Presidentials Maps

Here are some custom topo maps to print out and bring to the course.  Unfortunately the print function does not work all that well with the custom waypoints, so three different versions are provided:

• Screen capture, with waypoint names.
• Screen capture, without waypoint names.
• Printed to pdf, without waypoint names.

You can also download the plain USGS quad pdf file for Mt Washington (and modify it using the free TerraGo Toolbar), but note that the southern portion for the Gulf of Slides is in a separate file.

Also, the various routes/tracklogs and waypoints are not meant to be followed blindly, but still, with that caveat aside, including them should still be helpful for the course.

And although not necessary for the course, here is a quick summary of the available commercially produced maps and guides for the area:

Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast
Third edition, and as always would be more accurately titled “the most obvious and well-known backcountry skiing, for which you don’t really need a guidebook anyway,” but now apparently includes some additional information on the Northern Presidentials, plus the historical aspects are very well done.  (The author is mainly a political writer, and his sister is even a [relatively] well-known political radio broadcaster.)

Winter Trails Map: Backcountry Ski Tours and Snowshoeing in White Mountain National Forest
Only below-treeline trails, but still a helpful and nicely produced map (and waterproof/rip-proof tyvek too).

White Mountain Guide
Hiking trails only, but super-detailed descriptions, so a great resource for trip planning.

AMC White Mountains Trail Map: Presidential Range
Made from waterproof/rip-proof tyvek, so will actually last, unlike the paper maps that come with the trail guide book, which will make it through about one day’s worth of use in the field.

National Geographic Presidential Range
Map Adventures White Mountains Trail Map
Beautiful maps, and on waterproof/rip-proof material, but just too big & cumbersome overall for in-the-field use (although then again could almost be used as an emergency bivy).

Bradford Washburn's Map of Mt. Washington and the Heart of the Presidential Range
Printed on plain-old paper and the bizarre New Hampshire coordinate system complicates any attempt to use it for GPS planning, but amazingly detailed, and it’s such a classic.

Randolph Paths (RMC Guidebook with tyvek map) 
The definitive resource for the Northern Presidentials, which we’re *not* visiting during this course, but if you ever do, you want this guidebook & map.