[pct-l] Support driver

[David Lippke]

Having just done the equivalent on the AT, I'll volunteer that the cheap
Garmin nuvi series of automobile GPS's have almost all the backroads and
also, like almost all maps and other GPS's I've used, they also have roads
which are either not currently usable, gated, or maybe even haven't been
used for 100 years but somehow have "stuck" in the various databases.   It
works the other way too -- sometimes there are roads not on maps or in the
databases.

The net for me was that unless a trail crossing is on a paved or clearly
significant road or is not at a well and recently documented trail head, the
person driving has to simply "go see" if the crossing/access is reachable
before agreeing to meet the hiking person at the particular location.   This
is one reason I wound up driving 27000 miles vs my wife's 2179 miles
walking.

On the positive side, I found the activity of trail and hiker finding very
fun and got an extra kick whenever I was able to noodle my jeep up some old
route where hikers would have never expected to find a vehicle.   This last
is probably not something for your wife, but I would encourage her with the
knowledge that she'll soon develop a very fine sense for where the trail is
with respect to her own position --- you get to where you can almost feel it
out there (a very cosmic sort of feeling, but that's another note).

Sticking with the "main" crossings is easier and more efficient in terms of
miles and so that can be good or one can get aggressive and maybe have more
fun and sense of involvement but at much higher $ and activity expense.

FWIW, David aka White Jeep


On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 8:12 PM, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:

> She has an iPhone, so I may just work out a solution on that. Maybe setup
> GaiaGPS on her phone too. I'm thinking DeLorme Topo and a car adapter for
> her laptop are the way to go. Has better data than the little modules. I'm
> gonna leave it up to her, but I'll bring up the option of one of those
> little devices. My concern is the same as Asabat, will it show the forest
> roads she needs to be on? It's been my experience that my DeLorme software
> has more forest roads than are actually out there.
>
> On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 5:29 PM, AsABat <asabat at 4jeffrey.net> wrote:
>
> > I did this. My wife absolutely would not use it. Among other reasons we
> > aren't talking city streets, we are talking dirt logging roads with few
> > street signs. Some of these roads aren't in the gps. The Semb book spells
> > out directions turn by turn with odometer distances.
> >
> >
> > AsABat
> > PCT Water Reports SoCal http://pct.4jeffrey.net
> > Send water updates to water at 4jeffrey.net
> >
> > "Thelma Fredricksen" <thelma.fredricksen at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >I'd say that if you don't have one, buy a GPS gadget for the car such
> > >as the
> > >Garmin Nuvi -- last I saw they were $125 or less. She can put in the
> > >address
> > >of something that's in the town, or area where she wants to end up and
> > >it'll
> > >be her companion along the way. She'll need directions to the trail
> > >heads
> > >from there, but it helps to have a continuous map with you to show you
> > >where
> > >you actually are. Get a weighted stand and car-charger too. If you want
> > >more
> > >information on this device, I'll send a link. I LOVE mine! Well worth
> > >the
> > >money.
> > >Thelma
> > >
> > >On Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 1:45 PM, Kevin <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >> My wife wants to follow me in the Forerunner. Any books or guides you
> > >would
> > >> recommend? ie maps and/or directions to trailheads and such. I know
> > >folks
> > >> have done this, but I never paid much attention to the details.
> > >Anyone mind
> > >> letting me pick their brains off list if you have done this?
> > >>
> > >> Thanks
> > >>
> > >> Misspellings and typos brought to you by iPhone.
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