Reviews > Navigation and Map Gear > Maps > Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer Series > Karin Claus > Initial Report

Initial Report: DeLORME Colorado Atlas & Gazetteer™ 
Name: Karin Claus
Age: 44
Gender: Female
Height: 5’ 6” (167 cm)
Weight: 120 lb (54 kg) 
Email Address: KarinClaus@yahoo.com
Region: Evergreen, CO USA
Date: November 11, 2004

Backpacking Background: 
I live and play in the Colorado Rockies.  I have section hiked the entire Colorado Trail.  I through-hiked the Appalachian Trail in ’02 and the Pacific Crest Trail in '04.  I have been slowly and carefully updating my gear to lighter weight equipment.  I have been backpacking for the past twenty years. I have climbed 38 of Colorado’s highest peaks.  I enjoy getting out in the woods almost every weekend.  I'd rather suffer some discomfort than to carry extra weight. in my pack.  I have used hammocks, tents and tarps.  I like to sleep under the stars in good weather.  I love long weekend loop hikes.  I go backpacking because I enjoy walking, camping is just something I do because I am caught outside overnight.

Product Description:

The Colorado Atlas & Gazetteer™ hereafter called the Atlas, was delivered in a large padded yellow envelope.  Inside the envelope was the Atlas and marketing brochures.  Looking at the company stationery gave me a quick chuckle.  They have their address listed as "Latitude 43°48.491' North, Longitude 70°09.844' West".  

The Atlas arrived a little beat up.  It looks like the padded envelope was bent in shipping, which created a big crease, or dimple, at the left-hand edge of the Atlas, about a third of the way down.  The bottom edge is slightly bent, and there is a small tear on the back bottom edge, near the stapled edge.  This is cosmetic, and should not affect my use of the Atlas. 

The cover is glossy paper.  The Atlas is held together by staples at the spine.  I opened the Atlas to the center of the book.  The staples are sticking up slightly from the paper.  The staples are thinner than I expected.  After looking at the center of the Atlas for a while, I noticed the Atlas does not fold completely flat.

The Atlas and the cover are printed in color.
The Atlas contains 92 quad maps.  80 of these are at a scale of 1:160,000.  The others are 1:320,000.  The smaller scale maps are of Eastern Colorado, where less detail is required.  There is a key map of the entire state on the middle two pages.

Each map coordinate is given in degrees/minutes/seconds and decimal degrees; e.g., 40°.35'.00" and 40.5833 degrees.  The World Geodetic System (WGS84) datum is used.

This is the seventh edition, copyright 2004.

There are 16 information categories also covered in the Atlas.  They are Biking, BLM Public Lands, Campgrounds, Fishing, 14ers, Hiking, Historic Sites/Museums, Hunting, Mountain Passes, National Lands, River Trips, Scenic Drives, Ski Areas, State Lands, Unique Natural Features, and Wild Trout Waters/Gold Medal Streams.

Web Site:
The web site shows that there are Atlases available for all 50 states.  The web site says that there is a 30 day guarantee.  It has an information/sample map - I picked "Colorado".  The web site then displays information about the Colorado Atlas.  It also displayed a small sample map.  There is a phone number for ordering by phone, and the website also lets you order online.  

There is also a support center web page.  From the support center page, there is a "Data Revisions" section, where you can suggest/correct data related issues in their products. 

First Impressions:
The Atlas has the information in it that I expected.  I turned to page 39, which is where I live.  I located downtown Evergreen and its lake.  I then found Upper Bear Creek Road on the map.  I then went to locate my local 3 hour neighborhood hike.  This is in the Mount Evans State Wildlife Area.  From Upper Bear Creek Road, the map shows to turn right on County Road 480.  This weekend, I will see if the actual road has a County Road sign on it.

I was perusing the "Hunting" section.  I really didn't think that I would need any information about the hunting section.  However, there is a local phone number about specific season dates for big game and another number for small game.
 The Mount Evans State Wildlife Area is an elk hunting area.  I can use the number given, and see when I will be sharing the trail with hunters.


Location:
I will be using the Atlas in the house while planning trips, and in the car while getting to trailheads.  Inside my car, the Atlas may be subjected to spilled beverages, dirty car upholstery, sand, rocks, melting snow and mud.  In the winter I do not like to drive very far.  I live on map page 39 of the Atlas.  I will be using map 39 and its surrounding maps.  Weekly, I like to go on the "hike of the week" from the local paper.  I will be planning these hikes with the Atlas in the comfort of my living room.  

Test Plan/Strategy:
Will the Atlas help keep me from making too many wrong turns?
How well will the Atlas hold up if it gets a little bit of snow, rain or mud on it ?
How easy is it to find places using driving directions and the Atlas?
Read the "Hiking" section and see if any of my favorite hikes are listed, and if there are any hikes that I would like to go on.
Read the "Unique Natural Features", and see if there are any places that I would like to visit.
Visit some of the historic sites, and drive some of the scenic drives listed in the Atlas.
Geo-caching - I do not own a GPS.  But, I will see if I can locate one of the local geo-cache sights, using the co-ordinates in the Atlas, and some luck. 

Summary:
I look forward to using this Atlas weekly for hiking, camping, entertainment, and snowshoe treks.

Likes:  The Atlas looks easy to use.

Dislikes:  I would like to see heavier staples used, with the edges firmly crimped.

Thank you for the opportunity to test this Atlas, and stay tuned for the field report.

Reviews > Navigation and Map Gear > Maps > Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer Series > Karin Claus > Initial Report