Hey all,
What’s the recommendation with the guidebook?
What did you all do? Leif, Wookie, Samwise?
Bluebearee
I would, above all, leave the maps at home. I just used the data book although having wingfoots book only would have worked as well. There are enough people out there to get a little of everything (The two people that I hiked with had the companion and the other had wingfoot. But like I said before the maps were not worth carrying (you are walking on a trail that is 3 foot wide and 2171 miles long that is well marked, not doing any land navigation, in other words, who cares what in the 2 miles east and west of the trail) The relief map that shows the climbs and decents do not really reflect what you are really going to be doing.
SweetAss
Bluebearee – my answer, rip the book apart and take it in pieces. Put the section you need next in your mail drop (don’t screw up the sections like I did and mail yourself one for two towns ahead) and pick it up when you get your mail in each town. It’s too heavy to carry at once, it doesn’t photocopy well and there’s no need to leave it one piece anyway.
I found the maps in the guidebook, combined with the data book, to be just the right combination. I also carried the topo maps (avail on CD ROM from the CT Foundation) but they were overkill, I think. I sort of liked having them on me, just in case of a real emergency, but I honestly never looked at them except once, and then they weren’t helpful at that time anyway.
We did meet one hiker (Ben) who just used the databook, but he said he got lost a few times, because he missed some of the salient details on where the trail turned. Sometimes there are no markers, and the guidebook is helpful in making sure you stay on the trail, whereas the databook doesn’t list that kind of info.
Samwise
Rip and carry and when you are in town getting your next section, mail the last one home so you can reassemble the guide after your hike. We were hiking the CDT where it was the same trail as the CT and the trail seemed very well marked and easy to follow on the ground. When the two trails parted, the CDT just went cross country while the CT got the trail bed.
Marcia
I hiked the 300 miles from Breckinridge to Silverton in July of 02’. It was the worst recorded drought in the states history and its’ worst wildfire season. I made some 1/20,000 scale laminated topo maps
with the above mentioned CD ROM. They worked out great! Unless you have a high experience level of being in total wilderness, or a higher end GPS, I would definitly take maps beyond what is in the guide book. Then again, I’m a map lover and enjoy planning my day and looking at the progress every couple of hours. I can remember loseing the trail at least 5 times in the coarse of the month that I spent hiking it. Having the maps gave me confidence in those situations, Having the maps saved my bacon when I took a wrong turn just after Coney Summit and tramped down 3 miles and 2,500’ in the wrong direction! When I came to the edge of an cliff over looking a lake I knew I was lost because there should not have been no lake near the trail. I knew this from map study. Finding the lake on the map I located myself and walked back tired and quite thirsty.
By the way. Altitude is an issue on the CT. If you don’t plan on seriously hydrating throughout every day, you might want to consider another trail. I’m from Florida and water (and lots of it) is what got me through living above 12,000 for almost a week and above 11,000 for many days.
It is a beautiful trail. You will have the time of your life.
Razor
My husband made topo maps from the Colorado Trail CD ROM. Then I transferred the corresponding guidebook information for that particular section onto the back of the map page. A handy, lightweight, one-page reference tool.
You need the information provided in the guidebook, because in some areas, the trail takes twists and turns that aren’t properly marked by CT trail symbols. The smaller databook is useful but has several inaccuracies in it (this has been noted in previous postings). Besides, the databook does not tell you where to turn in confusing areas (see above posting about the thru-hiker, Ben).
Eagle Eye, CT 2003
Eagle Eye
Thanks guys, sorry SweetAss, the minute I hit “post” I thought “I should have put CO Trail in front of the guidebook subject line” and then it was too late. no prob.
Eagle Eye I like your idea - and Razor I’m with you on being a map person, constantly pulling them out just 'cause. I’ve never played with these maps on CD ROM before, I’m pretty computer literate, are they easy to use? There’s no way I could just go with that databook, it’s succinct, and small, but I really like reading about the trail I’m hiking.
Bluebearee
Bluebearee-
I hiked it in 2002 and updated the Data Book campsite and water data for the CTF (which was also used in the guidebook). I carried the guideboook (in sections), the data book, a GPS unit (for gathering waypoints for the new Data Book edition) and the CDROM maps. There were some confusing spots, but we always figured them out. I even marked them via GPS for the CTF, but I can't remember if they included those in the data book or the guidebook.
Just so you know, there ae many great campsites not listed in the data book. We identified and rated every watersource, but it was so dry we missed many “seasonal” flows; however, everthing we DID get was considered reliable.
I think taking the guidebook (cut into sections) and the maps would be fine. Bring a lightwieght compass.
Advise for the maps: This is a great way to do this! You can go under print options in the program and print two to a page, which is four to a sheet. Get some waterproof paper (10-20 bucks; I think the CTF still sells it for the maps so your money goes back to the trail) and make the print size a quarter-page (3x5 inches; if you can see that small of print) and print it in color (to see water and topo lines). You can cut the maps out, get them in order (make sure you mark them A1, A2, A3, ect right as you print them so you don’t make a mess) and then stack them up in little sections that you will mail yourself. Each stack gets a staple on the top and there you are with your very own color waterproof map flipbook that can fit in your back pocket. It was so useful, I hardly ever referenced the guide book (but still found it necessary), and never had to stop to pull maps out.
The Colorado trail is not as well marked as the CDT in Colorado, so be wise and aware. Have a good time -the wildflowers are breathtaking!
Tha Wookie
BB, I think I will by the CD and print us up individual maps. This is how I do the trails I hike in the ADKs.
Beside you know me, it’s just something to play with until it’s time to hike.
Wookie, you say I can buy the waterproof paper to print the maps on at the CT store? I’ll check it out.
Sue/HHwsit (Hammock Hanger who sleeps in tent)FOR THIS HIKE ONLY!!!:girl
Hammock Hanger
You might have to call them. They get a lot of calls about it. There are other sources if they don’t have them.
Tha Wookie
Since you have all this time on your hands, go for it, just make two copies!! heh heh heh. I am really anal about having my own map, in all seriousness, I don’t do well if I have to keep asking someone else for it. We’ll talk about it. Thanks for the great advice Wookie!!
Bluebearee
When you get into certain sections of the CT (like 18 and 19), there is a maze of dirt roads, semi dirt roads, etc., and Halfdom’s printed topos saved us a couple of times. Would definitely have a light compass and printed out topos. As for the guide book, your idea to rip it out and send it ahead by section seems good to me. I will definitely second the previous comment that the data book is not entirely accurate, but it is a useful an ergonomically practical guide. There was some confusion last year in Section 19, if I remember correctly. The data book told you to do one thing, and the trail signs rerouted you a different direction. It was somewhere around a cattle pond, if I remember correctly.
TrailGuy
I certainly don’t plan on sharing mine!!! :lol
I think it is important for each hiker to have their own.
HH:girl
Hammock Hanger
I didn’t see any on the CTF site. I checked with Office Depot & Office Max they don’t carry it either. Any one have any suggestions where I could find this type of paper?? I hate having to deal with clear contact paper.
Thanks! Hammock Hanger:girl
Hammock Hanger
Try contacting the CTF directly, via email or phone. They love hearing about who’s hiking (they offer a completion certificate) anyway, and I know you wouldn’t be the first to ask, since the CR rom is so popular for them. Please tell them I said hello, 'casue they were very night to us when we visited their office in Golden. Downstairs there’s an “alpinist library” that’s worth seeing!
Also, I just typed in waterproof paper on google, and had lost of sources pop up. Just make sure whatever style (there's more than one) will hold color ink. Merle McDonald, the CTF president gave us our paper, but I can't remember what brand it was.
If it becomes too much trouble, you could use regular paper and a plastic baggie. The waterproof stuff is pretty neat, though. You can take notes on it with a fine-point permanent pen on the reverse side of each mini-map. It’s a fun little project.
Tha Wookie