SISKIYOU MOUNTAIN CLUB TO RELEASE SUITE OF WATERPROOF BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL MAPS ON APRIL 4 AT REI EVENT

04 DECEMBER 2018 | ROGUE RIVER-SISKIYOU NATIONAL FOREST, OR. -- The Club has been developing maps for the Sky Lakes, Red Buttes, and Wild Rogue wilderness areas, as well as the Rogue River National Recreation Trail. The maps will be released April 4, 6:30pm at REI in Medford (85 Rossanley Drive). They are printed on a durable waterproof paper by local printer Ram Offset Lithographers.

The two sided, 27 by 36 inch maps are built from 7.5-minute USGS quadrangles in 1:24,000 resolution with 40 foot contour intervals. Maps include ground truthed data as well as a highlight for trails that Siskiyou Mountain Club promises to maintain at minimum once every three years.  

The idea started well over a year ago, says the Club's executive director, Gabriel Howe. "I started looking for solutions, because there just weren't any maps I thought were good enough. I prefer 7.5-minute topos, but was sick of carrying multiple USGS issues around for my pursuits.' The maps are include pictures taken by volunteers, community members, and Club staff.

In November 2018 the Carpenter Foundation and Travel Southern Oregon provided support for printing costs, Then Howe's staff went to work for 100s of hours building the maps. They also include interpretive information, regulatory information, and best Leave No Trace practices.

The maps will be for sale for $20 each. The Club says this is part of their initiative to help connect communities to their public lands and backcountry areas. "We want to elicit hikers' imaginations, help them plan better, and keep residents closer to home," says Howe.

For inquiries contact Gabriel Howe at gabe@siskiyoumountainclub.org or 541-708-2056