<DIV>I personally take just about every alternate trail I come to. I also will bushwhack to get to a place I want to see , or just to make my own shortcut ( which most times takes longer than the regular trail ). I am not a purist, this year on the PCT I bushwhacked down snow creek canyon instead of taking the 16 mile switchback again. I don't recommend this, there are a lot of rattlesnakes, and some small but tricky climbs. I also tore up my G-5 pack to where it was unusable. Now don't get me wrong, if I'm some place where there is a delicate ecosystem I stay on the trail.</DIV> <DIV>The point I'm trying to make is if there is a guidebook and even if it has alternate routes, it doesn't mean ( to me at least ) that it absolutely has to be followed. I like to put a little extra adventure in my adventures. HYOH</DIV> <DIV>Carl<BR><BR><B><I>Ginny & Jim Owen <spiritbear2k@hotmail.com></I></B> wrote: </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">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><BR><BR><BR>-----------------------------------------------------------<BR>http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/<BR><BR>_________________________________________________________________<BR>Get the
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