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geoffff
Senior Nomad
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Time for another comparison!
Baja Almanac
Benchmark 300k
INEGI 50k
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
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Thanks Geoffff,
The new version is substandard IMO
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BigBearRider
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Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
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I love that there is a new version for sale. I got my old one from Geoff maybe 5 years ago. Thanks!
In DK’s preview of Mulege above, I counted five runways. Of those, four have been closed for probably 10 years. Are they left on maps as landmarks,
or?
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David K
Honored Nomad
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That is my guess or that they will reopen someday? I didn't even know the Punta San Pedro runway existed (just north of Bob & Susan's Playa
Frambes)? The runways are from the Mexican government maps... and I am only counting four?
[Edited on 3-23-2021 by David K]
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geoffff
Senior Nomad
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Sure, but, what is the standard? The old Baja Almanac? The old BA had actual topo lines, which - yes - I do miss in the new Benchmark map. On the
other hand, the new Benchmark map's printing quality is certainly sharper, and I think it's generally easier to read.
Benchmark bills itself as a 1:300,000 map. The INEGI 1:50,000 map will certainly be worlds better in detail, but printing it would take reams of
paper. I carry the INEGI 50k maps in my computer, but a paper map is much easier to plan with.
Benchmark's 1:300,000 map is better than INEGI's equivalent - their 1:250,000 map. Well, again, except for not having actual topo lines 
Benchmark 300k
INEGI 250k
[Edited on 3-23-2021 by geoffff]
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bajaric
Senior Nomad
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I see no mileage logs between road junctions, or topo contours, though the kilometer markers and numerous symbols for elevation of mountain peaks
makes up for that, somewhat. This map appears to be much better than anything currently on the market at a reasonable cost.
Crumpton's map was the best. He shows some mines that are not even on the INEGI source maps. The guy was a genius. However, even his BCA was not
perfect. I have discovered a few errors on the 2009 BCA myself, when lost out in the boondocks. It will be interesting to see if they caught them.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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There is no doubt that Landon had a great product... he drove many of the roads and that gave us mileage figures on his maps... Some were off and his
latitude numbers on several pages were wrong. Nothing is perfect and if you try and do it all, by yourself, mistakes won't get caught.
I have you Nomads to thank for helping me fix typos or errors in my maps or road logs... More eyes are better than just two!
As we can see, the Benchmark maps are beautiful and clear... the terrain is also like looking down from space, so while it is not a contour filled
topo map, it should be acceptable as a "road and recreation" map for planning or following a path. In any case, this is it... as Landon left us and
his original work files location is unknown.
Benchmark started from scratch with the same source as Landon had and with my field work of Baja travels and staying abreast of conditions in Baja
(off Nomad, Facebook, etc.), I did my best to correct or add to the base maps with the details that make maps fun and functional.
We did three major edit runs the past few months and the final one was last week (showing Coco's new location was one new edit)... Now, I won't see if
they use all of my edits until we all see the new Atlas, in May.
Anyone who doesn't do Amazon, Benchmark will be taking pre-orders beginning in about a week.
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PaulW
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INEGI was good for the day when based on areo pictures in the 1960s. Of course most of the roads from today are missing and the roads and trails back
then are mostly obsolete and takeover by nature.
This is not an issue for map readers who mostly care about the topo lines, water drainage's, etc. When the Almanac was not good enough to make our way
the INEGI was the backup.
I have been finding road and trails for years using topo maps and many of you have benefited from that effort. Topo lines, river/water tell me where
the real roads and trails are.
The dumbing down of the Atlas presentation for beauty is a step in the wrong direction. Getting rid of shadowing and adding proper contour lines along
with updated trails, roads/km, and water courses would have been the best.
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David K
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What did a great president once say? You can't please all the people, all the time!
Paul, these people at Benchmark have been great to work with... if the Atlas does well, maybe we can get more products made by them? A backpacker
inspired set of topo maps could be one... I am already pushing them for a wall map, ala Mike McMahan.
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PaulW
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Of course they will do well. there is nothing else to compare. And that will discourage them from improvement.
Don't call me a backpacker. I am an off roader.
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by lencho  |
Ohhh with all the detail of the book version (that would be cool)?
If it were to the same scale, how big would the map be? |
I had the full, uncut sheet in my home for one of the edits, maybe 8 feet?
They can size it anyway they want... the issue would be the text size for reading the map on a wall, but I do have the Mike McMahan wall maps in the
room here with me (2 of them) and the original Lower California Guidebook scale works well, on a 5 ft. map.
Here is the wall map image as it appears on the back of Mike's book (1972 edition map)...
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John Harper
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"You can't always get what you want...but sometimes you get, you get what you need." - Mick Jagger.
John
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Nomads... there may be another source for early (pre) orders, and maybe will be cheaper than Amazon, so stand by for news on that!
The book's release date is planned for May 5 (Cinco de Mayo).
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David K
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Updated Link
https://www.benchmarkmaps.com/product/baja-california-road-r...
They are taking pre-orders now... others likely to offer deals, soon! 
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
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Pre-orders on Amazon are now down to $26.95. fyi
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting:
https://www.regionalinternet.com |
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
Posts: 4968
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Any reason to look into this further, or do you feel all possible follow-up has been exhausted by now?
Just curious.
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting:
https://www.regionalinternet.com |
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
Posts: 4968
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Location: San Diego, CA
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The combination of mis-reading the part of tax included on the Amazon $29.29, along with DK indicating a potentially lower pre-order price and then
posting a link to the publisher's website, which had it at $26.95.... led to a quick - and bad - assumption. Thought I was being helpful. :::sigh:::
Carry on....
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting:
https://www.regionalinternet.com |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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I am trying to be fair with my insider information... so do read between the lines when I say a better deal 'might be coming' for ordering or
pre-ordering. My Nomad amigos, who have tolerated me with 60,000+ posts since 2002, will always get notification of a special deal!
The book hasn't even been printed yet, but I bet the publisher is happy with the enthusiasm seen here and on Facebook. No doubt that Amazon is
informing them of pre-orders, too! Right now, the cartographers at Benchmark are performing the final edit suggestions I provided them last week
(including Coco's moving his Corner) and the printing begins in a couple weeks. Release date is now estimated to me May 5... I don't think it was on
purpose to be Cinco de Mayo!??
Hey, if you are wanting a Baja book or books mailed to you sooner, then look at the six titles available at www.oldmissions.com ! Many are marked way below the list price and all are brand new, uncirculated books from authors Harry Crosby, Mike
Humfreville, Daniel Reveles, Max Kurillo, and some guy named David Kier!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Baja Bound Insurance has just announced a special price for the new Atlas ($20, limit 5 per customer): https://www.bajabound.com/baja-atlas.php
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verichip
Banned
Posts: 70
Registered: 3-15-2019
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David, I am curious to know if the UTM grid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Transverse_Mercator_... is used in the new map book? As I like the utm grid better. Also, when will the
maps be mailed, and how long is the $20 price good until?
I do not see
The Cave Paintings of Baja California
by Harry W. Crosby
on your list of books for sale?
[Edited on 4-8-2021 by verichip]
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