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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>For most hikers, that will probably be true. If you map
(and sign) it, they will come, so to speak. Witness the huge social event that
the AT has become, and towards which the PCT is heading.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>However, there will always be those few who enjoy the
off-trail challenge and who will find their own path, either on the CDT or in
some other wilderness trek.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>There must be room for both in the wilderness. As
civilization moved ever-westward in this country, the mountain men who sought
solitude moved elsewhere - by choice.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Wandering Bob</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=spiritbear2k@hotmail.com href="mailto:spiritbear2k@hotmail.com">Ginny
& Jim Owen</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=cdt-l@mailman.backcountry.net
href="mailto:cdt-l@mailman.backcountry.net">cdt-l@mailman.backcountry.net</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, December 01, 2006 12:11
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [cdt-l] CDT Mapping Effort</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Backpacker Magazine is joining with CDTA to produce a
definitive map of the <BR>CDT. They are looking for volunteers to go out
for one week sections. This <BR>is similar to previous efforts, but with
Backpacker pushing the idea, it may <BR>be more fruitful than some of the past
efforts to gps the trail.<BR><BR>I have mixed emotions about this. I
understand the necessity of creating <BR>good maps of the trail, but at the
same time, I am sorry to see this happen. <BR> One of the best parts of
the CDT is the idea that you can and will create <BR>your own route, by
picking and choosing among many options. The CDTS <BR>guidebooks give several
options, Jonathan Ley gives others on his mapset, <BR>and once you get used to
the idea that you don't have to follow a single <BR>defined route, most hikers
feel free to invent routes of their own choosing. <BR> It seems to me
that with a single map set, showing only one possible <BR>route, that most
hikers will no longer enjoy the freedom that is the CDT. <BR>It will be
so much easier to simply follow the route on the map. What do <BR>you
all think? If you had a map set available that showed only the
<BR>offiicial route, would you follow it, no matter what?<BR><BR>If you
haven't hiked the CDT yet, be aware that in many places the official <BR>route
is not the best route for hikers. There are places where Jim Wolf's
<BR>alternatives are much more scenic or better watered. There are
places where <BR>Jonathan's routes were more adventurous.<BR><BR>I loved the
fact that our hikes were totally unique. This mapping effort is
<BR>likely to change the trail and the trail culture considerably for future
<BR>hikers. What do you think?<BR><BR>Ginny<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>