[at-l] Maps

[thornel@attglobal.net (W F Thorneloe)]

Warning, I am a section hiker. You should plan to hike your own hike, 
regardless of the advice rendered.

Nothing is essential, especially given that the AT is well marked and quite 
linear. The Data Book and such do help you know where things can be found, 
especially water. The maps can let you feel reassured or feel challenged by 
the terrain. The guides are probably most important to be read prior to the 
section, unless the extra weight and reading material is something you just 
really like.

But if the price of the maps and guides are a serious handicap to your 
hiking budget, you might already be in trouble. I like having the maps 
after my walks to look at my markings of where I was, and when I was there. 
I like to mark on the map at the end of each day's walk. It becomes a 
portion of my trail journal. I suspect this is similar for thru hikers also.

OrangeBug

At 11:57 AM 12/5/2001 -0500, Steve Vickers wrote:
>I was looking into whether or not I need to order the complete set of AT
>maps, or go with the  Data Book and Thru-hikers' Companion.  Did you all
>find that the maps were essential to your hike?  (I'm trying to save some
>$$)