what’s the name of a good guidebook to start with
Christina
Guidebooks - Pacific Crest Trail
system
#3
It depends on what you mean by “to start with.”
If you are starting to do planning, the PCT Handbook is the one to buy first. If you mean the best one to have with you on the trail, and maybe you’d think about carrying others as well, then that would be the PCT Atlas.
On the trail (Section A section hike) I used the PCT Handbook along with the Water Report to plan a water strategy, I used the Data Book to keep track of progress, and I used the PCT Atlas for maps. I seldom looked at the Guide Book.
Scott Bryce
system
#4
You want the the Pacific Crest Trail Guidebooks by Wilderness Press.
They are the defacto guides for the trail. The handbook is not a trail guidebook, don’t be misled. It has town information, though.
The PCT Atlas is not even complete, nor does it contain anywhere near the info the guidebooks do. It’s very, very pricey at $200, all 3 guidebooks are $60 from Amazon.com.
For over 10 years folks have been carrying the guidebooks, this is want you want. Don’t be misled.
Guidebooks
system
#5
Agreed. The Wilderness Press Guidebooks have the best maps, and they’re the only maps which are actually mapped through the process of someone physically on the trail. That someone is Ben Shiffrin.
The Handbook has excellent planning information as well as great town information and tips from many previous PCT hikers. Use the Wilderness Press books plus the Handbook and you’ll have everything you need.
Anthony Santos
system
#6
For me the guidebook maps on many occasions provided as much awe as the trail itself but I’m a pretty hard core map freak geek. At the very least, if you care to (and there certainly is time for this, lots of time) following along exactly where you are relative to the landscape and appreciating the detail of the guidebook maps can provide quality entertainment through dull sections. It will also make you a much better map reader.
What these cartographers created, entirely manually of course owing to the time period, is nothing short of magnificent. The detail and accuracy of EXACTLY where the trail is relative to the landscape is astounding throughout. Clearly a true labor of love.
A perfect map of a perfect trail, bound by a focused consistency of grade and strategy. A 2650 mile dance with the crest, never really asking for extra effort, but hitting saddle after saddle. Uncompromising, efficient, and intelligent. I miss it.
The PCT is simply the finest piece of American infrastructure I have ever experienced and quality of the initial mapping is deeply respectful of what was created.
Truly inspirational. Thank you to everyone who played a role in the effort. Except, of course, those darn Boy Scouts…aw, what the hell–thanks to them too, their trail design provided us with humor for at least 500 miles.
:nerd
Hans Berg
system
#7
The best seem to be the free maps available online from Half-miles website. There is no difference between these and the PCT Atlas except one you have to download and pay to print in color(toner cartrides cost alot), and the Atlas is pricey but the printing is done for you. I bought the wilderness Press ones, and find that though they are basic maps, the Atlas or the free ones are better quality. The Wilderness press guidebooks have every detail of the trail written out, so they do become bulky, Though if you want to know everything about the Geology and History of the PCT where your at, Get the Wilderness Press. If you want to be lightweight and thrifty get Half Miles on line. If you want to be lightweight and have the convienence of a bound map book spend the cash on the PCT Atlas.
Yogi’s PCT Handbook is very informative, on what you need to know, but you still might want the maps.
It’s possible to go with no maps and just the PCT Data Book, which is just miles and what is at them, but the Data Book is really incomplete and is confusing. Lots of water sources aren’t listed, and alot of trails are listed as a number : Meet trail TW09 instead of a more relavant : Meet the Payne Lake trail.
I just used the Data Book for the last 100 miles and I’ve been carrying way to much water. Since only a couple of sources a day are listed in it, and there is water everywhere right now between Dunsmuir and Etna.
Guino