MyTopo News

MyTopo and Fugawi Touratel Partnership

MYTOPO PARTNERS WITH FUGAWI TOURATEL TO OFFER PROFESSIONALLY PRINTED, CUSTOM-CENTERDED, LARGE-FORMAT MAPS FOR THE US AND CANADA

BILLINGS, MT – MyTopo has partnered with Northport Systems to offer site visitors to the new Fugawi Touratel web portal (www.touratel.com) the option to order high quality, poster-sized, navigation-ready, topographic maps for the US and Canada, and aerial maps for the US. The maps start at $9.95 and are printed and shipped within 24 hours.

Visitors to www.touratel.com can view and print topographic maps at no charge on the site, or can choose to tailor make a poster-sized, custom-centered map via a five-step online process, powered by MyTopo. The map will be printed to the customer’s specification (scale, size, paper choice, title, and grid) and shipped within twenty-four hours. The maps are GPS navigation-ready, with accurate scale bars, north arrow diagrams and declination, and detailed navigation grids.

MyTopo offers the choice of a high quality glossy paper, well-suited for framing; a waterproof and tear-resistant paper, with waterproof and UV-fade resistant inks, which makes for a nearly indestructible field map; or a laminated finish, which is perfect for marking up with dry erase pens.

“We are pleased to join with Fugawi Touratel to offer their customers the convenience of ordering our custom-designed maps via their new website, which is sure to be a popular site for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals, and the many people who already rely on Fugawi’s popular mapping software and products,” said Kevin Toohill, ceo and founder of MyTopo.

Fugawi Touratel is owned by GPS software manufacturer, Northport Systems. The new site allows visitors to view and print Canadian and US topographic maps from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The topographic maps are available at multiple scale choices, and can be viewed through a tab-based interface along with high quality aerial photos and Google™ maps.

For more information on Fugawi Touratel or to learn more about Northport Systems and its entire product line, contact 416.920.9300 or visit www.touratel.com.

MyTopo is a private company based in Billings, MT. The company specializes in offering navigation-ready, large-format maps of the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.mytopo.com or call 1-877-587-9004.

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Canadian Maps Available!

MYTOPO.COM ADDS CANADIAN TOPOS TO ITS POPULAR ONLINE ORDERING SYSTEM FOR CUSTOM-CENTERED MAPS

BILLINGS, MT –    MyTopo.com, a company that broke new ground in 1999 with the launch of an online ordering system for custom-printed US topographic maps, today announced the addition of all 13 Canadian provinces and territories. The MyTopo Canadian system provides access to more than 12,000 new base maps and allows customers to center a custom map print anywhere in Canada.

“Those who have planned a canoeing, backpacking or hunting trip to Canada know it can be hard to find good paper maps,” said Kevin Toohill, CEO and founder of MyTopo.com.   “We expect the service to be a welcomed resource, and we know map enthusiasts will appreciate our customizing features, our lightweight, waterproof paper option, and our ability to ship the maps within 24 hours.”

To order, go to www.mytopo.com and type in any geographic feature, like a city, town, mountain, lake or river, in the US or Canada.  A map pulls up centered on that location.  Zoom in or out to determine the coverage area.  Once the map is properly centered, and scaled, options are provided to choose the paper size and type, the navigation grids, and to personalize the map with a name and title.  The five step process leads the customer to the secure checkout to place their order. 

“MyTopo provided maps for our Raid the North Extreme Adventure Race and we’re sold; we heard rave reviews about the map’s durability and accuracy and the racers appreciated only having to carry four maps, instead of the fifteen that would have been necessary without MyTopo’s custom-centering and scaling process,” said Geoff Langford, President of FAR, Inc., Canada’s leading adventure racing company.

Canadian topographic maps are based on the 1:50,000 scale, versus the US Geologic Survey (USGS) topo maps which are 1:24,000.   MyTopo’s Canadian maps are made from scans of the original Natural Resources Canada topographic maps.  MyTopo offers a choice of paper finishes, including waterproof, glossy and full-seal laminated maps.  Every map is printed with UV/fade resistant inks. 

The topographic maps range in price from $9.95 to $44.95, depending on map’s size.  MyTopo.com, a privately held company based in Billings, MT, is a leading provider of navigation-ready topographic maps and aerial image maps.  For more information, email support@mytopo.com or call 1-877-587-9004 (toll-free).

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TopoPhoto Released: Navigation-Ready Hybrid Maps

MYTOPO.COM RELEASES NEW PRODUCT: A NAVIGATION-READY TOPOPHOTO^TM MAP

BILLINGS, MT – Landowners and outdoor enthusiasts who have for years relied on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map series now have a new option. MyTopo.com, an innovator in the mapping industry, has created a TopoPhoto^TM map, which combines information from the reliable USGS topographic map with a recent color aerial photograph, creating a navigation-ready hybrid map.

"The Topophoto^TM maps take the best available topographic data and aerial photographs and combines them to create a more updated map, which we think will replace or at least be a useful supplement to the aging USGS topo maps we have relied upon for years," said Toohill. The maps are available now to order via the company’s online ordering system, and, like the company’s other maps, can be centered any place in the US, printed on large sheets of waterproof or glossy paper, personalized with a name and title, and shipped to the customer’s doorstep within 24-48 hours.

The maps provide the ability to see the elevation contours, roads, buildings, and geographic features labeled on a color aerial photograph taken in 2003-2006. "The TopoPhoto^TM maps reveal recent changes on the landscape, including vegetation and development, but they maintain the traditional reliability of the USGS topographic maps," added Toohill.

MyTopo.com specializes in providing an easy and convenient process for outdoor enthusiasts to order large-format printed maps, including topo maps, aerial photos, and the new Topophoto^TM maps. Customers use a five step process to customize their maps online; the maps are printed and shipped within 24-48 hours. The ordering process allows the customer to center their map any place in the US, chose the map’s scale, provide a title, and personalize further with the map owner’s name. The maps can be printed in several size choices and on waterproof, glossy or laminated paper. They range in price from $9.95 to $59.95, depending on map type and paper size.

The new Topophoto^TM maps are available in more than 25 states, with the remaining states becoming available over the next several months. Current customers can reorder previously ordered topo or aerial photo maps in the Topophoto^TM format by logging into their accounts and selecting the option to "start a new map here." The Topophoto^TM maps are available in all three sizes and paper types and start at $29.95.

MyTopo.com is a private company based in Billings, MT. The company sells maps directly via www.mytopo.com, and also resells its maps via many popular websites including Topozone.com, MapTech.com, Cabelas.com, Remington.com, Realtree.com, the Digital Map Store and many more mapping and outdoor-related sites. To learn more about the company, visit www.mytopo.com or call 866-587-9015. High resolution product images and logos are available upon request.

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NSSF Partners with Mytopo.com

NEW ONE STOP RESOURCE FOR HUNTERS TO OFFER MYTOPO’S NAVIGATION-READY MAPS

BILLINGS, MT – MyTopo.com has partnered with the National Shooting and Hunting Sports Foundation to offer its high quality, navigation-ready topo maps and aerial photographs via the Foundation’s new website, www.huntandshoot.org.

Hunters can tailor make a custom-centered topographic map or aerial photo map via a five-step online process, powered by MyTopo.com. The map will be printed to the customer’s specification (scale, size, paper choice, title, and grid) and shipped within twenty-four hours. Both the topos and aerials are GPS navigation-ready, with accurate scale bars, north arrow diagrams and declination, and detailed navigation grids. MyTopo.com recently announced the availability of hunt area maps for eight Western States and 2002-2005 color aerial photograph maps for forty states.

Visitors to the huntandshoot.org website receive a 10% discount on all map purchases. For more information, visit www.huntandshoot.org.

Background: Since 1999, MyTopo.com has been the leading provider of navigation-ready topographic and aerial maps. For more information, please visit www.mytopo.com or call 877-587-9004.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearms industry. Formed in 1961, the National Shooting Sports Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with a membership of more than 3,000 manufacturers, distributors, retailers, sportsmen's organizations and publishers.

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New 2006 Hunt Area Maps

MYTOPO ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF BLM TOPO MAPS WITH 2006 HUNT AREA BOUNDARIES MARKED FOR WESTERN STATES

BILLINGS, MT --  MyTopo.com, a popular online mapping website, today announced the availability of hunt area topographic maps in eight Western States. The new map series contain clearly-marked public land ownership with 2006 State hunt area boundaries.  Hunters drawing draw big game tags for a specific hunt area or game management units can call1-877-587-9004 (toll-free) or send an email to sales@mytopo.com to order a “Hunt Area Map.”   

The Hunt Area Maps are available for: Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.  Colorado hunt area maps are available through MyTopo partner, www.huntdata.com.

When an order is placed, MyTopo cartographers will center the customer’s hunt area on a 1:100,000 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) topo basemap.  The customer can specify the map’s size, paper type (waterproof, glossy, or laminated) and whether they would like the map rolled or folded. The maps are waterproof, and the size is pre-defined based on the size of the hunt area. Some areas require more than one map.  MyTopo will print and ship the map order within 24 hours.  The maps range in price from $9.95 for an 18” x 24” map to $29.95 for a 36” x 48” map.  Lamination is available for an extra fee.

“We are pleased to offer this service; we have been getting requests for topo maps with hunt units marked on them for years,” said Kevin Toohill, Founder of MyTopo.com.  “These maps will be a great tool for hunters to scout potential hunting areas, plan travel routes and inspect the terrain.  A larger-scaled map, like a 1:24,000 topo or aerial map, of a more specific area can be ordered as a companion map.”

For more information, please visit www.mytopo.com or call 1-877-587-9004.  MyTopo.com is a private company based in Billings, MT.  The company also owns and manages the website, www.mapcard.com, an award-winning subscription-based mapping service.

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MyTopoScout Service Released

MYTOPO.COM AND WHITETAIL HUNTING EXPERT BILL WINKE PARTNER TO OFFER PERSONAL HUNTING AREA ANALYSIS SERVICE

BILLINGS, MT – MyTopo.com and noted whitetail expert Bill Winke have partnered to offer a service, called MyTopoScout, in which Mr. Winke personally reviews a topographic map and an aerial photo of a hunting area in addition to comments from the hunter to provide an expert’s analysis on how to hunt the area most effectively.

The customer receives a multi-page written analysis on how to most effectively hunt the area from Mr. Winke, a 24” x 36” waterproof topo map with the hunting property centered, and a matching 24” x 36” aerial photo map with Mr. Winke’s suggested stand locations, key terrain features, and possible food plot locations marked.   The service costs $399 and takes two to four weeks to complete.  Included in the price is a 30-minute phone consultation with Mr. Winke and a one-year subscription to an award-winning online mapping service.  To order the service, go to www.mytopo.com/scout.

MyTopo.com offered this service during the fall of 2005 with excellent demand and satisfied customers.

“My main reason for trying the MyTopoScout service last Fall was to get a professional’s opinion regarding stand locations.  Living in flat South Florida and hunting in hilly Georgia, I was curious to see how the terrain might affect bigger bucks and their travel routes.  Bill Winke’s review showed that we had some stands in the right spots, and more importantly to me, provided some new places to hunt that were not being pressured.  Bill gave a thorough analysis of each stand site, which included the best route to get there and the best times and conditions to hunt each stand.  I was impressed that he could be so in-depth without having actually been on the property,” said Dan Rogers, who was among the first customers to try the service.

“We received extremely positive feedback from the customers who got their orders in last Fall,” said Paige Darden, director of public relations for MyTopo.com.  “We were overwhelmed by the response to the service and extremely pleased by the feedback we received from customers.”
“I am pleased to be working with MyTopo.com on this project.  It was something that I had wanted to try, and with MyTopo’s support on the mapping side, I feel we are able to provide a valuable service,” said Bill Winke. Winke has been writing full-time for hunting magazines for 14 years.  He specializes in articles about hunting strategies for whitetail deer. 

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USARA Partnership

MYTOPO.COM PARTNERS WITH THE U.S. ADVENTURE RACING ASSOCIATION

BILLINGS, MT – MyTopo.com and the U.S. Adventure Racing Association today announced they have partnered to provide high-quality topographic maps to the adventure racing community. Via the organization’s website, www.usara.com, adventure racing enthusiasts can order custom, waterproof topographic maps at a 10% discount.  In addition, MyTopo.com has agreed to be the official map provider for the prestigious GOLITE USARA National Championship Race, which will take place in Southern California in November, and will be the culmination of the 2006 racing season with regional champions competing in a grueling 24-hour race to compete for a $40,000 prize package.

"The USARA is excited about our partnership with MyTopo.com. This partnership will allow USARA members and national championship competitors access to the best maps available,” said Troy Farrar, President of USARA.

Since 1999, MyTopo.com has been the leading provider of navigation-ready maps.  The company’s innovative, online map design center, allows users to custom center their map any place in the United States.  The map is printed to their specifications (grids, size, title, paper type, and scale) and shipped within 24 hours.  MyTopo works with adventure race directors to overlay race checkpoints and transition areas on a true-to-scale, navigation-ready map. 

MyTopo.com has made maps for many of the top adventure races in the nation, including Primal Quest, the Cal-Eco Series, The Beast of the East, the USARA Championship, The New York Adventure Racing Association Longest Day Race, the Rattlesnake Racing Sidewinder Challenge, to name a few.

“The adventure racing community has embraced our maps for their durability, accuracy, and because they are centered on the course, eliminating the need to carry multiple maps,” said MyTopo.com President Kevin Toohill.   “We are awed by the sport of adventure racing, and enjoy working with race directors to map out the incredible courses on which the sport’s athletes compete.”

MyTopo.com provides maps at cost to adventure race directors and works closely with the director to accurately display key course features, such as checkpoints and transition areas, on the map.  To learn more about the MyTopo.com’s race director discount, call Paige Darden at 877-587-9004. 

The United States Adventure Racing Association’s purpose is to guide and assist race directors and committees in conducting fun, save and fair events, to provide for the health, welfare and safety of participants, spectators, officials and volunteers, and to aid in the continued positive growth of the sport of adventure racing.  For more information, visit www.usara.com.

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Adventure Race Discount Program

MYTOPO.COM OFFERS SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR

ADVENTURE RACE DIRECTORS

Red Lodge, MT  -- MyTopo.com, a popular website for ordering custom topographic maps and aerial photographs, today announced that it is now offering adventure race directors 50% off the total for race map orders.

            “We have tremendous respect for the athletic and mental test that adventure racing represents,” said Kevin Toohill, founder of MyTopo.com. “In the past few years, it has been a source of pride for us that we have been able to supply maps for many popular races, including the 2004 Subaru Primal Quest. We hope today’s announcement will make our highly customized maps an affordable option for even more race directors.”

            MyTopo.com has been popular among directors because its maps can be centered precisely over the course, often eliminating the need to cut and paste multiple USGS quads together. The maps are printed on durable, lightweight waterproof paper, and can be ordered in many sizes from small pocket-sized maps to large wall maps, perfect for use by race organizers.  The maps are navigation-ready with complete and accurate UTM grids, and may include custom course markings including checkpoints and other points of interest.

            With the new discount program, race directors receive 50% off the total cost of their map order. MyTopo also provides free consultation to build a custom course maps that can include race/sponsor logos and checkpoint/transition area overlays To learn more about the MyTopo Adventure Race Director Discount program, please contact Paige Darden at 866-587-9015 or visit http://www.mytopo.com/.

            MyTopo.com is a private company, owned by AOHunt LLC, which also owns www.mapcard.com, a subscription-based mapping website which was Backpacker Magazine’s Editors’ Choice for Best New Product of 2003.

New Alaska and Hawaii Maps

MYTOPO.COM NOW OFFERS OPTION TO CUSTOM CENTER TOPO MAPS IN ALASKA AND HAWAII

Red Lodge, MT – MyTopo.com has added the option for its customers to make navigation-ready, waterproof topographic maps centered in Alaska and Hawaii, the company announced today.  MyTopo.com now offers topo maps for the entire United States. 

“With today’s announcement, anyone can order a large-format waterproof topo map for any place in the United States from the comfort of their own home or office and have it shipped to their doorstep within 24 hours,” said Kevin Toohill, founder of MyTopo.com.  “We are pleased to be able to serve our customers who are needing high quality paper maps for Alaska or Hawaii.”

The maps in Alaska are based on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) 1:63,360 scale, known as the 15-minute USGS series.  The Hawaii topo maps are based on the 1:24,000 scales, known as the 7.5 minute USGS series.    MyTopo.com’s database now includes maps for both states in their entirety.  Previously, the company offered topo maps for a limited area in Alaska.

“We get the most requests for maps of Alaska, particularly this time of year,” said Toohill.  “Alaska is one of the premier places in the United States for big game hunting, and we are pleased to be able to provide our durable, waterproof maps to those fortunate hunters who are set to embark on the experience of a lifetime in the backcountry of this beautiful and unspoiled landscape.”

To order a topography map centered in Alaska, Hawaii, or any other state, please visit www.mytopo.com and follow the steps to make your map.  MyTopo prints and ships maps within 24 hours of receiving an order.  The maps range in price, depending on the size ordered, from $9.95 to $29.95.

MyTopo.com specializes in custom topographic and aerial photo maps.  MyTopo.com is owned by AO Hunt, LLC, a privately held company.  The company also owns www.mapcard.com, a subscription based mapping service, named Backpacker Magazine’s Editors’ Choice Award in 2003.   For more information, visit www.mytopo.com or www.mapcard.com or call 877-587-9004 (toll-free.) 

NEW GPS MAP DESIGN CENTER

MYTOPO OPENS NEW ONLINE GPS MAP DESIGN CENTER ™

Overlay Your Own GPS Information on Large-Format Maps

RED LODGE, MT --  MyTopo.com, a popular website for ordering custom-centered waterproof topo and aerial photo maps, today announced that its customers can now upload GPS data online, preview it on their screens as an overlay on a topo or aerial base, and then order large-format prints of their fully customized maps. 

MyTopo.com’s new GPS Map Design Center ™ will give everyone with a GPS device the ability to publish custom maps, without the need to purchase expensive mapping software and plotters.  The company has decided that it will not charge customers extra to overlay data; the price will remain $9.95 to $29.95 per map, depending on the size of the map ordered.  (Bulk order pricing available.)

“This is a technical breakthrough we have been working towards for many years,” said Kevin Toohill, founder and chief technology officer of  MyTopo.com.  “It has been a long-time goal of ours to allow anyone with a GPS device or who knows specific GPS coordinates to overlay that data on a custom-centered United States Geological Survey (USGS)  topo or aerial map.”

The company believes the GPS Map Design Center ™ will be useful for people who have collected GPS data and would like to have that information displayed on a large map.  MyTopo currently offers three map size options: its small maps, which measure 18” x 24”; the traditional 24” x 36” size; and a large wall map, which measures 36” x 44”.  Customers can center their maps any place in the United States, precisely over their property, hunting camp, or recreational area; choose the scale of the map; and the paper the map will be printed on (waterproof, glossy or laminated).  Customers can also choose to give the map a unique title and have their name and/or logo printed on it.

“Our vision is to empower people who are the leading edge enthusiast in their field, whether it be as big game hunters or backcountry hikers, fishermen, or the more niche areas like balloonists, geocachers, geologists, you name it;  to go out and collect GPS data that they can then publish on a high quality topo or aerial base map to give or resell to others,” said Toohill.  “We also think this service will be valuable to professionals who need GPS data on maps but do not want to spend time learning to use mapping software and plotters.  I have talked with  people who use maps to site cell towers, develop real estate, lawyers who use GPS data to map out crime scenes and even military group leaders who use topo maps and aerial photo maps for training purposes who are excited about the service.  We think we’ll see the Center being used by these folks as well as people like adventure race course designers and directors, scout leaders, outfitters and guides, search and rescue coordinators and anyone who needs to point out specific geographic features on a geo-referenced map for others to use.”

The GPS Map Design Center will be developed in stages.  This past weekend it went live for users of Trimble’s  Outdoor Navigator software, which is sold as a companion to Garmin and Magellan GPS devices and Nextel Phone/GPS users.  This robust software allows users to plan trips, record text, upload photos and upload and download GPS data into trip diaries.  Users of this software have an option to print a large-format map via MyTopo.com’s GPS Map Design Center that has their waypoints, trails and tracks overlaid on a high quality USGS-based topo map.

The Center is also available now to anyone who has Topografix free or pro version software that converts their GPS information into the .GPX file format.  .GPX files can then be uploaded to the MyTopo.com GPS Map Design Center for overlay on a topo or aerial base map.  Maps made via Garmin’s Mapsend software and then converted into the .gpx file format can also be uploaded the MyTopo.com GPS Map Design Center.

Customers will eventually be able to use the Center by simply typing in GPS coordinates they would like displayed on their maps, but this functionality has not yet been added.

The GPS Map Design Center is easy to use.  To make a gps map, go to www.mytopo.com, and follow these steps:

1)  Type in the location nearest to the area you would like to be the center of your map, and when the search engines finds it, click on it to pull it up on the screen.

Step 2)  Center your map, choose whether you would like the base map to be a topo or aerial photo, and choose the scale of the map

Step 3)  Upload a .gpx file and click to preview the map, recenter if necessary

Step 4)  Title Your Map

Step 5)  Choose the map’s size and paper, and proceed to checkout!

MyTopo.com began allowing people to make custom-centered topographic maps online in 1999.  The company has since added aerial photo maps, several map sizes, new scale and grid choices, and “has made the process to order maps nearly foolproof,” according to company officials.   

For more information about MyTopo.com, visit www.mytopo.com or call 1-877-587-9004.  MyTopo.com, is owned by a privately held company, AO Hunt, LLC, which also owns MapCard.com, an award-winning subscription-based mapping software that allows users to annotate, print and save unlimited topo maps and aerial photos.