I don’t want to get into the tired old WF debate–I can see all sides of it and usually am a fence-sitter.
However, I think both the Thru-Hikers Companion (ALDHA) and the Thru-Hikers Handbook (WF) serve equally valued purposes. They have some important differences, which don’t make one better than the other–just different.
As for Wingfoot not actually being out on the A.T. for a long distance hike in a long time–this is true. However, he does run up his phone and postage bills to a staggering figure compiling info and getting updates each year. Anyone who knows WF will tell you he is seldom short on words.
Assuming those he calls give him good data, I think he covers the A.T.'s info needs as well as anyone by making all those calls. He calls me every year for info on Central and Northern SNP plus Luray town services. I know others he calls regularly for the same sort of info south and north of me.
Every year I hear hikers complain about one or more things that weren’t correct in one or the other books. Some are using older editions, not the current ones, so they are walking advertisements for why each book is published annually. And from the time each new edition goes to press until someone actually uses them, a half-year or more may have gone by. The Trail relos, places close, etc. during that time.
“Skyline”
