WTB: Foothills Trail Guide and Map.

[headchange4u]

I have decided to try and thru hike the FootHills Trail (http://www.foothillstrail.org/) this year and I wanted to see if anyone had the guide book and map they might want to sell. The most current version would be nice but I will condiser other editions.

I can pay via PayPal or any other method you prefer. You can email me at

headchangestudio (at) gmail (dot) com

or send me a PM.

Thanks

Jason

[The Solemates]

Call Jonathan at Appalachian Outfitters in Greenville. Tell him I sent you. He'll mail you one. They are reasonably priced.

Phone: 864.987.0618
Fax: 864.987.0089
Email: info@appoutfitters.com

[g8trh8tr]

You can also purchase a guide book here:

http://www.foothillstrail.org/permanent/store.htm

[Mother Nature]

I found the separate map much more useful than the maps and descriptions in the guide book.

[Nightwalker]

Mark this up as a warning not to use appalachian outfitters. They definitely do not stand behind what they sell.

Get the map from the FHTC and put the money where it'll help the trail.

[Phreak]

Mark this up as a warning not to use appalachian outfitters. They definitely do not stand behind what they sell.

Please provide details as to why we shouldn't use appalachian outfitters.
Thanks.

[Nightwalker]

Please provide details as to why we shouldn't use appalachian outfitters.
Thanks.

In 2004, I bought a microporous polypro rainsuit from them. I asked if it was identical to a Frogg Toggs rainsuit. Johnathan--the owner--said "it uses the same material." That was technically true. They're both microporous polypropolene. They weren't anywhere near the same quality, however. I then said to Johnathan "I'm so glad. This is the last thing for my AT hike, and I couldn't really afford an expensive rain setup." He smiled and told me that was great. I had bought 99% of my gear from him, including some that he recommended that turned out to be more of something he needed to get rid of more than something useful, IMO. (A Gregory Stinger pack. He talked me out of getting a much better one for a similar price, The G pack of that year. This was his only Stinger and it was already out of production. Shame on me for not knowing how to find out things about gear on the net.).

Two weeks later, when I came back for a weekend, I came back with the jacket and took it in. His assistant manager was there, and when I asked for a partial store credit, saying that the jacket had ripped out under the arm my first night on the trail, just from wearing it while hanging my pack up on a hook in the shelter, This kid said that I "should have known that it was a piece of crap because of how cheap it was." Said that I "should have bought a Precip if I'd have wanted something that was any good." He also said that "unless Johnathan looked you straight in the eye and said 'this is good enough for a thru-hike' then there's no way that I can help you out."

Well, if it was so cheap, why was his back wall covered in them? Why was his store name embroidered on them? Why did he have them in the store in the first place? Why didn't he tell me that I was messing up when I bought it specifically for a thru attempt? Other stores with other salesmen have said "that's not really what you want" when I'm picking out something that doesn't fit the bill. It's about a customer relationship, and this guy was just blowing smoke. Or maybe he thought I'd hike once, he'd not have to worry about seeing me again, and it'd be no problem. Partial store credit for a defective rain jacket would've kept me there, and I've bought thousands of dollars in gear since then. You can bet that the other three local outfitters that I use are very nice, and not just because I'm a gearhead with expensive tastes. Some people just do business differently.

Well, you wanted details, and I'd take a polygraph about every word. I could have came back later and talked to Johnathan himself, but I was too angry and hurt to trust myself on that one. Not to mention, this guy was his direct representative, and if I talk to your guy, I might as well be talking to you, correct?

Anyway, maybe I should have just left it with "I'd not recommend Appalachian Outfitters," but people need to watch how they spend their money, especially if they don't have it to throw away. Funny thing is that they're slogan at the time was something like "we'll make it right if it's not right," or something like that!

[headchange4u]

I should have updated the thread. I got a copy of the guide book and map a couple of months back.

As stated before the map is all you really need.

[Ramble~On]

I should have updated the thread. I got a copy of the guide book and map a couple of months back.

As stated before the map is all you really need.

I hiked the Foothills Trail in March...it was hot then ! Excellent Hike.
I used the guidebook and left the stand alone map at home.
Yeah the guidebook is a bit big and flipping through the pages to the foldout maps was a pain at times...I liked having it along as the mileage helped me set goals for each day and there's enough info thrown in to make for some reading.
I hope to do the trail again in August and see how much weight I can drop in four days when I do...the guidebook stays home and just the map goes.