[at-l] Handbook/Companion/Data Book/Guide ??

[gbenkert at fuse.net (Gregory A. Benkert)]

>Alan wrote:
>One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far in this discussion is the 
profiles that come on the maps.

Ahh, the profiles.

Different people react differently to the profiles.  Some people (or 
perhaps more precisely -- all people some of the time) get frustrated by 
this or that along the trail.  The profiles are often a source of that 
frustration.

I found the profiles to be fun and interesting, but I didn't really take 
them all that seriously.  They just won't tell you how difficult the trail 
is going to be for YOU on that particular day.  If you expect them to be 
precise you'll be frustrated.  They compress a mile into about an inch so 
they can't be very precise.  Some get so frustrated with them that they 
quit carrying maps altogether.

In general, don't take the profiles, the trail or yourself to seriously and 
you'll probably be better off.

Big Red

Greg Benkert
gbenkert@fuse.net
GA>ME 2002
www.trailjournals.com/bigred

-----Original Message-----
From:	Alan Shorb [SMTP:alan.shorb@mindspring.com]
Sent:	Wednesday, January 07, 2004 8:26 PM
To:	Gregory A. Benkert
Cc:	at-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject:	Re: [at-l] Handbook/Companion/Data Book/Guide ??

Big Red,

Thanks for such a clear delineation of these resources.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far in this discussion is the
profiles that come on the maps. They look like they would be very useful 
for
planning a day's hike. But where I hear about them most are on
trailjournals.com when someone complains about them having been misleading
on a particular stretch of trail. My guess is that they are not made by
someone who has hiked the trail, but are constructed in an almost
mathematical manner just from tracing the intersections of the Trail with
the contour lines on the map (As a mathematician, I am entitled to be
denigrating of mathematical methods :-). So I'm not surprised that they are
sometimes misleading, because they would tend to miss PUDs that are less
than two contour lines in height.

What is the general opinion of this community. Are they helpful aids, or do
they just tend to psyche you out? (Especially the profile of Katahdin, 
since
the vertical exaggeration of the Maine maps is about 40% more than the rest
of them.)

Thanks.

Alan

PS - Enjoyed your journal.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gregory A. Benkert" <gbenkert@fuse.net>
To: "'Alan Shorb'" <alan.shorb@mindspring.com>;
<at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 9:55 AM
Subject: RE: [at-l] Handbook/Companion/Data Book/Guide ??


Hi Alan,

I'll try to clarify things for you and expand a bit for those that might
not be familiar with any of the publications.

There are five "data sources" you should know about and consider.
1. Trail Maps
2. Appalachian Trail Guides
3. Appalachian Trail Data Book
4. Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion
5. The Thru-Hiker's Handbook

Trail Maps -- Topographical maps of the trail are published by the ATC
and/or the local hiking clubs.  The entire trail is covered in a series of
several dozen maps (for instance, Maine alone is covered in a series of
seven maps).  The maps show the trail and a couple of miles on either side
of the trail.  Crossroads and nearby roads are indicated along with rivers
and streams.  The maps are not consistent for the entire trail as to their
format and level of detail.  The maps are available through the ATC as part
of a package deal with the Trail Guides (see below) or state by state.
 They are updated from time to time, but some might be ten or more years
old.  Since mountains and roads don't change all that often, it's unlikely
that the age of the maps is important.  In my opinion, maps and the
know-how to use them are essential emergency gear.  God forbid you ever
need them, but it just might be important to get off a mountain or to town
quickly some day.

Appalachian Trail Guides -- This is a series of eleven guides that cover
the entire trail.  The guides contain detailed information about almost
every mile of the trail.  While the guides are interesting and informative,
few long distance hikers carry them along.  They are more likely to be used
as reference and background material during planning, but are more for fun
than a necessity.  The guides are published by the ATC.  The ATC has a
package deal that includes all eleven guides and all the maps for $224.30.
 The maps and guides are also available separately.

Appalachian Trail Data Book -- This is a listing of mileages along the
trail to shelters, roads and water sources.  The information is very
abbreviated, but includes a line item for virtually every shelter, road and
water source along the way.  It also lists what hiker services are
available and how far and in what direction from the road crossing.  It
doesn't list the name of the service provider, just the fact that the
service is available.  It doesn't have maps of towns or descriptive
details.  It is published by the ATC and costs $4.75.

Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion -- This publication is designed to
contain virtually all the information you need to hike the trail.  It has
information about mileages to shelters and water sources and descriptions
of services available along the trail including maps of key towns and is
updated yearly.  The Companion is published by The Appalachian Long
Distance Hikers Association and is available through the ATC.  Right now,
the 2003 edition is available for $5.00.  The 2004 edition is due out this
month and will probably cost about $10.00 when available.

The Thru-Hiker's Handbook -- This is Dan "Wingfoot" Bruce's publication.
 It is also designed to contain virtually all the information you need to
hike the trail and is updated yearly.  It is available through his website
for $20.98.

I think most long distance hikers carry either the Companion or the
Thru-Hiker's Handbook.  There is no need to carry both.  Many also carried
maps and the Data Book.  The Data Book can be quite useful addition if
you're the type who really likes to identify landmarks to follow your
progress along the way.  It can also be very useful in dry areas or times
to locate water sources that might not be listed in the Companion or
Handbook.

I hope this helps.

Big Red

Greg Benkert
gbenkert@fuse.net
www.trailjournals.com/bigred