View Full Version : What makes a good trail story?
KnightErrant
03-29-2018, 16:10
Hi WhiteBlaze, I have a question for those of you who follow trail journals: what characteristics make trail stories most enjoyable to read?
I've kept a travel blog for a few years while teaching overseas and tried to strike a balance between tips/advice, humor, and simple reporting of the who/what/where. Now I've shifted the focus of the blog to hiking as I prepare for my Nobo thru, but my posts get too long when I try to combine all these elements. I don't think I'll want to write (nor will people want to read) a 2500 word essay every few days. I know everyone has different taste and I'll settle into my own style once I have a routine on trail, but I'm hoping for some ideas from my fellow hikers about which aspects of the hike to emphasize.
Mileage, terrain, and weather?
Other hikers and their stories (with permission)?
Overviews of the whole day, or specific little funny, detailed anecdotes?
I also like to doodle pictures to go along with stories, is that appealing? (Example attached here from my most recent post about bear bag difficulties on my shakedown hike. If you want to read the full (hopefully humorous) account of my shakedown misadventures, you can find it right here (https://www.tefltrekker.com/home/2018/3/28/i-am-the-scariest-thing-out-here-shakedown-hike-part-ii))
42408
To be clear, I'm also keeping a handwritten personal journal on trail, but the purpose of this post is to request tips regarding which parts of the hiking experience are most enjoyable to read about in an online trail journal/blog that I will update 1-2x per week.
Thanks and happy hiking!
Slo-go'en
03-29-2018, 16:25
I seem to never have anything profound to write about while on the trail, so my journals are mostly mileage/terrain/weather and therefore not worth reading. Such as "I hiked 13.7 miles today, the trail was a muddy mess because it was raining." Repeat.
Now there are people who can turn that mundane day into a short story and make it sound exciting and interesting. Sadly, I'm not one of them. I'm in awe of people who can post a couple of paragraphs everyday and write it so you want to keep reading about their exploits.
A good trail story begins with "There I was . . . . . . . . "
PatmanTN
03-29-2018, 16:36
I seem to never have anything profound to write about while on the trail, so my journals are mostly mileage/terrain/weather and therefore not worth reading. Such as "I hiked 13.7 miles today, the trail was a muddy mess because it was raining." Repeat.
Now there are people who can turn that mundane day into a short story and make it sound exciting and interesting. Sadly, I'm not one of them. I'm in awe of people who can post a couple of paragraphs everyday and write it so you want to keep reading about their exploits.
Yeah same, here. Good writing is good writing. I review gear for Trailspace and the Review Corp folks often help each other with editing. We have some reviewers for whom I'll read everything they write, no matter the gear type, because it's good and compelling.
TJ aka Teej
03-29-2018, 16:55
Most good trail stories come from folks who've never posted a trail journal.
Very late the fire ring at Hikers Welcome Baltimore Jack had a group of southbounders convinced the rocker that 2000 milers were awarded was an actual rocking chair, and that he had one at seven different hostels up and down the trail. He had debating choices of oak or maple, shellac or paint, carved name or plaque, for their rocker once they were done. Pre-order forms to be had at Harpers Ferry, if I recall correctly.
Burrhead
03-29-2018, 16:55
Misqoutes, embellishments and flat out lies!
Another Kevin
03-29-2018, 17:31
I seem to never have anything profound to write about while on the trail, so my journals are mostly mileage/terrain/weather and therefore not worth reading. Such as "I hiked 13.7 miles today, the trail was a muddy mess because it was raining." Repeat.
Now there are people who can turn that mundane day into a short story and make it sound exciting and interesting. Sadly, I'm not one of them. I'm in awe of people who can post a couple of paragraphs everyday and write it so you want to keep reading about their exploits.
I find that I can't even stand reading my own journals when I find that's all I have to say. (It's perhaps acceptable to include a data block about mileages and weather, because surely you care about those when you're doing it!) Therefore, whenever I do a trip report or a log entry, I try to tell some story. It doesn't have to be anything profound necessarily - but it has to be about more than just the miles and the weather. This usually means logging only very rough notes, and then going back after I'm off trail and filling in the story. I've had readers compliment me in private on some of what I've managed to write.
Sometimes the story is actual personal drama, as with http://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/476234 , or a family tragedy, as with http://dftscript.blogspot.com/2014/11/2014-11-02-north-dome-pilgrimage-or.html. Those stories always make the best reading, but of course not every hike has an actual dramatic episode!
Sometimes the story ties into the local history, with a tale of the robber baron who once owned the place: http://dftscript.blogspot.com/2014/05/2014-05-03-balsam-and-eagle-mountains.html, or the story of how a ruined radio station came to be atop a mountain in the middle of nowhere (and a dramatic helicopter rescue that took place there) http://dftscript.blogspot.com/2014/06/balsam-lake-mountain-and-graham.html - start with the pictures of the ruin about halfway down the page - or the Black history of a Northville-Placid trailhead (with the first Black PGA golfer, and a major from the Tuskegee Airmen) http://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/511147.
Sometimes it's just a tiny observation about a butterfly (and who can resist reading a journal entry with 'sex' in the title?) Hiker sweat, alkali metals, and butterfly sex (http://dftscript.blogspot.com/2013/08/hiker-sweat-alkali-metals-and-butterfly.html), or an essay on the bridges you see on the trail: http://dftscript.blogspot.com/2014/10/bridges-of-northville-placid-trail.html
It's always about the question: "What was different about this day from any other day on the trail? How does that connect with the world off the trail?" It takes a little practice, asking yourself that question, and searching yourself for the answer, but that's the answer to, "what should I write about?" For me, it's also the answer to, "why should I keep hiking?" I don't think I'd have much will to keep going, if I weren't in the habit of noticing these things.
Sarcasm the elf
03-29-2018, 17:36
Paging Just Bill.
Paging Just Bill.
:D
Most good trail stories come from folks who've never posted a trail journal.
Very late the fire ring at Hikers Welcome Baltimore Jack had a group of southbounders convinced the rocker that 2000 milers were awarded was an actual rocking chair, and that he had one at seven different hostels up and down the trail. He had debating choices of oak or maple, shellac or paint, carved name or plaque, for their rocker once they were done. Pre-order forms to be had at Harpers Ferry, if I recall correctly.
Baltimore Jack had us all saying ewe around a CF one night. On trail, he often carried a Ziploc of orange Tang and another two Ziplocs of mac n'cheese separating the pasta from the cheese powder which he called "orange death powder." It was late July summer time. He was nearing dehydration and very thirsty. Finally, found a water source and mixed up a bunch of Tang into it. I came across him spitting, orange foaming and caked orange at the mouth, and puking out "orange death powder" he mistakenly mixed into the water thinking is was Tang. :jump
Sarcasm the elf
03-29-2018, 17:51
My two cents. Write down the following at the top of the entry, just the into, no need to write it out in proper sentences:
Date
Daily start point
Daily end point
mileage
hikers met
weather if noteworthy.
This is basic info I often look back for and wish I’d written for all my section hikes.
From there write out a proper journal entry only if you have something to say that’s worth saying. Some of my journal entrie are a page long, others just have the into above, a quick note about what shelter I stopped at for lunch and a quick comment about something interesting that I saw.
Another Kevin
03-29-2018, 18:02
My two cents. Write down the following at the top of the entry, just the into, no need to write it out in proper sentences:
Date
Daily start point
Daily end point
mileage
hikers met
weather if noteworthy.
This is basic info I often look back for and wish I’d written for all my section hikes.
From there write out a proper journal entry only if you have something to say that’s worth saying. Some of my journal entrie are a page long, others just have the into above, a quick note about what shelter I stopped at for lunch and a quick comment about something interesting that I saw.
Elf, do you have examples of yours on line? I like your wit, and I'd be interested in reading them.
I like reading trail stories that incorporate life lessons, Nature observances, display an awareness that backpacking isn't conducted in a bubble, offering back, mention growth pointing to a greater awareness, how challenges were not only encountered but how they were overcome. I like Muir's and Aldo Leopold's accounts.
When including gear accounts in trail trips I like hearing from people like Andrew Skurka because he displays a willingness to grow, to learn, intellect, analyze, and point to his(our) own silliness in a good-natured way in post trip accounts.
I like JPD's trail accounts because she displays gratitude, will, intellect, trail ethics, appreciation of how other's have contributed to her life and hiking success. She also post trip analyzes. I like the conclusion JPD came to after thru-hiking the MST with her family and prioritizing what she values as stated in Blue Ridge Outdoors. Her family, the betterment of her children, her marriage, and staying true to off trail values while being on trail. https://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/go-outside/jpd-mst-recognizing-husbands-sacrifice/ What JPD displays is sometimes missing in trail stories - PERSONAL CHARACTER.
And this by Heather "Anish" Andersen: https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=heather+andersen+ted+talk&fr=yset_widemail_chr_win&type=default
That's display the forethought, the courage, and the willingness to Define Success on Her Terms. That's self actualization. And in the end it was more about Life's Lessons than FKT's. That's often misunderstood about some FKTers, their motivations the lessons the hold more dearly than a FKT
James GAME2009
03-29-2018, 18:29
Well, according to Bill Bryson, a good trail story involves a tremendous amount of fiction/artistic license.
More than any other consideration what makes a good trail story is a good story-teller. The story is often secondary, as Roald Dahl has proven over and over (e.g., Mildenhall Treasure, etc).
Search Google for Then the Hail Came and A Limp in the Woods, two truly great AT journals. Take some time to read from two masters of the craft. As the dude who wrote Limp said, "The average reader doesn't want to read the average story."
rocketsocks
03-29-2018, 19:50
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story...keep it reel :D
Traffic Jam
03-29-2018, 22:13
My trail stories should be called the Idiots Guide to Hiking. I’m too embarrassed to tell them but they sure are funny.
Sarcasm the elf
03-29-2018, 22:25
Elf, do you have examples of yours on line? I like your wit, and I'd be interested in reading them.
Mine are all confined to a single notebook and they are a woefully read. They primarly consist of start and stop points and the basic info.
The best of my stories have nearly all been written in detail here on WB.
Just Bill
03-29-2018, 22:39
Misqoutes, embellishments and flat out lies!
Paging Just Bill.
Paging Just Bill.
:D
Well, according to Bill Bryson, a good trail story involves a tremendous amount of fiction/artistic license.
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story...keep it reel :D
I won't give you any writing advice because it would even stretch my fabrication abilities to call myself a writer. Though as a reader I am free to comment...
Write a story you would enjoy reading. Even if it sucks.
If you don't have a story, don't publish it. Nothing wrong with sitting on your journal for a bit until there is something worth saying.
Most importantly, write something that is true. Truly your voice, your experience, and your story.
There are folks who are new who like to read a 'journal' but for the most part that type of tale has run it's course. Most of hiking is monotonously boring to the reader.
There are folks who like to read about the sweeping changes and life affirming experience of the trail. Told by the right person sincerely those can do well.
There are folks who like to read the simple facts and simple observations, especially when the trip is a big one in someway... Understated adventure is a long established tradition many like.
There are folks who enjoy the real time trail journals, you'll find many here who enjoy observing others change in their entries or curious about how the trail touches each differently... people watching.
There are folks who do enjoy ticking off the miles, hearing the details, the weather, the routine of it... it takes them back or lets them imagine the hike.
What all those tend to have in common is the reader already has a connection with the trail, and by extension the author.
That bridge conveniently spans many faults in the writing itself... as the reader is already halfway involved in yer tale afore they even turned a page.
Crossing from a decent 'trail book' into a real book is a different deal.
While some hikers see Bryson's hike as lie... his skill in the telling, wit, and observation are not. Some don't have a sense of humor though.
Wild is a lie as well... barely an attempt at a thru by hiking standards... but a sincere experience nonetheless that touched many. Some ain't much fer being touched.
So it turns out the 'best' hiking tales are simply good stories period. It's only the hikers who forget the trail is the setting, and not the star of thebook. Haters gunna hate.
Nobody but a hiker is concerned about the difference between 'based upon a true story' or 'based upon a pure thru-hike'. Readers gunna read.
I suppose there are folks who have skill at the craft and could fake it well enough to entertain a reader... though if'n you were one of em guessing you'd already be writing fer a living and not asking here.
So at the end of the day; "what characteristics make trail stories most enjoyable to read?"
The same thing that makes the trail a good place to be... it's real. Interesting **** happens in real places to real people and some people find the **** that happens real interesting.
If you can't tell a story that is real it won't be read. The reader will call bull**** and put it down. Better to have them call disinterest, boredom or crappy writing in my opinion than call bull****.
Mark Twain was such a famously tall teller of tales that he didn't have the decency to even write under his own name. But despite tremendous fabrication , dereliction to the sacred duty of the reporter and voluminous stretching of the bounds of the word... he never once lied even when he was full of bull****.
So use the voice you got and pen something you find interesting to share. Tell the paper whatever you want, and if yer not interested in what that paper has to say back... start a fire and think on it some more.
Odds are decent it will suck... but every once in a while you might get lucky. And eventually you might get better at picking winners from the pile. If you get real lucky sometimes the trail will crap a story on yer head and all you gotta do is type it up.
Even liars know if you don't tell the truth it doesn't work.
And every hiker knows you can't lie to the trail.
PS... keep it short.
People hate reading **** that goes on and on or authors that just love the sound of their own voice droning away.
Especially when they come off looking like they think they are the cleverest packet of hot sauce since blac chyna in thigh high boots.
PPS... keep it topical or filled with obscure references to things that happened earlier in the tale. People like inside jokes.
PPPS... keep the language clean. People don't like it when you go talking mama jamba or cuss too much.
Huck Finn got banned fer talking trashy (not the whole freeing slaves thing) and it really hurt Mr. Clemens career.
Just Bill
03-29-2018, 22:43
My trail stories should be called the Idiots Guide to Hiking. I’m too embarrassed to tell them but they sure are funny.
Eventually young lady you might be able to knit a yarn.
Never know if what you weave up may be of interest to some.
Even managed to sneak your face into your profile picture here and there... maybe a few more years and you'll be ready to talk, lol.
I know you've come a long way... sincerely. :clap
My trail stories should be called the Idiots Guide to Hiking. I’m too embarrassed to tell them but they sure are funny.
You might own authorship of the first chapter of the book but I lay claim to the next three chapters. Book will never be finished.
Just Bill
03-29-2018, 23:00
You might own authorship of the first chapter of the book but I lay claim to the next three chapters. Book will never be finished.
I'd read the "Guide to Idiots Hiking." Maybe a collection of tales from various members :-?
'Guide to the Idiots of Hiking.' is written by a guy in a yellow school bus. (Cheap shot... sorry Odie!)
'Guiding idiots who hike' is probably best reserved for professional guides and may be coming soon from Skurka or Doyle? (Another cheap shot... durn it.)
'Guided idiot hiking' was the working title of the Bill Irwin story (That is just in poor taste).
'Hiking to guide Idiots'... a helpful book for the dyslexic. (Ha... they can't read it and be offended)
'Idiots to guide hiking'... a headline in the New Hampshire local papers each winter. (sad)
DuneElliot
03-30-2018, 00:04
I don't know what makes a good blog post and I can't put a reason on why I get complimented on mine.
Spelling and grammar are important to make it easy to read
I enjoy blogs that are personal...aren't just statistics and carry a good balance of feelings, experiences, emotions and a description of the hike
Not overloaded on photos...pick your 6-7 best ones for each post.
cliffordbarnabus
03-30-2018, 00:25
anything that has nothing to do with weather, mileage, or trail steepness.
You're really fixated on that word idiot JB. I knew you were a liar but also an idiot?;)
MtDoraDave
03-30-2018, 07:07
Anything that's well written.
.
I read a lot of books. If something is well written - in an entertaining way, not in a proper grammar way - it will be a good read. Imo.
.
An entertaining writer is an artist...find your style and write!
I believe it was JK Rowling who said that she wrote to entertain herself.
TexasBob
03-30-2018, 09:31
.............. Overviews of the whole day, or specific little funny, detailed anecdotes? .................
I have tried to follow some trail journals but most quickly become too tedious and uninteresting for me. The ones I enjoy are short summaries that include where the hiker is and something interesting that happened, an interesting observation or interesting people they met. Mileage covered, what they ate, what part of their body hurts today etc. is of interest to the writer but not to me as a reader. Keep that stuff for your personal journal.
Just Bill
03-30-2018, 14:35
You're really fixated on that word idiot JB. I knew you were a liar but also an idiot?;)
Maybe it was because I replied to your post I got fixated on it.
:banana:banana:welcome
Cabin Fever is running rampant. Outside top of a Chicago building right now doing manual labor looks very appealing. If it wasn't for those incompetent architects...yar. solvitur ambulando time. Is there a FKT for Lincoln or grant park? Let's rumble outta here. Let's test out those shell breathability claims.;)
Just Bill
03-30-2018, 15:55
Cabin Fever is running rampant. Outside top of a Chicago building right now doing manual labor looks very appealing. If it wasn't for those incompetent architects...yar. solvitur ambulando time. Is there a FKT for Lincoln or grant park? Let's rumble outta here. Let's test out those shell breathability claims.;)
80 hours since monday and counting... Cabin Madness. Swinging a hammer would be a welcome break.
Bout all I'm good for is an intense sleeping gear comparison test. Maybe vigorous bridge hammock analysis.
Likely a bit of bourbon glass contents comparison first though if I can leave my desk before midnight.
Hi WhiteBlaze, I have a question for those of you who follow trail journals: what characteristics make trail stories most enjoyable to read?
Given your background (I hit the hit the Trai immeadiately after a couple years teaching ESL too, but just in one country) I think you might like reading some of this authors non-fiction travelogues if you have not already:
http://www.paultheroux.com/
Some find him to be a rather judgemental, grumpy know-it-all but I have found his books to be among the best of the best for a long time, and no one can say he does not get around.
I think something could be learned from him. When it comes to your own writing writing, think big, take risks and be brave!
Night Train
03-30-2018, 19:31
Write about whatever you want....then....write more of the same.....repeat, often.
Lone Wolf
03-30-2018, 19:51
my book comin' out soon. " Fear and Loathing on the AT" or "As the Trail Turns". may go with the latter as the title. 16 grand miles walked. i gots stories
Traffic Jam
03-30-2018, 19:59
I'd read the "Guide to Idiots Hiking." Maybe a collection of tales from various members :-?
'Guide to the Idiots of Hiking.' is written by a guy in a yellow school bus. (Cheap shot... sorry Odie!)
'Guiding idiots who hike' is probably best reserved for professional guides and may be coming soon from Skurka or Doyle? (Another cheap shot... durn it.)
'Guided idiot hiking' was the working title of the Bill Irwin story (That is just in poor taste).
'Hiking to guide Idiots'... a helpful book for the dyslexic. (Ha... they can't read it and be offended)
'Idiots to guide hiking'... a headline in the New Hampshire local papers each winter. (sad)
Made my day...thanks for the laugh. :)
Traffic Jam
03-30-2018, 20:06
Staying with the idiot theme..I love reading stories about people who do it wrong. I want to hear the down, dirty and embarrassing so I don’t feel so bad about my own shenanigans. Perfect people are great but don’t hold my attention.
Stepped in your poop? Peed on your socks? Ran out of food? Sank in the mud up to your knees looking for the trail when it was around the corner? That’s what I want to read.
Sarcasm the elf
03-30-2018, 20:19
Staying with the idiot theme..I love reading stories about people who do it wrong. I want to hear the down, dirty and embarrassing so I don’t feel so bad about my own shenanigans. Perfect people are great but don’t hold my attention.
Stepped in your poop? Peed on your socks? Ran out of food? Sank in the mud up to your knees looking for the trail when it was around the corner? That’s what I want to read.
You’ve likely read it before:
https://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/90453-Worst-Meal-You-ve-Ever-Cooked-On-the-Trail?p=1373508&viewfull=1#post1373508
Another Kevin
03-31-2018, 23:27
You’ve likely read it before:
https://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/90453-Worst-Meal-You-ve-Ever-Cooked-On-the-Trail?p=1373508&viewfull=1#post1373508
I did indeed. And it was hilarious to read it again, so thanks!
Sarcasm the elf
03-31-2018, 23:54
I did indeed. And it was hilarious to read it again, so thanks!
That was by far my best one, and also from my first night. The quality of the storytelling does downhill from there. :jump
Staying with the idiot theme..I love reading stories about people who do it wrong. I want to hear the down, dirty and embarrassing so I don’t feel so bad about my own shenanigans. Perfect people are great but don’t hold my attention.
Stepped in your poop? Peed on your socks? Ran out of food? Sank in the mud up to your knees looking for the trail when it was around the corner? That’s what I want to read.
I've stepped into my own poop after going. I've pooped, put the pack back on, then for different reasons, took the pack back off, placing the pack back down in the poop as i was trying to find the cathole to cover it. Recall that happening twice. After pooping reaching for my nearby pack leaning on a tree it fell over splat into a big patty. Don't have those packs anymore.
Coming upon a full shelter after a 16 hr 30+ day in a fog of fatigue I thought I found a nice quiet spot to pass out at the end of a short "use" traIL behind the shelter that ended "conviently" in a flat spot next to a large tree. Yup, next morn realized I had slept in a TP flower garden. No wonder there were a bunch of scattered flat rocks that I felt through the sleeping pad that night.
Some AT shelters have more than one trail to them. One NOBO AT thru went back out on a different one he came in on. We found out as we came upon him about 7:30 am after a 5:15 am start bitchin that he went 4+ SOBO the wrong direction. He said he wanted to get started early to do abig day. We laughe'd our arses off. How the he'll can anyone be such a moron we all thought among our selves.
Two yrs later on a PCT NOBO I wasn't paying attention doing a 6 mile dead end side trail making a 12 mile RT error. Thing is i was making good time up to that pt poised for a big mileage day. That night I thought of him on the AT and what we said about him.
fiddlehead
04-01-2018, 04:31
Seeing some talk about Baltmore Jack on page 1, I have to say, the best story I ever heard was his 1 hour version of finding the dead guy i the Doyle. (and getting the body out)
I really wish I would have had a recorder on that day, cause we got the long version, and it was amazing!
People seem to like my story of the time I jumped a blowdown and there was a sleeping bear on the other side, (which I proceeded to jump on) but, I am not a good writer and got a D in Creative writing in college.
So, better when I tell it, rather than write about it.
Now, my buddy Ray has a knack for it and it on a journey right now and writing a blog about it everyday.
You can read him here: https://fastesthikeacrossthailand.wordpress.com/
KnightErrant
04-01-2018, 17:19
Definitely! I think that's the appeal of Bill Bryson's books in general. He has a self-deprecating sense of humor about his travels that makes it feel realistic while also being entertaining. You get the feel that if he can bumble through all these adventures and make it out the other side, then anyone can. I remember his description of the sport of cricket in his book about Australia, and I connected with that so deeply when I thought back to moving to the Dominican Republic to work for a baseball team with no prior knowledge of baseball beyond what I could pick up from The Sand Lot. But yeah, he goes out of his way to exaggerate the misunderstandings and mistakes in a really enjoyable way.
Self-deprecating is what I was going for in my most recent post about getting my bear bag stuck in a tree (illustrated in the diagram in OP), as well as my unwarranted fear of being alone at the shelter.
Come to think of it, my being a chicken is a recurring theme in my travel blog. (For someone who does "brave" things like outdoor adventure sports and extended solo travel, I am an utter pansy.)
KnightErrant
04-01-2018, 17:24
^ That was supposed to be quoting Traffic Jam's post (#34) and I'm not sure how to go back and edit on this forum, whoops.
But in general, thanks everyone for the all the replies! Lots of helpful tips, ideas, and reading material.
@rickb, I like Paul Theroux! I haven't read any of his fiction but I read The Tao of Travel, which is part collection of travel quotes/stories from other writers and partly his commentary. I'll have to check out some of his other books. Where did you teach English?
Paul Theroux’s non-fiction is where it’s at. His trips generally span long distances — many by train — and some qualify as true adventures, like traveling around Oceana with his folding kayak.
Most of all, he knows how to observe his surroundings and the people he meets and turn even mundane interactions into great stories on every page.
The first book of his I read was called the Old Patagonia Express where he recounts his trip by rail from Medford, MA to The tip of South America. It made a great impression on me when I discovered it while teaching ESL in Bogota in the early 80s. I reread it last year and it still holds up.