MyTopo is proud to announce that it is has completed the printing of more than 1000 waterproof topographic maps covering most of southwestern South Dakota for use by the highly-trained athletes competing in this year's Primal Quest Adventure Race, billed as the "World's Most Challenging Human Endurance Race". In addition to the race maps, MyTopo has printed map sets for use by the search and rescue personnel, the race management team, and media covering the race, which begins August 14 in The Badlands of South Dakota.

The maps must be detailed and durable enough to be the teams' sole navigation aide during ten days of grueling human-powered racing through every type of weather and geographic obstacle. MyTopo custom-centers and scales the data to put the entire 600 mile course onto as few map sheets as possible. The maps are printed on the company's proprietary waterproof, tear-resistant paper, with UV-fade resistant inks, which results in a nearly indestructible map.

According to Kevin Toohill, MyTopo CEO, this year the teams will carry 15 maps each. "That sounds like a lot of maps, but if the teams had to rely on the traditional USGS 7.5 minute quad sheets, they would be carrying at least 45 maps to cover the entire area."

"MyTopo maps are the gold standard among adventure racers. They match the toughness of an elite adventure racer," said Don Mann, director of Primal Quest, a former Navy Seal, and one of the most respected and renowned leaders in the sport of adventure racing.

New this year, MyTopo provided its award-winning Terrain Navigator Pro mapping software to the Primal Quest course designers. "The software provided a platform for the course designers to use to plot out the course logistics and share mapping data with Federal and State land managers, law enforcement, and race management to ensure a challenging, but safe experience for the racers. One of the most helpful features was being able to simultaneously work with topographic and aerial data," said Greg Vogel, Primal Quest's Technology Director, who believes this year's course offers unique challenges.

The race's online spectators will be able to view the same detailed topographic data the racers are relying on by clicking on the MyTopo tab on the Primal Quest Badlands Presented by SPOT leader board. The tracking data transmitted by the SPOT devices worn by the racers will be viewable real-time on fully detailed topographic maps, making it more exciting to follow the teams as they traverse The Badlands.

"MyTopo is proud to have been a part of its fourth Primal Quest race, and wishes all involved great success for a safe and exciting ten days, " said Toohill.

MyTopo supports the adventure racing community via its popular adventure race director discount program, which allows race organizers to purchase maps at a fifty percent discount, providing a 10% discount on all individual training maps ordered via the Primal Quest website (www.ecoprimalquest.com) providing discounts to members of the US Adventure Racing Association, and providing maps for the USARA Championship race each year. MyTopo is a private company based in Billings, MT, providing navigation-ready mapping services, data and software. For more information about MyTopo, please visit www.mytopo.com or call 877-587-9004.