Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#90471 - 02/17/08 11:30 AM PCT Atlas: NEW!
ronin Offline
member

Registered: 08/09/04
Posts: 41
Those of you still looking for PCT info should take a look at Eric's new PCT Atlas (pctatlas.com).

Specially the binder format. Should be LTW, *very* user friendly, and easily updated/modded. And dirt cheap for what you get! :-)

FYI: I have no affiliation w/Eric or Blackwoods press. Just a "happy camper." <chuckle>

Peace,

Richard.

Top
#90472 - 02/17/08 01:33 PM Re: PCT Atlas: NEW! [Re: ronin]
hafdome Offline
member

Registered: 07/15/02
Posts: 395
Loc: Portland, Oregon
Wow. That looks like a lot of work for each volume. From the looks of the sample chapter there is a lot of usable information in there. Add Yogi's book for town/water info and you would seem to be set. The binder format means I don't have to destroy perfectly good books to take a thru-hike.

The Schifrin/Wilderness press books were great for a long time. Then the lack of competition started to show. The last edition change when California was split got to be really wordy and less useful.

These new books obviously aren't done but the early indication looks good. Thanks for the link. hafdome <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
Deeds can't dream what dreams can do. e.e. cummings

Top
#90473 - 02/17/08 06:01 PM Re: PCT Atlas: NEW! [Re: hafdome]
BrianLe Offline
member

Registered: 02/26/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Washington State, King County
Why binder format? Both here and in the similar BPL thread the comment is made that the binder format is superior. I would have assumed that the smaller page format would be better. It's not like you're going to keep each page and reassemble the book at the end of a thru-hike; maybe the reference here assume copying the pages to then put them back in.

I think I'd rather cut up the smaller book so that the pages will hopefully fit neatly into a quart-sized ziplock bag. I say "I think" as until seeing the final product, it's hard to know if the print size will be on the small size for aging eyes to read comfortably.

Anyway, for the roughly 2/5 of the trail we should have covered this way, I too am looking forward to trying it out.

Top
#90474 - 02/18/08 12:17 PM Re: PCT Atlas: NEW! [Re: BrianLe]
hafdome Offline
member

Registered: 07/15/02
Posts: 395
Loc: Portland, Oregon
With binder format you can mail used pages back home and put them back in the binder so you still have a book. You can also just delete and add pages as needed to update the book over time.

With a regular book you tear out the needed pages for a section and have to destroy a book. For updates/new editions you have to buy a new book. YMMV <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
Deeds can't dream what dreams can do. e.e. cummings

Top
#90475 - 02/19/08 09:59 AM Re: PCT Atlas: NEW! [Re: hafdome]
BrianLe Offline
member

Registered: 02/26/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Washington State, King County
Thanks for the clarification. In my own experience at using map & data pages, I'm unlikely to mail the pages home, unlikely to mail all of them home if I did, and it's unlikely that the ones I did mail home would be in very good shape when they got there, but if it works for you --- great!

Top
#90476 - 02/19/08 12:07 PM Re: PCT Atlas: NEW! [Re: hafdome]
ronin Offline
member

Registered: 08/09/04
Posts: 41
Quote:
snip>Add Yogi's book for town/water info and you would seem to be set.<snip>

Yogi's book is a great resource and it wouldn't hurt to purchase it also but you must not have noticed that the Atlas also includes water, services, town and other related info.

Peace,

Richard.

Top
#90477 - 02/19/08 12:38 PM Re: PCT Atlas: NEW! [Re: BrianLe]
ronin Offline
member

Registered: 08/09/04
Posts: 41
Quote:
Why binder format? Both here and in the similar BPL thread the comment is made that the binder format is superior.[quote]
1) PCT thru hikers only number app 300 per yr. A binder format should appeal to a larger market comprised of folks who might like to hike portions/sections, etc, w/o tearing up a perfectly good book.
2) Updates. Updates. And mo updates. Get the point? <chuckle>
3) Larger type and maps. I think this one's obvious. JIC it's not here's an example: Who wants to carry a large magnifying glass?
4) An 8.5X11 three-ring format allows one to customize one's book w/readily available materials. E.g. Add your own cross referenced text to a section, etc.
5) Did I mention marketing? <chuckle> I'd like to see Eric make a buck or two. Hoping that he'll continue to offer us updated (dere's dat woid agin) versions. A larger market will help ensure he continues w/the Atlas project.

[quote]I would have assumed that the smaller page format would be better. It's not like you're going to keep each page and reassemble the book at the end of a thru-hike; maybe the reference here assume copying the pages to then put them back in.[quote]
Perhaps a small book would be better for a PCT Thru Hiker .... but only perhaps. Examples:
A) Some thrus would prefer the option of a keepsake. Which being in a binder format they may annotate, and so on.
B) Less work when planning your trip. Isn't organizing a thru hard enough w/o all the work that goes into ripping up good books and assembling, etc, all of the bits and pieces?
C) Most thrus appear to want folks like Eric (2007 thru FYI) to succeed. A binder format will help the project succeed (albeit not guarantee it) as noted above. IOW, what's good for thrus today is not necessarily good for thrus tommorrow. Specially if Eric only sells to a few thrus (estimated max sales of 300 per yr).

BTW; IMHO thrus will find that a properly cared for binder sheet will last the whole trip.

[quote]I think I'd rather cut up the smaller book so that the pages will hopefully fit neatly into a quart-sized ziplock bag.[quote]
I've used quart ziplock's for self printed maps, etc, and it works fine w/8.5X11 sheets.

[quote]I say "I think" as until seeing the final product, it's hard to know if the print size will be on the small size for aging eyes to read comfortably.[quote]
I guarantee it won't be comfortable w/o some kind of magnifier. Have you used a magnifying glass in the field to read (in full), a map/book?

[quote]Anyway, for the roughly 2/5 of the trail we should have covered this way, I too am looking forward to trying it out.

So far so good. Needs more work IMHO. I'll send Eric some suggestions when i've had more time w/the sample sheeets. Pretty busy lately. In fact I have to go for a hike now. "Work, work, work." Cya!

Peace,

Richard.

Top
#90478 - 04/04/08 07:06 AM Re: PCT Atlas: NEW! [Re: ronin]
redroach Offline
member

Registered: 05/17/02
Posts: 366
Loc: Houston, Texas
Just from a first glance, WOW.

I wish all guide books had these options.
Pocket size
Wirebound
Binder.

Now I wish I had the time to do the PCT.

TV

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 199 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum