View Full Version : What Guidebooks To Take
Just wondering what sort of reference material people take on their hike. Is there any sort of map/guide book that is meant to be carried with one on a thru, or at least easily photo copied into smaller sections? Whenever I hike in my area, I rarely even bring maps... I mean... You just follow the white blazes.
Blue Jay
11-27-2006, 02:41
Use the ATC book. It's very good and buying it supports the Trail.
freefall
11-27-2006, 02:49
Just wondering what sort of reference material people take on their hike. Is there any sort of map/guide book that is meant to be carried with one on a thru, or at least easily photo copied into smaller sections? Whenever I hike in my area, I rarely even bring maps... I mean... You just follow the white blazes.
Uhoh! I feel the waves getting bigger, get ready......:D
Seriously, everybody has their opinions about which books to take on a hike. And everyone has an opinion about whether to take maps or not, etc...
Personally, I used the ATC's Data Book and the ALDHA's Companion. Though from what I understand the Companion has a new format now and you wouldn't neccessarily need the Data Book.
Several people just rip the books up and mail the corresponding sections in their mail drops or bounce box. Or make photocopies of the sections they need. There's even a CDrom available of the Data Book but I don't think it's been updated in several years.
Best thing to do would be to go to an outfitter(s) and look at the ones they have available. You can get a feel for which one you might find easiest to use.
Oh, and they all have errors to some degree due to relocations, or the editors not having hiked the trail in going on many years, etc...just a hazard of a dynamic trail like the AT. These are rarely huge and though you might hear some grumbling from other hikers about the error, I have never heard of anyone dying from one.
SalParadise
11-27-2006, 16:57
Data Book or Wingfoot both are great.
Topo maps are neat, but far from necessary.
1 or 2 y/o versions are just fine, too, you only run into a few more reroutes that aren't noted. I've only ever found year-old versious of either book in an outfitter, though.
It would be totally possible to just follow the blazes the whole way, but with a serious injury always a possibility, knowing where the road crossings are could be essential.
The books can also help you plan water stops so you won't have to carry so much at a time, or they can keep you aware of water sources that otherwise would be easy to walk past.
The AT Tru-Hikers' Companion produced by ALDAH and published by ATC is fairly complete. The 2006 edition contains all the information formerly in the DataBook as well all the stuff from earlier Companions. It is as up-to-date as you can reasonably expect.
The only problem with the Companion and other trail summaries is that they don't have any information on the history and natural stuff you will be passing through. But if you were to carry all the necessary books on flora, fauna, history and geology you couldn't carry anything else. However, I do recommend taking Wildflowers of the Smokies because there are lots of early spring flowers you will get curious about if you pay attention. They will be the only color in the woods other than green and brown until June. By then, you will know the flowers well enough and will have passed beyond the range of the book.
The sectional trail guides from ATC are informative, but they add up to a lot of weight even if you only carry one for the section you are in at the moment. They are usually out of date about trail conditions, but good if you are interested in background.
As far as I can tell, the only use for the maps is to see how far up and down I went today and might go tomorrow. I've never needed them for navigation on the AT.
Kemp, Steve, ed., DeFoe, Don, ed., et al., Wildflowers of the Smokies, Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg. 1996.
Jack Tarlin
11-27-2006, 17:27
I disagree with several posters who have commented that maps either aren't necessary or are only marginally useful.
There are all sorts of good reasons to carry them, and only one real reason not to, and that's to save money.
There are better ways to cut corners on your expenses.
Boat Drinks
11-27-2006, 17:30
I disagree with several posters who have commented that maps either aren't necessary or are only marginally useful.
There are all sorts of good reasons to carry them, and only one real reason not to, and that's to save money.
There are better ways to cut corners on your expenses.
Jack, I asked a question regarding this on the other Trail Guide/Map thread going right now, could you respond there?
Jack Tarlin
11-27-2006, 18:05
Consider it done.
SalParadise
11-27-2006, 18:18
I disagree with several posters who have commented that maps either aren't necessary or are only marginally useful.
There are all sorts of good reasons to carry them, and only one real reason not to, and that's to save money.
There are better ways to cut corners on your expenses.
Jack, I respect your opinion, but the Data Book and Wingfoot both have road crossings on them and distances to town. What extra value would more detailed maps provide? In case a hiker got lost and needed a route back to the Trail? (or should I look to the other thread?)
I found the maps to be neat to look at, but not especially necessary, but of course I understand that every hiker faces unique circumstances.
Jack Tarlin
11-27-2006, 18:26
Sal:
There's lots more on the other thread, but in brief, if all you've got is Wingfoot or the Companion, your alternatives in an emergency situation are:
1. Retrace your steps and go back the way you came.
2. Continue along to the next known crossing.
3. Take your chances and follow a side trail, path, or stream to where you
think help lies.
If you have maps and can read them, you'll have a MUCH better idea of how to get out of the woods in a hurry. You'll be able to reach civilization faster, you'll get to a town or phone faster, you can report an emergency faster. You'll also be MUCH better equipped if you should choose to leave the Trail for any reason and bushwhack across the backcountry in order to get help.
In short, the maps will tell you whether it's best to go ahead down the Trail for help, go backwards, leave the Trail to get assistance, or stay put. They'll tell you what's actually out there......without them, ALL you'll have for information is what's in your Guidebook, i.e. how far you are from the nearest road, and in an emergency situation, merely knowing where the closest road is located doesn't cut it. Having a map and knowing how to read it can provide you with all sorts of options, and in an emergency, the more options one has, the better.
SalParadise
11-27-2006, 18:54
To your point, Jack, I'm remembering a time in Virginia in 04 when I had a bad knee problem and took an older blue blaze to get off the Trail. After three miles it totally disappeared and I didn't have the strength to walk back uphill. After some good fortune I found a bike trail and eventually got out, but no doubt a more detailed map would have made me a lot more comfortable.
So yeah, after remembering that incident, I can understand how good maps would help. And no doubt if a rattlesnake got you and you didn't have a day to hike out anymore, cutting down the woods on your own to a road might be the best course of action. So I will gracefully turn 180.
To the point of expence, doing some research for a section hike, I've noticed that on the websites for trail maintenance groups, many have excellent topo maps on them that possibly could be printed out in good quality to save a person some money, though I know whole sets are often discounted.
Jack Tarlin
11-27-2006, 19:02
The cost of carrying maps on a thru-hike works out to less than a dollar a day, and in some cases, it's significantly less than that if one gets a used set from a previous hiker.
Hikers spend much more of this each day on candy bars, and as much as I love them, a Heath Bar will not save my life.
(Also, while most hikers enjoy holding onto their trip maps, in many cases,
they can be sold when one's trip is over, meaning one can recover a great
deal of the money spent on them. In short, skipping maps to save money
just isn't worth it, there are MUCH better ways to do it).
sleeveless
11-27-2006, 19:04
I think that carrying the maps in addition to your choice of guidebooks is helpful because they show the profile and you might plan your milage differently when you can look at the profile of the upcoming trail. It also will show you where the shelters and water are again in a profile of the elevations. Worth carrying.
Sleeveless '05
Blissful
11-27-2006, 19:37
Uhoh! I feel the waves getting bigger, get ready......:D
Seriously, everybody has their opinions about which books to take on a hike. And everyone has an opinion about whether to take maps or not, etc...
Personally, I used the ATC's Data Book and the ALDHA's Companion.
I'm thinking though since the newer versions of the companion now have listings such as road crossings and water sources, only that one is probably necessary now (along with maps of the region).
Right?
Mr. Parkay
11-27-2006, 20:50
Hey Guys,
I just wanted to cast my vote for the Wingfoot Book. There are several reasons why I prefer it to the other choices: One reason is that it has more mileage data than the 2006 Companion or the Data Book. For example, Wingfoot lists the location of power lines, underground Pipline easements, "Secret" shelters, etc. This came in handy quite a few times during my hike. Plus, I think the Wingfoot book is set up a little better than the Companion, since the mileage data is all up front and the details are in back... this made it easier to find what I needed.
On the other hand, a benetfit to the Companion is that it has shelter specs and sometimes historical information about where you're at. Guess it depends what you are looking for.
The Data book is a little bit too bare bones for me, and it's oriented backwards (from a NOBOs perspective).
I agree with everyone else about the Maps... they are great if you have them, but its fine if you dont.
freefall
11-27-2006, 21:47
I'm thinking though since the newer versions of the companion now have listings such as road crossings and water sources, only that one is probably necessary now (along with maps of the region).
Right?
Right. That's why I through that line (about the new book) in. I didn't buy the 2006 Companion because I already had the other two. I didn't even really glance at it- knew I'd want to buy it if I did.