i’m’ trying to decide whether or not i should take advantage of the guide book special. I’ve already decided to get maps for the trail, but what about the state-by-state guidebooks the ATC publishes? Do they have any use at all? Are they basically more specific versions of the annual Data book?
C-Giddy
They were nice to look at when I was planning but not of much use on the trail an IMHO just more useless weight.
Big B
If you compare the price of maps only, there is minimal savings if any. So, go ahead and buy the guidebook special. The marginal cost of guidebooks isn’t that much, if any.
Peaks
In what way were these state-by-state guidebooks helpful during the planning process?
C-Giddy
I got them both, carried GA on trail and used it once to get to town for a half day off in Helen. Saved my hike. I coulda used the map for same thing, but for some reason it seemed to be nice to have both. They do give you a blow by blow of trail…such as, the trail turns left about 50 ft and then goes into the rododendrons, look closely here…then at the top of the stairs built in 1998, you will circle round right again and the trail follows a north easterly pattern from there up to such n such mt…if yer lost, i could see where that info would be helpful…simple fact is, lotsa people walk some unfortunate side trails even with all the extra weight of maps and books, so it is a personal preference.
Burn
I only knew one person who carried them, as far as Pearisburg when I heartily gave him so much s*** cause he had those, the maps, the Companion and the Data Book. WAY overkill. No one carried them, the Campanion or Wingnut will give you the town info you need. But I bet they do look good on your shelf Big Boy. btw, Big Boy how come I don’t know you? Did you finish in 02? You mentioned the name Wicked recently, I finally caught up to him in MA, but he took that time off in VA to paint that house, so if you were in his pack, that was far ahead of me. He finished a day or two back from me in October.
Bluebearee
Do the state-by-states also give any good town information like the Companion and Wingfoot’s book?
C-Giddy
C-Giddy,
If I could give you one piece of advise… leave the trail maps at home. #1 Many people carry them, you can always look at them. #2 You will find that the profile maps are hard to judge (might even say they lie) #3 You will find that you don’t even want to know what is coming ahead, easy or hard, just hike. Wingfoot book is great, the trail companion is alright, I personally hike with a two people, one had the Wingfoot book, the other had the compainion and I had the data book. Wingfoot will have everything the data book has in it plus good info on towns. ALSO look into Baltimore Jacks new book, he has hiked more times and more receint then Wingfoot and should have better information. Good luck on your hike, but I would leave the maps at home.
Casey
town info is more like that there is a town south 13 miles a town north 3 miles. but in the supplies and services section it generally says, groceries, shower, payphone…maybe every town doesn’t have a pay telephone. But honestly i have never been in that small of a town.
burn
let me back up just a second…i should be ashamed. after all i am a faithful member of the ATC since dec 2003, hehehehe. i honestly should do a better job of discribing the guides, so you can decide. people have done this for my questions, i should do as good.
OK, 1st thing, each guide book has it’s own flavor or style, so to speak, seeing that different maintainance people compile info. This is more literary style than function. They all include info so similar that you only notice the style, not substance.
examples taken from NH VT 10th ed. 1st one on top, i have been looking at Mahoosuc Notch cause it is a difficult 1 mile section, and favorite long day on the trail to many.
each guide has many features.
History of AT
ATC info
maintaining Club info
General info
1st aid reminders
shelters and campsites
transportation to the trail
suggested trips
natural history
Then the blow by blow, step by step directional reference, labeled at significant distances, such as :
Miles DATA
0.0 Just North of Grafton Notch State Park trails Parking area on Maine 26, leave road on western side. Leave cars in parking area. A.T. (Owls Speck Trail) skirts northern side of parking area. Pass prominant directional signs near parking area.
0.1 Bear left on A.T. at trail junction. (Trail to right is Eyebrow Trail, which ascends northern side of prominant cliffs on side of notch. this trail again intersects A.T. near top of cliffs.)
0.3 Cross brook. Beyond, trail parallels brook up southern side of Eyebrow over severl wide switchbacks. Ascends steadily.
1.1 In small box canyon, turn right, and cross brook. This is last reliable water source until Speck pond in 3.5 miles.
the guide books give you north to south as well as south to north directions. so if you slack pack, you can go either ways and still have useful directions.
the blow by blow info is sometimes helpful, because not every blaze is as easy to find as you might think it should be. I found this out the hard way, and walked around a simple area trying to figure out what rutt to follow…
also, my example is so basic it is almost non- info. the guide books sometimes shift to 3.5 mile to 5.7 mile distances. There may be times the only info you need is that the shelter and water you expect is so simple to find from mile 3.5 that the next significant area is the shelter or water source. IE, no major significant changes in trail or directional changes that you might get lost at. Use yer best judgement.
each section is divided into interesting info. General section info, description, also giving some elevations of sites. Road approaches if yer travel;ing to get there, maps that fit this location, shelters and campsites within this section, regulations, supplies and services, and public accomodations.
example of supplies and services = " The nearest supply point to this section is Gorham, NH zip 03581, telephone, supermarket, coin laundry, restaurant, equipment, bus stop. 20.1 miles from southern end of the section, reached by continuing 16.5 miles on the AT to US2 and from there, 3.6 miles west into Gorham."
the ATC tries to just give info, non judgement as to what is where. If you go to the restaurant or motel and it sucks, all they said was, there was one there, not they will be opened or they will treat you like the President or movie star.
Now, I am no rocket scientist, or gear journalist, but if you have a way to look at a copy of one a outfitter or a previous thruhiker’s copy, take a look see. If you need em, buy em. I got mine, cause i figure what the hay. No real reason to not buy them, and may help you remember once you finish a tad bit of yer foggy memory of the trail when ya sit in a wheelchair in the nursing home wondering what was so tough about the trail that day as opposed to any other…oh it was that low water, jagged rock, 1 miles killer section… you may forget yer kid’s names, yer loving wife, yer next medication dosage, but the toughness of the AT and the grit you exerted to hike it will haunt you. Besides, the babes at the nursing home will love to tell the other babes yer her honey and you got the collection of trail books, you know i always forget his name, but he has the books.
burn
I used my in the planning process to get an idea of what the section I was going through was like. I found it enjoyable to read about it. On the trail all that info was kinda useless but in the planning process I personally found it inspiring. The maps I found important if for no other reason in an emergency you can find the quickest way out. Not the greatest maps but they did the job.
Big B
take the maps. let’s not run this one into the ground again. If you want to look at maps, and feel they’re useful in an emergency (which they are), you carry them, don’t expect your fellow hikers too.
If you want TP, you carry it.
If you want a book, you carry it.
Get the idea? Don’t encourage people not to carry something based on the fact that “someone else will have it”
That’s lame.
Bluebearee
Just to correct Casey’s comment: I have not, repeat NOT published any sort of guidebook or handbook on the Trail.
I have published, in a bunch of places, some annually updated information/suggestions/ideas on maildrops, re-supply, lodging, etc. Over the years, a lot of folks have found this information useful. Anyone interested can find it at www.whiteblaze.net I expect to update this information in the next few weeks so it takes into account additions, changes, etc. so that the 2004 information will be as accurate as possible for the folks hiking next year. This updated info will also be posted permanently at Whiteblaze as soon as I get it done, probably early next year.
BaltimoreJack