Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Maps for HSM/Langley/Whitney trip

I am planning a backcountry hike, most likely HSM/Army Pass/Langley/Whitney and then either out via the Portal or back to HSM (maybe Cottonwood Pass going back) for September. I bought two Tom Harrison maps, one for the Whitney Zone and one for the Golden Trout area. Neither is perfect for what I need. I have always gotten great feedback from the Board on other matters, and was wondering if anyone had suggestions of recommendations in terms of maps. From what I can tell REI has the Garmin and the National Geographic Topo maps / computer programs. Ideally I am looking to get one that will let me plan my route to a T on my Mac, plug in GPS coordinates, and then print out before the trip.
Any suggestions or recommendations?
Hans

I can't help you on the GPS stuff ....but a very nice map is the fold out laminated map at the Whitney Portal Store,...which covers the whole area you will be traveling through....and not a bunch of other areas you won't need.

We did this same hike last summer, we came out at the Portal(can't miss the food). We found that Harrison Mt.Whitney Zone did a great job almost too much information, and no weight of a GPS.

Topozone.com...on the web...has UTM coordinates on top, just reposition the red dot and insert manually into your GPS.

Here's my take on National Geographic Topo!

http://www.sierradescents.com/reviews/navigation/national-geographic/2006/topo.php

In a nutshell, I use this program all the time, like the GPS integration and 3D views, love the route creation/profile tools, but find the printing resolution poor.

Andy

Thanks for the info.
Looks like the Tom Harrrison Mt. Whitney High Country may be the one that covers all my planned area. Just ordered a copy. If not, will likely get the National Geographic Topo program from REI as well. $99 just seems like a lot.
Hans

Then there is the old fashioned way...Mt. Whitney, Mt. Langley, Cirque Peak and Johnson Peak 7.5' USGS Quads.

Personally, I like the old fashioned way because the format is the easiest to read and best to navigate with for us geezers with failing eye sight.

However, if you stay on the trails you can get by with most any kind of current map.

The Harrison Maps are tops, no doubt about it. But their coverage is extremely limited. That's why I went with Topo -- wanted to have instant access to every map of the state.

Andy

Hans,

I just did your trip last week and used National Geographic TOPO! maps for all my GPS navigation. I have to tell you though that there are many ways to get up Langley which I did last Monday. Here was my route:

There are so many use trails and scree trails that you just have to use your own best judgment on how to get up there and back. I started from just off the NAP trail and used my GPS to mark where I left my pack (red dot) as all rocks look the same after a while! Good luck.