[pct-l] data book (was good morning)

Gail,
We used both the data book and the town guide, as well as the PCT 
guidebooks.  You have to have the guidebooks, as they have the maps, and you 
will need those, especially when snow covers the trail. If not, you still 
need them to know where water is infrequent (about 2/3 of the trail!)

One problem with the guidebooks (there are MANY problems with the 
guidebooks, but that's another discussion) is that it tells you that it is 
.6 from the last point, or 3.7 miles, but there is no cumulative daily 
total.  It makes it more difficult to plan the day.  With the data book, you 
can tell at a glance that it is 25 miles to the next water source, you don't 
have to add up all the interim points. We hiked with sections of each of the 
three books, not the whole book.  Another option, if you have the time, is 
to buy the data book and note the cumulative numbers in the margin of the 
guidebook, then leave the data book at home.

The town guide has many errors, but was still useful for knowing where we 
would find showers and laundromats, for example.

Ginny
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