NASA World Wind map program

[jrhen]

I came across this mapping program and found it to very useful.  Read the min computer requirments and make sure you have a high speed internet as the maps download as you move around.  

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/

It has different filters to view the terrain differently but the most useful one is the USGS topo maping.  It will not allow you to input the coordinates into your gps but you can print them off for  :-D free!

[Robert357]

That is a pretty awsome system.

I have to admit that it was frustrating to load all of the stuff and get it working, but WOW.

You sort of start from a view in outer space of the earth and then you zoom on in (depending upon the filter/source document you are using) until you can see your car parked in the driveway.  At least I could see my car parked in the driveway.

As you said the topo stuff was also interesting to look at as well.

Thanks

[jrhen]

Glad you liked it! I had began to think everyone gave up on maps.  

Now for fun set your vertical setting to 0.0 and adjust the area you want to hunt or hike to about 8 squares (miles) to fit on your monitor and print it.  Do this to cover about 4 to 6 pages moveing around the map and tape them together.  Then adjust your vertical settings to 3.0 or greater and don't zoom in so much and tilt your map on the monitor to see the terrain contrasts and compare that to your flat map.  It really lets you see the elevation changes..

A good map and compass is better to carry and not use in case that spare set of batteries goes dead...