Maps clear pathway to hinterland exploration
By E G. WHITE-SWIFT
Of the Emerald
Finding the best fishing or hik
ing spot amongst Oregon’s 61
million acres without a map is like
looking for an armadillo without a
Phonebook.
Since the oil companies have
become stingy with maps, the
outdoor entrepeneur has to find
maps, and in most cases they will
cost a few rubles.
One of the best agencies at
which to find maps is the Bureau
of Land Management. The BLM
state office (P.O. Box 2965, Port
land, Oregon 97208) has a free
index of BLM maps. The index
covers the Master Unit Series,
Color Quad Series, 30-minute
quadrangle series and the BLM’s
special maps.
The 11 master unit maps cover
the five western Oregon BLM dis
tricts. Some may be out of print,
but they are revised periodically.
They are scaled V2’’:1 mile, in
color and cost $1 each.
A series of 63 color quad maps
cover eastern Oregon BLM dis
tricts. The maps are not as precise
as more expensive maps, but they
indicate land ownership of nearly
all government agencies in east
ern Oregon. They are scaled Vfe”:1
mile, in color and cost 25 cents
each.
The BLM has also published a
30-minute quadrangle series that
maps most of eastern Oregon.
These show roads, land owner
ship, water features, fences and
other useful landmarks. They tend
to be of low quality, so caveat
emptor. They are 1”:1 mile, not in
color and 50 cents each.
For eastern Oregon BLM dis
tricts, the most accurate maps a
vailable from the BLM are the Dis
trict maps. Some of the maps are
How to get there and know it
free, and the large districts are co
vered on two sheets. They are
scaled %”:1 mile and not in color.
The BLM also has printed a
special series of maps for the
Steens Mountain area, the lower
John Day River area and the Des
chutes River area. Each area is
covered in three detailed sheets.
They are scaled W': 1 mile, in
color and cost 25 cents per sheet.
The BLM offers some free rec
reational maps for the Rogue
River, upper Willamette area,
Siuslaw resource area, central
Vale district, Baker district and the
Steens Mountain area. The maps
are fairly large scale and are in
color.
The United States Geological
Survey (USGS) is the most prolific
source of maps in the country.
Most of their maps are of the to
pographic nomenclature, showing
ground elevations as squiggly
lines. They publish an Oregon
Index, which is available by writing
Branch of Distribution, USGS,
Federal Center, Denver, Colorado
80225.
The USGS offers a series of 26
maps that cover the entire state.
The 1250,000 series show major
railroads, roads, towns, water fea
tures and other !arge scale land
marks. Forested areas are indi
cated by green food coloring.
They are scaled 1”:4 miles, in
color and cost $1 each.
The USGS 15-minute series
cover a rectangle 15 minutes of
latitude long and 15 minutes of
longitude wide. Some of the maps
are over 20 years old, so some of
the newer roads and trails are not
located. The date of publication
always appears in the lower right
hand comer of the map. They are
scaled 1”:1 mile and cost 75
cents.
There is also a USGS
7te-minute series. They are more
recent maps, and are the best hik
ing maps for the money. They are
scaled 2V4”:1 mile, in color and
cost 75 cents.
The old standby source of rec
reation maps is the United States
Forest Service. A list of forest rec
reation maps and wilderness
maps is available from the re
gional office, 319 S.W. Pine, Port
land, Oregon 97208. The maps
cost 50 cents each. (They used to
be free, damm it.)
The forest service also prints
two map series that have not re
ceived wide distribution but are
very useful for identifying new
forest roads.
The Fireman’s maps are the
most accurate maps available
showing the newest roads, water
features and logged areas. They
are updated yearly and the maps
of the ranger districts west of the
Cascade Crest show clearcut
units. These maps are aften hard
to come by, but they are worth
making an extra phone call to find.
The are scaled 1 inch: 1 mile, not
in color and vary in price.
The Forest Service Topog
Weekend
forecast
The weekend weather fore
cast for the Eugene-SpringfiekJ
vicinity is for mostly cloudy
weather with a chance of
showers Friday and Saturday.
The extended lookout for Sun
day through Tuesday is for dry
weather Sunday and possible
rain by Tuesday.
raphic maps are large scale maps
that cover the same area as a
USGS topographic map (15' and
71/2’ series) and usually have the
same name as the USGS maps.
They are often very difficult to ob
tain. They are scaled either 2” or
4”:1 mile, not in color and are av
ailable at varying prices.
Not to be outmapped by the
federal forests, the Oregon De
partment of Forestry has a series
of maps of each forest protection
district in the state. Most of the
maps are for areas within the
Coast Range.
They show most of the newer
roads and all water features. They
are scaled Vi":1 mile, in color and
cost $1 each. An index is available
from the department at 2600 State
Street, Salem, Oregon 97310.
For fishing, maps issued by the
Oregon Water Resources De
partment might come in handy.
These maps depict major water
basins in the state. A series of 18
maps cover the state. Each map
costs 75 cents, and they are avail
able by writing for an index from
the department’s Policy and Plan
ning Division, 1178 Chemeketa
N.E., Salem, Oregon 97310.
Other sources of maps, primar
ily tourist orientated maps are
county governments, chambers of
commerce, fishing and outdoor
stores and land surveyors offices.
Recreational outings available
By NICK GALLO
Of the Emerald
Various outings for the
recreationally-minded are in the
offing for this coming week. Fol
lowing is a list of trips and people
to contact for more information.
The Outdoor Program, which is
located in the EMU basement,
coordinates events for those who
Sophomores,
Last year I received a two-year
Army ROTC scholarship which pays my
full tuition, all books and fees, and
gives me $100 each academic month
of the year.
If you would like to leam how to
qualify,
Virginia Burr, Junior, Math
Call 686-3102
are willing to share in their plan
ning, responsibility and expenses.
A detailed list of future trips and
organizers is available there for
beginners as well as experienced
participants. Point of departure
and return is usually the base
ment.
A 40 to 50 mile rafting trip down
the Rogue River is now being or
ganized for departure on Satur
day. Open to beginners, the trip
will end in Eugene Wednesday.
Another Rogue River journey will
begin Sunday and end Friday.
A backpacking journey in the
French Pete area, which should
total close to nine miles, is
scheduled to leave 9 a.m. Satur
day. It will conclude Sunday
around 6 p.m.
Two rafting trips on the McKen
zie River are also on tap for the
weekend. One will leave Saturday
morning at 8:30 and return that
evening. The second wiH head out
Sunday at 9 a.m. and return later
that day.
For rock climbers, the Outdoor
Program lists a scheduled trip to
Yosemite National Park area be
ginning on May 20. Return to
Eugene will be June 8.
For those more experienced in
rafting and kayaking, a trip to the
Metolius River will depart from
Eugene May 13, and return May
15.
Several of the Outdoor Program
activities have pre-trip meetings
I™ '
arranged. Further information for
trips can be found on the bulletin
board at the EMU Outdoor Pro
gram Room or by calling,
686-4365.
Also, the Obsidians, a recrea
tional hiking and packing group in
the area schedules trips on
weekends. Sign up sheets for the
following trips are at the Eugene
Family YMCA Building, 2055 Pat
terson St.
A five-mile hike in the Gold
Point area will leave from the
South Eugene High School park
ing lot at 19th Avenue and Patter
son Street, Saturday at 8:30.
Sunday, the dub is sponsoring
a trip on the upper half of the Har
desty trail, which is south of Look
out Point Reservoir in the Lowell
area.
The Sierra Club, is also spon
soring a hike Sunday to Drift
Creek in the Coast Range. The
scheduled five-mile trip will leave
Amazon Community Center, 27th
Avenue and Hilyard Street at 7
a.m.
In addition, the Eugene Parks
and Recreation Department and
the Outdoor Program are planning
a rafting trip on fre upper section
of the McKenzie River May 15.
The trip, which will be part of the
activities in White Water Week,
will cost $7 and requires pre
registration. Find out more details
at City Hall II, Eugene Parks and
Recreation Department, 858
Pearl St.
1
WE ARE OPEN ^
7 DAYS A WEEK
AT THE
RECREATION CENTER
GROUND LEVEL
IN THE EMU
FRIDAY & SATURDAY UNTIL 1 AM