[pct-l] Trail Journals

[Alison Rose]

Dear Campers ~

Let's discuss trail journals for a moment.  Seems few have been able to 
produce a really good
trail journal.  Yeah, yeah, HYOH and JYOJ (journal your own journal) and all 
that, but if you
want your journal to be interesting, please try to follow a few basic rules:
1.  Be Consistent.  Don't be a dufus and write "will update later" for days 
at a time. BORING.
2.  Genuine is (think of something that rhymes with genuine that is cool and 
conveys brevity).  What's it
like out there?  What are you thinking and feeling?
3.  Include either GPS points or start and stop locations.  That way we can 
track progress on Google Earth.
4.  Try to include daily high and low temps.  A Suunto watch would do the 
trick.  And an altimeter, barometer
and electric compass with built in declimation is included for no extra 
cost.
5.  Tell us up front what gear you're taking.  Then tell us what you got rid 
of along the way.  And why.
6.  Remember that you chose to hike.  It's not a job and you're supposed to 
be enjoying it.  No whining.
7.  Descriptions of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks do not a good 
journal make.  After a while we don't
care what you ate.  Might as well describe your daily bowel movements. 
"Well, today I really grunted one out.."
8.  Try to keep each days entry under 1500 words.  Share stories.
9.  Give a full debriefing when you're done.  What worked, what didn't, 
advice, gear reviews, personal
struggles, difficulties, joys - all are great to read about.

To date, my favorite journal is 
http://postholer.com/journal/viewJournal.php?entry_id=1210.  This gentleman
never complained, loved his trip, gave wonderful descriptions of the trail, 
his location, difficulties, joys, etc.
It was just a skillfully simple, straight forward journal.

Happy Hiking!