[pct-l] Which PCT guidebook would you take?

[Terry Norton]

Matt,

The official PCT Guidebooks from Wilderness Press are a must.  Or at
least the maps are a must.  Also, you will want to get the updates to
these books since they are currently a few years old.  Watch the PCT-L
for a link early next year from someone at Wilderness Press.  I
recommend cutting out the updates and taping them on the appropriate
page.

Town information is very limited in the Guidebooks, and it often does
not list the multiple options for accessing a town.

Yogi's PCT Handbook is more like the equivalent of the AT Companion or
Wingfoot's Handbook, and her book is not intended to replace the PCT
Guidebooks.  The handbook has two sections.  The first is dedicated to
planning, and the second is an on-trail guide.  The on-trail section
was the most valuable part of the guide.  It gave better info on water
sources than the guidebooks, and it has town guide info.

Yogi used to offer the on-trail guide section separately for $10 or
$15, but I didn't see this option on her website.

The least valuable is probably the Databook, but it is the one I
referred to most often.  It keeps a running tally of mileage from
Mexico to Canada and lists water sources.  Typically I would review
the guidebook & yogi's handbook each evening for the next day of
hiking, then make notes on the appropriate databook page which I kept
in my "quick draw" pocket.

Consider purchasing the Harrison Maps for the JMT section if you will
be a northbounder.  The guidebook maps are ok for traveling if there
are trails to follow, but their scope is too limited when the trail is
covered by snow and you need to use a compass to find the correct
pass.

cheers,
terry
pct'06