View Full Version : A quick hiking guide question
RadioFreq
02-04-2008, 17:10
I expect to be on Mt. Springer approx. Mar. 1st, 2009. What's the earliest in 2008 I can expect to be able to order a guide book with the latest updates for 2009? I haven't decided which one I'm going to go with yet so I expect different dates for different guides. Anyone got this info.?
Chaco Taco
02-04-2008, 17:14
The Appalachian pages book arrived a couple of weeks ago. Should set ya straight. Use the 08 guidebook, sure not too too much will change by then. Updates are made pretty quickly so you can plan.
Preordder was before Xmas
Jack Tarlin
02-04-2008, 17:16
Next year's principal Trail Guidebooks, of which there are now three, will in all likelihood be available by mid (or late ) January of 2009.
AT-HITMAN2005
02-04-2008, 17:30
i've gotten the Appalachian pages and thru-hiker handbooks new editions already.
Frolicking Dinosaurs
02-04-2008, 17:32
Was with with Dixi when she bought ALDHA's 2008 Companion at the local outfitter today.
RadioFreq
02-04-2008, 17:49
So what I'm hearing is that if I want the absolute latest edition of whichever guide
strikes my fancy I should plan on getting it in mid-Jan of 2009. Or I should just take
Col. Chaco's advice and go with the 2008 edition of.....whichever.
I shall mull further on this. :-?
max patch
02-04-2008, 17:53
I would use the online companion to "plan" your hike this year; and then buy whatever 2009 handbook you decide on next January to use on your trip.
I would also wait til Thanksgiving and buy the state guidebooks and map sets at the ATC annual sale; which is approx Thanksgiving thru just before Christmas.
Jack Tarlin
02-04-2008, 17:55
The Guides don't change a lot each year. But there are indeed some changes......new Trail-related businesses open their doors. Older ones close. Prices change. There are new shelters. In some cases, there are even some major re-locations of the Trail. As a rule then, you're always best off to get your hands on the most accurate and most recent Trail Guide you can find. I suggest you get one or more of the new 2008 Guides (as well as a map set) for your long-range trip planning, and then, when you've had a chance to examine the different guides and compare them, you can purchase a current 2009 Guide shortly before you leave for your trip.
Be aware that one of these guides, the 2007 Thru-Hikers Companion, can be examined for free On-Line at www.aldha.org
Was with with Dixi when she bought ALDHA's 2008 Companion at the local outfitter today.
Still waiting for it to hit my local store.
Kirby
_terrapin_
02-04-2008, 22:52
RF -- don't sweat it. If you have to start your hike with "last year's" guide you're not going to miss much. The guide isn't your sole source of info. Other hikers, and entries in shelter registers will see you through. The real/actual changes from year to year (with regard to off-trail services) are roughly comparable to the margin of error of any given guide.
So what I'm hearing is that if I want the absolute latest edition of whichever guide
strikes my fancy I should plan on getting it in mid-Jan of 2009. Or I should just take
Col. Chaco's advice and go with the 2008 edition of.....whichever.
I shall mull further on this. :-?
If you expecting to be at Springer on March 1st then you have plenty of time to recieve which ever 2009 guidebook you want to go with. They all come out about mid January. In the mentime you could by the 2008 guidebook and use it to look through and start your planning. As Jack stated not, much really changes from year to year.