I think the only book for the BMT only goes north to the Ocoee/Hiawasee area.
I think the only book for the BMT only goes north to the Ocoee/Hiawasee area.
''Tennessee Viking'
Mountains to Sea Trail Hiker & Maintainer
Former TEHCC (AT) Maintainer
The BMTA has a new 2nd Edition databook available. It is available at a number of outfitters including REI in Atlanta, Rock creek in Chattanooga, and elsewhere. It makes a fine companion to the Nat Geo maps.
'All my lies are always wishes" ~Jeff Tweedy~
Has the BMTA included Mr. Parkay's maps by any chance?
Unfortunately, they have not.
'All my lies are always wishes" ~Jeff Tweedy~
Yes. There is nothing so lovely as a tree.
M-O-N-E-Y?
Probably wasn't Homan's original or primary motivation, but it stands to reason that you could generate a lot more revenue by publishing a 2nd edition with the latest info on the newest sections of the trail. People will buy anything, and there's nothing wrong with trying to earn an honest buck.
It is a pretty good book. Goes in a bit of detail for each section of its flora, fauna, and history. But just to go halfway, not fair. Go all the way to Newfound man.
''Tennessee Viking'
Mountains to Sea Trail Hiker & Maintainer
Former TEHCC (AT) Maintainer
Actually, Homan's book only goes 1/3 of the way. And it would have to go all the way to Davenport or you're short-changing the final 34 miles.
But seriously, the original book served a good purpose. It was the only source out there for maps of the "original" BMT from Springer to the Ocoee. I hiked it before all the rest was complete. I was glad to have those maps.
Now, with the data book and the Nat'l Geo Maps (Cherokee NF and Great Smoky Mountains NP), there's no need for a guidebook. You can fill in the details with Mr. Parkay's profile maps if you're into that and there are a handful of other bits of useful information on the net, but really the basics are what the BMT is about. No shelters, few fellow hikers, fewer blazes, and no need for guidebooks.
If people spent less time being offended and more time actually living, we'd all be a whole lot happier!
Actually, good first section maps were available from the BMTA long before Homan's book came out and when I joined the BMTA I got a series of 11 maps from Springer Mt/Three Forks all the way to Double Spring Gap and the Ocoee River. Maps were also available on the BMTA website for free download.
Bearpaw is 100% correct. The Nat Geo maps and the databaook are all a hiker really needs. Mr Parkay's profile maps are gravy.
You really do have to know how to read a map on the BMT. It is not a superhighway with signage at most every trail junction like the AT.
'All my lies are always wishes" ~Jeff Tweedy~
I have the first BMT data book they put out last yr or the yr before. How much difference is there between it and the 2nd edition book?
Conquest: It is not the Mountain we conquer but Ourselves
thanks for the info
Conquest: It is not the Mountain we conquer but Ourselves
The Springer and Cohutta map covers most, if not all, of that portion. Though the point I was making is that there is no need to expand on the guidebook for the TN and Smokies portions of the BMT.
If people spent less time being offended and more time actually living, we'd all be a whole lot happier!
Be a bit wary of the free maps on the BMT website. They don't tend to show forest service roads. This means that if you miss a turn off of a forest service road, you'll have a much harder time determining from a compass reading if you're still on the trail or not. In the end, it would probably add no more than a mile at each missed junction for a typical hiker, but that can add up fast. It's extremely easy to miss a turn off a road when the trail is not consistently blazed.
The maps also don't show many major roads. In the event of an emergency, you might miss an easy hitch out for help simply because the road wasn't marked on the map. And if you need to hitch or blue blaze to avoid the fords, (in wet weather, there is at least 1 very dangerous one outside the Smokies) you'll have a tough time figuring out where to go, much less which roads have low water bridges. In the smokies, a careful study of the $1 park trail map provides enough information to blue blaze around the dangerous wet weather fords without hitting other fords, but the lack of topo markings could encourage someone to green blaze. I don't know if this is possible, but a quick study of my old AT map encouraged me to risk the fords instead green blazing. If I had to hike it again in the same conditions, I would take a 10 mile unmarked blue-blaze.
Sorry you had problems Bati. As the Publicity Director for the BMTA, I would always encourage folks to hike with the Nat Geo maps for the Chattahoochee, the Cherokee, and the Smokies. The databook is a nice companion to those maps.
'All my lies are always wishes" ~Jeff Tweedy~
how important is having a compass on the BMT