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County High Pointing in all 50 states
Yahoo! Groups
County High Pointing in all 50 states Group
1 Message
Digest #5264
1
DeLorme, Benchmark & Misc Software by "Daniel R Baxter" baxbarnowl@att.net

Message
1
DeLorme, Benchmark & Misc Software
Tue Mar 8, 2016 9:58 am (PST) . Posted by:
"Daniel R Baxter" baxbarnowl@att.net
Ive been using the Benchmark California (and Oregon) apps for a couple years now on my iPad, and find it a very useful tool. It has, in fact, largely replaced my use of my Garmin GPS unit on most peaks (although I still carry that with me as backup).

I bought the DeLorme paper version maps for N & S California years ago, and have never been enamored with them. In fact, I dont think Ive taken them off my bookshelf in many years. I found that atlas to be quite misleading in how it shows potential roads that frankly often no longer exist. The Benchmark atlas shows much more accurately the presence, as well as the quality of back roads.

I used my paper Benchmark CA atlas so much that I needed to replace it a few years back. Pages were missing, overmarked, falling out, the cover lost. When I went to replace it I discovered that the digital version was MUCH cheaper than the paper version. Being the cheapskate that I am, I of course bought the digital version, and use it on my iPad.

What I then discovered is that the digital version is FAR more versatile and useful that the paper version, and of course much easier to carry.

The paper version has two types of maps within, which they call Landscape Maps, and Recreation Maps. The digital version has these, but also has USGS topo maps, aerial views and the OpenStreetMap. A quick tap on the screen and you can seamlessly change between each of these. Furthermore, as you zoom in on the classic Landscape/Vegetation map, it transforms between three different map versions, with great detail as you zoom in.

The locator arrow on my iPad as used with the Benchmark app is extremely accurate. As good as on my Garmin unit for that matter. Further, this app (unlike some of my running apps) works quite well in airplane mode. I have never had a problem with battery drain issues. I have even brought the iPad on overnight rainy backpacks. I just place it in a one gallon ziplock and that within a plastic shopping bag. On such long uses I often power down and power up the iPad as needed. If you have an Apple magnetic cover, it also of course instantly goes in and out of sleep mode with a flip of the cover.

The app also allows placement of waypoints (which it calls pins) which I conveniently remove as I successfully summit them. Hence I can look at a broader perspective map and see which peaks are near the area of interest. My old paper version was cluttered with pins, both old and new. I also begin each pin label with a designation that interests me - P2K, WAHP (wilderness area HP), COPP (county prominence point) etc, so that I effectively create categories I can quickly see when I look at the page listing my pin sites.

One truly fabulous use of the app is when you are driving to a trailhead in an area with confusing roads, because of new or multiple or deteriorating roads. You can look at the topo map and accurately determine if you are on the road you want. This has saved me many a mile of backtracking before.

There are some limitations, and problems with the Benchmark apps.

For one thing, if you want to see your detailed maps (eg topos) in an area without 4G or better cell phone coverage you must remember to download the area you select prior to entering a cellular shadow area. I rarely have found this to be an issue, however. In fact, I once forgot the folder of papers/maps/reports for a peak I wanted. I was in a remote area near Mammoth Lakes California, but Verizon 4G was available, so I just downloaded and saved the topo map area I needed (as well as Peakbagger reports and the SummitPost page - another great advantage of the iPad). Some iPad owners buy the version without cell phone coverage. Obviously for them they need to be in a place with wifi coverage to download a map. With the prevalence of coffee/wifi cafes here in California, as well as the abundance of McDonalds Restaurants which all have wifi that is less of an issue.

BENCHMARK APP PROBLEMS

Benchmark obviously does little or no support for their apps.

They have paper atlases for 11 states (all western), but they never expanded past the very limited three states they began offering in 2012 (CA, OR & NM).

They have done not one single update on their CA or OR maps. Both remain on version 1.1 to this day. NM had only one update (version 1.2) soon after initially offering the app. So dont expect to see bugs fixed, nor the newest wilderness areas/National Monuments on your maps.

They have absolutely no tech support. My CA app went corrupt once. I sent three messages to Benchmark which were never answered. And it was hard to figure out where to send my messages. There is no FAQ/user guide/contact functions on the app. I finally ended up erasing the entire app from my iPad, then reloading it from my iCloud (so I wouldnt have to pay for the app again).

You can label your pins (waypoints) but although a name & save window opens when you download and save a map area, this function does not work. This is important because as you accumulate a large number of saved maps it starts to use up a significant part of your iPads memory. In the saved section you can delete these maps (as well as your pins). But since the maps are unlabeled it is very time consuming to identify which maps are no longer needed. I had this problem only once, and I ended up again deleting the ENTIRE app from my iPad, and reloading it from iCloud. I of course also lost my saved pins and had to reenter each and every one of them.

NOT IN CA/OR/NM?

I also have and am fond of an app called Topo Maps for iPad. It is inexpensive and you can download any topo map in the entire country. It too allows pin placement. I use it less often than I use Benchmark, however, as it lacks the seamless transfer between topos and other map versions (aerial, StreetMap, classic Benchmark). I think it is the best topo map app out there today.

WHY AN IPAD?

I find my iPad so useful & versatile that I no longer have a notebook computer (just my desktop at home). It is small, easily transportable, reliable and has everything I need, even my MS Office apps and PhotoShop.

I also greatly enjoy an app called Peakfinder. It shows profiles of all the peaks around you at any summit, so you can easily identify that unknown cool looking summit on the horizon.

Ditto Star Walk, an app that shows you what the overhead constellations, planets, satellites are. And more.

Peakbagger has an app that seamlessly opens, shows you nearby peaks, your own lists and ascents, and instantly connects to any Peakbagger, SummitPost or LOJ page for a given peak.

SolunarTimes helps me find sunrise/sunset times,
moon phases and moonrise/set times. Very useful for stealths

eBird, Merlin Bird ID and Warbler apps, for those of us who enjoy birding as well.

Climb On
Dan Baxter
Fresno CA

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