Date: 2012-01-05
To: Maps and Journals
Miles today: 0.0

MAPS and DATA BOOKS ¢ I will preface my comments by saying that any statement or opinions I express are only just that, MY OPINIONS. I have completed the trail twice, once in two sections and once as a thru hike. I learned from both my mistakes and the mistakes of others. I had the advantage to get some advice from some very experienced long distance hikers. There is no one way to hike the AT or any other long distance trail. Do what you want and what works for you.I started out as I think most AT hikers start out, with a map. I brought two maps with me since I was not planning a mail drop for a bit. I thought I needed to know not only the trail but also any outs in case of an emergency. I also brought a portion, about 25 pages of The Thru-Hiker¢s Handbook. Again, the next portion was in my first mail drop. I placed the pages of my handbook in a plastic bag. I was only on day one and I could tell the pages were already experiencing a lot of stress and showed the beginning signs of getting ripped. With just a short comment made by Greyhound in 2006, the way I managed my data sheets changed for the better from that point forward. He simply made the suggestion to take only the page I will need for the day, place it in its own zip-lock baggie, folded to see only what I need to see. By doing this one simple suggestion, all the information I needed was immediately available in my pocket. When done, I replace what I need at the end of the day with a fresh sheet. Even in the rain, the information stays in one piece and always immediately available. By knowing the information I need when I need it, I never looked at the maps. As such, I decided not to carry the maps anymore and have not regretted it one time. All the information you need is on the data sheets that are available. The Thru-Hikers Handbook offered by the Trail Place is no longer in print as of last year. That is too bad since it was a good resource and was all that was needed. The main source of info as I am sure you know is The AT Guide by David ¢Awol¢ Miller. This is used by a lot of hikers, as well, and is very similar, although there are differences. One positive difference is the way the elevation is given. The scale in the Thru-Hiker¢s Handbook was very small and in some areas just not accurate. But the info in it was very detailed and complete and I will miss using it in the future. Oh well, it¢s all about adapting.I once ordered a copy of the ATC Data Book and found it to offer less than the other trail guides. I think it also was written north-to-south and since I was hiking south-to-north I was not interested in interpreting what the reverse was. I¢m not sure how it is today.So in short, you won¢t need a map. You really won¢t. If you still feel you need a map or are being made to carry one as a promise to a loved one, a newer option is available. The Pocket Profile Map was new in 2010. I found a copy in a hiker box of Map AT-1. I don¢t even think the entire trail was available in 2010. Either way, the entire trail is available now. It is actually a great alternative if you feel you must carry a map. Information can be found at pocketprofilemaps.com. It appears they can be purchased along the way so maybe get one or two and then buy them as you go if you feel you need them. As for the data sheets, The AT Guide is the way to go and carry only the pages you need until a mail drop. Have a dedicated zip-lock to put one or two pages in and keep it in your pocket. Remember that you will be hiking around many other hikers, certainly when you stop at any shelter. I am relatively sure that someone will be carrying a map and would let you see it if you asked. Let others carry the load if they insist. Remember to yogi is a hikers art form, as you will learn.   Also, as a side note, Greyhound made a comment to me not to pay any attention to the map elevations. He said you have to go up no matter what, so just climb it. It took me a bit of time to realize it, but he was correct once again. All day long you are either going up or down. It is nice to know about how long the climb is but after that, let it go. You see hikers stopping on the climb up trying to determine how much more there is. First, if you do that, when you hit a false top, and you will many times, your mind game will be negatively affected. Also, the elevation maps are just not that detailed. The information on your data sheets are a more accurate means of determining where you are. You¢ll be at the top when you get there. Don¢t stress over it. To many hikers, the downs are harder than the ups anyway and yet I don¢t see anyone trying to determine where they are on the way down. Just hike. Keep moving.