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My first thought was to scramble to see if Canada had any plans to stop printing the Canadian National Topographic System map series (not nautical maps, but top
by rerdavies 4y ago
My first thought was to scramble to see if Canada had any plans to stop printing the Canadian National Topographic System map series (not nautical maps, but topographic maps that cover the entire landmass of Canada).
For wilderness canoeists, topographic maps are indispensable, and not replaceable by electronic systems. There are no electrical outlets in the wilderness, lugging batteries across 3km portages isn't an option, and canoe trips can easily last two or three weeks.
Fortunately, they don't currently have plans to stop. However, the Canadian government has recently added a list of Certified Map Printers in addition to the older network of Map Dealers who carry the entire series of thousands of maps (but frequently run out of the map you're looking for). Presumably, Certified Map Printers will print maps on demand. Sounds great!
Incidentally, you can also download Canadian topographic maps for free, and print them out yourself. But going into the wilderness with maps that aren't waterproof would be tantamount to suicide.
I wonder if the UKHO has made similar provisions to refer customers to print shops that have the equipment to print waterproof charts on demand.
- maptime 4y agoThe issue isn't the printing of the physical chart itself it's the compilation of data to create a readable chart that complies with the international cartographic standard. Most UKHO charts are currently printed at a distributor location on giant inkjet printers. Incidentally the charts are only water resistant not waterproof
- Lev1a 4y ago> But going into the wilderness with maps that aren't waterproof would be tantamount to suicide. Couldn't you laminate the maps yourself, when you're already going through the trouble to print your own?
- matsur 4y agoOr use a ziploc bag. Works fine.
- Lev1a 4y agoSure, you could also do it that way. I just based my suggestion off the following passage from the original comment above: > For wilderness canoeists In that case I would still suggest going with the laminated maps over the ziploc bag since once moisture gets into the bag containing paper maps you've already started them on the road to colors smearing, mold, etc.
- rerdavies 4y agoZip-lock bags (even the heavy-duty zip-lock map bags) don't cut it. If you get even a trace of moisture or condensation in the bag, it evaporates and re-condenses causing a disproportionate amounts of smearing. The problem I foresee with self-laminated sheets is that the original maps are about 24"x29", and when you cut them into printable 8 1/2" x 11" sheets you need to account for non-printing margins and (sensibly) provide some overlap between adjacent pages. So somewhere between 9 and 16 pages per top map (depending on whether you're blessed with borderless printing). It's quite an ordeal to print them yourself. Even more so if you have to laminate each sheet. On a typical trip, you'll use 2 or 3 maps (48 pages). On long trips much more. Workable, but a real hassle. It's certainly going to be a pile, compared to You could be selective about which pages you print, I suppose, but I find it comforting to have enough surplus map to know what your escape points would be, should you be faced with an emergency. God bless Her Majesty's network of Certified Map Printers.