View Full Version : Awol Guide - 1s & 0s or tree pulp
This post presupposes that taking the publication "Awol on the Appalachian Trail" guide is a reasonable and good idea, so please feel free to critique that as well.
The main questions here is, paper or digital? I'll have my phone already and carrying a digital version seems like an easy way to save weight (and a little money). What do you think the upside and downsides are? My biggest concern is just having to look at my phone a lot (even if it's on airplane mode) because a subgoal of the trip is to be somewhat disconnected. I'm not particularly worried about my phone dying and being left without a map since as many people pointed out here it's a pretty well-trodden path (should I be?).
Has anyone who has done this, or thought about doing this and decided not to, comment on how it worked out or why they didn't?
Starchild
11-28-2016, 14:14
Actual both is best, paper alone is next for good reason.
I had both during my thru, and used the phone version a lot but sometimes I couldn't. When it rains the touch screen would not respond when wet. This also made it difficult to use to the point of giving up trying when the summer heat hits and the sweat starts pouring down. Also there is the ever present possibility of accidentally leaving the phone off airplane mode and inadvertently running the battery down.
Having one single guide in paper does meet in full the need for paper (and you only need the pages for the week or so, picking up the rest down trail at a post office or something). Have as many electronic guides as you wish, they do help.
Uncle Joe
11-28-2016, 14:17
FWIW, I'm a section hiker and I don't carry the book. I do, however, take a pic of the section I'm hiking and refer to that. I also use Guthook's App and find it very useful on the trail.
I use a combo of the AWOL .pdf and Guthook.
B.j. Clark
11-28-2016, 14:47
I had both versions of the AWOL guide but found myself using the paper guide at the end of the day or in the morning before departure. Then the Guthook app during the hiking day. I also wrote notes in the guidebook as I planned rough daily mileages to estimate the number of days to potential resupply points. I don't think I ever actually used the PDF version!
colorado_rob
11-28-2016, 14:57
Even though I thoroughly subscribed to 1's and 0's *** for most things, I took the paper AWOL, separated into sections of course to save weight.
I did this primarily because I used the AWOL margins to make notes on the trail, a kind of journal, stating where I stayed each night, who I met, any significant waa-hoo's, that sort of thing. So even though it was a few ounces extra (carrying the 1/4 AWOL quide), it had a dual purpose. Also saved phone battery life.
(*** An applicable quote: "There are 10 types of people in the world, those that understand binary arithmetic, and those that don't")
(*** An applicable quote: "There are 10 types of people in the world, those that understand binary arithmetic, and those that don't")
10100111001
soumodeler
11-28-2016, 16:16
Getting both is only slightly more expensive and having it on your phone weighs nothing.
I also use the Guthook App, and probably use it more than the AWOL guide on paper, and for sure more than the PDF.
Whoa, $60 for all the AT maps on the Guthook app.
Sounds like a lot of people thought it was worth it, though. Does seem way better than a PDF.
Starchild
11-28-2016, 17:33
Whoa, $60 for all the AT maps on the Guthook app.
Sounds like a lot of people thought it was worth it, though. Does seem way better than a PDF.
It is worth it, when I thru'ed there was a simular AT app to Guthook, IIRC it was AT trails, it has been since discontinued. I bought them one at a time, sort of a celebration of getting to a new section. That app had something like 23 sections, each about $4 IIRC. It also helped divide up very long sections such as the state of VA. Guthook charges more per section but has fewer of them.
Also this past summer I hiked El Camino in Spain. After trying a few apps for it, none worked well, I decided to see if Guthook had that also, which it did and was a very happy clam.
Slo-go'en
11-28-2016, 18:30
Whoa, $60 for all the AT maps on the Guthook app.
Sounds like a lot of people thought it was worth it, though. Does seem way better than a PDF.
Yea, but who knows, you might not end up buying all the Guthook sections. You can get them as you go along. It's still worth having the Companion or AWOL guides in print too. I find the printed guides easier to work with for planning, be it for the next trip or for the next couple of days or week on the trail. Really, one supplements the other.
Awol Guide, don't leave home without it.
ScareBear
11-28-2016, 21:03
Guthook for the phone.
Official AT "paper" map for that section.
Appropriate section from Official AT Section Book removed and taken with.
Suunto A10 compass.
Any notes from research, I've scribbled in the margins of the Section Book...
I make my living off of 1s and 0s which is probably why I wouldn't trust them with my life in the woods. I do carry a smart phone but not for navigation. That could change. I try to keep an open mind about it.
jjozgrunt
11-28-2016, 22:01
I'm just going to use the AWOL pdf and Guthook. Back up battery and I should be fine. Should the worst happen I'll just have to suck it up and ask to see someone's paper version until I can get to a town. Big departure for me as I would never travel the aussie trails without a map, but then I've gone days on some of our tracks or in some cases the whole trip without seeing anyone, which makes it hard to borrow anything.
rocketsocks
11-29-2016, 00:19
10100111001i wouldn't say that
dzierzak
11-29-2016, 11:39
This post presupposes that taking the publication "Awol on the Appalachian Trail" guide is a reasonable and good idea, so please feel free to critique that as well.
The main questions here is, paper or digital? I'll have my phone already and carrying a digital version seems like an easy way to save weight (and a little money). What do you think the upside and downsides are? My biggest concern is just having to look at my phone a lot (even if it's on airplane mode) because a subgoal of the trip is to be somewhat disconnected. I'm not particularly worried about my phone dying and being left without a map since as many people pointed out here it's a pretty well-trodden path (should I be?).
Has anyone who has done this, or thought about doing this and decided not to, comment on how it worked out or why they didn't?
It may be obvious, but don't confuse "Awol on the Appalachian Trail" with the guide. Two different things.
atraildreamer
11-29-2016, 13:41
10100111001
37210
...............!!!
Puddlefish
11-29-2016, 13:58
Paper, electronic and Guthook.
I sectioned my paper guide into 6 sections and drop boxed them to hostels/stores that I thought would be interesting to visit, so the weight wasn't annoying and I didn't have to worry about post offices being open. I used the paper to route plan, to plan for provisions based on the next likely resupply point easily accessible to the trail. Used it to help out other hikers for a quick visual reference. I used it as a journal to mark dates, what progress I planned, vs. progress I actually made, noted hostels/stores/services I used.
I'd almost skip the electronic version, but... it was cheap, and I saw a few hikers with waterlogged bits of guide with missing or unusable pages. I also used it for a few week where my daughter forgot to mail the paper section. I had it stored on my Kindle, so it was readable.
jj dont play
11-30-2016, 02:11
I did paper AWOLS and guthook on the phone. IMO AWOL is good for towns, Guthook better for on trail. I didn't send sections, I just brought the whole guide and ripped out pages as I completed them. Makes good backup TP and/or fire starter
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have both the paper and pdf versions and consult paper version when I don't have to carry it. On trail, it's the digital version on iPhone every time. But I care about the grams I carry quit a bit. The less grams, the more enjoyment (within reason).
I used just the paper version of the AWOL guide. That was sufficient for me. I hiked with people with GutHook and they really liked it. I just liked the ease of glancing at the page.
rocketsocks
11-30-2016, 17:48
Don't know if it's been mentioned yet...but, 0ne's and Zero's are effectively Pulp, albeit fossilized or other.
capehiker
12-01-2016, 00:09
Last year I had the paper version, PDF version and Guthooks. The paper version stayed in the bottom of my pack. If you're bringing Guthooks, you'll find yourself using that far more while on the trail. Awols is more useful in town.
This year I'm leaving the paper book home and only using the electronic files. Also- I'm hearing around the interweb that Guthooks is going to start including town info. There is a big update scheduled for January I believe.
I initially brought the paper guide to use as a journal. I ended up using an app called AT Notebook. It had pre-established landmarks you can enter information in as well as add pictures to that entry. I really like it.
Traveler
12-01-2016, 08:09
FWIW, I prefer the ATC Trail Guide for planning and trail use. Not only does it support the ATC, but it doesn't require electronic device operation to use. I keep it (or just the pages I need) in a plastic bag so its water proof. After more than a few decades of this, I have learned that simple tends to work best.
StillMoving
12-09-2016, 14:51
Can anyone tell me if the print AT Guide Book has at least as much as the AT Guide Book PDF version?
I saw where the PDF has hot links. I'm just trying to get a feel for exactly what's in the book, and $9 for the 2016 version seems OK to me...as long as I'm not missing anything compared to the print version.
I'm not going until 2018, so preordering the 2017 doesn't do my lack of patience any good.
Thanks.
capehiker
12-09-2016, 22:19
The PDF version is exactly the same as the paper bound version. The only difference is there are hot links in the PDF version which make it awesome for calling shuttles, hostels, or using your smartphone maps to get to the trail head.
Sarcasm the elf
12-09-2016, 22:28
FWIW, I prefer the ATC Trail Guide for planning and trail use. Not only does it support the ATC, but it doesn't require electronic device operation to use. I keep it (or just the pages I need) in a plastic bag so its water proof. After more than a few decades of this, I have learned that simple tends to work best.
Agreed. I own both the ATC/ALDHA guide and the AWOL guide and I've found that I have a definite preference for the ATC book. The recent versions of the ATC guide are especially good since they had to improve and adapt due to competition from AWOL/Guthook etc.
I buy a new one every few years and slice it into five or six sections. Then I only carry the section I need.
37364
StillMoving
12-09-2016, 23:09
The PDF version is exactly the same as the paper bound version.
Thanks cape. Even though I'll buy the 2016 it'll give me an idea.
StillMoving
12-11-2016, 12:09
Bought the Awol's Guide yesterday and I'm impressed; lots of info.
May buy the ATC guide also if it's available in PDF.
StillMoving
12-12-2016, 08:45
In the Guide's legend a drop of liquid = Source of drinking water.
Does that mean:
1. Potable water.
2. Water that you need to filter it.
3. Water that may be potable and/or you may need to filter it.
4. Something else.
I drink a lot of water, and also had Giardia and Crypto at the same time. I'm kind of cautious with water these days. I have a copy of the lab slip and dig it out every so often to remind myself how miserable that was.
jjozgrunt
12-12-2016, 09:05
Guthooks apparently has a big update in the new year and the goss is that town and associated information is being added. Depending on the level of information added it may be a better option for those that like technology.
Sandy of PA
12-12-2016, 09:10
In the Guide's legend a drop of liquid = Source of drinking water.
Does that mean:
1. Potable water.
2. Water that you need to filter it.
3. Water that may be potable and/or you may need to filter it.
4. Something else.
I drink a lot of water, and also had Giardia and Crypto at the same time. I'm kind of cautious with water these days. I have a copy of the lab slip and dig it out every so often to remind myself how miserable that was.
It means it is wet, I personally treat every drop. My Moms thru hike attempt in 1976 was ended by Giardia, and she was never strong enough with her asthma to backpack again. She funds my hikes now.
StillMoving
12-12-2016, 09:34
Thanks Sandy.
Sorry to hear about your mother.
Think when the 2017 versions come out I'll try one other than Awol's just to see the difference.
methodman
12-12-2016, 10:28
What is the total weight of the guidebook?
I initially brought the paper guide to use as a journal. I ended up using an app called AT Notebook. It had pre-established landmarks you can enter information in as well as add pictures to that entry. I really like it.
Good to know! Especially if going to the App route
jjozgrunt
12-12-2016, 19:12
I ended up using an app called AT Notebook. It had pre-established landmarks you can enter information in as well as add pictures to that entry. I really like it.
Couldn't find this for an android phone is it an apple app?
StillMoving
12-12-2016, 20:01
I was only able to find it for Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/appalachian-trail-notebook/id868715648?mt=8
capehiker
12-13-2016, 11:53
Couldn't find this for an android phone is it an apple app?
I am using an iPhone.