Where do you get it? I've searched for it on google, amazon, and borders, but can't seem to find it. Also, is it correct that this is the most reliable and informative book out there for thru-hiking?

Where do you get it? I've searched for it on google, amazon, and borders, but can't seem to find it. Also, is it correct that this is the most reliable and informative book out there for thru-hiking?
http://www.trailplace.com/hb_2008edition.html

http://www.trailplace.com/hb_2008edition.html


No comment on the rest of the question? :rolleyes:

Where do you get it?
Buck-a-book I've searched for it on google, amazon, and borders, but can't seem to find it.
Try searching for "Wingfoot The Thruhikes Handbook"
Also, is it correct that this is the most reliable and informative book out there for thru-hiking?
At the last several Gatherings of long distrance hikers I've attended, no one I met held that opinion.

Have a good hike! :welcome

...Also, is it correct that this is the most reliable and informative book out there for thru-hiking?
That's to subjective to answer. All I can say is that any AT guidebook will be fine for the AT. Given the large number of towns/services that one must stop in for resupply it's inevitable that any one source will have mistakes in it. And they all have their share of mistakes/misinformation. Bottome line: Doesn't really matter which guidebook you pick.

No comment on the rest of the question? :rolleyes:

nope. all the guides are about the same

Where do you get it? I've searched for it on google, amazon, and borders, but can't seem to find it. Also, is it correct that this is the most reliable and informative book out there for thru-hiking?

There's one that's available for free - for the downloading, at www.aldha.org (http://www.aldha.org).

IMO, it's as good as any of them; I've been using it for years.

Campmor has it.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___16092

rmw

nope. all the guides are about the same
Wingfoot's book as of the 2006 and 2008 editions did not have age or size of trail shelters (good for predicting crowding), nor if they had privies or not. The ATC book did. I found this useful information, and (after finding someone's lost ATC Companion) during my thru wrote that by the shelter entries in my Wingfoot.

WF's book also would leave out occasional valid trail info out of apparently not approving of a certain business or location.

It was otherwise a good trail guide. I intend to carry a copy of it with me next year (along with a full set of ATC maps, the 3 National Geographic maps that cover part of the AT, Baltimore Jack's suggested resupply iteniary, and some other info).

I intend to carry a copy of it with me next year (along with a full set of ATC maps, the 3 National Geographic maps that cover part of the AT, Baltimore Jack's suggested resupply iteniary, and some other info).

I thought you said you were going lightweight this time :confused:

Where do you get it? I've searched for it on google, amazon, and borders, but can't seem to find it. Also, is it correct that this is the most reliable and informative book out there for thru-hiking?


Bought it from trailplace.com a few months ago -- got it fast. Shipping was included in the price. I guess I'll be right there with you finding out if it's a good guide.

You can get it at www.trailplace.com (http://www.trailplace.com).

the site is now under new management and I dare say may give Whiteblaze a run for it's money!!

As for how good the thru hikers handbook is.. when I hiked in 2006 plenty of folks made fun of Wingfoot but most of them carried his handbook. 'Nough said!

DavidNH

None of the 3 guides is perfect, nor will they ever be. I used the Wingfoot book and was generally very pleased.

One shouldn't have trouble walking from GA to ME or vice versa with any of them.

The fact is, a good deal of the info on the trail is given by word of mouth and shelter registers.

I thought you said you were going lightweight this time :confused:

I won't have all of that with me the whole Trail. I'm not going to have any Maine maps with me before Glencliff, say. Once I've passed the Smokies, that map goes home, and so on.

I won't have all of that with me the whole Trail. I'm not going to have any Maine maps with me before Glencliff, say. Once I've passed the Smokies, that map goes home, and so on.

yes, but my point is that you are carrying 4 different types of trail info at a time, when you only need 1 (if that).

yes, but my point is that you are carrying 4 different types of trail info at a time, when you only need 1 (if that).

1) The maps cover different sorts of information than the guidebook. One is no substitute for the other IMO.

2) The NG maps are only for the Smokies, the Whites, and a bit of Southern Maine. I know from experience that the NG maps have significant info (water sources, campsites, cross trails, etc.) that the ATC-supplied ones do not. I'd have gotten lost in the Whites more than once (that I did not) had I not had that NG map with me, the cross-trails are so numerous, and so inconsistently named & identified. (Why the AT couldn't just be "the AT" all the way through there, instead of the Jimmy Trail, the Joe Bob Trail, the Bob Joe Trail, etc., is beyond me.)

3) Baltimore Jack's list can be shrunk to about 2 double-sided sheets of paper with reduced type.

So, I start out at Sylacauga with just my Pinhoti handbook and Pinhoti maps. I get to the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega, and get rid of all those. I pick up (from a maildrop there) only the ~3 ATC maps to get me to Fontana, one sheet of Jack's list, and my Wingfoot book. At Fontana, I get my maildrop, mail the 1st 3 maps home, pick up about 3 more ATC maps + the NG one. First hostel stop after the GSNP, I mail off the NG map. And so on. Not so bad IMO. Oh, and I will have a companion to split carrying the weight of all those maps. (She's carrying a whole-AT strip map.) :sun

i'd recommend having hunter's orange on the pinhoti..esp the southern portions.

i'd recommend having hunter's orange on the pinhoti..esp the southern portions.

I honestly hadn't thought about needing that before getting to the North in fall, but that makes sense.

I honestly hadn't thought about needing that before getting to the North in fall, but that makes sense.

i did the southern portions in january and saw quite a few hunters. the 99 cent plastic vests at walmart do the trick..