Re: Digest for teararoa@googlegroups.com - 2 Messages in 1 Topic

[Judith Humbert]

Hello Sarn and Joe,
I think I may have a list of the Topo50 maps you're looking for in my
old notes somewhere, compiled during the winter of 2010 before
Cookie's maps or the Trust's versions were available.

There's a few options other than buying each one separately, and some
are free to download:

1. If you're anywhere near the Central Auckland city library or can
get there, upstairs on the 2nd floor is a collection of all the Topo50
maps for the entire country. Great hands-on reference resource. Maybe
some of the other big city libraries have them as well.

2. Download from LINZ for free -
http://www.linz.govt.nz/topography/topo-maps/map-chooser/index.aspx

3. Cookie's color map set, which can be found here:
http://www.made-in-england.org/.

Scroll down the main page to the 6th October, 2010 entry for the link
to his download, available as a zip file. Cookie created these using
the LINZ maps referenced above. They are oriented to North, although
some of the grid numbers are a bit scarce. I ended up writing in
numbers where necessary. I've used them the last 2 seasons on TA with
good success, although some of the track lines are now outdated, and
overall find them to be a very good complement to the TA Trust's v29
maps. Cookie and Nicky successfully completed TA during the 2010-11
season. Their blog is an excellent read as well with beautiful
photography.

Cookie, should you be reading this I am forever indebted to you for
these, having saved me from investing around $600NZ in all the
necessary Topo50 maps! Thanks heaps!

And yes, I understand about orienting with the v29 TA maps. There was
quite a bit of feedback and comment about this from this last season's
hikers in particular. The maps do take a little getting used to, but
can still work adequately for the trail.

All the best and good luck with your planning!

Judith

[Charlie]

You do need to understand that the "Cookie" maps are useless with a GPS as they do not have grid co-ordinates.

Whereas both v29 and v30 TAT maps do have NZTM grids WITH the necessary grid co-ordinates.

This is sort of important if you plan to use the maps with a GPS or to communicate a location to anyone else using the map.
Linz maps are free.

This site may be of use: www.wams.org.nz and the TA route is on it (but of course it is impossible to tell which version of the route.
Given that the best bet is still to load the latest TA route (KMZ file) onto a smartphone with a good base map installed for offline use.