[pct-l] Trail Journals

[Donna "L-Rod" Saufley]

Alison,

I would add to this list:

10.  Write about your own experiences, and don't name names of other hikers (trail or real names).  Other hikers are not out there to be fodder for your journal, and it's really lame to be publicizing others whereabouts or activities to fill up your journal pages unless they have given you their permission to do so.  If you absolutely must write about others, refer to them in terms that do not give their identity (trail or otherwise) away.

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
>From: Alison Rose <a.rose at sbcglobal.net>
>Sent: Jan 19, 2008 1:03 AM
>To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: [pct-l] Trail Journals
>
>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! 
>
>
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