[at-l] About the questions for AT-O

[kahley7 <kahley7@ptd.net>]

I know I said this would be the questions but I thought some explanation might
be helpful.  We would like you to fill out a form like this for
each shelter and the Trail PRECEDING that shelter.  I'll run through the
questions....


Shelter or Campsite Name___________________________________________
***The easy part <grin>***

Description________________________________________________________
***Just a few words, like two decker with shower or typical 3 sider,
        bunks or sleep deck.  Maybe mention if there's a table or shelf to     
cook
on...that kinda stuff and take a picture if ya can.*******

Condition_________****Stuff like, roof leaks, trashed by partyers, brand       
new,
well kept****

Capacity____  ***if you are good with numbers list dimension of sleep deck     
in
feet  or guess how many hikers would fit comfortably***
.
Tensites________**give a number***

Platforms_______ **give a number***

Privy____________***either 'NO' or a short description like open air
        or nice or stinky***

Bear measure___________***List 'NO' or pole or cable or box****
.
Water - Type_________***List spring or pond or mudhole or spigot.yada yada
        Note that there are several spaces to list water sources.  If ya       
run outta
space use the back.****

Dipper____***Will you need something to get at the water..Yes/No****

Running______****Yes or No***

Location________________ ***We have had a very good example of good
        directions on the HATT list today.  The more info the better
        Knowing that a spring is 1/2 mile down a steep trail is a
        big deal when you are planning***

Trail - Blazes______***Missing? Faded? Southbounders may find this an          
issue.
Are turns and junctions well marked.***

Grade________________________***Rate it 1 to 10.  One being railtrail
        level and ten being 'Wish there were hand holds on this thing'***

Treadway_____________***Rooty, rutted, boardwalk, pennsyvania <g>***

Road Crossings_____________________***Route number if ya know it
        and the danger factor***

Trail Junctions____________________****If ya know it and how hard to find      
it**

Condition____________________________****Blowdowns, overgrown,erroded.
        well kept, fabulous rock work.  All this stuff will be valuable        
to the
maintainers and we hope they will find AT-O a helpful           resource in the
future*******


*********This ends the section for "JUST THE FACTS"***********

Then you'll see...........

Please use the back of this sheet to record anything you feel would fit
into the I WANT MORE INFO section ie. views, swimmin holes, unlisted
campsites, and other esoteric.  

*****This is the section for the stuff that's not usually listed.
        I thought I'd include some feedback we had on "What do you 
        want to know?"


Physical oddities encountered 
Interesting geological/botanical sites
Info on particularly challenging sections
Esoteric (grave markers, foundations, etc) 
Trail crossings and where to look for them
"Secret" tenting sites would be cool, too.'
"Off trail" "unlisted" camping ability (ability to site an average tent's
footprint...)'
Fire towers....I love fire towers, especially if I can sleep there.
Waterfalls...I might get my wife to hike if it's to a waterfall.
"Nettle index: Sure, it's September, and they're pretty much de-spiked, but you
can't assess such a thing at ALL in the spring, before they come up...(for that
matter...)"  
I'd like to add poison ivy to that request as well as  
Killer views and swimming holes
Any State park facilities that a hiker would like to know about.


WOW....we are asking alot of you all....but just think how cool to 
have this all up on the web for the next time you're planning a hike!

But we DO NOT want to ruin this weekend for anyone.  Do what ya can!
We will be grateful for whatever info you can gather for us and
if it's OK with you, we will list your name as a contributing editor.

This will not be a one shot deal.  We hope that hikers will routinely
update AT-O when they return from a hike and keep the info as current
as possible.  But you are making a big contribution to get us started!

So print out a couple of the form which, I promise, is in the next email
and slip them in your pack NOW!!!!  I mean it!  <VBG>Or else you'll forget!
And don't forget something to write with.  Stick it all in a Ziploc
and put it in a handy pocket so when you get to a shelter ya can fill
it out as you munch!!  

THANK YOU!!!

Oh....uhhh...one last thing.  I've tried alll morning to get the questionnaire
to come thru email in some semblance of order.  Email
does odd things to "Forms".  It works in Eudoro and in my Netscape.
I hope in comes through OK.  If not, maybe you could cut and paste it
into 'Word" and tweak it into shape"  Or just use it as a guide in
your info gathering.  We will_really_apprechiate it if the reports come
via email, but if you don't have time to transcribe the forms, we
will do it from the hard copies.  Remember that each form is meant to
cover a shelter and the Trail you walked to get there and to make a note of your
HATT section number and direction of travel when you submit.
That direction thing is really important <g> or we'll have hikers
befuddled from Maine to Georgia....
* From the AT-L |  Need help? http://www.backcountry.net/faq.html  *

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