2017 Connecticut Walk Book - Preliminary Review

I noticed that the Connecticut Forest & Park Association had published a new edition of their indispensable CT Walk Book.  I own a copy of the previous edition of the Walk Book for the western part of CT, but was interested in a book that would cover the entire state.  After purchasing the new edition, I think it was worth the money, but I also think it is best used in combination with the previous edition.

Old and new editions.

There are definitely pros and cons to the new edition. First, the book is aesthetically pleasing (silly, but it makes me happy). The new edition has color maps that show side trails in the correct blaze colors. I am also happy that all the trails and maps are contained in one book AND the contour interval is noted on the map! This was one of my largest pet peeves of the previous edition. However, I do wish more elevations were shown, not just the elevation of select peaks. There are maps with absolutely no indication of elevation, though you can at least figure out elevation change based upon contour intervals.

McLean Game Refuge map with color coded trails.  Contour interval in the middle of the bar on the right.

The previous editions of this book were made of loose leaf pages with maps that folded out. The new book is a regular bound book and, though the description on the back of the book says it has a “lay-flat design”, it really doesn’t. Making copies of the maps to take with you will not be as easy and some details may be lost in the gutter (where two pages meet). In the very front of the book, there is a fold-out map of the entire state which identifies where each trail is located.

In order to put all the blue-blazed trails in one book (instead of two books, as in previous editions which had East and West books), something had to give. One thing that was given up, and I am not sure it is that big a deal, is that some of the maps in the previous edition have been combined. For example, in the new edition the northern end of the Tunxis Trail, from Pine Mountain to the Massachusetts state line, is one map. In the previous edition it was spread over two maps.

Previous edition.  Northern part of Tunxis Trail from Walnut Hill Road to Massachusetts border.

New edition.  Northern Tunxis trail from Pine Mountain to Massachusetts border.

The more significant omission is the elimination of detailed trail descriptions. For example, the new edition has one paragraph devoted to the northern end of the Tunxis Trail from the Indian Council Caves north. In the old edition, the description for that section of trail spans more than two pages. This is where I think using the previous edition in combination with the new edition would be useful.

Previous edition.  Part of the detailed trail description that covers the final 12.6 miles of the Tunxis Trail.

New edition.  Trail overview covers the entire Tunxis trail.

Another change, which I haven't decided whether I like or not, is the centralizing of the mileage tables.  In the last edition, the mileage table was listed as part of the corresponding trail section description.  For example, each section of the Tunxis Trail had its own description and mileage table.  In the new edition, there is one mileage table for the entire trail.  So, one table for the entire Tunxis Trail and you have to find the section within that list that you plan on hiking.  That may be fine, I haven't decided.  It made sense to set it up that way since there are no section-by-section descriptions anymore.

Old edition.  Description and mileage table for the Penwood section of the Metacomet Trail.

Mileage table for the whole of the Metacomet Trail.  Penwood starts at mile 43.8.

Another minor complaint I have is that I wish the separate maps for a given trail were put in order from north to south, rather than south to north. If arranged north to south, the trail would flow as you turned from one page to the next. This was also a complaint I had with the previous edition and is not a change that was made for the new edition.

Overall, I like the look of the new book and I think that it is better suited for flipping through and locating hikes and trails. I also think the maps are nicer, though there is still room for improvement. If I did not have the previous edition for comparison, I think I would rate it five stars. But, knowing what is missing (detailed trail descriptions), I can only give it four.  (A version of this review was posted on Amazon.)