Maps/navigation materials?

imported
#1

Sorry if this is long. I’ll describe what I’m using and would welcome any input or comments from previous hikers.

From reading the guidebooks, I’ve decided the text is worthless and since the trail narrative is mixed in with all kinds of junk (such as the author complaining about where the trail should have gone), I cut out all the maps and jotted down the declination on the first map of each section, so I just reset my compass when I start a new trail section.

I have the data book and Yogi’s guide. I’m using both since they contain different information and I think both will be valuable. I’ve got the Tom Harrison maps of the JMT since the guidebook maps are not so great and this is one of the only sections I’m expecting to have to do any real navigation.

So here’s my questions:
Is there any important data found in the guidebook that isn’t out of date or already covered in the databook or Yogi book? It didn’t seem like it.

Besides the Sierra/JMT, are the guidebook maps generally adequate for the rest of the trail, especially WA?

One thing I’m worried about is the maps of the Glacier Peak area and the parts of WA that were likely badly damaged by the storms last fall. The maps of the detour are small and the topography is pretty grainy. I keep hearing how bad/brushy/obscure the detour is and keep thinking I should find better maps for this section. Anyone who’s hiked the official detour or Jonathan Ley’s detour care to weigh in? Thanks for your input.

Bleach

#2

I found this year that the guidebook, especially in California, was VERY good on having the track marked exactly right and that was really helpful. That’s something that can’t be said for the JMT maps, which are pretty but I wish I hadn’t carried them. But other people managed to do the hike with just the mileage guide. Not worth the minimal weight in my view. I rarely read the words of the guidebooks but they occasionally provided helpful beta on geology, history etc.

Rolling Thunder

#3

PS That should read “weight loss in my view”

Rolling Thunder

#4

I think you’re right on track. Cary Yogi’s info, cut maps fromt the guide, and a data book and you’ll be set. the TH/JMT maps will come in handy in Yosemite. And the Washington detour is awesome, you will not need special maps.

hellkat

#5

Bleach- I’ll try to answer your questions one by one:

  1. the guidebooks- no argument that the text is to flowery- that’s one of the things we found the most annoying while hiking. if you are comfortable with map and compass navigation, the maps should likely be enough. We did carry the text with us as well (from yosemite north), and found it occasionally useful. You should use your own judgment here… having said that, we also hiked the first 700 miles using only yogi and the data book (sans maps)- the PCT is usually well marked, unless it’s under snow.
  2. Do not discard the Tom Harrison maps. If there is snow in the sierras they are invaluable. They’re also one of the best map sets out there.
    3)When you reach snoqualmie pass, stop in at the forest ranger station (it’s on the way between the motel and the interstate) and purchase a topo map of the glacier peak wilderness. their maps are good, and the rangers know a lot about the area and conditions, detours etc. It’s only a few dollars and you’ll be glad you did it.
    on a personal note, I would recommend the high pass route (Jonathan Ley’s route) thru the glacier peak. It’s beautiful, fairly established, and fairly straightforward (though navigation will be an issue). The rangers will have more details. It also has the benefit of avoiding roadwalk, crazy fords, and being shorter than the official detour.
    sounds like you’re pretty well prepared already. use your best judgment, and have fun!
    -Remy.

Remy

#6

Jonathan Ley has detailed maps of the Glacier Peak Reroute here:

http://www.phlumf.com/pct/pctalt.htm

yogi

www.pcthandbook.com

yogi

#7

One useful thing about the guidebooks, if you can get through the BS, is that they do point out where camping spots are. If for that reason alone, the text is useful.

Harrison Maps - all but useless. My background: I left KM on June 14th, '06. I was on significant snow for something like 3 weeks (route finding for at least part of the day). Something like 60+ miles of the trail from Cottonwood Pass to VVR was buried . The Harrison maps, while pretty and colorful, are at a SMALLER scale than the guidebook maps, and hence show LESS detail. (63,500:1 vs. 50,000:1 in the guidebook). About the only things they were good for was to show which side of a lake the trail was on (the book had a mis-print on one page showing the trail through the blue) and showing potential bail out routes, since their scale and paper size showed more of the surrounding terrain. After a couple of days, I didn’t bother taking them out of the zip lock in the pack. Want to buy my set? Very lightly used.

Glacier Peak - take the original route. It is SO scenic. Yeah, there’s washouts, down bridges, yadda, yadda, yadda. The only bridge of any consequence that’s down is the Suiattle. The other crossings are trivial, especially compared to the Sierra crossings. There was a log this year over the Suiattle (although it’s probably gone - thanks Scott Williamson for pointing it out when we met at Cascade Locks - one persons trail beta I could absolutly trust.) There quite possibly will be a log next year - keep your ears open. The washouts are easy to scramble around.

Token Civilian

#8

Just a note - from reading people’s journals this year, I’ll have to agree that the Suiattle can be forded fairly easily if conditions are good (even without a log). It is possible for the river to swell quite a bit if it’s rainy or very warm - both possibilities in September.

I’ve been meaning to update my web page with the “latest info” - just haven’t gotten around to it (busy with another project!).

Regardless, I think the high pass route is a nice one - even if the PCT route was perfectly maintained, it’d be a fun alternate (especially if you’ve already hiked the PCT route). Most people have only hiked one of these routes, and will often maintain that the route they hiked is the most scenic… reality is they’re both stunning.

-Jonathan

jonathan

#9

Did anyone else find the JMT maps not very good? It sounds from the posts above that there’s division on the issue. On the far side of Silver Pass, for example, the JMT map showed the trail crossing the creek a few times when it didn’t. On every occasion, I trusted the guidebook maps for trail location over the JMT ones and the guidebook was ALWAYS right. The guidebook wasn’t as good in Oregon and Washington for trail location, for some reason, but in the Sierra they were worth their weight in beer coupons. As for the Glacier Peak section, I did the original route and really enjoyed it – but then overgrown tracks and scrambling around several years of blowdowns and across slips is business as usual in the Kiwi back country. A word of warning to those who do that based on this year’s journals is that it was a VERY dry summer in the north west this year (later made up for by that big flood!) and even though it was damp when I went through, the precipitation had never got beyond nuisance level so none of the rivers were up. TC, you probably have a better long term take on this.

Rolling Thunder