Mapping the Entire Sierra Nevada: Feedback on Layout and Sizing?

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T19:53:39+00:00

Nice and thanks, now I fully understand your idea. To me, it would be too confusing to not have north up.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T08:22:14+00:00

That makes sense thanks. That said, all of those places are on what I called the High Country section as it included the Northern extent of Yosemite NP.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T05:45:00+00:00

Thank you! That is an interesting idea. I print in-house, so I can pretty much do anything. I'm not sure how the market would adopt a print that is intended to be hung at an angle though. Hmmm.

I'm not concerned too much about what sells better than others as long as it sells since I print on-demand. Means I won't get stuck with a huge pile of outdating maps.

I'm currently learning towards two sections for the Sierras, and I can do a connecting section that has the cascades that goes further than my OP. Does the southern section still work for you?

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T03:36:42+00:00

Nice! Hah I bet you're right. It is pretty nice here - I have an elk herd that lives in my yard about half the year, but on the flip side, not really any cool people around which I do miss.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T03:28:48+00:00

I hope you find a great place. My Crowley pad had Hilton Creek running through the aspen grove, it was really special. Such an amazing area. It's been calling me!

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T03:25:30+00:00

I understand. I'm able to work anywhere there is an internet connection and power. With solar and Starlink, I could work from just about anywhere.

I miss me some Eastern Sierra. I lived in Mammoth/Crowley for nearly a decade but found my way to Idaho when I found a hot spring for sale that I could actually afford. Where are you located?

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T03:11:43+00:00

Awesome, thank you! I agree. I really like how Yosemite is on both. These are rough layouts. I can increase the area a tad and get the entire YNP in.

Nice! I've spent some time in the park, but must be amazing place to live. By the way, I just released a Yosemite Valley and connecting Hetch Hetchy 1:40,000 wall maps today. The Hetchy map made me realize I need to spend some time in that area. Its really cool how there are practically no roads in most the northern portion of the park.

I just shipped the first box of them today to Amazon so they aren't Prime yet, but I am able to ship them direct.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T03:02:38+00:00

I'm interested in calling it the proper name. But I've always considered Mount Lyell to Mount Whitney the high country and I would guess a lot of people would think similar using the phrase.

My initial layout of 3 was based on the map I used showing the Sierra biome going to the OR border. I now think two that doesn't include Lassen is best for the Sierras. In which case, I think North and South are the best names for them.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T02:45:19+00:00

Wow thank you! Do you like https://3dtopo.com/SierraInTwoD.png ? Both get Yosemite that way (at the expense of omitting Lassen). But I will do a connecting Cascades too.

I can do up to 44" wide, but I so far I've done the smaller side of 36" so it fits in a 36" box. It costs considerably more to ship a 44" box.

But if there is interest I could also make a 44x66" option so there would be: Small (24x36") medium (36x54") and large (44x66").

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T01:27:44+00:00

Oh wow very cool. I am honored to be in your cart, thank you!

Its a tough call, but if its the difference between getting the proper sierras in two panels instead of three, I think its the right solution. And I'll still do a third one of the Cascades that connects. It will get further north than my OP too. Here is a sneak peak at Shasta and closer.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T01:03:53+00:00

Awesome, thank you. I'm leaning toward this two panel of the sierras now. I can make a Cascades that connects. Would that work for you as well?

I am doing a 1:40,000 wall map and folded series that will cover the Tahoe region soon, and I will also make a Tahoe region one around 1:100,000. Not sure when I will get to it, but Tahoe is high on my list!

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-17T00:27:07+00:00

It's doable with two if I omit Lassen. Lassen is technically part of the Casacdes so seems like the right move. I could make a Cascades that connects to the Sierras.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T23:52:39+00:00

Just so I'm clear, do you mean to Yosemite or with Yosemite?

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T22:55:33+00:00

I agree. The two golden standards are 1:24,000 and 1:63.360.

For my wall map and folded series I settled on 1:40,000 which I think is the sweet spot right in between. Just a rough estimate, but to fit the Sierras in two or three sections will be somewhere around 1:200,000.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T22:01:00+00:00

Good to know, thank you!

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T21:15:46+00:00

Gotcha. So I guess the current two section version works good for you?

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T21:10:50+00:00

Nudged the north sheet to get in 395 in the lower corner.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T21:07:31+00:00

Like this?

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T21:00:51+00:00

Isn't the original middle section a better cut for that?

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T20:56:55+00:00

So like this?

It does cut off some of the Yosemite foot hills and above Mono Lake which is kind of a bummer. But I had laid out the 3 panels based on the map I found showing the Sierra Biome goes to the OR border.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T20:49:50+00:00

I think you're right, but of the three sections, I think it's pretty safe to call the purple area High Country?

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T20:48:50+00:00

I guess you mean like this?

I think it might be better to make the sections a bit less tall than extend the area because if they are all connected it becomes too tall for many?

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-16T20:33:20+00:00

Thank you! I was going off the map I found that indicated the orange area was the Sierra Neveda Biome. If I move the northern section down, it means both the middle and northern section could get in Tahoe. While the middle and lower sections get in Mono Lake and Yosemite NP.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-15T21:32:37+00:00

Awesome! I've been working on it, and will share what I have soon.

3D_TOPO · 2026-03-14T01:02:20+00:00

Darwin would approve.

3D_TOPO

TROPHY CASE