- Waterproof - Tear-Resistant - Topographic Map
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in this part of southern California travels through the scrub-covered Sierra Pelona and into the pines of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino ranges. These mountains provide vistas of the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert before descending down to San Gorgonio Pass. The lower elevations of this section provide a long hiking season throughout the fall, winter, and spring, but the peak summer months can bring dangerous heat and infrequent water sources. Meanwhile, the higher elevations of the San Gabriel Mountains can bring snow, even during spring and fall.
The PCT spans 2,650 miles from the Canadian border, through Washington, Oregon, and California to the southern terminus at the Mexican border. The famous trail crosses some of the most wild and scenic landscapes of the western U.S., including six national parks, 25 national forests, 48 wilderness areas, the volcanic Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, the snowcapped Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.
Each PCT Topographic Map Guide includes detailed topographic maps at a scale of almost 1 inch = 1 mile. Each page is centered on the PCT and overlaps with the adjacent pages so there is little chance of getting lost. Along the bottom of each page is a trail profile that shows the distance between camping areas, trailheads, and other points of interest. The map and trail profile provide a step by step visual guide to hiking the trail, mile by rugged mile. The Topographic Map Guide is built for all levels of hiking enthusiasts, from the day tripper to the multi month 'thru-hiker'. The front pages of the printed Topographic Map Guide include resupply locations, health and safety information, and much more.
More convenient and easier to use than folded maps, but just as compact and lightweight, National Geographic's Topographic Map Guide booklets are printed on Backcountry Tough waterproof, tear-resistant paper with stainless steel staples. A full UTM grid is printed on the map to aid with GPS navigation.