[Cdt-l] CDT trail markings...

[Jonathan Ley]

Just a few comments on marking the CDT... because... well, why not? :-)

First, I'm not sure how critical this is for thru-hikers to have a 
successful hike. People have managed to hike the trail for years without 
much signage. If you have good maps & guidebook instructions (and most 
importantly, pay attention to them, and know basic orienteering), you 
don't necessarily need signs too.

That said, signs & markers can be useful in some areas. Signage is 
especially useful for marking trail junctions; for example, a small 
trail marker about 10 yards after the junction identifies the CDT. 
Flagging tape in this case would be useless. However, tape can be useful 
when a trail becomes indistinct in an overgrown meadow; it can mark the 
location where the trail re-enters the forest. Trouble is that it's just 
not that durable. And to me, it's just kind of ugly (and don't even get 
me started on Sharpies, which I think are hardly less tacky than spray 
paint).   Tape also won't work in areas where there are no trees (such 
as a large chunk of the CDT).

I don't think there's any point in marking a trail when there is no 
junction, and the tread is distinct. Nobody is just going to wander off 
the path, and they don't need to be reminded they're on the same path 
they were on since the last marker. The tread "is" the trail marker in 
that case. Sure, it could get covered by snow. But, if you're out in 
those conditions, you need to be prepared with good navigational skills, 
and not rely on trail markers.

What makes the best trail marker will also depend a lot on the terrain & 
locality. Lucite/fiberglass (whatever they're made of) posts can work 
well in the desert (provided they're not shot, uprooted, or run over). 
Cairns with signed posts can work well in the alpine areas. Little metal 
plaques nailed to trees can work well in the forest (the PCT makes good 
use of those). Tape can be a temporary fix in a few situations (like 
mentioned above). National parks with heavy use & lots of trail 
junctions need better signs... and they generally have them. There 
simply is no one-size-fits-all solution to this... and it's what's 
already being done today... just not as quickly & consistently as some 
would like.

If anyone is going to go out & sign the CDT, they have to know what 
they're doing, and they have to all be working with a common set of 
guidelines. That's where an overarching organization like the CDTA is 
really helpful. Otherwise, you're going to get all kinds of different 
symbols & approaches. Some people are going to over-sign, or under-sign 
the trail... or worse, mis-sign it. You'll get different symbols being 
used... that kind of inconsistency could make a long hike maddening - if 
you lose faith in the trail markings, what then?

Signs serve another purpose... they're an advertisement for the trail. 
The CDT can use all the PR it can get. It can't hurt to let random 
hikers know they're on the CDT. To that end, I say: use attractive, 
small metal plaques attached to trees a-la the PCT ~10 yards after trail 
junctions, please! There already is a CDT emblem. I know the CDTS has 
another one, but the CDTA one looks nicer (sorry Jim ;-), and I think 
it's still viable. Use the same logo on lucite/fiberglass posts or wood 
posts stuck in cairns where there are no trees & it's appropriate.

-Jonathan