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Hopefully this topic hasn't been covered.
I'm wanting to experience a section hike this summer on the AT. I've found some pretty good information on WikiTrail and another interactive online map - but don't know how accurate they are. At this time I'm really only considering TN/NC sections.
Does anyone have any experience with both Guthook and AWOL guide? What's the difference? Which do you like and why?
btw, any other advice or info on these sections would be helpful!
Used both on my thru. Phones die, even when you have a backup battery..ish happens.
Guthook is preferred, user comments give you more up to date insight to upcoming towns, water sources etc. but AWOL is spectacular for towns and get phone #s etc
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Guthook on the trail, AWOL for the towns. Have and use both for my section hikes.
You can get away just using one or the other, but they do complement each other so having both is worth while.
In order to minimize the battery drain on my phone, I use Guthook very sparingly using it only to keep from getting lost. It seems like I frequently miss a switchback or fail to see a turnoff of the trail. It is those times I will pull out my phone and ensure I’m still on the trail. I also use it to see how far I am from my next intended shelter late in the day.
AS A “hobby”, I like to keep the current page of AWOL’s guide in the clear plastic sleeve he provides, in the side pocket of my pack, and refer to it at every landmark I come to. It’s just what I enjoy doing. I always know my progress, and can see the elevations ahead of me.
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I used both. Each is great in its own way. One thing no one mentions is that smartphone touch screens don't work with wet/moist, no matter the battery. Once wet on a rainy/humid day, it's about impossible to get the screen dry enough to work.
I discovered this the hard way hiking into Erwin last year. Drove me absolutely nuts trying to take photos with my phone. No regular camera. It was intermittently raining, but it was absolutely amazing hiking in to town. I tried for several minutes just to take one photo with clouds rolling down the valley, and by the time I managed to get the screen dry enough to recognize my finger, I was back in the clouds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rain Man
I need to to test this with my new phone though. It’s “waterproof” without a case, so I wonder if the screen is better adapted to touch input while wet?
First, this topic has been covered ad nauseam. You can do a search for other threads on this topic.Quote:
Originally Posted by mhutt
Anyway, Guthook is good for determining where water, view areas, shelters, camp sites, etc. are and how far. It also has information on towns and off trail places to stay. The AWOL guide has the same, but most hikers who have Guthook, too, use the guide for planning purposes more than on trail usage. That's not to say the AWOL guide is not used on the trail. I've seen plenty of hikers pull out a page of the guide to navigate. I, however, use Guthook exclusively when hiking.
BTW. Ditto on the wet phone. The touch screen just doesn't work when it's wet and/or your hand is wet.
I like them both; have used both; will use both in future. Never hurts to have more information. I agree that AWOL's guide is more helpful for trip planning (intended daily mileages and stopping places) and Guthook's app is most useful while hiking (like how far to next reliable water?).
Used both on my hike; but generally used Guthook while hiking the trail and use AWOL at night in my tent and in town.
This is very similar to my thinking. Use guthook for the same reasons you mentioned. If I were on the AT (instead of the PCT, where I use halfmile maps rather than AWOL), I would have a couple pages of AWOL in a plastic sleeve, but I'm using a plastic sleeve for a 3 ring binder. I have a cord thru the hole and it's carabinered to my shoulder strap. So I don't have to fold it and keep taking it out of my pocket. The rest of the guide is in the pack, so I can replace what's hanging from my shoulder as I move along. I did need to reinforce that hole with a little duct tape...Quote:
Originally Posted by Deacon
I used guthooks on CT, and LT. I find it a bit of pain to turn phone gps on, wait to lock, etc. Takes a lot more batt if leave gps on. Or even phone on for that matter. Actually used LT map on LT, guthook to play with. I found guthook better in CT due to unmarked trail intersections, having gps track was valuable to show right direction to go. But I still used mainly the CT data book in pocket.
Nothing is quicker than a piece of paper n pocket.
I only used AT guide for AT. Nothing else needed. Profile maps shows you exactly where you are and how far to next peak, gap, water, etc. I wouldn't use guthook on AT personally. Page of data book in pocket in ziplock is so much easier. But a whole generation will disagree with me. Having maps loaded in phone is no brainier though, whether thru guthook or other.
I bought the Springer section of the Guthook guide, planning to section hike sequentially from the beginning. Through a series of unfortunate events, I was unable to start last fall. I'm making plans to start again, and am blessed to be able to take my teenage grandson. Unfortunately, our schedules only coincide to work out April 1st to start. I want to avoid the Crazyness At Springer so we will start In VA instead.
I figure Ill Just go ahead and get the full Guthook App now. Should have just fine it from the start. Did I read somewhere that I can get a credit for the first section that I already purchased? If so, how do I go about that?
Just send Atlas an email and they will help you out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Analog_Kidd
Just 14 or 15 years ago you would get your butt chewed out on this forum for even mentioning having a phone on the AT!!
My question (due to ignorance) is are there other devices besides a smart phone that you can use Gut Hook with?
It wasn't even that long ago.
my post earlier about the plastic sleeve carabinered to the shoulder strap - I really use that for a halfmile map, not awol. Probably wouldn't need it for Awol.
But halfmile maps are great. kinda like guthook without the phone. I look at the map from the starting point, and see I've got a road crossing in a mile and a half. When I get to the road, I can see the next waypoint.
So, hanging in plastic from my shoulder strap, it's easily accessible, it stays in good condition, and it's not folded. Because I can see so easily where I am on these maps, and because I can just quickly pick it up and look at it, it helps my map reading ability also. Say I just passed that stream the map mentioned a few minutes ago, and now the trail veers sharply to the left. I c as n see if I can find that point on the map, then compare what I see to what's on the map.
So, I find I use Guthook a lot less. if I come to a confusing place, I'll turn it on to make sure I go the right way. Or if I'm maybe 2 tenths of a mile from a tentsite, I might turn on guthook till I get to that spot -- I can look around and make sure I don't go past it...
So the map for generally keeping me on track and Guthook for fine-tuning.
All these methods work, but I sure like my paper-AWOL, I also use the current-area-ziplock thing and reference the darn thing at least once an hour, as someone said below, I like having a preview of upcoming terrain. I like AWOL so much, we just bought a brand new one for our AT section this spring, even though my old 2013 one would probably have been good enough.
I'm sure Guthook is fantastic, but for the AT, I just don't think I need it. I have my phone and if you open google maps and zoom in, voila, there's the AT shown, along with the Blue Dot of your current location. That helped me out twice when I "lost" the trail by making wrong turns because of not paying attention. Again, I'm sure guthook is fantastic, but it costs $60, and the combo of AWOL ($15) and Google maps (free) covers it all. Yeah, I'm Scottish and cheap.
Just my own Modus Operandi.
One method, following progress on map or with guidebook, requires a degree of mental engagement (read effort) whereas the other requires none.
Excellent point. Again, not to badmouth Guthook at all, it looks cool and everything, but I was kinda meh about it when a hiking pal kept showing me his phone screen with it. Again, it's nice having some sort of electronic navigational device in a pinch (AKA: if you lose the trail, like I did a couple times!).Quote:
Originally Posted by lonehiker
Just a personal preference, not dissing Guthook, just didn't blow wind up my skirt.
I used the AWOL guidebook on my 1st attempt, some sections, and finally my thru. I loved the town maps and all and it was really easy to navigate (I got the .pdf version this last trip). Guthooks, I learned along the way, was a lot better for instant info like water sources or whatever due to the comment sections. It also showed a few other trails, waterfalls, and interseting sights along the way where AWOL was pretty specific and thru hiker based, I thought. Either will do the trick, but the best thing to do is plan for water sources, wander the towns, and have fun exploring. Use either one sparingly. If I had to pick, I'd choose AWOL only due to the fact that it would reside in the pack longer than Guthooks as I'd be looking at Guthooks a lot more (if that makes sense).
https://amcstore.outdoors.org/books-...SAAEgL7OPD_BwE
Those used to be available as apps.
Great maps.
I have MDNoVA; Shenandoah and I regret not having bought the others before they ceased to cell them. Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Maps.
They cover not only the trail but the areas around it (and thus "off" trail camp grounds, for example, that are only .5 miles or less off the trail).
PATC.net no longer sells the App and iTunes doesn't show it either. When I contacted them they told me that they were discontinuing the app maps as not enough people were buying them.
But they were great. Full topo maps with roads and everything for 5-10 miles in every direction away from the trail.
Don't get me wrong. I love Guthooks. My wife and I both bought copies of the App. But it just isn't the full topo with all the labels that the PATC app had/has.
Most of what is for sale on the app store now really isn't much or worth much.
Though I really like the Whiteblaze book. It was surprisingly good. And I bought a copy of the guide, will get another when I get close to doing a through hike.
Search really doesn't do that well for me on-site -- though I have often googled things and found them on-site much better. I'm not sure what makes search so difficult either.Quote:
Originally Posted by ldsailor
I have used AllTrails and Guthook and prefer Guthook. I also use an actual map folded up in my pocket. I do a lot of searching on-line and look through my AT guide prior to my section or day hikes. But, while on the trail I like the map and the Guthook ap from my phone.
I can understand this.... I used to fly a lo as a private pilot, and I always had a folded chart on my knee and followed along with a finger where I was most all the time.... and since I've always been a map lover this came natural to me. It's just fun in some weird way to maintain situational awareness. I think it helps to have better developed memory about where I've been.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deacon
I think I'll start trying this on the trail perhaps.