My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 15 2009 at 12:21 AM
from IP address 206.188.77.30
Hi Everyone!
Now that the snow is starting to melt I have a new revision of my map ready for all of the trip planning you're about to begin . Of course there are a whole bunch of new features... Some of the more major ones are as follows:
-All of my observations from my 60+ days of canoeing in 2008 have been added to the map
-I've read everyone's triplogs posted in the last year and add those observations
-All lake trout, speckled trout, bass, walleye and pike lakes are now labeled with icons to indicate their presence in lakes (That makes all lakes are blue again; yay!)
- All portages now have their peak elevations located and numbered.
-All old tote roads and phone lines are marked (Should make for some fun exploring)
-Much more accurate and complete clearings, buildings, swamps, rapids, dams, falls, etc
-A slightly larger area (So that it now has a handy 4:3 ratio for wide format printing)
-The Big East R and the lower Barron Canyon canoe routes are no longer cut off
-The Ma-Da-Was-Ka R is shown to a much greater extent
-A UTM grid is now on the map (Handy for guessing distances as well as GPS use)
-More logging roads are shown (I don't yet have the data for all areas)
-The latitude/longitude grid is enhanced
-A variety of old bush trails are shown
-The age of most abandoned ranger cabins is shown (It should help you figure out the odds of if the various cabins are still standing)
-Contour lines are now shown
-A version of the map where you can enable and disable individual features is now available
-A refined look and feel
-A whole bunch of other minor enhancements
That's not all though. Firstly, I've redone the website for the map. Who cares? Well, now right on the front page there is a really handy tool..
It allows you to preview/look around the map without downloading it! So if you don't know if the big download is worthwhile, or if you need to look at the map and you're on a different computer, or if you need a way to make a quick map screenshot for AA, I've got the solution
Oh and of course this time around I have a layered version of the map for those who want it. This means that you can make a customized version of the map really easily.
One more thing... over the last year people have been telling me how they'd really like a printed version of the map. Now it's available. There are mapbooks, full size maps, and 1/2 or 1/4 sized maps (If you only need a specific area of the park and want to save some $$$). There's even a 5ft by 6ft wall map. That gets me into the topic of price. How much will it cost you for one of these cool new maps? Well, firstly I'm selling them for the lowest price that the manufacturers allow. The prices are still more than I'd like, but hopefully they're still affordable. That means that the mapbook (88 pages,) is $20 US, the full sized map is $37 US, the 1/2 maps are $37 US (But each is the size of the full map - 36x48") and the 1/4 maps are $23 US.
Also, if you only have dialup internet you can get every version of the map plus the viewing software you need on a DVD for only $1.75 US.
So make sure to check it out.... www.algonquinmap.com (The site name is new too!)
Thank you to all of the people who have helped out! There are so many people that I don't have the space to name them. It's thanks to them that we as a community have such an accurate map.
If you have ANY questions, feel free to post here or email me at jeffrey@algonquinmap.com.
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 15 2009, 1:25 AM
Several hours (well, years) of work, many new friendships grown, and lots of trial and error in the development of your "project"... but little can amount to seeing your efforts mounted on the wall of your bedroom in 5'x6' form.
Congrats Jeff, you're gonna be an Algonquin legend for a long while, I think
Tenzing
149.125.160.83
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 15 2009, 2:00 AM
Just wanted to say that I looked at the preview on your website and you've really done a heck of a job. The detail is absolutely incredible. This blows everything out of the water.
Thanks so much
Tenzing
james67
76.64.151.99
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 15 2009, 9:10 AM
Jeffery--I downloaded the version 2 map(47.7 mb size). I have power point viewer but it won't open the map. I assume that I need zip file software. In the past I have down loaded winzip 'trial' version to unzip files but have not bought the product. I am cautious of downloading the 'free' versions of anything due to the unknown strings attached. So, I was wondering what zip file software you use.
67.204.52.210
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 15 2009, 9:14 AM
Both the website and the map are accomplishments to be proud of. You've done a fine job. I look forward to meeting you at my AA Meet & Greet in May.
-------------------------------------------
Pete of Kitchener
**I'm Hosting a Algonquin Adventures "Meet & Greet" May 2, 2009 at my place in Kitchener. Email me for details**
SmedleyCo
74.14.57.108
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 15 2009, 9:30 AM
Great job Jeff. I think a lot of people are going to be very happy with your map.
I have been given the map in sections and have placed them in Google Earth as layers. They are available for anyone to download on my web site. The site is http://www.smedleyco.com/algonquinpark.html
S.
Sterrr
69.156.107.244
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 15 2009, 10:40 AM
AMAZING, WOW!!!!!!
Julian
67.71.3.182
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 15 2009, 11:08 AM
amazing work Jeff !
I will be ordering your book and map
Scott
99.224.194.129
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 15 2009, 11:33 AM
excellent map jeffrey. well done. i paddled out of canoe lake to sunbeam to burnt root to canoe lake last thanksgiving wknd. i left canoe lake at 430pm and arrived at tom thompson around 9:00 pm, it was dark. prior to arrival at tom thompson i came to a large beaver dam at the south end of tom thompson. it was not on the map i had. i was a little concerned. it was getting dark and cool, however, i thought i was in the correct area and paddled onward. turns out i was in the right area. i looked at jeffrey's map today and see the dam on jeffrey's map. today i had a nice chuckle.
206.188.77.30
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 15 2009, 11:48 AM
Tenzing: Thanks for the compliments - I'm glad you like it!
James67: Tryhttp://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/downlinks/unzip.php - it's a free unzip utility (Clicking the link will begin the download). I don't use windows myself, so I can only give suggestions based on what I find, not what I use Hope that helps.
Pete_of_Kitchener: Thanks Pete! It'll be nice to meet you @ the gathering.
SmedleyCo: Oops, I meant to mention your overlays - thanks for making them!
Dood, that's amazing, way better than I anticipated!! I can't wait for the book to arrive so I can drool over it! And the wall map looks awesome! That will look very nice on the wall in the spare room. Keep me posted!
You're the shyt brotha!
Cheers
Shawn
99.227.23.221
Re: Wow!!
March 15 2009, 7:54 PM
Glad you like it! The wall map is available now, and the book will be available not long after I receive my proof in the mail .
Great job on these GE files SmedleyCo ...I am also working on converting GPS tracks from previous trip data into overlays. Great FUN!!!
burkg
Bob McElroy
70.54.9.107
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 16 2009, 9:26 AM
Hi Jeffrey
I have downloaded the entire collection of individual maps -- Individual maps dot zip -- all 270 MB, twice. On both occaisions, the downloaded file only seemed to contain 14 maps. And it was the same 14 maps each time, so I don't think it was a downloading glitch. The file seems to be the correct size, but clearly, 14 maps can't account for all of that size. I see no evidence of any hidden files. Any comments? Can you assure me that the file on your server is correct and not corrupted?
thanks
Bob
99.227.23.221
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 16 2009, 11:03 AM
Hey Bob,
That's really weird - I just downloaded it myself to check and got all 72 maps..... hmmm. What unzipping software are you using?
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 16 2009, 12:38 PM
No need to unzip. I'm running window xp. I just download to my desktop, double click on the file and its contents shows as a directory. Double click on one of the contained files and it opens in Adobe Reader 8. Instead of double clicking I can also "extract all" from the directory file menu and it extracts the same 14 files that I can see.
If you're confident that everything is fine at your end and if no one else is having problems with the combined file, don't worry about it; I can download the maps individually. However, is there any chance that you could make this map set available as jpeg's or png's? That would facilitate their use in Ozi Explorer and perhaps other gps software.
thanks
Bob
Marko
198.231.23.240
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 16 2009, 12:39 PM
Jeffrey,
Thanks for all your hard work on this. I just got the call that the guys want to get together to plan our May long weekend trip. This will come in real handy!
Can't wait!
Marko
209.91.173.18
Thanks Jeffrey
March 16 2009, 1:16 PM
Awesome Jeffrey.....................is a career in GIS in the future?
I love the Frost Centre & Poker chain addition. I have some trip planning to do now.
Keep up the awesome work. Dude.
SBA
99.227.23.221
Re: Thanks Jeffrey
March 16 2009, 1:52 PM
Bob: Hmmmmmm. That's not very good. I'll go test that in my Windows XP virtual machine.
Marko: That's great!
SBA: I applied to UofT, Ryerson and York to switch into GIS. Just got accepted by UT today... So I'm thinking of going for that. The poker lakes and the frost centre were there before, but the complete lower Barron R is new, the Madawaska is new, and Arrowhead and west is new. That was so that the map could conform to standard dimensions - I think Barbara had that idea. Plus, now I don't cut off the Big East R...
I had been wondering which lake would make the cover and I am happy to see that it's my favorite lake...Cedar!
I would be interested to hear your reasons for choosing Cedar over the many other Lakes that would be "cover worthy"?
For me, I will always have a soft spot for Cedar/Brent. It was my first exposure to the interior and the nostalgia factor is too much for me to ignore. Although I have seen other beautiful parts of the park I will always consider that lake home.
Bob: I figured out the problem!!! Windows doesn't support the / character in file names. I used it in many names, hence only the files w.o it in the name worked. Geez. I'll fix the problem right away and post an update here when it's done. Thanks for reporting the problem. Btw, did you upgrade to highspeed?
Jim: Well, first off any place with labels that were too dense (ie Hwy 60) was out of the running. Next, I wanted an area that didn't have a lot of 'nothing' that would take up a lot of cover space. Finally... I really like Brent . Every time I get to Brent it's in the middle of a 20+ day trip, so I have a lot of fun memories there.
Thanks, that worked. Looks good -- my only real complaint is that, at least on the individual maps, you don't seem to have included Point Alexander. Oh well! Just another undiscovered gem.
Yes DSL is slowing permeating the boondocks. While my connection speed is probably not impressive by urban standards -- a little less than 1 Mbits / sec as near as I can determine -- it is so much better than dial-up.
I checked out the Chalk River this afternoon. If I were a fanatic, I could probably have paddled the section between Hwy 17 and Corry Lake -- just at the eastern edge of your Petawawa Research Forest sheet. That of course is assuming that I could dig my canoe out from under the porch. We still have a lot of snow on the ground up here.
I can see that I will likely have some comments and corrections to your map. Would you prefer to receive these publicly or privately?
regards
Bob
99.227.23.221
Re: One last note.
March 16 2009, 7:31 PM
Hey Bob,
I was thinking of including Pt Alexander just for you, but it would have required me to add another 4 pages (ie one large sheet double sided,) so I dropped it. Hopefully the area is drawn relatively correctly - of course it's hard when I'm sitting at a computer so far away . One thing that's neat about this project is that it gives me a sense of where everything is relative to other things... ie I didn't realize how many canoe routes bordered Algonquin. Just 6 months ago I couldn't have even told you where Corry L is.
Feel free to post corrections or email them. I don't mind either way . Thanks for taking the time to look it over. I was going to send you an email in advance, but had figured that the files would be too big for your connection and I'd need to send a DVD . Believe me though, 1Mbit per second isn't too slow compared to the speeds we realistically get in Toronto. Sure sometimes at night I can get 4 or 5 Mbits, but it's supposed to be 8 or 10.
JeffreyM, it goes without saying that you have provided not only the most invaluable tool, but also an outstanding work of art. Your arduous work and the unimaginable hours you put into this project will forever be appreciated by countless individuals -- I am more than certain word of the new availability will travel faster than the internet itself!
The new website/launch is yet another example of how much you have considered with regards to accessibility and various uses by anyone looking for the best reference they could hope for.
Once again, THANK YOU.
142.161.143.251
Re: Outstanding!
March 18 2009, 8:21 AM
Thank again Jeff! Because of your map I am 99.9% sure I have figured out where it was that I camped in Algonquin in '87.
My access point was #5 Canoe Lake, from there we went to Sams Lake then onto Drummer Lake. I remember our adult leader telling us we had an option of taking this portage that wasn't supposed to be very nice (Jeffs Map) or trying to paddle around and hope the water was high enough. Well the water wasn't high enough, we pulled our canoes through muck upto our waste.
We stayed on Drummer Lake for the first two nights. There was a lean to there. (Jeffs map) There was also a rope swing at this camp site that let you swing out over the lake and drop in. As 12-13 year old boys, that was alot of fun.
After night two we decidied to move on. There was a young couple on the island campsite, I don't think they enjoyed having 4 twelve year old boys as neighbours.
So we eventually moved onto what I'm sure was Ramona. The lake we stayed on after Drummer had only 1 campsite on it at the time i think. It also had access to the Western Uplands Backpacking Trail. We did part of the trail on one day. Well the 1 adult and 2 of us kids went. The other 2 stayed behind. We started on the trail at 9:00 am and finally returned to camp at 9:00 pm. We were spent. lol
Anyway, thanks again Jeff!
Oh yeah, somewhere after Drummer Lake there was a natural spring, for some reason I think it was on the side of a logging road. Maybe someone else could help pinpoint it. It wasn't the cleanest or nicest looking of springs.
142.161.143.251
Re: Outstanding!
March 18 2009, 8:40 AM
waste = waist
70.52.236.193
We want an update!!!
March 18 2009, 4:37 PM
Hey Jeffrey,
Just wondering if you have received the sample map book from the printer yet and if so, how does it look? I am more then a little excited about the prospect of getting my hands on the copies I preordered, so please bare with me if my enthusiasm seems a bit over the top!
When do you want me to make payment? I am more then happy to do it now, but you had asked for us to hold off until you get the proof....so that's what I am trying to patiently do. I repeat TRYING TO DO!!!
J-Wolf: Thanks J-Wolf!!! I'm glad you like the website - it was a pain to get it working with IE.
Gordie: Ohh cool! The rope swing is still there but it stuck in the tree there! The spring.. maybe off of Lt Drummer? The portage towards Namakootchie crosses a logging road... maybe the spring was nearby? I haven't done that portage since 05 so my memory isn't too good.
Jim: Not yet . Believe me, I'll post the second I do!! I did however just get the email today that it's shipped! It's taken them a long time to get to this point, but I'm excited nonetheless. I paid for the fastest shipping possible so that I can get copies into your hands ASAP. I'll give payment info as soon as I have the books ready to ship .
OK Jeff, if you say the portage to Namakootchie from Lt Drummer crosses a logging road, then that is definately where the spring would be. Well where I remember it to be. IIRC it was near where you hit the logging road coming from Lt Drummer. We turned left on the logging road, so the spring would have been to the right of us. There was a small sign indicating the spring, but it was also almost completely rotted away. The spring wasn't much more than a trickle.
Now keep in mind, this is all from the memory of when I was 13 years old. I could be mistaken about some items.
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
March 25 2009, 1:12 PM
My 36x48 wall map arrived by courier today! It's gorgeous! They did a really good job with the packaging as well -- triple wrapped in paper, hard cardboard tube and well padded at each end.
Now, to mount this piece of artwork...
99.227.23.221
Re: My Free Algonquin Map - Version 2.0 - Now Available
. Of course there are a whole bunch of new features... Some of the more major ones are as follows:
![[linked image]](http://hosting.algonquinmap.com/AA/wallmap.jpg)
. One thing that's neat about this project is that it gives me a sense of where everything is relative to other things... ie I didn't realize how many canoe routes bordered Algonquin. Just 6 months ago I couldn't have even told you where Corry L is.
