[at-l] Data book changes

[DaRedhead@xxxxxxx (DaRedhead@xxxxxxx)]

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Have to agree here.  When planning a short hike, whether a weekend or a week,
I've found the guides themselves indispensable.  A lot of times you need
specific information to choose where you are hiking.  I find myself going to
the Data Book and finding the places within the (that particular hike) area
I'm looking at.  Then I find the correct set of mileage that I'm looking to
do for that hike.  Usually there are several choices.  THEN I break out the
ALDHA companion and the actual guides, to get an idea of whether or not that
section fits my particular needs for that hike.

I then leave the Data Book and the ALDHA companion at home, taking the
heavier guide and the maps.  Because on a shorter hike, weight isn't as much
of an issue, and I like the detail that is in the guide.  If I were thru
hiking, I'm sure I'd do this differently.  All the available
guides/books/maps have something going for them. It just depends on your hike
as to how you use them. A lot of thru hikers I've known have liked the guide
books enough to tear out the pages for the upcoming trek and bounce the rest
of it to the next town stop, there to drop the former pages and pick up the
next sections.  One guy I know only carried the data book.  One only carried
the companion.  Another carried the data book, the guides, the maps AND the
companion.  Go figure.  Hike your own hike seems to be a trite phrase these
days - but that doesn't make it less valid.

Red

n a message dated 4/11/2003 3:23:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
kent_gardam@yahoo.com writes:

> Well since you asked about "all hikers" and not just thru hikers, let me
> throw in my couple of pennies.  I really liked the level of information
> that was available in the state guide book and the maps when we did our day
> hike out of Harpers Ferry last weekend.  As a newcomer to the trail, there
> was information there that not only assisted with the hike but made the
> experience more complete.  From the day hiker's perspective it was much
> more valuable than the Data Book or even the ALDHA offering.