Please recommend some trailjournals

[Goonky]

Hi there,

I'm new to the backpacking scene, but I've been anxious to get out on the AT for a while. I am planning a number of short section hikes this summer to get my feet week, with the possibility of a longer section hike next summer.

I would be very interested in reading some trail journals of women who have completed a thru-hike, the more details/photos the better. If you could recommend some, that would be fabulous.

Right now I am planning on going solo unless I run into other people interested in hiking together. My biggest issue at this point is other people who don't think it's safe. :) I feel perfectly fine hiking alone. Interestingly, when someone raises a concern, and I answer it with logic and specific information, they are often not swayed by that. It seems for some people, education about the facts is not enough to remove from their ignorance. I'm not sure what I can do about that.:)

I really appreciate the information on these boards, it's been invaluable.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

[rhjanes]

Appologize now for a "guy" posting in woman's area, but these are great.

Certain's http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=127923
Gangstas' http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=260934

[Mrs Baggins]

Also look up Red Hat, and Peregrine Trail Dancer.

[Hooch]

Our very own Marta (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=3277) has a great SOBO Trail Journal that's one of the best I ever read.

[thelowend]

LIL buddha! He is doing the ECT right now.. I think he just entered Maine? EIther way, his writing style is great when he takes the time to sit down for a long entry (but most of his entries are short, as I'm sure he is exhausted while writing entries). Send him some words of encouragement! (I would recommend reading from the beginning also.. it's a great adventure)

[HeartWalker]

Check out Cowgirls journal. She is hiking Northbound

[Lilred]

I know you asked for trailjournals, but these first two books by women are very, very good.

There are Mountains to Climb by Jean Deeds. A solo thru-hike.

and

The Ordinary Adventurer by our own Jan Leitschuh (Jan Liteshoe)

Another very good book is by a guy, Walking on the Happy Side of Misery byJ.R. Tate

Then there is Blind Courage

All of these books can be found on Amazon.com

Also, for humor's sake, read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

These are my favorites. And it's not ignorance that keeps them from being swayed, it's fear.

[burger]

I'm not going to name names, but I think that a lot of the popular and well-regarded journals are very poorly written. To me, a good trail journal should be as well written as a good novel. Here are a few good ones:

Birdlegs is a great writer and wrote the best AT journal ever (she's also published a book on hiking the AT). She didn't quite finish, but there might be a good lesson in that: http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=4365

Lonesome Dove also wrote an excellent journal: http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=52769

Break-a-leg is another fantastic writer (she didn't finish though): http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=85682

FWIW, I think it's good to read journals from hikers who didn't finish. The completion rate on the AT is only 30%, so it might be useful to read about experiences of hikers who didn't make it.

[elangomat]

Last year: "Wags" and "Loon"
This year: "Cowgirl"