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I found the same thing but in reverse on my 21 day solo trip route. Before I went, I looked the portages over and compared the new Chrismar with my old McKenzie's and when they disagreed, I went to the new Q-planner site.

That only made things worse because it varied between the two.
When they were ALL off, it was by a lot, more than you'd think it would be even allowing for minor human error.

One of my goals next trip to to bring a pedometer and mark each portage length down and then put any differences in my trip report.

On one hand, for me the length doesn't matter because if that what it takes to go where I want, I'm doing it regardless. But some people/groups have time/physical issues and a portage that is way longer than marked could be an issue for them?

Jim J Solo wrote on Aug 19^th, 2015 at 3:14pm:


Yup.  Was told the same when we picked up our permit late-June.  As we went from Sturgeon to Poohbah, we completed three portages on the upper Maligne and couldn't recall seeing where the "new" one was added....I think it was created for upstream paddlers....

We also went across LLC down the Namakan and Up the Quetico River back to Beaverhouse.  The newer Chrismar listed longer portage lengths on 2 or 3 of the 4 portages going up the Quetico River.  I think the older lengths (around 250-350 yards) were more accurate....a couple of the newer lengths had them around 700+ which is way longer than they actually were....

But the Chrismar is still way more accurate overall when compared to Fisher or MacKenzie maps....

As for Fisher and McKenzie inaccuracies- says right on the maps "Not intended for navigation".

Fisher and McKenzie maps are not inaccurate due to age, they are just inaccurate.

I bought the 2014 version at the ranger station in Atikokan in Sept 2014. The ranger told me the only difference at that time was a new long portage added on the Maligne to bypass swifts in high water conditions. You would probably skip it in normal conditions.

a few months ago i emailed a question to chrismar 
email@chrismar.com
Mark (the "mar" part of "chrismar") replied within 24 hrs and was also quick with a follow up question.

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I had an old Chrismar map, 2005. I got the new one for this springs trip. There are some new portages that were not on the old one.

I also compared the new Chrismar to my old McKenzie maps that are at least 15 yrs old. The difference was significant.

I can't speak for others, but I have better things to do than search for portages when they've been mis-marked on either the Fisher/McKenzie maps.

IMHO if that new Chrismar can save you from doing that even 1 time, it's worth the price.

I would advise anyone that has older Fisher/McKenzie maps to put the two side by side and go over your planned route. Depending on where your going, you might be pleasantly surprised.

I learned firsthand this trip how important it is to have up to date map info. I think Westwood could speak to that as well.

Quote:


I had an old Chrismar map, 2005. I got the new one for this springs trip. There are some new portages that were not on the old one.

I also compared the new Chrismar to my old McKenzie maps that are at least 15 yrs old. The difference was significant.

I can't speak for others, but I have better things to do than search for portages when they've been mis-marked on either the Fisher/McKenzie maps.

IMHO if that new Chrismar can save you from doing that even 1 time, it's worth the price.

I would advise anyone that has older Fisher/McKenzie maps to put the two side by side and go over your planned route. Depending on where your going, you might be pleasantly surprised.

I learned firsthand this trip how important it is to have up to date map info. I think Westwood could speak to that as well.

They coordinate with the rangers - unlike other maps - and update portages.  On a trip 3-3 years ago up through Isabella and Kahs, across Trant, and down S-Chain my 10 year old Chrismar had 4 portages (5 if you count the meadows between Side and Kahs) in the wrong place. They'd all been moved and were shown correctly on the then current Chrismar at the rangers station.

MacKenzie and Fishers were also wrong plus more.

Don't mean to high jack the thread, but just curious. How much is really updated on the maps? I'd imagine that it would just have slight tweaks here and there. The Chrismar I use is probably 10 years old.

MossBack wrote on Aug 18^th, 2015 at 10:21pm:


Jim from CCO sent me one earlier this year, same cover and only 2014 as well. Agree with the 14/15 comment. Not aware of any updates.