How to Read Topographic Maps

As a tool for displaying information, a topographic map probably compresses more information into one square inch of space than just about anything else.  Topographic Maps are essential tools to have on the trail for if you have one and you are lost, you can determine where you are.  If you have a map and a compass, you're almost there.  If you have Latitude and Longitude coordinates, you're golden.  (However, if you know your Latitude and Longitude, you probably have a GPS and you can use that to find your way home.)

A topographic map is a visual representation of the contours of the land.  I've attached a map of the first leg of the trip, the hike from Longmire to Devil's Dream. 

You will notice that there's all sorts of lines on this map, kind of like fingerprints almost.  These are called Contour Lines.  Mapmakers (generally, the US Geological Survey) looked at the elevation of the land and drew these contour lines to indicate how high the particular point is from Sea Level.  Since this is a US map, those elevations are shown in feet. 

Index contour lines are a bit darker than the others, for they are at key elevations.  On this particular map, they are every 400 feet, with four supplemental lines between them, each 80 feet apart.  When these lines are far apart, that means that the overall terrain is gently sloping.  When the lines are very close together, this signifies a very steep slope, even a cliff.  One of the rules of topographic map making is that contour lines cannot cross, so near cliffs, the lines are almost on top of each other. 

The Wonderland Trail on this map is shown in a green and yellow line (obviously Green Bay Packers fans). 
Every so often along the trail, you will see a red dot.  That dot is used as a mileage waypoint.  Generally, a map maker will place these where two trails meet or at a significant point.  Distance between waypoints is almost always listed, on this map in comforting red numbers signifying approximately how many miles between waypoints. Upon occasion there is also a red number indicating the approximate elevation of a particular waypoint. 

So, in looking at the map, you can see what kind of hike you have.  Starting from Longmire (elevation 2774), you have about a 1.8 mile climb of about 1000 feet to the intersection of the Van Trump Park Trail (of which you can only see the "Van" part of the name).  0.2 miles further, you walk along the side of the slope to the intersection of the Rampart Ridge Trail.  You then walk another 1.5 miles to the Pyramid Creek campsite (signified by the little tent).  This part actually goes down a couple of hundred feet to where it crosses Kautz Creek and is almost level to the campsite. 

After Pyramid Creek, that's where the going gets rough.  In the next two miles, you will notice that the trail wiggles quite a bit.  Those are switchbacks, and they are put in trails when the slope of the hill is so steep you pass from the realm of hiking to the realm of mountain climbing.  Another 1000 feet higher or so, you arrive at Devil's Dream campsite.  This is where you take your boots off, pop a half a dozen Advil, and rest. 

So, that is what I'm planning for my first day on the trail.  Two long slogs up hill interrupted with a little bit of almost level ground. 

Map is courtesy of Green Trails Maps.  If you want to learn more than you want to know about Topographic Map Symbols, check out the USGS Topographic Map Symbols booklet.  They do this stuff for a living.