how do you keep an online journal from the trail?

[thruhiker101]

unless i want to bounce box my laptop along the trail, and walk around town hoping someone has an unsecure wireless network.... how does one keep posting while out there

counting down the days...

[kythruhiker]

If you have someone at home to post your journals to trailjournals, check out:

http://www.pocketmail.com/
or
https://www.getpeek.com/

I believe http://postholer.com/ has a mobile interface that you can directly update via email as well.

[Frick Frack]

In town we used available computers but on the trail you could use a pda if you have one (we used a Blackberry)...you will find it easier to do updates at say each state crossing than to update more often as it becomes a hassle. I kept a daily journal on the Blackberry and used it in town to do a quick update on a tow computer.

[John B]

I've often wondered the same. Perhaps you could ask Stumpknocker -- in total, he's written double the equivalent of War and Peace. ;) If you get an answer from him, please post it -- I'd be curious to know if he uses a Blackberry?, mails it to someone to transcribe?, logs into TJ from the trail? none? .

[Pacific Tortuga]

Plenty of places to up-date your journal. The trick I saw was to make them keys dance.
One gal worked in some news room and transfered all the info to blogs before her hike, she must have blistered them at 150 words per minute .......... i hated sitting next to her at the library with my chuby finger, hunt and peck style.

[Blissful]

Just update in towns. Plenty of libraries and computers at hostels and motels. I kept a written journal when I wasn't in town and transcribed.

[Lilred]

That's what I do, keep a written journal and then put it online when I get to a town or hostel.

[Lone Wolf]

Just update in towns. Plenty of libraries and computers at hostels and motels. I kept a written journal when I wasn't in town and transcribed.

but don't hog the computers like most hikers do. if the sign says 15 minutes, that's what it means

[aracauna]

If you have a web-enabled cell phone, that could help. I'd assume you'd have a lot of dead zones on the hike and you'd either have to get one of the solar chargers unless you could access a power source every few days to keep it charged. If you kept it turned off except when in active use, it'll stay charged a while even though using the internet tends to drain the batteries.

I've never taken my smart phone on a hike with me, but it would hardly be a hardship weight wise unless I was really obsessed with counting ounces. The solar chargers may be more of a problem, but I doubt they're the equivalent of even a superlight laptop, although I could be wrong. I've not actually seen on of those in real life. I do know that wherever I can reliably make a phone call, the internet works on my phone, although it may work more slowly in some areas than others depending on the local system. I've got Verizon, so I've never had an issue with being outside their coverage area, just the occasional dead zone.

The one thing you'd need to check before setting out is whether or not the trail journal site you're using works with your phone. The browser on my phone (a mobile PC platform) doesn't handle all sites well. Sites that have a mobile version do really well (most Google sites, Hotmail, etc), but some sites, especially sites with a lot of advanced technology, won't work or will work poorly on the phone.

[Pickleodeon]

I have a Peek. www.getpeek.com (http://www.getpeek.com) it's sole purpose is email.

www.pocketmail.com (http://www.pocketmail.com) same basic concept.

You buy it, and a set amount of service, for a month at a time, or 6 months, etc. I plan to type my journal, send it by email to my transcriber and have him post it. I also have my cell phone to send it- it sends it through a phone.