Topo Maps Found a great source

[TnTom]

Not sure if all states provide this service I found a map site on the TVA web site that provides a really excellent mapping app that let you view like you were using Google Earth satellite and you can zoom in or out pan to any address and switch to a topo map image with labels like the names of a hollow or an old cemetery roads and elevation grids and height above sea leve., real topo maps with excellent definition. I live in a very rural hollow with 1200 - 1300' ridges on both sides of me. since I don't have a detector yet I thought I would do some ridge top exploring and these have made a great tool for recording my trail. I get the coordinates from my GPS and plot it on the topo map.

Found some great fossils and artifacts like old single point plow hardware when mules were used around her years ago. found some deer skulls, sheds, harness hardware (no gold yet but Im getting my hopes up) I was told that years ago on the north ridge about about mile down is an old community of slave cabins I havent got that far along but I hope to over the next few days see if I can find it. I did find an old cemetery graves marked crudely, dated 1800s to early 1900 latest was 1938. about 30 graves many children. Ive lived in the hollow about 15 years now and am just discovering it all over. I deer hunt but mostly not far from home like a few hundred yards and have only just now ventured to the ridge tops. Just beautiful.

These maps with my GPS and my compass will really be a help pin pointing my discoveries. Ive been told of a cave also that I'm going to find. I know of one ive have just ventured into my 20' never to the end. Im pretty closturphic but maybe I can get my nerve up when I find a partner just in case.

If you have something like the TVA see if this map service is available in your state. I'm lovin it. I went to the trader section of Treasurenet and maybe I'll find some equipment now soon.

http://tva.maps.arcgis.com/apps/OnePane/basicviewer/

Im going to attach a image of one of the maps have to figure it out temporary technical difficulty programming will return shortly! well that was easy!

I was just playing again and discovered it does the entire nation. You can type in a address like Mt. McKinley and it goes straight there and you can see the topograhy of the mountain and zoom in to read the elevation How fun! It does the whole dang world! I just looked at Pt Barrow Ak no elevation maybe because its at sea level??

 

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[auferret]

Nice find! It appears to cover the whole country. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Marvin]

Just a heads up and probably more of an advantage than a disadvantage but some of those topo maps may be older. Looking at my area (far Western Chicago burbs), the topo map seems to be the one from the 60's.

 

[Bum Luck]

Try this:
USGS: Maps, Imagery, and Publications

New topos, historic topos, aerial photos, etc.

 

[TnTom]

Just a heads up and probably more of an advantage than a disadvantage but some of those topo maps may be older. Looking at my area (far Western Chicago burbs), the topo map seems to be the one from the 60's.

could be I think depending on when the photos were updated. The area I live in must have been done in the last 2 years I can see a new cabin that my neighbor built. The USGS that Bum Luck mentioned is great to. I'll look at some areas at my in-laws in the U.P that is much father north about 8 hours north of your neck of the woods

Just looked at their town and her Dads boat house is there and it was built about 2008 so it was photo'ed sometime after that. Interesting.

 

[Marvin]

Not sure about the satellite photos for my area, I didn't check that out. The topo maps were pretty dated for my area.

 

[auferret]

I did not notice that they were using older maps. Personally, I think that is a good thing though. Not too long ago, the USGS started removing things like mines from their topos.

 

[TnTom]

I'm not sure the topo would actually change that much I wouldn't think so. I was actually surprised to see as much additional info appeared on the topo maps. The cemeteries make great navigation references when hiking and I wouldn't think elevation would change over periods of time unless a development occurred, mountains are mountains, valley's are valley's. I do wish they provided lat/long for reference and a compass rose for plotting. All in all I think I'll have my maps in my pocket when I head out. I hike very rural country side and its pretty easy to get lost if not keeping track of which way is which which is always a problem for me any way

 

[Bum Luck]

I did not notice that they were using older maps. Personally, I think that is a good thing though. Not too long ago, the USGS started removing things like mines from their topos.

They update these things infrequently, so it's important to look at the edition date.

They've suffered from federal budget cuts as well.