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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Two observations:</P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Backpacker Magazine</I> editorial piece announcing the contest to be a volunteer, Jonathan Dorn states, “Yet the CDT lacks one basic ingredient of a world-class hiking path: and official map.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In my opinion, one of the features of the CDT that makes it world-class is its lack of an “official map.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rather than a path, I regard the CDT an experience.</P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In regards to the value of an “official” map as a land use decision-making tool, the current level of documentation is more than sufficient to create a “corridor” for the CDT, even over private lands if the government so desired.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Throughout my career in land development, I have been both the beneficiary and unwilling benefactor of governmental land use decisions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It has been my experience that the vaguer the proposed route, the wider the corridor created.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This mapping effort is no different that any previous mapping effort since Marco Polo: it is a commercial enterprise.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rodale, Inc. and CDTA wish to produce and sell maps and guide books.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Period.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Nothing
wrong with that per se, but call a spade a spade, it ain’t a shovel.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> As a fellow Capitalist Running-Dog Pig, I wish them good fortune with their investment. However, l</SPAN>ike all previous mapping efforts, once completed and promulgated, the Law of Unintended Consequences kicks in.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am concerned about that.</P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">That's my opinion, but I could be wrong.</P><BR><BR>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">----- Forwarded Message ----<BR>From: Paul Magnanti <pmags@yahoo.com><BR>To: CDT MailingList <cdt-l@backcountry.net><BR>Sent: Monday, December 4, 2006 2:46:00 PM<BR>Subject: [cdt-l] CDT Mapping Effort<BR><BR>
<DIV>The ultimate value of an "official" set of CDT maps is<BR>as Jonathan stated earlier: With an official trail on<BR>the ground, much easier to point to something and<BR>saying "THIS needs protection". <BR><BR>I imagine most govt officials, land owners, etc. want<BR>something tangiable to deal with.<BR><BR>A trail that is "official" on paper rather than<BR>nebulous corridor makes for much easier trail advocacy<BR>and protection. You can't protect something<BR>(realistically) that does not "officially" exist.<BR><BR>As for HIKING the CDT, suspect there will be a few<BR>"purists" who stick to what is on the map. But, the<BR>nature of people who hike the CDT, the open terrain,<BR>the different options and various other reasons<BR>(weather, fires, plagues of locusts) will make a long<BR>hike on the CDT an open-ended adventure for most.<BR><BR>The trail may be "official" on paper for much needed<BR>trail protection and advocacy; but a journey on the<BR>CDT I suspect will
still be the most open-ended of the<BR>big three trails for quite some time to come. The CDT<BR>runs through some the largest expanse of public land<BR>and will not be hemmed into a narrow corridor like the<BR>AT and to a lesser extent like the PCT.<BR><BR>HYOH, just my .02, YMMV, etc.<BR><BR>(Still unpacking! One of these days..will get my<BR>computer up and running..and get my photos posted!!!!)<BR><BR><BR>************************************************************<BR>The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust <BR>caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched<BR>--Thoreau<BR><A href="http://www.magnanti.com/" target=_blank>http://www.magnanti.com</A><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>cdt-l mailing list<BR>cdt-l@backcountry.net<BR><A href="http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/cdt-l" target=_blank>http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/cdt-l</A></DIV></DIV><BR></DIV></div><br>
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