TWO PALS PUT WEB SITE ON THE MAP.

Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer

Bill Everett wanted a U.S. Geological Survey topographical map of his Massachussetts backyard.

But getting the layout required purchasing four USGS maps - the yard is on the corner of a USGS quadrant and he could not get a complete layout without the four maps.

Everett figured there had to be a better way. So he teamed with friend Ed McNirney to form Maps a la carte Inc. The duo takes USGS maps or portions of maps and makes them into a single map. The maps can be downloaded and printed for free from their Web site: www.topozone.com.

``We're map nuts,'' Everett said. ``We like the outdoors and thought this would cater to hikers, backpackers, fishermen, hunters.''

It cost the pair $30,000 to purchase the USGS's digitalized maps. Internet users can type in a place - such as Mount Baldy - and several Mount Baldy sites appear. Users then hit the Mount Baldy, San Bernardino, spot and the San Gabriel Mountains page - with Mount Baldy - appears. The continental U.S. is on the site and the company is working on adding Alaska and Puerto Rico.

``If you're planning a trip to Colorado or to the Sierra and you live on the East Coast like I do, you can't get those maps easily,'' Everett said. ``If you purchase the CD programs, you get only a specific area and you would have to purchase another CD program to get another area.''

The Web site's search feature has 2 million name recognitions. But typing in ``San Gabriel River,'' a favorite hiking, fishing and picnicking area for San Gabriel Valley-area residents, only brings up ``San Gabriel River, Texas.''

``The maps are named by the USGS quadrants,'' Everett explained. ``So if you type in `San Gabriel,' you might get a town. You would have to know the name of the quadrant.''

The site receives an average of 350,000 visitors each month with each visitor seeing an average of seven pages per visit.

``The amount of visitors (to the site) has been beyond what we expected,'' Everett said. ``It has surprised us.''

USGS quadrant are done in scales of 1:24,000 or 1:25,000. Topozone maps can be viewed in scales of 1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:100,000 or 1:200,000. Once a page comes up, users can click on a point and then print what is being viewed. But magnetic north is not displayed on the site.

``It's really perfect for day hikers,'' Everett said.

The company will eventually offer a program, at about $75, to download a map to the person's hard drive. This will have magnetic details and allow users to find minute details or to print the maps in USGS quality.

``We want to extend the capabilities of people who like maps and use these maps,'' Everett said.