AWOL Guide vs Thru-Hiker's Campanion
Which guide do you believe is better to use and carry on the trail?
EVERYONE told me that AWOL was the best, but it seems that it is not always accurate and people sometime call him A HOLE!
The AWOL guide isn't perfect, but it is much better then the companion. My complaint with the companion is it lacks way too many water sources. In 2011, I threw mine out in VA and quickly purchased the AWOL guide and was much happier having accurate reliable data.
The Companion does give a bit more info on random things along the trail (Audie Murphy monument comes to mind), but that is its only saving grace.
I've used both. I like AWOLs better. The elevation guide comes in handy.
AWOL, much easier to read and find info than the Companion. I went with AWOL last year and again this year
Are these people too cheap to buy a current version, then whining that the old version is no longer accurate? Or, just thru-hikers with a sense of entitlement to perfection, who get their panties in a wad easily, even strolling through the woods on vacation?Originally Posted by Gurooves
RainMan
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[I]ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: ... Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit....[/I]. Numbers 35
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I have used both and prefer AWOL (fromat, elevations, easy to read, etc..). Please note there have been multiple threads on this. You might want to try using the Search feature.
The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
Richard Ewell, CSA General
AWOLS by a long shot
-Jason
I have to 2009 Appalachian Pages which is my go to book. All the GPS coordinates are right on for as trailheads,road crossings,etc. I alos use the elevation chg. just to let me know when Im close to the top(lol). I need to pickup a new one. I've use both,I just like how AWOL book is layed out. HYOH
+1 for AWOL's. He also a really good fella and helped me out when I lost part of mine this year. I hiked with two other sobos this year who didn't have it (one had the companion, the other just had the data book) and they were always asking me about what was up ahead...
Elevation charts is why I buy AWOLS.
Awol
Sorry if this is a stupid question but what does "AWOL" stand for
The name of the book is AWOL on the Appalachian Trail. From what I can tell it is referred to as AWOL.
Thanks for the info.
I believe AWOL is David Miller's trail name. David Miller is the author of the AT guidebook.
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=29905
http://www.theatguide.com/
Last edited by Deer Hunter; 01-18-2013 at 15:38.
AWOL is an acronym for absent without leave which David Miller chose as his trail name. His book is very good IMO.
Still not sure if you got your question answered correctly, it means Absent WithOut Leave. It's a Military term for when a soldier deserts. David Miller left his job without his bosses blessing, and was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to get his job back, so he considered himself "AWOL", and so went his trail name. :-)
Just to clarify, two different books have been mentioned here, both by AWOL.
The AT Guide. That's the trail guide for hikers.
AWOL on the Appalachian Trail. That's AWOL's adventures on his own thru-hike, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Agreed. I really like the elevation guide in AWOL too!
I used the companion for my first hike and while at shelters, I compared it to AWOL's guide, finding AWOL's guide to be more helpful for my hike. I do miss some of the random info from the companion, but that does not outweigh the usefulness of the AWOL guide.
AWOL in my humble opinion.
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