[pct-l] Halfmile maps, 2014 vs 2015

[walt Durling]

At the risk of negative feedback (if so, be not aggressive), I agree that one could safely hike the PCT without a map or compass.  While not quite the ease of the AT for keeping to the trail, it's pretty darn close.  I set out with the 1/2 mile maps last year and never used them.  From time to time I asked other hikers along the way and pretty much got the same response. Everything else being equal, it would be snow covered trail in the high Sierra which might be a reason for taking them, as well as potential early snow in the northern Cascades. 

 While I didn't thru hike last year, I covered several hundred miles in the Sierra and Oregon.  I hiked into the Sierra ahead of most hikers and encountered snow, some deep, for several days where the trail wasn't obvious in many places.  My iphone apps kept me on the trail.  But most times it wasn't that difficult without the apps.  About every hour or so I'd check an app to make sure I wasn't straying afield.

Yes, I know I know.  My gizmos could break or run out of power.  But even so, for most hikers there will be someone ahead and someone behind, and getting actually despairingly lost is low on the risk scale.  I met one elderly gent who was taken aback when I gently pointed out he was miles and miles from where he thought the map showed his position. He had read the map wrong and wasn't keeping a close tab on his whereabouts.  He was square in the trail, inly about 8 miles from where he thought he was. That could happen to anyone, so having a paper map without the necessary skills to use it it just carrying needless weight.  This is just my opinion - not trying to talk anyone  out of paying/carrying maps.

Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 15, 2015, at 15:54, Paint Your Wagon <n801yz at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Nathan-
> 
> Lon Cooper is Half Mile, and he has contact inf. on his map site or other blog(s.)
> 
> The changes for the most part are minor errors, 
> omissions, 
> or changes, 
> that hikers detect in the day to day use of the maps, 
> notes, 
> and water reports. 
> With that being said, 
> there could be a few major changes- 
> such as the trail angels at mile #454, 
> at Agua Dulce; 
> the Saufleys, 
> are no longer hosting hikers. 
> They did so in 2014, 
> but will not be doing so in 2015, 
> so this change will likely be posted in the 2015 version. 
> This sort of change doesn’t strike at the heart of the map’s integrity 
> (the trail route itself) 
> so whether one used the 2014 version or the 2015 version wouldn’t matter regarding navigational purposes. 
> I suppose that is my point. 
> A trail closure that happened since the 2014 version’s creation, 
> would be of importance, 
> but there are other sources for that information. 
> One or more of the following group: 
> the PCTA, USFS, NPS, BLM, etc., 
> will have notices to rely on, 
> so the 2015 changes (posted or pending) do not necessarily have to be the holy grail of references.
> 
> Hope this helps.
> 
> PaintYW
> 
> PS The trail is so well defined, 
> constructed, 
> maintained, 
> signed, 
> etc., 
> that one could literally hike without maps, 
> providing the trail is not obscured by feet of snow. 
> Not that one should, 
> but one could. 
> Just saying. 
> Did I have such an attitude my rookie year? 
> Absolutely not. 
> Do I have Half Mile’s maps printed out and at the ready for this year’s hike? 
> Absolutely.
> 
> PSS Thirteen days and a wake up, 
> and I’ll be staring into that brand spanking new Southern Terminus monument marker’s cold beady eyes.     
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