Customer Reviews

AMC White Mountain Maps Kit

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These are excellent maps, but they are mostly included with the AMC White Mountain Guide, which is $2 cheaper than just buying these maps alone. The AMC WMG comes with 3 double sided maps, containing the six maps included here. You would be missing the detailed maps on the reverse of Maps 1 and 2. The WMG gives valuable text descriptions of the trails, so it is worth having.

Although these are essentially the maps included with the Guide, this kit is printed on Tyvek, which is waterproof and tear-resistant. The maps in the back of the Guide are on ordinary paper and far less suited for trail use. The trail information is fantastically precise. AMC survey claims accuracy of about 1m for this new survey, far beyond standard GPS. Other features were not surveyed to the same detail, so brook beds (for example) are based largely on USGS maps (true of all maps). These are highly readable maps; it's hard to describe what makes the information so accessible but good colour choice and crisp printing contribute greatly.

The main weakness is the relatively small scale, making them more difficult to use for bushwhacking. Most maps use a 1:95000 scale and terrain details are hard to determine. The Presidentials, however, are mapped at a more accessible 1:47500. The Presidentials maps is also the only one with treeline marked; alpine zones on Franconia and Moosilauke are not indicated on their maps. I am told the 28th edition of the Guide will be accompanied by larger-scale maps.

Having accurate trail information is absolutely invaluable, so one of these maps lives in my pocket on every hike. The only other maps with the AMC trail data are the National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps (which live in my pack).