendar summarizing your workouts: clicking on a date reveals distance, time, total climb, and speed data PLUS it includes difficulty and effort scores that allow you to compare workouts of varying length, elevation, and intensity. Log Book also computes summary statistics based on a date range so you can see, for instance, how many miles you hiked last week.
TopoFusion activity tracking tools also work great with data from other sports like running. I imported runs from my Forerunner and using the Run Analysis tool was able to compute a GOVSS Score, Lactate Adjustment Power, Average Power, and calories expended. TopoFusion also allows you to switch units from miles per hour to more runner-friendly minutes per mile.
The current version of TopoFusion includes support for direct connection to the most popular Garmin GPS units including the GPSMap series, Edge series, and of course the Forerunner series. With this support, TopoFusion also includes the ability to view heart rate, cadence, and power data, depending on your GPS unit’s capabilities. With support for multiple file formats including GPX, TCX, KML, and even ESRI ShapeFiles you can be sure that no matter what brand or model GPS you own you can use TopoFusion to view, edit, and catalog your data.
Power User Tools and Functions
Beyond the features most users will find helpful, TopoFusion also includes a few power-user functions that map geeks will find especially cool. The ‘Make Network’ tool transforms messy GPS trail data full of backtracks and dead ends into clean, easy to follow trail segments. TopoFusion also includes a tool to fix elevation profile data from GPS units with unreliable or even non-existent elevation tracking – a feature that honestly borders on voodoo magic. You can even use TopoFusion to move or delete waypoints and trackpoints to clean up errant GPS data points before sharing with friends.
Bottom Line
TopoFusion is the best GPS mapping software we’ve used – hands down – and perhaps this is why:
TopoFusion is written by Alan and Scott Morris. Brothers, outdoor enthusiasts, mountain bikers and former wilderness rangers. Both hold Master’s degrees in Computer Science. (Scott Morris) logs his adventures at topofusion.com/diary.
There are two versions of TopoFusion available for sale and immediate download at TopoFusion.com – the Basic and Pro version – but take it from us: the Pro version is well worth the additional investment. Many of the features mentioned in this review are only available in the Pro version and at less than $70 it’s still much cheaper than software from Garmin, DeLorme, and National Georgraphic – with way more features!
Even if you don’t own a GPS yet, TopoFusion is a great tool for viewing topographic and trail maps created by others and posted online. Get it today and start planning your next trail adventure!
Last week I read a story on a forum thread about a guy who had his backpack stolen while camping out on the trail one night. Apparently the pack wasn’t *technically* stolen – it was just traded. When the unsuspecting camper awoke in the morning his backpack containing all his food and cooking gear was gone, replaced with a worn and broken backpack containing just a poncho and a can of Dinty Moore stew. Nice. The camper turned the trip into an ultralight / survival mission and fortunately made it out ok after a few more days on the trail.
Most of us (myself included) give little thought to what we do with our backpacks when we camp on the trail but this story got me thinking. It’s always a good idea to place backpacks containing food off the ground to make it tougher for critters to get at your stuff and if rain is in the forecast I usually try to fit my pack inside the tent with me. But what if the real threat to your stuff isn’t animal or precipitation but rather other hikers?
I suppose we could all start carrying bike locks with us on the trail to lock our packs to trees but if you’ve ever used a bike lock you know those suckers are heavy. Even then, most of us use internal frame packs with few solid surfaces to lock to – nylon straps are pretty easy to cut after all.
Fortunately in the case of the ripped-off backpacker the thief didn’t get away with two big ticket camping items – his sleeping bag and tent. Perhaps the best way to keep your backpack safe is to empty it out and use it as a pillow inside your tent
The Pacific Northwest Trail is set to receive official National Scenic Trail designation in an upcoming US House bill, the same designation currently enjoyed by better known trails like the Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails. Admittedly I had never heard of the trail which runs from Glacier National Park in Montana to the Pacific coast of Washington. The 1,200 mile trail sticks close to the Canadian border and currently only about 30 through hikers make the entire trek each year.
The Seattle Times has a great article about the trail and what a National Scenic Trail designation could mean. Various hiking groups seem to be supportive of the idea since it guarantees there will be no logging or development within 1,000 feet (about 0.2 miles) of the trail throughout its entire length.
Based on the map above it *seems* like it should be possible to link up the Pacific Northwest Trail with the Pacific Crest Trail which runs up and down the west coast. Of course the Continental Divide trail runs north and south through the Rockies so perhaps that could be linked to the other end of the Pacific Northwest Trail? Now we just need a southern route across New Mexico and Arizona and hikers could make one 5,000 mile loop! Just plan it so you’re hiking the northern section in summer and the southern section in winter
Jetboil announced a recall for its Personal and Group Cooking System camp stoves that utilize the “B-style” fuel valve. According to the company some users have reported valve failures that caused fuel to leak and, in some cases, ignite. Read the full release below or check out Jetboil.com to find out how to identify if your stove is affected by the recall.
I once had a similar problem with a Coleman Peak 1 stove. The Peak 1 has an integrated fuel tank for white gas and a hand pump for pressurizing the fuel. After owning the stove for many years I took it on a trip and began pressurizing the tank to cook some soup. Just as I was adding the last few strokes (with the stove already pre-lit) I heard a violent hissing sound and noticed fuel shooting out the bottom. I quickly put out the flame and prayed the fuel leaking out the bottom wouldn’t ignite (fortunately it didn’t). Needless to say I had to throw the stove away after that incident.
I’m not sure what the problem was with my Peak 1 but it seemed to have something to do with rust and/or corrosion of the fuel tank. Just goes to show you should always inspect your camp stove before using it on a trip!
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Jetboil has announced a voluntary recall of certain Jetboil Personal and Group Cooking Systems (click here for joint U.S. CPSC and Jetboil, Inc. press release)
Jetboil has utilized three different gas valves (the “A”, “B” and “C” style valves) in the production of its Personal Cooking System (PCS) and Group Cooking System (GCS). PCS and GCS units utilizing the B style valve were shipped to US retailers between July 10 and September 9, 2008, and sold through retail since July 10, 2008.
Jetboil is undertaking a consumer recall of all PCS and GCS systems utilizing this B style valve, working in cooperation with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov).
We have determined independently to undertake this process after receiving reports and returned units from a very limited number of end users who have experienced leaking gas and subsequent ignition of the gas leak. No injuries or property damage have been reported by these users.
PCS and GCS systems utilizing the A and C style valves continue to be fully safe and functional. No Helios systems are affected by the recall.
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