[pct-l] Which book?

[ALightner at aol.com (ALightner@aol.com)]

I could have gotten by without the data book or yogi's handbook, but I'm glad 
I didn't.  I found the combination of the data book, yogi's handbook, and the 
guidebooks invaluable. For 99% of the trail, I didn't look at the guidebook, 
and relied on the databook for landmarks.  For the 1% where I did use the 
guidebook, I needed it though - and you never know when you're gonna need it.  The 
tips in yogi's handbook, especially the southern CA water and town info, were 
indispensable.

Take the guidebooks.  Tear out and carry only the section(s) you are 
currently hiking. The guidebooks have maps that cover the immediate vicinity of the 
trail and long-winded text descriptions.  Most of the time I found them 
confusing and littered with irrelevant information, but when it mattered, I was able 
to puzzle out the correct route.  I think they would benefit from some 
clarifying rewrites and removal or separation of the non-trail informaiton, and the 
maps would be better at higher resolution with color, but they're indespensible 
when compared to not having the information they provide.  Twice I ended up 
hiking sections without the guidebook, and it sucked. I survived, but the trail 
intersections were stressful. Also, the mileage markers are only point to 
point, so it can be hard to calculate how many miles to the next campsite/ 
watersource - its easy to miss one and think that your goal is closer than it is.

Take the databook.  The databook contains the mileage markers from the 
guidebooks without all the babbling text.  It also contains markers for the major 
water sources.  Most of the time, I hiked from landmark to landmark and never 
looked at the guidebook.  Also, its easy to miss a mileage marker when reading 
the guidbook, and so think that your goal is closer than it is.  The databook 
has cumulative mileages, so the math is easier.

Take yogi's handbook.  The guidebooks and databook have errors (they say go 
West for water when the water's really East), and yogi catches most of them. 
Unless you've been to all the towns along the way, then the town info is 
important too.

You could could go without all three, but aren't 25 mile days hard enough?

my $0.02

be well. hike on.

-Gizmo




In a message dated 2/8/2005 7:01:09 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
hungry10@hotmail.com writes:

> Subj: [pct-l] Which book? 
>  Date: 2/8/2005 7:01:09 AM Pacific Standard Time
>  From: hungry10@hotmail.com
>  To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>  Sent from the Internet 
> 
> 
> 
> Greetings to all. I have been lurking on the list for a while, busy planning 
> 
> to start the PCT in April. I think only one of my major questions has never 
> been addressed here--what information do the various guidebooks have and 
> what is 'essential' to bring?
> 
> I'm referring to the PCTA guidebooks, the data book, and Yogi's handbook (am 
> 
> I missing any?). I have a good idea of what's in Yogi's book from the sample 
> 
> pages. Can anyone describe what the others are like so I don't have to buy 
> them to find out? Any comparisons to the AT data book, Companion, and 
> Wingfoot?
> 
> I really only want my book to tell me about Water, Resupply, and not getting 
> 
> Lost. Everything else detracts from the adventure.
> 
> Also looking for advice concerning maps.
> 
> Thanks, and see you in April,
> Maurice Schwenkler
> 
> 
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