Greylock Maps

The first four maps listed below are free, and are required for the course.  Either print out multiple copies of each on regular paper, or -- preferably -- print out one copy each on waterproof material.  The commercially produced maps are described here and will be presented at the course, but are probably not worth purchasing.

1. The DCR Mt Greylock Reservation winter map provides excellent trail details, although some other aspects are lacking as compared to a USGS topographic map.
2. The DCR Mt Greylock Reservation summer map provides some additional information not included on the winter map.
3. A custom map (which prints best on legal-sized paper) has been produced specifically for the course, with GPS field data superimposed on the USGS map.
4. For the maze-like complex of trails at the base of the mountain near the Thunderbolt ski trail, this race-day map is very helpful.
5. New England Cartographics produces a Mt Greylock map, but as of the 2002 5th edition, the contour interval is 100 feet, the details are rather coarsely rendered, the paper material would quickly disintegrate in the field, the map and meridians are rotated to magnetic north (without even a note as to the actual declination), no tics (whether UTM or lat/long) are provided, and the scale is 31,680.
6. The Williams Outing Club produces a map for the Northern Berkshires, which can be purchased on its own or with the North Berkshire Outdoor Guide book.  The current version is in its 10th edition.  As of the 9th edition, the contour interval was 18 meters (59 feet), details rendering was excellent, and both UTM and lat/long tics were included.  But the paper material would quickly disintegrate in the field, the meridians are aligned to magnetic north, and the scale was 50,000. 
7. The AMC produces a map for the Northern Berkshires, Southwestern Massachusetts, and Wachusett Mountain Reservation, which can be purchased on its own or with the Massachusetts Trail Guide book.  The current version is in its 9th edition.  As of the 8th edition, the contour interval was 100 feet, details rendering was okay, the paper material would disintegrate almost immediately in the field, the map was rotated to 16.5 degrees west (as opposed to aligned with true north or even the 14.5-degree magnetic north), the tics (both UTM and lat/long) mainly lacked numbers, and the scale was 47,520.
8. The AMC previously produced a "Shaded Relief Map of Mt Greylock State Reservation" (through 1995 at least) on waterproof material, but it no longer seems to be available.  The 30k scale and large geographical coverage make it somewhat cumbersome in the field, but the tear-proof material somewhat compensates for that drawback.  More importantly, the 50-foot contours and other details are finely rendered, plus both lat/long and UTM tics are provided.  Unfortunately, although the map is aligned to true north, the meridians are aligned to magnetic north, which is useful if lacking a compass with adjustable declination, but otherwise confusing.
9. The Berkshire Natural Resources Council seems to have inherited the discontinued AMC map described above.  Meridians are now aligned to both true north and magnetic north, but unfortunately the map is now printed on regular map that will not last very long in the field.