[pct-l] maps

[weathercarrot@hotmail.com (The Weathercarrot)]

>Maps - I know the guide books have some maps, but I am interested in 
>obtaining good topo maps for the whole trail.  Do these exist?  Is there a 
>set one can
buy? <

The most common criticism of the PCT guide book maps is the limited width of 
the shown trail corridor. You generally can't see beyond roughly 5-10 miles 
on either side of the trail. Which maps are best for the trail region is 
very dependant on individual preference. For topography, you can look to the 
USGS maps that the guide book ones are based on. The problem here is an even 
more limited corridor, the need for several hundred of them (to go from 
border to border), lots of money, and an out-dated/inaccurate representation 
of the trail route. The
guide maps have not only the same topographical detail, but the PCT route 
was done seperately and is the most accurate I've seen of any trail map. 
Other options include Forest Service and Delorme maps. These have much wider 
coverage, but you lose the route detail of the guides. The FS ones are 
notorious for the route being frequently off (atleast for the OR/WA sections 
I saw.) I was content just to go with the guide maps and a state highway 
map. I don't think the narrow corridor would affect navigation, although I 
can see how wider coverage would occasionally be useful for locating where 
bail-out side trails lead.

wc
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