Maps for the trail (Posted 8 April 2012, 07:10pm)
Dunedin, New Zealand

For such a long journey maps are obviously important. Some hikers opt for GPS devices, and I still might, but I also want navigation not reliant on a battery.

There are numerous options for printed maps, and after a bit of research I decided to use Halfmile's Pacific Crest Trail Maps. These seemed to be the most regularly updated, primarily because they are distributed digitally over the internet rather than being printed and then shipped. They are free to download, although there is then the cost of printing over 450 A4 pages. The combined weight of all of the printed maps is considerable but I plan to post batches of maps ahead of me on the trail and start campfires with the maps I have finished with.

The maps contain a wealth of information, such as water sources and camp sites and other helpful notes. They are made from GPS data imported into National Geographic TOPO! software, so are presumably fairly accurate. While they look very promising, the actual usefulness of these maps on the trail remains to be seen...

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