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Rating: 
Summary: Tall task, excellent performance
Review: I completed the southern-most segment of the CDT, along with 4 other backpackers from Middle of Somewhere Expeditions. We (myself and the other trip guide) found the book to be as complete as possible, given the difficult current circumstances of the Bootheel area. The problems we encountered were mostly due to problems with the trail markings, or the complete LACK of a trail at all - not the book. Writing is excellent, and most all the information present was current. The "official" route chosen for that section was only established with the publishing of this book - in fact, our group were among the first people to navigate it. The bootheel section is an adventure - barbed wire fences, scrambling through deep canyons and over ragged peaks with no trail to follow, a wide variety of (sometimes dangerous) desert creatures, and spectacular scenery. Julyan's book (along with a GPS unit and some MapTech maps) got us through - and that's pretty impressive. Don't believe me? Try hiking that section.
Rating:
Summary: Tall task, excellent performance
Review: I completed the southern-most segment of the CDT, along with 4 other backpackers from Middle of Somewhere Expeditions. We (myself and the other trip guide) found the book to be as complete as possible, given the difficult current circumstances of the Bootheel area. The problems we encountered were mostly due to problems with the trail markings, or the complete LACK of a trail at all - not the book. Writing is excellent, and most all the information present was current. The "official" route chosen for that section was only established with the publishing of this book - in fact, our group were among the first people to navigate it. The bootheel section is an adventure - barbed wire fences, scrambling through deep canyons and over ragged peaks with no trail to follow, a wide variety of (sometimes dangerous) desert creatures, and spectacular scenery. Julyan's book (along with a GPS unit and some MapTech maps) got us through - and that's pretty impressive. Don't believe me? Try hiking that section.
Rating: 
Summary: A pre-hike impression of the Guide.
Review: I have used the companion volume on a hike along the Colorado stage of the Divide trail. The format of that guide was excellent and the route description, although brief was accurate and most useful. My main criticism's of the Colorado volume are reserved for the Maps, reproduced from USFS sheets and inadequate in topographical detail, and the weight that for a trail Guide was rather heavy(too many nice photos, interesting but not essential bakground information, and heavy weight glossy paper).The New Mexico volume is in an identical format and so it remains on the heavy side. I will have to pare it down into individual segments and post them ahead to post offices along the trail to be collected. However the maps are a great improvement as they are reproductions of Topo Sheets with all the necessary detail of topography and land forms to engender confidence in route finding when bushwacking. As with Colorado, waymarks are included that use latitude and longitude so entered on a GPS set it can be used to keep you on Trail. All the necessary information for re-supply and access to and from the Trail is included although I will have to test its accuracy when I am on Trail this spring. There is some complexity in the route choices along Stages 19 and 20 North of Pie Town that make for difficulty in following the sequence of pages but I guess that this will resolve itself when on trail. There is an inconsistency in continuity between the Guides as the New Mexico volume is written assuming a Hike proceeding Northward while the subsequent Colorado volume assumes a Southward going trek. Incidently the Wyoming guide reverts to a Northward progress again. I expect this guide to be an essential purchase for any thru hiker for it establishes a definitive route for the CDT through the state. I will comment again on opinion of the book when I get back from the Hike when I have had real use of it.
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