[Cdt-l] Cdt-l Digest, Vol 6, Issue 11

Mon Mar 17 13:31:04 CDT 2008

We used our preliminary version of the southern half databook last summer along with GPS, Johnathan's maps, AND Jim's guidebooks.  Each and every one was indispensible.

I can understand that some folks may feel that having a "canned" sort of trail is limiting and I certainly hope the CDT never, ever becomes the kind of trail that has "purists".  On the other hand if you really want a "do-it-yourself" kind of trail you could just hike with the USGS Quads and forego all other guidebooks and maps.  That would be an interesting, but very challenging hike.  Personally, we just feel that the more data the better.  Again that's a presonal preference as we're like Yogi in that we tend to be data geeks.  Also, a databook does not contain any more information than what is already out there.  In fact it contains less, much less.  It is simply an attempt to put the pieces into a summarized, and very brief format so it's easier to follow when you're out there on the trail.  For example, I specifically try to indicate locations where the guidebooks are to be used and where the supplement data overrides the guidebooks or where the
 supplements provide an alternate route.  We found that to be tricky to do from the guidebooks when standing out in the middle of a field on a rainy day.

As far as databook changes go, the hardest part of the databook is getting the information into a spreadsheet for the first go around.  Once that is done, changes are easy to make.  It's not like the entire trail changes every year.  Jim can only do so much in his guidebooks and supplements and keeping a databook up-to-date with the guidebooks would be fairly straight forward.  The print-on-demand approach makes a lot of sense for a databook since it is much smaller and since hikers would probably want it unbounded anyway, all that much easier to put in mailing packages.  It still should be sold as part of a guidebook/databook package.

When we finished in Rawlins I went through the 4 chapters (books) for the third time to redo the formatting based upon our experience, made a ton of corrections especially typos, and added comments on items that we found along the way.  That southern half I have emailed to Jim for his review.  With the exception of total SOBO distances and updates for the 2008 Southern New Mexico guidebook which I don't have, it is as updated as I can get.  I have just now finished putting in the Wyoming data in for the first go around and am plowing through Southern Montana part 2.  Everything gets a second check before we print our own copy for this summer.  What happens to it beyond our personal printing is up to Jim.

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Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 10:00:13 AM
Subject: Cdt-l Digest, Vol 6, Issue 11

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Today's Topics:

  1. The need for a data book (lwgear at juno.com)
  2. cdt data book (Brian Dickson)
  3. Rockies Ruck 2008 Report (Paul Magnanti)

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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:05:50 GMT
From: "lwgear at juno.com" <lwgear at juno.com>
Subject: [Cdt-l] The need for a data book
To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID: <20080316.160550.12789.0 at webmail08.vgs.untd.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

10 Reasons Why Data Books are a Good Idea:

1--Lightweight:  Being stripped of all non-essentials like photos, diagrams, illustrations and the like, it's "just the facts, ma'am." Even a cover is optional.
2--Cheap:  Less time required to design the book means cheaper production costs.
3--Print-on-demand: This trend in publishing allows a book to be printed only when someone actually purchases it, so no huge cash outlay upfront is needed.
4--Timely: Because of POD above, changes can literally be made at the last minute and constantly to keep up with the inevitable changes.
5--Digestible: For somewhat dyslexic minds (like mine, it seems), reading a single line isolated from other lines of information is more comprehensible than trying to read a book in a paragraph format.
6--Reversible: Northbound or southbound, it just doesn't matter anymore. 
7--Encouraging: Seeing the trail (whether official or not, temporary or alternative) laid out in data entry style will encourage more people to hike the trail, as it won't seem so daunting, overwhelming or confusing as the current situation appears.
8--Standard: The other major N-S trails have data books, so it's time the CDT rise to what seems to be the standard operating procedure.
9--Planning: With a glance, one can see the water sources for the day, or whatever other important planning that's required when one starts out.
10--Creative: A data book, by using symbols or different fonts, can creatively pack information onto its pages leading to a safe and enjoyable trip.

Now I understand that the trail's generally being unmarked and unsigned, there often being no visible treadway makes a CDT data book challenging to say the least. So it's not fair to make a compare an AT or PCT data book to this trail. But given that at least two people in the past year have tried to compile the slippery information into a data book format, I'd at least like to examine their efforts and see if it works or not. 
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:41:49 +0000 (GMT)
From: Brian Dickson <briansolar1 at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: [Cdt-l] cdt data book
To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID: <960787.67097.qm at web27210.mail.ukl.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Well actually, I see a data book as simply another way of viewing and planning for a hike, along with maps, guides and various other bits of information. 

  I wouldn't see it as 'nailing the CDT to a single track trail'  at all - it would just help me with planning and, once I had annotated or changed parts with my personal plans, it would be useful on the hike itself. 

  The CDT has as many variants as hikers and a good thing too-  a databook would not define my hike just help inform it.  

  I stand by the statement- 'I guess if some folks aren't keen on the data book then they simply don't have to look at it' - thats not inconsistent or irelevant.

  brian

  brian wrote:

  >sounds like a good idea. I would be keen to use a data book if it ever became available- 
  >indeed I have started working on one of of my own for our hoped for 2009 trip on the CDT.

  Great idea - the only way to "hike your own hike" is to determine where YOU want to go 
  and then put the time and energy into the research to make it happen.  

  >I guess if some folks aren't keen on the data book then they simply don't have to look at it! 
  >The same as for any other aids such as GPS, altimeters >etc

  Sorry but that statement is logically inconsistent and irelevant - it's a copout that's been used 
  for a lot of years in more contexts than you can imagine.  And it's never been true.  

  So - which data book would you use?  One for Jim Wolf's route - or for the "official" CDT - or 
  some other route?  If I gave you the "data book" for our 2006 hike how would you know whether 
  it was a trail you'd want to hike?  You wouldn't even WANT the "data book" for our '99 hike - the 
  trail  has experienced massive changes since then.  Would you even know which route it would 
  be for if YOU didn't do the research?  

  And then - why would you want to hike someone elses hike?  That IS what you're saying would be 
  desirable - the generation of a BOOK that would nail the CDT to a single track trail - and would very 
  very shortly lead to a CDT version of "purity".  

  >A quick question Caryl. Is this databook the same one as the one from 'wolverine' in the last few 
  >weeks, or is it a different one ?

  You made my point.  

  Have a good day anyway,
  Jiim

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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:02:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: Paul Magnanti <pmags at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Cdt-l] Rockies Ruck 2008 Report
To: CDT MailingList <cdt-l at backcountry.net>,    PCT MailingList
    <pct-l at backcountry.net>,    AT MailingList <at-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <307001.15455.qm at web34206.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Sorry for the delay in the report. Between fighting a flu for thepast month and being busy at work, I haven't had a chance to upload thephotos.

Here they are. 

Another weekend in Leadville celebrating the lifestyle we call long distance hiking at the Rockies Ruck.

As before, Wild Bill and Cathy of the Leadville Hostel were our gracious hosts.

The weekend started off to go effect Friday night when old friends weregreeted, new friends were made and many stories were told.

Saturday proved to have fantastic weather. Quite a few went cross country skiing, others made use of the nearby resorts
and a few of us watched the annual skijoring event on Main st. Picturewater skiing with horses and alpine skis and you get the idea.Impressive and unique!

Saturday evening, Disco was nice enough to give a great demo on sewing (even a fat fingered klutz like me can do it! )  Garlic also gave a stove workshop.

Later on, we had a repeat of Friday night and again told stories, ateand generally enjoyed each others company. A special part of Satudaynight was Nira (aka 42)'s 30th birthday. There was a food fight tocelebrate [1] apparently. Happy Birthday 42!

The birthday girl debuted a wonderful sideshow of her AT thru-hike and we watched the Walkumentary and a few of us relived our CDT memories. 

Sunday morning, many of us departed after a hearty breakfast.  A few decided to play in the snow some more as well.

Later on, some of us had a bit of scare when Footslogger and BA Turtlegave us their after-ruck report. Footslogger had to be rushed to Denverdue to a hear attack. :O Luckily everything is A OK now. Our favoriteWyoming thru-hiker couple is now back in Laramie and recuperating. Phew!

Overall, what a wonderful weekend. I am already looking forward to 2009in Leadville and spending another weekend celebrating being hikertrash. 

Photos at http://snipurl.com/21yad 

************************************************************
The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust 
caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau
http://www.pmags.com

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