Why Paper Maps Are Still Useful - Jim Thorpe Trail Map

Paper maps aren’t dead! I strongly believe that there is a case to be made for paper maps to be used in addition to moden technology like smart phones and GPS. I created this video to show a general overview of the Jim Thorpe Trail Map and how it can be used to supplement your navigation toys like watches, phones, and GPS.

In this video I do the following:

1. Present the Jim Thorpe trail map and its general location and features

2. Find where I am on the paper map using a mobile-friendly webmap accessed by a QR code

3. Demonstrate how avenza maps can be used on a mobile device if we need to navigate in areas without cell reception

4. Explain how to plan a route using the paper map, then access a GPX route of that plan

5. Upload the GPX route to a GPS enabled smart watch (Suunto)

6. Get out there and explore after!

We are a Featured Avenza Maps Publisher!

Earlier this year, I received an email asking if we have the Jim Thorpe Adventure Map on Avenza Maps. The platform sounded familiar, but I had to do some research to remember what exactly it was. Avenza Maps has a mobile application where you can download free and paid GPS enabled maps directly to your phone. This was something I sort of made on my own using mapbox. On the corners of the paper map, there is a QR code that gives you access to my own homemade mobile-friendly web map.

The ‘offthemaps’ gps-enabled web map included with paper map purchases

I was rather happy with this, but it was missing one key feature - the ability to work offline. After researching Avenza, I realized that they offered this capability and so I got to work preparing the map for their platform immediately after. After a few fun hours of GIS work, we now have a downloadable, offline, GPS-enabled map on Avenza! Have a look for yourself at the offthemaps Avenza page!

After working a bit with Avenza, they were kind enough to write this very nice article about me as a cartographer and offthemaps - Off the Map with offthemaps - Avenza Map Publishers Blog.

Here are some preview shots of the map -

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