View Full Version : TrailJournals - methods of keeping journal
Hi just wonder i plan on keeping a trailjournal at trailjournal.com. But what i like to know is do i tear out the pages of my journal and send them to the friend and tell them not to throw them away or do you make a copy of the pages and keep one copy your self. I was thinking about doing the update myself when i got to a computer bet be few days behind that way. I do not want to take a palm pocket or pcmail device. So would it better to do the update when i got in to town or send them to my buddy Thank Only 85 days left :-?
I think most that write on paper send their journal to their transcriber, who keeps it until the hike is over. You'd also be able to update on the trail but it's going to take time better spent doing chores, eating and resting up.
Alligator
11-19-2007, 14:12
If you had a nice journal that you wanted to keep intact you might go the copy route. You'd have to find a copier, but I suspect that most business would let you do it if you offered to pay.
Uncle Silly
11-19-2007, 14:16
Either way you're waiting to get to town to send the update. Unless you'll be passing envelopes to dayhikers on the trail and asking them to drop them in the next mailbox they see.
I entered info this past summer while on the Tahoe Rim Trail and John Muir Trail, by using local libraries, internet cafes, and so forth. It was OK, but if I were going on a thru-hike the length of the AT again, I think it would be worth the weight and expense of a pocketmail unit or the like. In any event, any of the methods you describe are workable. I would be least willing to tear out journal pages though. If they get lost in the mail, they are lost forever.
I have kept an online journal during my section hikes, and although I was able to update my journal when I got to towns, it was really a pain at times. Libraries have a time limit and it was a hassle knowing I had to get to a library or at the very least, find the time to enter into my journal. IF I were to do a thru-hike, I'd seriously check into pocket mail, or make sure I had a dedicated transcriber at home. I'd also make copies of my journal if I were mailing home, just in case......
You can find a transcriber there, I think they offer that service. I agree with Lilred about Pocketmail. It's a nice touch if you want the weight along, you can use it at any phone, and it emails as well as lets you keep a journal. :)
For my AT thru-hike I hand wrote all my entries and mailed them home. My step mom transcribed most of them so the journal got semi-updated while I was hiking. I don't recommend this. It's a ton of work for the person at home and they won't be familiar with trail names, etc which brings on a lot of typos and editing.
For the PCT, journaling was kind of a mess and my fault. I started doing them by hand and lost a bunch in the mail. I've basically been making them up and improvising since i've been home which will take forever.
I guess if I had a gun to my head id' say invest in Pocketmail. They're not perfect by any means. Lots of people had issues with them on the PCT this year-cracked screens, battery problems, etc. and they are a weight penalty at half a pound, BUT it's the easiest way to have an up to date decent journal.
As Sly says, consider how much work journaling can be. It's gonna take time away from other things like socializing, so make sure it's worth it to have a record. Consider making notes and embellishing later
doggiebag
11-19-2007, 16:58
Hi just wonder i plan on keeping a trailjournal at trailjournal.com. But what i like to know is do i tear out the pages of my journal and send them to the friend and tell them not to throw them away or do you make a copy of the pages and keep one copy your self. I was thinking about doing the update myself when i got to a computer bet be few days behind that way. I do not want to take a palm pocket or pcmail device. So would it better to do the update when i got in to town or send them to my buddy Thank Only 85 days left :-?
In my personal experience, updating my traijournal myself when I got into town or a hostel was a very rewarding aspect of my hike. I was able to upload my pictures to both whiteblaze and trailjournal which cleared out my camera's memory card to allow further picture and video taking as I went along. Uploading my pics and vids to both sites also ensured that I'll always have my pictures safe - since I'm assuming both sites back up their web servers on a regular basis. Outside of the free storage space both sites provide - I personally found it rewarding to be able to share a long distance hike with all it's challenges and rewards to the folks that are always more than interested and encouraging in my hike. In the long run it was not work to update my online journal; it became fun. It also became a motivator to make it to town just to let everyone know how I was doing. At the most ... I may have had a 2 week delay in my updates. It was not a chore for me - it was actually quite enjoyable to share the experience as close to real time as possible. I never had the need to mail my journals though that is always an option. But since I was doing the trail - I felt a certain level of comfort in relating my experiences on a first hand basis than passing off the task to someone else.
budforester
11-19-2007, 20:24
I have not posted to TJ; I don't know how they operate, but I love to read 'em. Something I have done on my own (short- term) outings is post to my blog via email from my cellphone. It's necessarily short, but I can include location, a comment, and it has a time stamp. That lets the family know I am still kicking. when I get to a computer, I log in,delete the garbage, and type in details from memory or from paper notes.
You can also consider using the Journal feature here on WB, it's close to 'home' :)
Chaplain
11-22-2007, 19:05
While I was bicycling across the USA I used a small cassette recorder. I would send the tape home, purchase a new one and so on and so forth. Weight IS an issue here. But my spouse loved transcribing them. If this was not available you can have it done commercially. It IS great to talk into the recorder. You can put a lot in it. -
SunnyWalker
Hammock Hanger
11-22-2007, 20:52
As a journalist, TJ is very simple to use. i have not had the opportunity to use the WB journal site.
You can usually find a transcriber from their site or as I did, from WB. I posted I was looking and within minutes had a number of great folks offer. I selected Scribe and he has done a great job for me over the years on various hikes.
For me my hand writing begins to look like wiggly lines after a pargraph, not readable, so lucky for Scribe I use pocketmail. So, far I have found it the best way to get my notes out on a regular basis. I do not feel pressured to get to a library and spend my town time locked up typing. I do stop in and put in a personal note occasionally. I find typing in my hammock just before bed a nice way to relax and end the day.
As a transcriber, I will only transcribe for those who are willing to use pocketmail. I did one hiker who hand wrote but it is very time consuming to re-type everything that they wrote and hope I got it right. With pocketmail all I do is a quick spell check and then I can cut and paste it to the TJ site. I always like to print out a copy and when the hike is over I give it to the hiker as a printed diary of their journey.
I love to journal, I have been doing it my whole life. I have taught classes on journaling. However, I have seen it take over a hikers hike... if you get behnd, just say the hell with it and move on do not try to back write days and days worth.
A journal is a great printed reminder of your adventure. I have looked back on all of mine often, sometimes for memories other times for info.
Whatever you do enjoy.
Sunnywalker, what year did you bike cross country?
HH, you were so nice to offer to transcribe for me for my hike, thanks! :) Hope you are doing well, and agree that pocketmail is the way to go, and was a nice wind down time at the end of the day :)