GPS - Map accuracy on the TD

[chainagent]

Hello everybody,

since christmas I am very busy with route planning and putting as much as possible information, also the entire cue sheets, onto my GPS. A lot of work! I am using the maps from http://miscjunk.org/mj/mp_uttopo.html for the US part of the route and the Ibycus Topo 40 for the Canada section. If I compare the track in GoogleEarth with the the Maps in Basecamp there are many deviations on all the maps. In GoogleEarth the whole track looks very fine with only a few deviations. But this is the result of too less trackpoints in some areas. Overall you can say the track corresponse with what you see and stays on route. The route in Basecamp is another topic. At least 50% of the track is routed near the roads (deviation up to 300 ft.). And - there are a lot of roads that are definitely not there where they should be or wrong. The best map is the one from New Mexico. The deviation here is about 10 up to 20%.
I am following the TD thread over 4 years, but I can't remember that someone was complaining about this fact. Or, maybe I am using the wrong maps?
My question - What kind of maps are used for GPS-Navigation during the TD?
Thanks!

                    Michael

[Yukon]

Sorry I can not give any comment on accuracy.  I do have a question on what gps would do best on the TD, or a lower priced adequate gps, or comment on my current Garmin etrex that I have yet to connect to a computer to put in TD points from Topfusion site.  Thank you.

[Newfydog]

Load the track from topofusion.  Load the topo maps from GPSfiledepot.com.  You will not get lost.  The track is very accurate  If you go off the road to water a bush, you will see you are off route.

[Thumby]

I found the track from topofusion to be very accurate.  But there were at least 4 times where I got buggered up due to inaccuracy.  The worst bit was the CDT ALT in NM.  It's just very challenging to find the trailhead, even with GPS and cues in hand.  (Maybe my brain was fried!) 

[chainagent]

Yes, the track is pretty good. But not the maps. I've got all the maps from GPSfiledepot.com, already and replaced the Montana and the Colorado map. The other states are identical with the maps at http://miscjunk.org/mj/mp_uttopo.html. There was no update necessary. But the newer Montana and Colorado versions are a real improvement. Far more accuracy like the older one. I guess I can live with the situation now. But I simply hope don't looking for a trail in a river due to a wrong map!

                Michael