James Wilson, Cartographer

After spending several years extensively collecting data on campsites, water sources, and trail routes, and developing my GIS skills and infrastructure, I launched Elevation Changes Cartographic in 2022 to publish the field map of the Timberline National Historic Trail. Since then I have expanded the collection of maps to include more Pacific Northwest forests and mountains as well as National Parks. Creating each map is a time extensive process, building and reviewing datasets and creating backgrounds to blend essential cartographic elements for navigation to create maps that inspire and guide explorers in their love for the forests, mountains, and rivers of our natural spaces.

Elevation Changes Cartographic

Explore!

I'm motivated by the notion that time outdoors engaging with natural spaces creates a positive impact in peoples lives, local communities, and the world at large. Whether it be hiking, backpacking, running, mountaineering, biking, walking, birding, hunting, overlanding, motorcycling or any of the pathways for connecting with nature and the landscape outside of our engineered cityscapes, I hope my maps can help be part of the experience.

Trail Construction with the USFS

Tongass National Forest, AK

I spent years working and living in southeast Alaska working on trail construction, maintenance and recreational cabins with the United States Forest Service. My time their instilled with a love of the trails systems and deep sense of their importance in being available and accessible to the public for our explorations.

Oregon

Elevation Changes

Initially I started ElevationChanges.com as a blog to share my adventures and photography while living outside of Portland, Oregon. When when I began to create maps Elevation Changes felt like the natural identity to evolve into a brand.

Elevation Changes Map Store

Interested in maps?

If you're interested in custom maps or sizes, have questions, are interested in wholesale map purchases, have some updates from the field to improve my maps, feel free to send me a message!

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