Hiking all the trails, Sierra?

[schmalz]

I didn't post it here but I was a finalist to win 5,000 dollars to do just that (sans needing to carry a GPS). I was so close to the dream!

[sparky]

Hmm lets see. If 25 of of us donate 17$ a month, in one year we could save up 5 gs to pay bills for one of us to go hike for a month. I think that one of us should be me!

Thanks guys, I cant wait!

[rlown]

this thread is getting weird with the funding part for the trip. We all mostly have that equipment, and the trails don't bug us that much.. hmmm.

Personally, I would fund Sparky first!

And back to what (Eiprahs) Dave hinted at.. Some of us do keep tracks. We just don't share them here because it really doesn't matter and all the data from a LOT of people is available online. Every year. Every trip. I have all my tracks but who cares unless you're a point to point hiker. It's pretty simple. I'm here and I need to go there. Map, align and go.

Cheers

[AlmostThere]

I am all for helping people get into the outdoors - a handful at a time, with as much encouragement to learn and follow LNT as possible.

Here's hoping that, like all the guidebooks, there is at least a brief section somewhere attached to this project about Leave No Trace, proper food storage, and recommendations to follow basic safety guidelines for backpackers.

Handing out GPS tracks in one great big collection - isn't that what AllTrails is for?

[zacjust32]

Handing out GPS tracks in one great big collection - isn't that what AllTrails is for?

+1

[Wandering Daisy]

A true inventory of trails is more than GPS tracks. And likely some of the trails are not ones that are currently reported. I know that I tend to stay away from the mid- to lower elevation boring trails. I definitely would rather see this kind of project done by the Forest Service and Park Service, or even the USGS but that is not going to happen with tight budgets. IT will be interesting to see what comes of this.

[AlmostThere]

A true inventory of trails is more than GPS tracks.

True. And GPS tracks are too frequently wrong. You know this when you are in SAR and two GPS units say one way, and the other two say another, and all of them are the same make and model, same mapset, same settings, same coordinates.

The inventory of trails would likely be dated in a few years as well. Especially as trails are disappearing in some areas due to lack of use and trail maintenance. Or, in some areas there are multiple trails that have developed to the point that it's up for grabs which one is the real one. How do you determine which faded trail through a meadow is the real one?