So I’m DEFINITELY bringing a journal of some sort with me on my thru-hike next year. That’s not the question. My question is, what kind of journal, or notebook, or whatever do people find work best. I know that sounds weird, but what i mean is, i don’t want it falling apart on me too much, but i also want it to be as lightweight as possible. Composition Notebooks perhaps? Any input? Thanks. (Oh, and will one be enough, or do people tend to fill up 2 or 3 over the course of their hikes.)
C-Giddy
I’ve seen everthing from hardcover sketchbooks to expensive little notepads of “waterproof” paper. I used a regular 9.5 x 6 inch spiral bound notebook. As I completed the pages, I munbered them and sent them home, even though it made me feel like a dorky ultra-lighter. I don’t think I should have done that because now the pages are somewhat scattered. When I do this thing again, I’m thinking of going with a skethcbook about the same size. That way I won’t have to deal with lined paper (constricting!) and can do the odd sketch or two if I am so inclined.
Sleepy the Arab
I used the regular sized spiral bound notebooks and found them OK. I kept it in azip lock bag to keep it dry. I numbered the pages by hike day, day 1, day 2 etc. I also numbered each day’s pages to make it easier for my transcriber. I tended to send them to my transcriber in batches of 5-8 days depending on when I was near town or could get someone I met near a road to post them for me. I think I wnet through 3 notebooks in all.
You might want to consider using a Pocketmail device. Quite a few of the hikers use them and seem very happy with them.
Downunda
Given: Like all equipment, there is a wide variety in use. No clear consentous on which is best.
Myself, I used to use a 4 1/2 x 7 all weather notebook. But, I can’t find it sold anywhere now. Recently I bought a composition book and cut it down to about 4 1/2 x 7.
The spiral on spiral bound notebooks tend to get beat up bad.
Peaks
Not a silly question at all, I wondered the same thing last year. Although the nice bound “journals” in book stores look nice, they would get beat to s*** on a thru-hike. I bought cheap 8x10 (slightly smaller than 8x11, it fit in a gallon ziploc) paper at the drugstore, lined (I don’t draw, ever) and carried pages (8-10) loose inside the binder they came in. iow, I tore out all the pages (the type that tears from the top cleanly) and just took batches at a time, I had more in each mail drop and only once did I run out before I got my drop and had to scrounge in a hostel or somewhere for paper. It also helped having the binder with the cardboard backing to write on, as I usually did this in my tent (not on a picnic table). To take anal a step further, I had a spreadsheet of my maildrop contents which I taped inside the backcover of this journal binder.
Bluebearee
What ever you do get one before somebody thinks its a nice going away gift and gets one for you,cause then you have to carry theirs so not to hurt their feelings. This happened to me. The book I carried was the size of one of those dictionarys you find in the library. I had to hire a Sherpa just to bring it along.
Virginian
Bluebearee, That’s not being anal. That’s having a plan.
I carried a list of all my resupply points with me. For those places where I used a mail drop, I had a list of the contents of that mail drop, as well as the expected arrival date, and the expected ship date (2 weeks before arrival). If I wanted to make any changes, I knew that I needed to call home before a certain date.
Peaks
Definately keep a journal. After being out for a couple of months places and people kind of melt together. You need a journal to sort all this stuff out when your hike is finished.
If you live neer an EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) store they have a All-Weather Backcountry Notebook. I used one on my thru and it stood up well. It’s 4"X6" and has 48 pages. I got it wet a couple of times and it still is in great shape.
Grampie
Grampie,
The all weather backcountry notebook you referred to has been discontinued by EMS (or at least that’s what our local stores say).
To bad. I used about 3 for my thru-hike. If you can find some, or someone who carries a replacement (and not a spiral bound on either), I’d be interested.
Until then, I’m using a composition book that has been cut down to roughly the same size.
Peaks
when you say waterproof notebooks, you mean the pages doing get ruined from water?? And are these things heavier?
C-Giddy
http://canoekayak.com/whatto/journal/ $7.95
I just went with “waterproof notepad” on yahoo and looked around a bit. I found some 8.5x11 sheets, looseleaf, and i think it was 50 for $60, so didn’t bother to put it on here.
Myself, I’d rather just zip-lock and use a bigger notebook. I hate writing all small.
Anyway, good luck!
The Amazing Gavo