[pct-l] PCT Maps/Data Sources (long winded thoughts)

[Erik The Black]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to weigh in on this issue real quick...

I'm glad to see that Halfmile's maps are finished because I think that they
are great maps! I love maps and I think they will make an excellent resource
for PCT hikers (especially if you are hiking on a budget). 

However, in defense of the Atlas, I would like to point out that the Pacific
Crest Trail Atlas is far more than a "$200 book of maps". 

Maps are nice. They are a very important part of the puzzle when it comes to
planning and navigation. I would argue that they are the MOST important tool
you can have. But they are not the entire puzzle.

The Pacific Crest Trail Atlas includes 8 tools for planning and navigating
the PCT:

1) Full color topographic maps
2) Elevation profiles
3) Data table
4) Town maps
5) Overview maps
6) Resupply & mail-drop information
7) Brief route descriptions
8) Hiker hotspots

There are two options for assembling this sort of complete collection of
trail data for the PCT:

You could buy the Wilderness Press guidebooks, Ben Go's Databook, Yogi's
book, Paul's Pocket PCT elevation guide and download and print Halfmile's
maps and the So-cal water report (which you should get no matter what). Then
cut out the pages you need for each section and staple them together (or put
them in a Ziploc).

This will probably save you about $50-$75 over the cost of the complete
Pacific Crest Trail Atlas set. But, it will waste a lot of your time (not
only in assembling the information to start with, but in doing so much
searching for information and cross-referencing between different pages out
on the trail).

The beauty of the PCT Atlas is not only that all of that information is
contained in one book, but within that book it's all on the same page. So
you just flip to the page you need, read what you need to know, and go.

If that kind of convenience is worth an extra fifty bucks or so over the
course of five months (if you are thru-hiking) then the PCT Atlas may be the
solution you're looking for.

And if not, I'm glad to see there are other alternatives. I'm just happy we
won't all have to get lost so dang much on the PCT anymore (regardless of
where you get your maps :)


Happy trails,
Erik the Black

P.S. If you are on a budget and you would like to get an Atlas for cheap, I
am having a 30%-off sale from now until Saturday, Dec 19th. 

You can read about that on my website:
http://www.blackwoodspress.com/pct/atlas/special.htm




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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:37:54 -0800
From: "Postholer" <public at postholer.com>
Subject: [pct-l] PCT Maps/Data Sources (long winded thoughts)
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <01ac01ca7e09$89fe4bb0$baf25142 at Snoopy>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

On occasion over the last couple years, I've found myself up to my neck in 
map related features for the postholer site. For what it's worth, here are 
some thoughts on the subject.

Map Data Sources
WP Guidebooks, Tom Harrison, HikerTrash, Halfmile and Erik's maps have one 
major thing in common: the trail data is collected/maintained due to a 
herculean effort by one individual. By nature of this method the trail data 
is doomed to be obsolete without continued vigilence. I think of Ben 
Schifrin and what a huge asset he has been to Wilderness Press.

One exception exists, that is the USFS data which is publicly available. My 
understanding is that each year GIS crews are out collecting data here and 
there constantly updating the data. The effort of many from a large, 
constant resource. Not only is this an 'official' (there's that word) 
source, it is constant. That is why the postholer maps are based solely on 
this data and will continue to be.

Which Resource
With Ben Go's data book and the WP Guidebooks you are good to go hiking. 
Thousands before you have used these successfully. Plus you get an extensive

natural history of the trail which all other sources sorely lack.

For something different but not time tested by thousands of hikers, for the 
cost of a printer cartridge you can print out Halfmile's excellent maps, add

$10 for Ben Go's data book and you're good to go. You may or may not want to

stake the success of your hike on this setup.

And for all you thru-wallet saps who think the quality of maps is 
proportional to the price-tag, you've got Erik's PCT Atlas. I just shake my 
head when I think of someone dropping $200 on a set of maps for the PCT. 
This kind of cash is COMPLETELY unnecessary. The anxiety of planning cannot 
be overcome with cash. Do yourself a favor, don't be a thru-wallet.

The Future of PCT Maps
Personally, with bias, I'd like to see Wilderness Press update their aging 
map set and the format. I know some view the 'verbosity' as overwhelming or 
unncessary and during your hike, it can be. But it's also a wealth of 
information no one else can touch. With a little strategic formatting, they 
could have the best of both worlds. I'd expect they would maintain the same 
reasonable pricing we've come to expect from this fantastic resource.

Going forward I bet on the continuing success of Wilderness Press 
Guidebooks. I would gladly contribute my time to see this institution of 
guidebooks continue to grow its legacy for generations of hikers to come.

-postholer

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Trail Journals, Google Trail Maps, Forums: http://postholer.com
Pacific Crest Trail Photo Atlas: http://postholer.com/photoAtlas.php