Are there major differences between Wingfoot’s Thru-Hiker’s Handbook from 2003 to 2004? Do people recommend buying one each year or switching to the Companion put out by the Appalachian Trail Conference?
With all of the White Blazes on the AT there isn’t much chance to get lost but does the trail change from year to year? Are the Maps very necessary or is the trail description enough? What say ye, one and all?
Skylander
You could probably do fine with the '03 book, but the newer guide is worth the price IMHO. Little things like phone numbers, town resources, outfitter locations, etc are what the new book would help the most with. The trail does change from year to year, usually getting longer ;). Maps are a presonal choice, plenty people (including myself) have thruhiked without them, which would imply they aren’t necessary. OTOH, some will tell you it’s stupid not to have them. If you’re not sure you want/need them, I’d recommend buying the first couple hundred miles worth. Then if you decide you want to carry the maps, have somone at home buy and mail you the rest of the maps so you can avoid buying lots of maps that you don’t want.
Skittles
Well, wingfoot will probably tell you you NEED to get the new version, but you can definately do with last yrs. Skittles is right though. It depends how important it is to you. Sure 98 percent of info is the same year to year, but that one phone number, place you planned on resupplying on the restraunt you hike 23 miles in the rain to get to may not be open this year, may have moved or it has changed ownership with new rules. In the case of 03’ the trail was rerouted in tennesee adding an extra 4 miles to the whole length. Those of us not carrying the data book and only relying on the miles in the handbook (a lot of people) would been cursing themselves or someone when moreland gap was really another 4 miles than they thought. Point is if its important to have the most up to date info then spend the money on the book, but the majority of the info will be identical. Enjoy
A-Train
The “Thru-Hiker’s Companion” is published by the ALDHA, and is also sold by the ATC. You can download it from their site, but I urge you to buy it, as, IMHO, it’s a valuable resource for any AT hiker, and we should support the ALDHA. :tongue
Lady Di
I purchased the 1995 edition without giving it much though but based off this thread that was a mistake, if the difference between 2004 is important, than definitly 2004 and 1995 is gonna be too much, yeah?
I searched on amazon for “thur-hiker’s handbook” and I couldn’t find any available recent versions, where should I get this?
thanks,
danny
danny
OK! I will contact Trail Place and order the current copy and do as Dan suggested: take one with me and leave one at home.
One other question: Is the Companion compatible with the Thru-Hikers Handbook? IOW do they cover the same information or are there a variety of businesses that one has and the other one does not? Would anyone recommend having both? Cost is not a problem.
Skylander
Both publications are updated yearly, and cover the same information. One individual profits from his Handbook. We all benefit from buying the ALDHA Companion.
It’s kinda of Ford vs Chevy argument. Buy one or the other. NO need to buy both.
Peaks
on my 03 thru hike, I carried just wingnuts thru hikers handbook and pages from the companion. wingfoot selects who goes in his book based on personal decisions, not professional ones. If someone pisses him off, he pulls them from the book. You can hike with a 02 or an 03 book but I would use the companion so you have updated info. In the past year alone, there were a lot of changes along the trail just in hostels and businesses that opened or closed their doors to hikers.
It’s hit or miss:
Some towns both the companion and wingfoot are almost identical, some towns they might list completely different resorces. It’s pretty wacked but that’s life on the trail. Bottom line, I did not and again would not pick one over the other. As for maps, I used no maps from GA-NH and only used them once in ME. Either you have maps or you love them. If you decide to hike without them, DON’T ask to look at someone elses all the time, that get’s old. If you need it that bad, it should be in your pack.
Karma
Karma
Wingfoots book has the mileage that the companion lacks.You can leave the data book home.
There is some controversy about Dan on this site but I suspect more people are using his book than admit.
Been There
Wingfoot’s book is better. Bottom line. His info is more accurate. Prices for lodging are listed in his book whereas in the Companion they aren’t.Just one example.
Wolf
This has probably been posted many times but much of the town information in Wingfoots doesn’t seem like it has been updated in many years. Don’t plan on staying at the Red Onion in Rangley ME. The elevation is helpful in determining where you are though. Best of luck to everyone heading out this season. Thruhiking changed me.
Feral
Buy the Companion and the Data Book. Together they cost less than Wingfoot’s book and the money goes to the ATC.
The Companion is put together by hikers who hike their section and visit all the services every year.
It’s been over ten years since Wingfoot has been on the AT, so he’s writing about shelters he’s never seen, trail he’s never hiked, and services he’s never been to. That’s why the Companion always has the updates at least a year before his book does.
Repeat
“Prices for lodging are listed in his book whereas in the Companion they aren’t.Just one example.”
A poor example, because it isn’t true. Lodging rates are listed in the Companion.
TJ aka Teej
You can go to the ATC website and download last year’s (2003) for absolutely free. It consists of a number of Acrobat PDF files.
Brutus
I have the 2004 Companion in front of me. Teej is correct re. price listings.
The two books are VERY similar. Each year each one contains a few errors; these are generally rather minor.
One advantage to using the Companion with the Data Book is that your purchase costs go to benefit the ATC and ALDHA, two fine non-profit organizations that do a great deal for the Trail.
In terms of accuracy, the books are about the same. If you wish to see what the Companion looks like, you can examine the 2003 edition for free by going to www.aldha.org
B. Jack