[pct-l] PCT-L PCT Atlas maps

[JIM BANKS]

Erik, I certainly appreciate all the work that you have put into the Atlas. 
I think it is
great that someone such as yourself can take your skills as a graphic artist 
and apply
them to something that you have a passion for and produce something like the 
Atlas
for the rest of us hikers to use.  It is American entrepreneurship at its 
best.  If every
body were so enterprising the economy would be booming.  I hope the Atlas is 
a
success for you both financially and otherwise.

I-Beam


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Erik The Black" <erik at eriktheblack.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 10:59 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] PCT-L PCT Atlas maps


> The maps in the PCT Atlas are based on the USGS Topo maps. These are the
> basis for virtually all topographic maps you see in the U.S.
>
> The contour and elevation data was gathered by the USGS over decades and
> remains unchanged, but the trails and roads are often way out of date,
> depending on when a certain map was last updated. Some of the maps haven't
> been updated in 20 or 30 years.
>
> I purchased all of the maps in high-resolution, unmodified digital format
> and began adding everything of interest to PCT hikers on top (the route of
> the PCT, side trails, roads, landmarks, water sources, etc.) and more
> importantly, presenting the information in way that is intuitive and
> user-friendly.
>
> Over the years I have developed an "assembly line process" for creating 
> all
> of the graphics for the PCT Atlas that is highly efficient, but it's 
> really
> not rocket science. I am a digital artist and basically what it boils down
> to is about 18 months of 12-16 hour days, six to seven days a week. That's
> just layout and illustration, not including research and development.
>
> Since I returned from my thru hike in 2007 the PCT Atlas has been my 
> entire
> life. The project actually began part time two years before that in 2005. 
> I
> have done nothing else except work on the PCT Atlas for a very long time. 
> So
> needless to say, I'm really looking forward to this June when it will
> finally be done and I can go outside again.
>
> After I take a well-deserved vacation, I will begin producing Atlases for
> other trails.
>
> Not exactly cookie-cutter copies of the PCT Atlas, but books designed
> specifically for the needs of each individual trail. I got the idea for 
> the
> PCT Atlas by surveying hundreds of PCT hikers and asking them what they
> disliked about the existing books and maps and what they would like 
> instead.
>
> I have already began work on the JMT Atlas which will be coming out this
> summer. I think the CDT would be a prime candidate for an Atlas, however 
> it
> doesn't seem that enough people hike that trail to make it financially
> feasible. But I will be looking into it. Maybe a good book for the trail
> would inspire more people to hike it.
>
> The PCT Atlas isn't a side job for me, or a pet project. It's a full time
> business. I have invested all of my time and money into it and I plan to
> keep going forward from here. As long as hikers like the product enough to
> keep buying it and keep me in business.
>
>
> Happy Trails!
>
> Erik The Black
> www.pctatlas.com
>
>
>
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 11:18:23 -0600
> From: Bill Murdock <billmurdock at live.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] PCT Atlas maps
> To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <BLU125-W16A963109EF4186D2950C6C1A40 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
>
>
> Mags makes a good point.  I am also curious to learn how Eric the black 
> made
> his maps.  Eric did you use existing maps or create your own?  If you used
> existing maps that must have been expensive to purchase the rights to use
> those maps.
>
>
>
> Bill Murdock
>
> PCT 2009 hopeful
>
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