Hey all, I went on a trip off the Seagull entry point last year for the first time and bought a brand new Fisher map from Seagull outfitters. It was a 6 day trip and was a very sunny one, and I didn't realize it at the time, but when I pulled out the map a few weeks ago to plan another trip, the red markings on the map that show portages and campsites were so faded (I assume by the sun) that I needed to take a red pen and redraw all of them. Some were completely faded I had to use the maps on BWCA.com to take an educated guess on where the portages and campsites are.

Has anyone else experienced extreme sun fading on your maps? My guess is I should just leave the map facing down in my canoe when not actively looking at it so avoid this in the future? Maybe there are map cases out there that block UV rays or whatever might be causing the fading? Or maybe other branded maps are better than Fisher...

Thanks for the help :)

-Jacob

I’ve never really had any problem like that except on my maps from the 1990s, but even those I can still see the dots. I have usually just carried my maps in zip lock bags and never worried about the sun being on them. I’m sure some of my maps have been on 8-10 trips.

I bring two maps, and keep one in my first-aid kit (backup) and the other as a "working" map in the canoe. The "working" canoe map fades after a couple of trips.

If you're worried about it you could just take it in and out of the canoe when you're not in the water? Or your face-down suggestion might solve the problem...

I've never had a map fade at all, but I use McKenzie maps.....

I haven't had any problems with Voyageur maps fading. I don't use Fisher maps so I can't speak for them. My maps are out in the sun throughout the trip.

I have some pretty well used Fisher maps and they have not faded. I have had a few lose color from being wet for an extended period of time but not from the sun.

Sounds like they changed up their ink.
Tom

I would check the print date on the map if there is one and also contact Seagull Outfitters.

I would think Seagull Outfitters would want to know if they have a bad bunch Fischer Maps.

I wouldn't think that a map should fade that bad in such a short time.

Faded from years of use. But by then, I wasn't really referring to the map anyway. My campsites are marked in ballpoint ink.

It's a badge of honor like a scratch in your canoe.... shows that you use it.

Thanks everyone for the responses! Seems like maybe I just got unlucky with my Fisher map. I recently bought a new one for the west side of the BWCA, if this one fades as well I will be switching to a different brand.