AZT Maps Needed?

imported
#1

Are topo maps a necessity for an Az.T thru-hike or will the guidebook’s trail description/maps suffice? If maps are needed, any suggestions for a cost-effective solution to acquiring them? Thanks.

Matt

#2

There is an AZT map set according to the Az Trail Assoc. I don’t know how necessary they are. The map set is sold thru the BLM. Info is on the ATA website at http://www.aztrail.org/passages/at_passages.html

Because of the cost, we decided against hiking the trail last year. You could probably get by just using the book, the NF maps and maybe the 1:000,000 BLM maps. If you have a gps, the data set is available thru the ATA.

Ginny

#3

I wouldn’t rely solely on the guidebook. Although it is fairly comprehensive, the topo maps are small and compressed. I would recommend identifying segments the book indicates require some routefinding, and cross check that information in the trail logs on www.hikearizona.com for more recent trail conditions. Many of the existing segments of trail they are connecting together are older trails that have not been used regularly.

Brittany

#4

I want to plan a hike on the AZ Trail from Superior to White Canyon, anyone have any experience with that portion of the trail…?

Rman

#5

We hiked it last year as part of a GET section hike from First Water TH to Mammoth. Our journal is at http://spiriteaglehome.com/Journal2.html That section is March 25th. White Rock Canyon is a pretty place. Parts of the trail were very nice, parts pretty bad. Are you doing it as a dayhike or overnighter?

Ginny

#6

Matt

Maps are highly recommended for the AZT or better yet maps and a GPS. Some parts of the trail a simple and well signed but others are not. On a good deal of the trail there will be no choices to make and route finding is simple. Other times there are no signs and immigrant/cattle trails (often more obvious than the AZT) running everywhere.

For $20 you can join the ATA and get access to the official GPS data. Then you could use TopoFusion or some other mapping program to print out your own maps. I use TopoFusion and a GPS for route finding on AZT bike trips. You can use TopoFusion www.topofusion.com for free in demo mode or for $40 you can register and get the full map. Of course you still have to pay for all of the ink and paper if you are going to print them all out and high speed internet would be a big help on downloading maps.

Tim McCabe

#7

I want to plan a hike on the AZ Trail from Superior to White Canyon, anyone have any experience with that portion of the trail…?<<

You might be able to use this info, which is written primarily with the southbound AZT hiker in mind (eastbound on the Grand Enchantment Trail, which uses the AZT here):

http://www.simblissity.net/get/guide-seg03.shtml

Along with the guide, the GET topo map set currently offers what strives to be the most timely, accurate route detail for the AZT between Rogers Canyon in the Superstitions and Putnam Wash in the Tortilla Mountains, this being the region through which the two trails are coterminous.

blisterfree

#8

I think Tim’s got the right idea here. However, I’m curious about the AZ Trail maps available from the BLM. Could someone in possession of these maps offer some insight on how useful they would be for thru-hikers, vs the compressed-scale and limited-area map sections available in the guidebook? And what’s the cost?

It seems to me that no thru-hiker should set out on the Arizona Trail with the intent of relying solely on the guidebook maps. Yet the ATA website offers no strong direction on the matter. In fact it’s very easy to overlook the very existence of the BLM-available maps. And even then, the link to the BLM’s website doesn’t go to an ordering page, and a search of their site for “Arizona Trail” turns up nothing relevant. Further, due to the effort and technical know-how required, most prospective hikers aren’t going to do as Tim suggests, despite it being a good and relatively cheap solution.

Once upon a time there was a freeware data file for NatGeo Topo!, distributed by those in the trail community. In effect this was the same idea as the current GPS data/TopoFusion solution, but much more straightforward since the single file showed the trail’s full route line, along with helpful navigation info, etc. This resource was a bonanza for early thru-hikers, but unfortunately is now out-of-date. The members-only, passage by passage GPS data now available on the ATA website may be more current, but is far less user friendly. Thus the confusion here over something as crucial as maps, with thru-hiking season just weeks away.

blisterfree

#9

The BLM maps are decent, although a little out-dated. They have a pretty good detail an list all of the nearby roads and major points as well as an elevation profile for most of the sections

Andrew Richard

#10

I have seen a set of new “pocket maps” that the ATA is in the process of getting ready. There are 8 double-sided sheets that can be used in conjunction with an ATA data book that is also in progress. They would be a good alternative to the costly BLM maps. Check the ATA website for more details. This season’s thru-hikers should be able to get preliminary versions of these maps.

Sirena

#11

Sirena,

Are these currently up on the ATA website? I could not find any additional info. Can you provide a link?

Any idea on when these maps and data book will be available?

Thanks.

Jamil Coury