Books/Info - The Long Trail - Vermont

imported
#1

What’s a good guide/information book for the Long Trail and the John Muir Trail? I’m looking for something similar to Yogi’s PCT book. Thanks.

Grinds

#2

The Green Mountain Club’s End-To-Ender’s Guide is a great source for planning and logistics. If you put that together with the LT Guide and the LT Waterproof Hiking Map, you really don’t need anything else. The southern 40% of the trail is also the AT. So your usual AT books, forums, etc., are very helpful.

The LT is basically a 270 mile hike in the woods on a well-maintained white-blazed trail with lots of shelters, and, with a few exceptions, ample water sources. The designated wilderness areas have some trees across the path, but it’s not a big deal. It’s mountain hiking. So you have to be prepared for extremes in weather, e.g., lightning and plummeting temperatures in the fall. There are lots of ups and downs, some slabbing and scrambling, and some beautiful exposed high sections, particularly in the middle.

If you haven’t already seen it, you might find Jamie Compos’ hiking log (http://www.jamiecompos.com/longtrail.html) interesting and useful. I notice today that it’s been taken down, but maybe it will be back up again soon.

downhill

#3

For the LT, you really only need the waterproof hiking map (breaks the trail into 6 pannels). This map indicates shelters, topo info and mileages. If you want a bit more info, the end to ender’s guide is also good.

For the JMT, you don’t need anything other than the Tom Harrison maps - in fact the guide books I saw were utterly useless. One note on the JMT: don’t re-supply at VVR - the stuff you put into their “hiker box” WILL wind up for sale on their shelves - probably before you’ve left VVR.

Tumblina

#4

I read 3 guides for the JMT and found the Cicerone guide by Alan Castle to be helpful. He writes it for someone coming from the UK, but the section guide was helpful for me since I had never been in mountains like the Sierras before my hike. I almost followed his mileage recommendations exactly–just 1 or 2 days faster.

Are you deciding between the LT and JMT?

weez

#5

Thanks for the info everyone. i’d like to do both sometime in my life. with all the excitement about thru hiking trails I guess i’d like to do some smaller ones. i’ll look into the books. Thanks again.

Grinds

#6

Both trails are wonderful in very different ways. While it isn’t a guide book, John Muir’s “My First Summer in the Sierra” gives you a sense of the magic exists in the Sierras.

Tumblina