3DTQ for AK

[GrizzlyAK]

Question for those of us living in AK. The 7.5 min USGS Quads from DeLorme are at 1:24,000 scale. However, the paper quads we get here in AK are 1:63,360 (which I understand are 15 min quads, and are offered because of our extreme northern latitudes and convergence of meridians).

Now, the USGS map store said that there are 1:24,000 scale Quads (7.5 min) for areas around Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Prudhoe Bay (but not the whole state). So, what are the Quads that I've downloaded from the DeLorme MapLibrary for the other areas (the bush) and loaded to my PN-60? Are they 7.5' or 15'? I suppose I could reverse engineer it (using my GPS and a tape measure or known distance), but I am hoping someone here has the official answer.

Griz

[BrokenLug]

That's a very good question, checking ...

I'd hazard to guess that most of the "bush" is 1:63,360 usgs quad scale.
(AK 15', the lower 48 15' ones I have are 1:62,500 & treasured, check the asterisk, crying shame in my hiking book). Table at the bottom.
They are bar none the best walking/ paddling paper maps ever made, anywhere, if you know how to fold, use and protect them in the field, where's my Silva ..

May I suggest that If you think you have 1:24k "urban AK" or 1:63k scaled usgs topo maps on the 60 that you go to the Map page > Menu > Map Setup> (scroll to the bottom), Scale > Ratio.

If you check the 1: __ k displayed in the lower right corner of the screen you may be able to discern the scale by using the Measure Distance tool on the 60 with a little math.

[GrizzlyAK]

Thanks BrokenLug. I too suspect that what I have on my PN is a scan of a 1:63,360, since they are far from any 'metro' area, but will try to verify by measurements.

[GrizzlyAK]

BrokenLug, just FYI, I happened to download a 3DTQ from NetLink and put it on my PN-60. I also have a paper copy of that same quad. I downloaded the surrounding quads as well, and turned on all of them except the one in which I had the paper copy. I compared the edges and they were basically identical, as were the features (there were some very minor differences in some of the features, text, symbol placement, etc., however, that might have been due to date of the Quad used in scan vs my copy). At any rate, I think this should prove that the AK quads from NetLink are in fact 1:63,360 (which is what my paper copy is), and not 1:24k as they are called. I guess we are 'special' here in AK. We like to think so anyway.

Cheers,
Griz