The Mountaineers Library contains an extensive collection of maps as a reference resource for both the members and the general public. Not surprisingly, this collection leans heavily toward the Pacific Northwest and other mountainous areas throughout the world. The majority of the maps are housed in the flat map cabinet, but a few items are located on top of the cabinet.

Locating a particular map of interest
If you do not know the title or reference number of the specific map, you wish to consult, the best way to proceed is from the larger geographical area to the smaller area, from the general to the specific. Locate your particular area of interest on a map, which covers a large area with very little detail, (a small scale map) which shows only major features such as rivers, cities, national boundaries and mountain ranges with major peaks. Then move to the progressively more detailed, larger scale maps which show smaller areas in much greater detail. Many times it is not necessary to take this much trouble because guidebook descriptions of trails, hikes and climbs usually contain map references, but many times they don't! For Example: In order to study the Paradise to Camp Muir hiking route at Mount Rainier, First locate Mount Rainier on a Washington State map. This gives you a specific idea of where within Washington State, Mount Rainier is located. Now, using the USGS Index of Washington State (a map of Washington divided into smaller maps), once again find Mount Rainier, and the index will show you which USGS quad sheets cover Mount Rainier. Actually, the index will give you references to one special map of Mount Rainier National Park and four quad sheets, Mount Rainier East, Mount Rainier West, Sunrise and Mowich Lake. The national park map is in drawer #2, the quad sheets are located in drawers #3, 4 & 5 of the flat map file cabinet, filed alphabetically. The quad sheets and other large-scale maps show an area in the kind of detail you're interested in when you're planning a hike or a climb. If you first look at the medium scale Mount Rainier National Park map, you'll be able to locate both Paradise and Camp Muir on the southeast side of the mountain. From that information, you'll find that the Paradise to Camp Muir route is shown in the most detail on the Mount Rainier East map

Notes on reading scales and using the indexes.

Drawer 1
NATIONAL PARKS and MONUMENTS: USGS Special map sheets
(National Forest & Wilderness Areas are filed in state reference drawers)
View index of Drawer 1

Drawer 2
WASHINGTON STATE REFERENCE: Green Trails, Custom Correct, National Parks, National Forest & Wilderness Areas
View index of Drawer 2

Drawer 3
WASHINGTON STATE, USGS TOPOGRAPHIC: 7.5' & 15' Quad Sheets, Names A - G
View index of Drawer 3, 4, 5

Drawer 4
WASHINGTON STATE, USGS TOPOGRAPHIC: 7.5' & 15' Quad Sheets, Names H - M
View index of Drawer 3, 4, 5

Drawer 5
WASHINGTON STATE, USGS TOPOGRAPHIC: 7.5' & 15' Quad Sheets, Names N - Z
View index of Drawer 3, 4, 5

Drawer 6
ALASKA: Miscellaneous (a mixed bag, but pretty comprehensive.)
View index of Drawer 6

Drawer 7
CANADA: Miscellaneous (another mixed bag, but also pretty comprehensive.)
View index of Drawer 7

Drawer 8
FOREIGN MAPS: Europe (Alps), Mexico, South America (Andes)
View index of Drawer 8

Drawer 9
FOREIGN MAPS: Asia (Himalaya), Africa, New Zealand, Antarctica
View index of Drawer 9

Drawer 10
SAILING and SEA KAYAKING CHARTS
View index of Drawer 10

Drawer 11
CALIFORNIA & OREGON: Miscellaneous (a very mixed bag.)
View index of Drawer 11

Drawer 12
WESTERN UNITED STATES: (other than Washington, Oregon or California)
View index of Drawer 12

Drawer 13
WASHINGTON ENVIRONMENTAL ATLAS

Drawer 15
HISTORICAL MAPS, Rare and oversized books
Maps in this drawer remain to be inventoried and listed.

NOTE: Map Indexes for United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Canadian Government Survey Maps are located in a plastic file box on top of the flat map file cabinet. Many foreign map indexes are shown in The World Map Directory 1992-1993, on the reference shelf.

Maps, not filed in map file drawers:
1. Rand/McNally World Atlas, 1990; on open reference shelf
2. B. C. Provincial Parks and recreational maps: in file box on top of map File cabinet.
3. Miscellaneous bicycling maps: in another file box on top of the map file cabinet.