DeLorme Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer

Field Report

Report Contents:
Biography
Product Information
Test Description
Likes
Dislikes

Biography
Name: Bradley Bishop
Age: 30
Gender: male
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Email address: bradley AT bishopfam DOT us
City, State, Country: Tahlequah, Oklahoma, USA
Date: 02/11/2005

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.

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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 ½ in (39 cm)
Actual dimensions: 11 in (28 cm) x 15 ½ in (39 cm)
Weight: 14 oz (397 g)
Material: Paperback

Test Description return to top
As I said in my Initial Report, I am a map addict and have been looking forward to this test since the day my application was accepted. Because of its size, I have not used the DeLorme Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer (hereafter referred to as Atlas) as a piece of backpacking gear, but rather as a reference for planning trips and finding campsites and trailheads. It has proven very useful in this capacity.

I have not had as much opportunity to get out in the field as I would have liked, but the Atlas has proven very useful so far. I have planned a couple of trips for later in the Spring using the Atlas to plan my drive. It would have proven very useful on our Christmas trip to visit family this year if I hadn't left it at home! :) We were forced to leave the Interstate for smaller highways during an ice storm, and the Atlas would have helped plot this course with its included back roads. I have since checked out this section of the Atlas, and recognize all the turns and back roads we took as accurate. I have also checked out some of the trailheads, campgrounds, and canoe put-ins along the section of the Buffalo River that I frequent. The locations of these features are accurately depicted in the Atlas, and the descriptions in the Gazetteer section are accurate. The back roads feature was also very useful in navigating a route to a friend's very remote cabin. I wish his driveway had been on the map so I could see the contour! :)

The Atlas is adequately durable for my use so far. It is the same size and shape as a couple of our other atlases, and fits in our map drawer nicely. Its size does not lend itself to portability, though. It fits in the car fine, but I have been unable to carry it with me on the trail. It has spent much of its time in the floor of my living room as I tend to flip through it occasionally, planning random trips. I have made no effort to abuse the Atlas to test its durability, but I have no doubt it will stand up to ordinary use. I have not exposed the Atlas to any weather extremes other than severe cold in the car overnight, so I can't comment on its weatherproofness. It has survived multiple random attacks by our cats who seem to love maps and newspapers.

Scanning and photocopying produce usable copies in a smaller version which I can fold up to take along in a pack or pocket. Much of the detail is lost in copying, I suspect due to the green background of the maps.

Likes return to top
Ease of use
Layout of sections
Cross-referenced grid on back cover
Descriptions of campgrounds and other point of interest

Dislikes return to top
Size
Lack of portability

Thanks for the opportunity to test the DeLorme Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer.