Well, as a recently plaqued TC (from the USPS-thanks ALDHA-west) and confined to Maine hiking this year as a recent AT overseer appointee, I've got some observations:<div>alternative trail choices are an interesting topic...why don't we embrace (allow?) AT, PCT acceptance (sans fires, etc.)</div>
<div>I loved the purple alternatives-explaining that option to thru hikers of the other two trails is....????</div><div>This must drive official CDT routers up the wall</div><div>and...after the epiphany I had running into a CDT hiker in Montana, cluing me into OOO's track (after too many lost hours); I have to say that Daniel's track had me in precarious spots on Wagontongue Mtn. and a couple of other spots where I bush whacked following the line, but ended up on real trail. But the tracks were invaluable.</div>
<div>This is still frontier-the AT is (NE rooty) highway, the PCT is horse path, and the CDT is....where the hell am I?</div><div>Ron "zen quake" Dobra</div><div>Greenville, Maine</div><div><br></div><div><br><div>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 7:07 PM, Scott Parks <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:public@postholer.com">public@postholer.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
Thanks for the interest Dave!<br>
<br>
> On almost every map several alternatives exist. Jonathan has kept<br>
> track of these and offers that variety.<br>
<br>
Jonathan's data and the knowledge he possesses was most certainly in<br>
forefront of my mind when this CDT map process started. I am hopeful and<br>
enthusiastic as to it's outcome!<br>
<br>
> I dont think hikers want a single CDT.<br>
<br>
As someone who has never stepped foot on the CDT, I completely agree.<br>
But it's also nice to have a baseline, a starting point, like an<br>
'official' trace. An organization exists and has gone to great expense<br>
and effort to realize an 'official' CDT as mandated by Congress. I<br>
couldn't think of a better starting point.<br>
<br>
> I have used Out of Order's gpx files on my GPS and have found them<br>
> very useful with few "errors", so there is a starting point for Scott.<br>
<br>
Indeed, an excellent point. You'll find OOO's data incorporated with all<br>
the way point data I have from all the great folks who have contributed.<br>
That's 3,000+ way points on the CDT google map. Careful, the following<br>
link is hell on some browsers:<br>
<a href="http://postholer.com/gmap/gmap.php?trail_id=2&markertype=14" target="_blank">http://postholer.com/gmap/gmap.php?trail_id=2&markertype=14</a><br>
<br>
> Perhaps Scott can sort out the Out of Order segments into "official"<br>
> and "alternative" and then plot them on his master map.<br>
<br>
Yes, as well as all the way points.<br>
<br>
> I have also used CDTA gpx points on my GPS and find them less useful<br>
> as they are sometimes too far apart to show the detailed trail,<br>
<br>
those are in there as well<br>
<br>
> I guess it would be a matter of personal opinion of what constitutes<br>
> my CDT and it is unlikely to be the same as your CDT.<br>
<br>
That is so true for any long trail, particularly the CDT!<br>
<br>
> What is Scott's next step?<br>
<br>
Like I said earlier, it all revolves around an accurate, actually<br>
walked, trace.<br>
<br>
Scott<br>
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