[cdt-l] New Mexico trespassing

[Ginny & Jim Owen]

Joe -
We used BLM land use maps in New Mexico - at least partly because we were 
hiking a brand new route in southern NM.  Knowing where we were with respect 
to private land was important because we don't consider it acceptable to be 
trespassing and pissing off the neighbors.  It's REALLY BAD form.  And as 
hikers it makes us look either really stupid or just stupidly irresponsible. 
  The locals know where the Trail is - and as a hiker you're supposed to 
know where the trail is.  If you don't - well, why not?

In Colorado, we used both Jonathon's maps and the National Geographic/Trails 
Illustrated maps.  Both have "pieces of the puzzle", so to speak.  Meaning 
that neither of them is entirely complete.  Especially if you fail to pay 
attention - and find yourself significantly off-trail (i.e. - "lost")

In Wyoming, we were back to the BLM maps in combination with Jonathon's 
maps.  For much the same reasons.  BTW - in Wyoming the trespassing laws 
actually have "teeth" - and you "could" (although it hasn't happened to a 
hiker for a number of years) find yourself cooling your boots in the slammer 
for a whle.

Montana - we used Jonathon's maps in combination with the USFS maps - and 
specifically Bob Marshall and Glacier NP maps.

Two points - first that the major problem with Jonathons maps had nothing to 
do with the maps.  We printed the maps on 8.5x11 paper - and my eyes don't 
handle that level of detail at that scale anymore.  Solution - print the 
maps on larger paper (11x17 ?)   Jonathan's maps don't show (or at least we 
couldn't see) all the side trails and side roads.  There are times that it 
is essential to know where the other trails are and where they go.  (i.e. in 
the San Juans we didn't want to hike the Knife Edge without ice axes.  We 
took a trail down and back up Trout Creek.  That route was not on Jonathan's 
map - though it may be now.)   There are a lot of trails and roads that the 
CDT crosses - we found it necessary to know which was which in order to know 
where we were.

Second point - not all maps are equal.  Meaning - each map is made for a 
different purpose.  Therefore, each map has different features, scales, 
levels of detail, etc.  Jonathon's maps have sufficient detail for those who 
can (and do) pay attention to where they are AT ALL TIMES.  Meaning - they 
never get lost.  That particular "skill" is something that only the rarest 
of AT and PCT hikers have developed (or even thought about developing).  On 
our first CDT hike, it took me about 200 miles to learn that "skill" - and 
still, last year, we several times wandered "off-trail".  When we did, the 
USFS and/or BLM and/or other maps were what we used to "replan" our route 
and get back "on trail".

Finally - notice that I did NOT tell you what to do.  Nor will I.  One of 
the best parts of the CDT is that YOU are the one who gets to make your own 
decisions - and YOU are the one who gets to live with the results.  It's a 
level of freedom that some people love and others can't live with.

Walk softly,
Jim

-----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/




>From: joseph beals <bealsjw at yahoo.com>

>I alredy have jonathan's maps and haven't printed or
>used them to navigate as of yet, do I need to consider
>looking at another set as well?  -Joe
>--- Ginny & Jim Owen <spiritbear2k at hotmail.com> wrote:
>

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