Map of the Month Premiere

Map of the Month: meet the nerd behind the Trust maps for an insider glimpse into the world of cartography in this monthly blog series.

Stephanie Smith by Stephanie Smith, GIS Director

“Your line has a wobble.”

The critique glared at me as I read through what seemed like millions of red pen strokes blanketing the first map production I was proud to call my own.

Throughout my life as a cartographer, these five words will forever follow me, not because the wobble caused a lower grade, but because it taught me to eliminate distractions for readers by paying attention to the smallest details.

As the GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Director for the Trust, I design maps to help tell the story of our work. Creating the 30th Anniversary Map of the Colorado Plateau brought back all the anxiety and questions I first asked as I learned the elements of cartographic design in college: Did I choose the most accurate data? Is there a silly misspelling hiding in the sea of place names? What if the text covers another symbol? Would different colors make the readers’ map exploration more enjoyable? Is that shadow too dark; is it too light? What if I missed a wobble?

While “wobble” is not a technical term, by any stretch of the imagination, it is the perfect word to describe what most would never notice – a line that is not as smooth as it could be, likely unnoticeable to all but a few but very clear when zoomed in to 300 percent.

I’m sure the anniversary map still has some wobbles, but with a landscape as curvy and rugged as the Colorado Plateau, a little wobble seems fitting. I hope you explore it enough to find all the wobbles I missed!

How do I get a copy?

The 30th Anniversary map is no longer avaliable, however by becoming a member of the Grand Canyon Trust today and you will receive a small folded version of our new limited edition Grand Canyon National Park map. With a donation of $500 or more, you can receive the original 36×18 inch version, rolled and ready to frame, as our way of saying thank you for helping us protect this incredible place! 

 

Blog - 30th Anniversary map Text 2

My Favorite Things! Get your copy today, and see if you can locate them.

    • Map Element: The slight lift of the Colorado Plateau from the surrounding landscape
    • Place Names: Pie Town, Skull Valley (hint: it's on the map twice), Wagon Wheel Gap
    • Physical Feature Names: Tavaputs Plateau, Strawberry River, Baking Powder Flat
    • Locations: Bryce Canyon National Park, Uncompahgre National Forest, Canyon de Chelly National Monument
    • Something I learned: The various names and locations of the Pueblo tribes in New Mexico, and no matter how hard you try, you will never please everyone's design and layout taste. 

GIS - CTA

Learn more about our GIS Program

Map of the Month

12/23/24

As 2024 draws to a close, we look back at five maps we created this year that give us hope for 2025.

Read More
10/1/24

Four of the five most dangerous sections of the haul route are on the Navajo Nation.

Read More
09/28/22

Pronghorn and barbed wire fences don't mix, but volunteers are working to change that, one wire at a time.

Read More