[pct-l] discrepencies between mapped PCT routes

[robert at beckersurf.com (Robert Gedeon)]

Thanks Bruce, Marshall, Ray and Kent for your replies. 

Right, the TOPO trace from the National Geographic site was indeed traced by
an individual, and from my own experience, I've noticed that it's an
inaccurate trace at times. I was actually thinking about the USGS routes
depicted on the TOPOs included with the software. 

Anyhow, sounds like the verdict is still out on the issue, which is fine
(sorry for resurrecting an old issue). I'll consider this the end of this
tread - the question, after all, was more academic than anything else, and
like everyone seems to realizes / agree, the answer makes no real difference
- the love comes from walking the route, after all, not necessarily knowing
it.

Thanks again, 


R

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Harvey [mailto:bharve@dslextreme.com] 
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 8:05 PM
To: Robert Gedeon; List PacificCrestTrail
Subject: Re: [pct-l] discrepencies between mapped PCT routes

I bought the TOPO! California series, but decided the guidebook maps are OK
and took the state series back unopened.  I suspect the trail trace that
came with your software/data CD's is the same one you can download from the
National Geographic website.  The tracing was done by an individual TOPO!
user, not by NG.  If you want to check, go to mapXchange on the website and
click on either 'download of the week' or 'Pacific Crest Trail, CA'.

Some of the older USGS quads scanned to produce the TOPO! data files didn't
have the PCT shown when they were scanned.  Ergo the PCT map file you have,
which is a tracing by a private individual, was traced to the best knowledge
of the individual.  Where it disagrees with the guidebooks, the latter can
be regarded as likely more accurate.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Gedeon" <robert@beckersurf.com>
To: "List PacificCrestTrail" <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 3:25 PM
Subject: [pct-l] discrepencies between mapped PCT routes


Hello all,



I was wondering if anyone could give me factual information concerning the
differences between the PCT route as marked in Schaffer's book (I've the
newest editions for Southern and Northern CA, although the maps appear to be
the same as those in the older editions), and the PCT route as it appears on
some of the newer TOPOs out there.



I ask because I am using National Geographic's TOPO software to get better
elevation profiles of the trail segments, and I've noticed that the TOPOs
included with the software include the PCT route. However, the PCT route
mapped onto these newer TOPOs diverges from the route specified in
Schaffer's guidebook.



The actual discrepancies are minimal, and do not concern me in any "real
world" or practical way. My question instead arises more out of simple
curiosity, and I was wondering if anyone could explain the discrepancies.
Not to sound anal, but I'm not interested in conjecture on this point (I
myself with my friends can posit any number of reasons why the discrepancies
"might" be there). Rather, I was wondering if anyone knew for a FACT whether
Schaffer's route or the route shown on the National Geographic TOPOs is more
accurate.



Anyone know?




Thanks,



Robert

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