[pct-l] Postholer's Map Books?

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Just a funny point of reference on the published accuracy of PCT mileage 
from the different guides out there...

In 1974 we didn't really have published mileages! You bought the topo maps 
and a "map measure" (a hand-held gauged device with a tiny wheel you would 
roll along the printed trail on the map) and were happy with the rough 
estimate of a day's mileage.

After every day's Plan A turning to Plan B, it really didn't matter much how 
many or few miles you did as long as you got to the next pay phone (in a 
week or three) to call home on time!



Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
www.mountaineducation.org
-----Original Message----- 
From: enyapjr at comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 8:46 AM
To: pct-l
Cc: wallyneal at gmail.com
Subject: [pct-l] Postholer's Map Books?

> I bought the Postholer So. Cal. Book and it seems rather ideal. Am I 
> missing
something?

No, you aren't missing "something" - there has been much discussion in the 
past on all of the PCT related forums regarding all the available
PCT 'maps' (Wilderness Press guides, Halfmile, Postholer, PCT Atlas, 
USFS/PCTA) - and now there are apps, too!  :-/

There are pros & cons to each 'set' of maps noted above - and the pros/cons 
can vary greatly from person to person...
I am not going to "pass judgement" on any set of maps, but I will note some 
comments (I have, BTW & FYI, all of the above map sets!)...

If 'weight' is your main concern, you can 'tear apart' the Postholer books 
into smaller sections - as is/was typically done with the WP Guides
(but then you will probably have a "bunch of loose, hard-to-handle" 
Postholer pages) - but you do NOT need to carry more maps than for
one or two sections at a time, at least initially (for later sections 
'bounce' them up-trail or include them in your resupply shipments)...
Whichever, Postholer or Halfmile, one would carry the 'bulk' of the maps 
stored inside the backpack - having only those pages for the current
hiking day readily available outside of the pack...

Much of the past discussions concerned the so-called "official" mileages 
(but there is no such thing IMHO!) and the mileages differ between
the Halfmile, Postholer, & PCT Atlas maps (Halfmile's being closest to the 
perceived "official" mileages from the 2005 WP PCT Data Book)...
Personally, I find the mileage differences mostly irrelevant - a named 
waypoint, whatever mileage is given, will be the 'same', i.e., Hwy 74 is
still Hwy 74 - but the mileage differences do seem to really 'upset' some 
folks!  ;-)
Note that in using Halfmile's PCT app and Postholer's maps the mileages will 
differ, but waypoints by description would still be 'recognizable' -
and Postholer does have his own free "Data book" (.pdf file) on his 
website...

You will find that currently the majority (everyone please take that as 
meaning only "51% or more"!) of thrus use the Halfmile maps - but that
should NOT be the final factor in what YOU use!  Go with what map set suits 
you best and how you anticipate using them.  HYOH!!  ;-)

Happy trails!!!
Jim (PITA)
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