Maps too heavy - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

I’m trying to save some weight by photographically reducing
the trail maps down to about 8"X10". I plan to snip the
trail corridor, showing main roads and shelters, and the
elevation profiles and try to fit them on a 4" X 10" half
of the paper. On the other half of the paper I’m going
to try putting reduced copies of the data book, and some
info from the state guides if there’s room.
I hope to fit about 200 miles on each 8X10, 100 miles on
each side.
That would be about 10-11 pages for the entire trail.
If I have trouble reading the finer print, my compass has
a magnifier on it.
I’ll let you know how they look , when I get my film
back next week.
I’m going to a ‘local’ map store soon, to see if I can get
10 mile to the inch maps for the trail. That is the right
proportion for this job.

I’m also making an alcohol stove, or two, to try out on
this year’s hike. That’ll save 3/4 lb. over my Svea123.

Scamp

Scamp

#2

I brought the maps initially, and a compass; and sent them home in Neels gap. Water is marked on the trail; and if you bring the data book; you’ll be able to gauge how far everything is. I was a boyscout; i admit; so I thought I really needed maps and a compass, and was reluctant to let them go. I did know a few hikers that didn’t use the data book and just used maps; so I guess its a matter of preference. Just thought I would let you know some options.

Big Boy

#3

See trail name. Fun to explore, and remove most annoying reloes. Short cut to burgers?

Bushwhack

#4

Carried the maps in 2001 and pretty sure I am going to carry them again this year. I’d leave them home before I would try to photo-reduce them though. Detail is already almost too small to read

Footslogger

#5

I hated that each hiking chapter had different scale maps. Now we can blow up the 1:250000’s to 15s!. Nothing torqued me off more in '01 that the stretch before the Blue Ridge and a certain relo on a certain high scale map that made for a twenty six miler I didn’t need.

BW

#6

I carried maps sent in each mail drop. In town I’d mail the
last batch home along with exposed film.
I didn’t take the Data Book, but I did cannabalize the Hiker’s
Companion for town info, also in each maildrop.
With my darkroom equipment a reduction of scale isn’t too bad.
But my equipment is in storage…drat!
I used the elevation profiles to help me prepare mentally for
the day ahead.

Actually there are very few places where you need a map.
Just following the white blazes works very well. But if you
ever get disoriented, you’ll wish you had maps.
The ‘Old Scout’ in me says, “Take a map, compass and whistle.”

I’ll get my film back on Sunday and see what I can cut/paste
on a sheet of paper.
I gotta finish my alcohol stove(s), too.

Scamp

Scamp

#7

Without the maps we couldn’t curse the profiles. It helps with your frustrations.

I did the same thing Scamp did as far as maps and film. But I sent myself York envelopes and sent the film in for developing with each maildrop.

Two Scoops

#8

I started with maps and books and all kinds of things. I quiclky leraned you could get along with the appropiate pages from the data book and ALDHA companion. The trail is marked well enough. The Profiles are so distorted they are useless. Other people are on the trail, let them carry the maps. Also I never met dayhiker or weekender who wouldnt help out with info…like which way to town at the road? Is there an ATM? …Save weight just bring data book and companion.

Chef