DeLorme Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer
Initial Report
Report Contents:
Biography Description
Product Information Initial
Impression
Arrival
Test Plan
Website
Biography
Name: Bradley Bishop
Age: 30
Gender: male
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Email address: bradleybishop AT sbcglobal
DOT net
City, State, Country: Tahlequah, Oklahoma,
USA
Date: 11/16/2004
Backpacking Background
I've been hiking, camping, and backpacking for over 20 years, beginning
as a Boy Scout in Tennessee.
I currently live in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
(not a lot of mountains around here) and have done some hiking and backpacking
locally and in the Ozarks and Buffalo
National River
area of Arkansas. I hope to
go backpacking once a month as long as my schedule permits. I would classify
my backpacking style as mid to heavyweight. I still tend to carry way too
much stuff, but I am trying to lighten up.
Product Information return to top
DeLorme
Year of Publication: 2004
URL: http://www.delorme.com/
Cover Price: $19.95 US
Listed dimensions: 11 in (28 cm) x 15 ˝ in (39 cm)
Actual dimensions: 11 in (28 cm) x 15 ˝ in (39 cm)
Weight: 14 oz (397 g)
Material: Paperback
Arrival return to top
The DeLorme Arkansas
Atlas & Gazetteer arrived 11/8/2004 in a large envelope with a shipping invoice
and a DeLorme marketing packet including a letter
from the marketing director and overview information of the Atlas & Gazetteer
Series and the Arkansas edition.
The atlas was in near-perfect condition with a slight bend in the spine apparently
from the shipping process.
Website return to top
DeLorme's website features 5 sections: consumer software, professional solutions,
paper maps, GPS for laptops and PDAs, and datasets. The "paper maps"
section features the entire Atlas & Gazetteer line. It includes an overview
of the series, as well as purchasing options for individual maps, regional
sets, or the entire series. Sample maps and an overview of map specifications
area available for each individual state. Atlases may be ordered online or
by phone. Lastly, information regarding orders by phone, 30 day guarantee,
secure shopping information, and privacy policy are available. Overall, the
DeLorme website is very user-friendly, well-designed, and informative.
Description
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Having been a map addict for most of my life, I am
already very familiar with the DeLorme Atlas &
Gazetteer series. I currently own a copy for nearly every state in which I
have lived. Since I have been spending most of my backpacking time in Oklahoma
actually across the border in Arkansas,
it made perfect sense for me to test the Arkansas
edition of the Atlas & Gazetteer. I am looking forward to trying out this
atlas as well as some of the new destinations to which it will hopefully lead
me.
As I tend to do with every map the first time I open it, I immediately flip
to the quadrangle closest to my home. I don’t know why I always do this, but
I do. I can almost see my town just across the border in Oklahoma,
and have already discovered a hiking destination which I had not seen before.
I’ll have to try it out during the course of this test.
The Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer
is an attractive, well-constructed paperback atlas. It contains a total of
64 pages, with 43 pages being quadrangular maps covering the entire state.
It is 11 in (28 cm) x 15 ˝ in (39 cm) and is stapled through the center with
four metal staples. The contents as described on the front cover consist of
“Detailed Topographic Maps” featuring “Outdoor Recreation,” “Places to Go,
Things to Do,” “All-Purpose Reference,” “Back Roads,” “Recreation Sites,”
and “GPS Grids.” The back cover of the atlas is a quick-reference grid with
numbered quadrangles corresponding to the 43 pages inside the atlas. The inside
front cover features the legend for the map, a list of abbreviations used
in the Atlas & Gazetteer, and descriptions of the atlas design, grid system
and index, orientation of the atlas, estimating mileage, GPS users’ information,
and instructions for submitting revisions. The inside back cover features
an advertisement for the DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer
series.
According to DeLorme’s description, the scale of
the maps is 1:200,000. Each map consists of 37 minutes of longitude and 38.25
minutes of latitude covering an area approximately 35 mi (56.5 km) wide by
44 mi (71 km) high. A wall map of the entire state may be created by joining
the 43 maps from 2 atlases together with the resulting map measuring approximately
7 1/3 ft (2.2 m) wide by 7 ft (2.1 m) high. I may try this someday, but not
during this test! In addition to the state grid, each individual map is divided
into sections measuring 2 in (5 cm) wide by 1 ˝ in (4 cm) high defined by
intersecting gridlines. These sections are identified by coordinates A through
I and 1 through 10, and are used for locating items
listed in the Index of Placenames and Map Features
which is found on pages 2-11 of the atlas. The sides of the map are aligned
with true north/south, and DeLorme recommends orienting
the map to the direction of travel for ease of use in navigating left- and
right-hand turns. 1 in (2.54 cm) on the map represents approximately 3.2 mi
(5.1 km) on the ground. For assistance in using the atlas with GPS positional
data, each map has tick marks at 1-minute intervals of latitude and longitude
as well as longitudinal gridlines at 7-minute intervals and latitudinal gridlines
at 4-minute-and-15-second intervals. The topographic features of the maps
utilize 100 ft (31 m) contour intervals.
Page 1 contains an identical state grid to that contained on the back cover,
along with a table of contents. Pages 2 through 11 contain the "Index
of Placenames and Map Features" with items
listed by page number and grid coordinate on the page. Place
names appear in boldface, drainages in italics, all other features
in plain type, and private campgrounds also list corresponding four-digit
numbers as used on the maps and in the campground index.
Pages 12 through 19 contain the Gazetteer, which consists of detailed tables
and lists of National Lands, State Lands, Hiking, Arkansas Facts, Biking,
Campgrounds, Float Trips, Unique Natural Features, Historic Sites, Attractions,
Scenic Drives, Fishing, Hunting, and Golf Courses. Needless to say, this is
much more than “just a map,” and should prove to be a very useful resource.
Each list contains detailed descriptions of features and trails while the
tables contain cross-reference to specific information for each location.
For example, the “Campgrounds” table contains the Number, Name, and Location
of each campground along with Page & Grid, number of RV sites, and whether
tenting is allowed. My first impression of the Gazetteer is that it will prove
to be a very useful resource as I explore new areas of this state. Several
locations have already caught my eye and piqued my interest.
Pages 20 and 21 contain a highway map of Arkansas
with a corresponding mileage chart. This should prove useful in planning for
driving times to my destinations.
Pages 22 through 64 contain the individual maps corresponding to the state
grid. One feature that has already proven very valuable is the reference at
the edge of each map to “Continue on Page 59” or “Continue in DeLorme’s Louisiana Atlas & Gazetteer.”
Initial Impression
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Initially, I am very impressed with the DeLorme
Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer.
It appears to be a very comprehensive atlas and the gazetteer contains much
more information than I will probably be able to utilize during the test period.
The atlas is thoughtfully presented and very user-friendly. The color and
contrast of the maps makes them very easy to read. I have already found several
interesting areas that I am looking forward to visiting during the course
of this test. I had hoped to utilize this atlas in lieu of individual trail
maps for completing several hikes and backpacking trips, but it appears that
there is not enough detail to allow this. Only major trails are indicated
on the map, but I will be able to use the atlas for planning my drives to
the trailheads and campgrounds and possibly planning gear drops if I am able
to complete an extended hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail during the test
period.
Test Plan return to top
I will use the map for accessing trails and planning
my drives to trailheads.
I will attempt to verify the accuracy of the map in regard to trailhead positioning
relative to roads.
I will attempt to verify the accuracy of the gazetteer descriptions of campgrounds,
trails, and features.
I will attempt to use the map alone in lieu of local trail maps where possible
to determine the accuracy of trail illustrations.
I will study the accuracy of contour intervals for the areas that I hike.
If possible (through borrowing a GPS unit), I will verify accuracy of some
grid points on the maps.
I will evaluate the durability of the atlas, as it will be used heavily at
home and in the car.
I will evaluate reproduction of the atlas through scanning and photocopying
for more efficient utilization on the trail.
