Maps Questions

[dtp81390]

Hello all.

So currently i am planning a thru-hike several years down the road, I am not only interested in the AT but a lot of the sites visible from side trails.

I currently have David Millers AT Guide, and he is constantly referring to side trails, I just want to know what is down these side trails and if the side trails are worth taking.

I see a lot of reference to the Appalachian Trail Maps from Nat Geo, Do these include information on side trails or only the AT. Nat Geo also has the trails illustrated maps in segments, which I think would have more of the information I am looking for such as distances.

Does anyone know where I can access forest service maps or determine what the forest service trail numbers are for some of these side trails.


Any suggestions for maps, books or guides that could provide me with this information would be helpful. I want to take in everything possible, but I also need to be timely so I can complete my through hike, so I really need to determine how many side trips I am going to take so I want to find the best ones.

[Slo-go'en]

There are various types of side trails (blue blazes). Some lead to water, some to shelters, some to scenic vistas, some down to a trail head.

The ones your most interested in are the ones to water and shelters, which can be some distance off the trail, but typically less then a mile (over 3/10ths and most people say the heck with that!). The same goes with scenic vistas. If it's more then a few 100 yards off the trail, few bother. You got miles and miles to hike that day and doing side trips just cuts into those miles and makes the day longer.

After a while, thru hikers get jaded to vistas. Oh yea, another view, just like the last 100 I saw. Great another waterfall, big deal.

[egilbe]

There are various types of side trails (blue blazes). Some lead to water, some to shelters, some to scenic vistas, some down to a trail head.

The ones your most interested in are the ones to water and shelters, which can be some distance off the trail, but typically less then a mile (over 3/10ths and most people say the heck with that!). The same goes with scenic vistas. If it's more then a few 100 yards off the trail, few bother. You got miles and miles to hike that day and doing side trips just cuts into those miles and makes the day longer.

After a while, thru hikers get jaded to vistas. Oh yea, another view, just like the last 100 I saw. Great another waterfall, big deal.

LOL, I was talking to a couple through-hikers last year, and when they got to the HMW, they were stopping and looking at lakes and ponds with the same awe that they looked at views from atop mountains when they started in GA.

[dtp81390]

i completely understand that, and I have that information in the AT guide, but at least in the beginning of the trail I would like to take in these additional sites, before I get "jaded".

[bigcranky]

In addition to those mentioned, there are lots of other trails that meet/cross the AT. Many just head down the hill to a road, which isn't all that interesting (unless you need to get off the trail), but a few do go places you might want to see or visit. I like carrying maps when I hike. For years I took the official AT maps from the local trail clubs, but lately I've been using the National Geo maps. They have a set of booklets, about the size of a folded map, that cover large portions of the AT. We'll take that next month for our GA section. Combined with the Companion pages we'll have plenty of info.

Edit: we almost always take short side trails to a view. Kinda why we are out there.

[Slo-go'en]

i completely understand that, and I have that information in the AT guide, but at least in the beginning of the trail I would like to take in these additional sites, before I get "jaded".

Any time you see a trail junction and a sign pointing to a vista or waterfall, do it. Unless the weather is crap. Then just put your head down and keep going. Anything which is signed is usually worth going to see. But you will find the occasional unsigned, short blue blaze to open ledges with views. I make it a point to try and go to every one I come across and are usually worth the effort.

[gpburdelljr]

Any time you see a trail junction and a sign pointing to a vista or waterfall, do it. Unless the weather is crap. Then just put your head down and keep going. Anything which is signed is usually worth going to see. But you will find the occasional unsigned, short blue blaze to open ledges with views. I make it a point to try and go to every one I come across and are usually worth the effort.

To paraphrase Yogi Berra: When you come to a fork in the trail, take it.

[4eyedbuzzard]

IMO, the Nat Geo maps are at their best for exploring a limited area and planning section hikes, loops, etc. Usually they are only available for areas where there is an extensive trail system beyond just the AT corridor. While pretty detailed, they are criticized for not being updated very often and can lead you a bit astray at times. I'd add that you'd get very distracted from your thru-hike exploring a lot of side trails in places like GSMNP, SNP, The Whites, etc. For example, you could spend 6 months hiking "side trails" in the Whites and never hike the same trail twice. That said, The Whites are the one place it is very helpful to have a detailed map (and guide if you hike there a lot) due to all the intersecting trails and different trail names. The AT in the Whites, while clearly marked, is routed over pre-existing trails with about 30 different names.

[illabelle]

Any time you see a trail junction and a sign pointing to a vista or waterfall, do it. Unless the weather is crap. Then just put your head down and keep going. Anything which is signed is usually worth going to see. But you will find the occasional unsigned, short blue blaze to open ledges with views. I make it a point to try and go to every one I come across and are usually worth the effort.

When we went through the Whites last summer, I remember coming to a junction with a sign for Thoreau Falls. It didn't say how far. I was tired, just wanted to keep going. My husband wanted to go see it. So he dropped his pack while I sat there and waited. A few minutes later he returned, showed me some photos, and insisted that I come see for myself. It truly was a beautiful waterfall/gorge, and less than 3 minutes off the AT. Well worth the effort!

[dtp81390]

IMO, the Nat Geo maps are at their best for exploring a limited area and planning section hikes, loops, etc. Usually they are only available for areas where there is an extensive trail system beyond just the AT corridor. While pretty detailed, they are criticized for not being updated very often and can lead you a bit astray at times. I'd add that you'd get very distracted from your thru-hike exploring a lot of side trails in places like GSMNP, SNP, The Whites, etc. For example, you could spend 6 months hiking "side trails" in the Whites and never hike the same trail twice. That said, The Whites are the one place it is very helpful to have a detailed map (and guide if you hike there a lot) due to all the intersecting trails and different trail names. The AT in the Whites, while clearly marked, is routed over pre-existing trails with about 30 different names.

Which maps are you referring too, is it the Appalachian Trail maps they have that are more like books or the Trails Illustrated maps that are basically just maps. How much information about the side trails are actually on these maps.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Which maps are you referring too, is it the Appalachian Trail maps they have that are more like books or the Trails Illustrated maps that are basically just maps. How much information about the side trails are actually on these maps.

The Trails Illustrated maps generally show the topo lines, waterways, roads, the length of the trail, established shelters/campsites, points of interest like waterfalls, difficulty, etc. For the Whites a thru-hiker would benefit from having the AMC maps or Nat Geo TI maps, but the AMC White Mountain guide would be overkill. If I were thru-hiking I'd probably just go with AWOL's guide, and download a few maps of a few side hikes I wanted to do along the way. Guthook's app is very popular as well.

[dzierzak]

I know I'll be missing something, but what I understand that's out there are:
ATC Guide books
ATC trail maps (done by maintaining trail clubs)
ATC Data Book
Appalachian Thru-Hikers' Companion (trail guide book)
Whiteblaze Pages (trail guide book)
The A.T. Guide (trail guide book)
Trails Illustrated maps
NatGeo maps
Guthook's AT app

and probably other stuff.

Personally, I'm happy with the Thru-Hikers' Companion and ATC trail maps.
YMMV

[dtp81390]

The Trails Illustrated maps generally show the topo lines, waterways, roads, the length of the trail, established shelters/campsites, points of interest like waterfalls, difficulty, etc. For the Whites a thru-hiker would benefit from having the AMC maps or Nat Geo TI maps, but the AMC White Mountain guide would be overkill. If I were thru-hiking I'd probably just go with AWOL's guide, and download a few maps of a few side hikes I wanted to do along the way. Guthook's app is very popular as well.

Guthooks App, which one is this?

[dzierzak]

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/at-h...605447532?mt=8

You do have to buy the maps separately.

[dtp81390]

Sorry but I am on android

[Tennessee Viking]

I will tell you this there are a number of side trails throughout the South. But a lot of them have less maintained than the AT. Some of the blue blazes are actual old AT routes which have been pushed as alternate/bypass routes.

The Nat Geo Maps are decent for their expanded view of area trails. But they lack in great detail of the actual route, use, and distance.

Some of the most notable scenic side trails I have visit in the TN/NC would be
Standing Indian summit
Rich Mtn Firetower (near Hot Springs)
Recently turned blue blaze Shelton Graves
Roan High Garedens and Bluff trails
Grassy Ridge
Overmountain Barn Shelter and road access
Laurel Fork Trail (you will get wet)
Jones Falls
Elk River Falls
Coon Den Falls
Laurel Fork Blue Blaze (if going into Hampton)
Virginia Creeper Trail

[4eyedbuzzard]

Sorry but I am on android

It's available for Android, as well, I believe - check the play store. There's a free demo for the approach trail. No personal experience with it, so you'll have to get input from others.

[Slo-go'en]

. For example, you could spend 6 months hiking "side trails" in the Whites and never hike the same trail twice. That said, The Whites are the one place it is very helpful to have a detailed map (and guide if you hike there a lot) due to all the intersecting trails and different trail names

It took me three years to complete the 110 miles of RMC trails which crisscross the sides of Mt Madison, Mt Adams, Mt Jefferson and the other side of the valley. It's the ultimate traveling salesman problem of how to do this maze of trails, many which dead end, with a minimum of back tracking. There is probably an extra 40 miles of hiking to do the 100.

"Red lining" the AMC White Mountains map - hiking every trail on the map - can take years.

[dtp81390]

The goal is not to hike every trail, it is to determine what sites are worth seeing and finding the trail to go see them. For example, I think that it would be really cool to go see Lost Cove, Or a 100' waterfall in GSMNP. I am not trying to see everything, but am trying to maximize my experience especially if I only get one chance. I am also trying to get a sense of how many of these sites there are and how long it will take me in addition to hiking the AT, if it adds 7 days, then I start 7 days early. I know things on the AT are not this simple and unexpected things happen, but just using it the info to plan in some extra time on the trail. If I feel I can hike the AT in 5 months, but I give myself 6 months so I can do these other things, that is what I am trying to determine.

[egilbe]

Sorry but I am on android

Its on googleplay store too. I have Maine. It runs from RT26 to Katahdin. Need to buy NH to go south of RT26. He also has other apps for other trails. Some of them intersect with the AT.