[pct-l] 2005 revision of "Yogi's PCT Handbook"

[Trekker4 at aol.com (Trekker4@aol.com)]

You go girl The book  costs $25, the revisions $12 or $13; anyone who doesn't 
want to pay that little  amount is stupid:  1. You'll save at least $100 
worth of mistakes before  you ever start your hike, and probably more;  2. You'll 
save more money in  having better knowledge of what to expect, knowledge 
that's not in the 3  Guidebooks; and  3. You won't have to depend on others on your 
hike,  bum from them in some way on your hike, or ask stupid questions 
because you  won't spend a few bucks to do your homework and don't have Yogi's info 
with you  on your hike. 
    If you can't buy the book, you're just kidding  yourself about having 
money to do the hike. I'd be embarrassed to ask some of  the questions I see on 
this list, by people who won't do their homework first,  or by people too lazy 
to do their homework first. Am I perfect? Hell no, but I  read all the PCTA 
books, 6-8 thru hike stories already on my bookshelf the  past 20 years, and 
lurked on this list for a long time before I opened my mouth.  (And there's the 
opening for some of you to tell me I should keep it  shut - have at it!)  
 
Sorry, I'll get off the soapbox. Besides Yogi needs $25 from you, to get  
bionic work done on her "legs of steel"; she's worked them very, very hard  - 4 
times in 5 years - and most of us appreciate it very, very much,  Yogi.   
 
In a message dated 2/17/05 10:31:01 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
yogihikes@sbcglobal.net writes:

My book  is registered with the US Copyright office.  As recommended by that  
office, I have written permission (from every contributor to the book) to use 
 everyone's comments.  There are different ways to register the copyright  -- 
either as a collection of other's work or as your own work.  Mine is a  
combination, and IS registered.  I am the author.  My function is  not simply a 
collector of other's opinions.  As a guess, I would say that  about 80% of the 
book is my own words.  The rest is a collection of other  hiker opinions.

I realize that by writing my book I have opened myself  up to criticism.  I 
usually let it slide, but not this time.  I  worked hard to write my book.  It 
took a lot of time.  In order to  write the book and distribute it, I had to 
quit one job.  The income I  receive from the book is much less than I earned 
at my second job.  Sure,  I get more pleasure from operating the book business, 
but not more  money.  And every week I get emails from people who want me to 
make the  book available for free as an Adobe file.  That's simply not going 
to  happen.  If you want the book, you'll have to buy it.  It's good  
information.  I'm proud of it.  But it's not free.  Do you  think if you wrote to the 
author of "The DaVinci Code" and asked for his book  as a free Adobe file he 
would send it to you?  Or a free electronic  version of "A Walk In The Woods"?  
I doubt it.

Yep, I'm pretty  defensive.  That's because the book is my passion.  It's 
human  nature to defend what you're passionate about.  When people citizen me, I  
get riled up.  A lot of thought, care, time, mental and physical work has  
gone into each book.  I go to the PO every day to make sure that people  get 
their books in a timely manner.  When the 2005 Data Book showed  different 
mileage, I put together a mileage revision and made it available at  my cost to 
people who had recently bought the book.  

I hope my  book is helpful for those planning a PCT hike.  I hope the "Part 
2" pages  are helpful while hiking.  I think the book works well, but it's not  
free.



 
Bob 
Big  Bend Desert Denizen
(Naturalized Citizen, Republic of  Texas)