Which Way to Town??

[old hickory]

Planning a NOBO thru hike this spring (2008). Plan on using the At Data book and resupplying in towns along the trail. How do I know which direction to head as I come off the trail. In other words, when I come to a road do I go right or left to find the nearest town?

[Appalachian Tater]

I don't know about the data book, but in the ALDHA guide, it tells you which direction the towns are in at the road crossings. North is always AT north, not true north.

[mountain squid]

Instead of the data book, you should carry either the Companion (http://www.aldha.org/07book.htm), the Handbook (http://www.trailplace.com/hb_2008edition.html) or Appalachian Pages (http://appalachianpages.com/). They all contain town info and will identify which way to go at the trailhead.

See you on the trail,
mt squid

[Pedaling Fool]

Planning a NOBO thru hike this spring (2008). Plan on using the At Data book and resupplying in towns along the trail. How do I know which direction to head as I come off the trail. In other words, when I come to a road do I go right or left to find the nearest town?
Do you have a Data Book now, it would be good if you did for planning, even if it's a 2007 or slightly earlier edition.
- If you're traveling North, West will be to your left and East will be to your right.
- If you're traveling South, West will be to your right and East will be to your left.

Don't confuse this with compass direction, because if you're traveling, say NOBO, that does not mean you will be facing North the entire time, as the trail winds all around, so if you get to a road, say US 19E, Roan Mountain, Tn will be 3.4 miles West, according to the Data Book. However, it is entirely possible you may be facing some direction other than North when you get to US 19E, (only an example, not sure what direction one is facing at this road), but the Data Book does not attempt to ascertain what direction one will be facing at any point on the AT, so for simplicity they tell hikers compass direction and the hiker is to assume they are either facing north (NOBOs)or south (SOBOs).

NOTE: The ATC probably explains this better in the front section of the Data Book.

[Blissful]

Going NOBO, I found most towns were left for some reason. :) But the above is correct. And a companion or handbook gives you a lot more info than just a data book.

[RedneckRye]

Headed NOBO when you hit a road (or a sidetrail to a shelter, water source, etc) west is left, east is right.