Hey there everybody…looking to read a 2004 trailjournal and just wondering what everyone’s recommendations are. Who’s your favorite and why? I’m too lazy to go through them all to find the good one!
Happy Hiker
Favorite trailjournal
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#3
Roni and Yogi are my two favorites. They don’t mince their words and each has a great style that appeals to me. They are both matter of fact but put their own dry wit spin into the descriptions of their experiences. They don’t write too much or too little. They each accomplish that fine line of balance leaving you hungry for more words, stories and experiences. From all that I have read so far I think either one of them could successfully write books based on their hikes.
Allyson
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#4
Check out some of the non-AT journals:
Tha Wookie for a hearfelt and poetic trp on the West Coast Trail
Spur for a descriptive walk and amazing photos from the CDT (this is a must read for future CDT hikers - great commentary on trail conditions and routes)
Datto for a magical and entertaining PCT trip
Chief for a no-nonsense account of the little-walked Moutains to Sea Trail in North Carolina
Joel
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#5
I found Forest Dump’s to be the best trailjournal on the whole site. I have no real favorites to say, It’s all good.
Greg
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#6
I enjoyed Rest Step’s 2003 AT journal. In fact, that’s how I got my trail name. As I was hiking a section in NJ, I recognized Rest Step from his journal and kind of freaked him out :eek: when I identified him in the middle of nowhere. My friends accused me of being a trail stalker.
For 2004, I also like the Deaner journal.
Stalking Tortoise
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#7
The Wookie’s five journals are great, very well written from someone who truly loves the natural world.
Rocket or Bono AT 03, because they started in winter. Great new perspectives.
Zip Drive AT 99, very detailed, well written.
Ma and Pa AT 1999: http://hikers99.homestead.com/ Good writer and perfect for introduction to the trail.
Blip AT 03, Dimples AT 03, A-Train AT 03 all good
There was one by a couple who got married on the trail. It was very cute. Can’t remember their names though.
Jeff T
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#8
Thanks Jeff T for reading my journal. One day I promise to get the Whites and 100 mile wilderness written - one day that will happen!!!
Not sure if any past Thru’s feel the same way I do, but before the AT I loved reading the journals and couldn’t get enough of them. Now when I try to read them I get all nostalgic and sad and really really miss it. Before I’d have to read an entire journal before I’d stop, now I can only read a page or two and then for my mental stability I have to stop. I may run out of work, grab my pack and never come back!!!
Blip
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#9
Talk about and Adventure!
Goof’s CDT journal is loaded with them. From off trail travel to the magic of his town stops. Hot tubs and poker games, running porters for Exum in the Tetons and extra days in Yellowstone NP. This kid is living it up!
Postman
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#10
Both Puck and Belcher (AT 2000) have journals, but neither are on this site. Belcher can only be found through some archive web site (whereupon I quickly downloaded her entire journal). As for Puck? Still can’t find it anywhere. He was hands down the funniest journalist I ever read. And of course, he winds up getting the girl. How great is that?
Kineo Kid
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#12
It might have helped if you’d said what kind of journal you are looking for – a good read? something detailed and technical? does age make a difference? or gender? couples? There is definitely a journal on this site to meet any taste. Being married for 21 years myself, I find couples intriging. I love my hubby, but hiking with him for 6 months?!
I have several saved in my Reader Account. Pickle & Peanut, Hoplite, Trog, Sparepocket, Don’t Mind & Don’t Matter, Lonesome Dove, Beesknees & Relentless – all different kinds of people whose journals I appreciate for various reasons.
Tha Wookie is a talented and poetic writer. I like the way he talks – and the photography is awesome!
Stumpknocker is always good for a chuckle, and he really appreciates the hits 
Wild Hare
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#13
Not that I am biased but have you checked out Fitz Manly’s site? His photos are incredible!
Ganj
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#14
My favorite is Grace’s ‘04. Straight-up talk and, in my opinion, a well-written journal. I began reading several I liked i.e. Cheers’, Burn’s, - but really, really looked forward to Grace’s telling it like it is style of true gritty, gutsy, witty rhetoric. www.trailjournals.com/Grace
peep
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#15
(hehehe) Sorry peeps. I too followed Grace’s journal. Fun at first- then it hits you that “true gritty, gutsy, witty rhetoric” you mentioned was really just plain 'ol whining. Couldn’t imagine being around that all day on the trail. I’d rather have blisters and lose my toenails.
Of course, the “saving grace” was Cheers bubbly personality and his weird evil eye pose in every picture taken. What’s with that?
pinto beans make you…
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#16
Well pbmy… Like I said and I’ll say it again…I enjoyed and looked forward to reading Grace’s Straight-Up Journal. So you perceived it as whining…so be it…others may have also. I perceived it as telling it like it was…FOR HER. And that’s what I like in a journal…tell about YOUR hike. Tell it in straight, non-flowery, non-fakey words. Communicate how it feels if your toenails fall off, your blisters are bleeding, and you have to put those damn shoes back on and walk another 15 -20 friggin’ miles that day and you feel like pukin’. And if you’re real good, you can even write it down at the end of the day and still choose those plain spoken in-your-face words that make it humorous.
One last thing - I hope this thread is not going to turn out to be cutting someone’s journal down just because you may not have liked it and it was somebody else’s choice. 
Peepsie
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#17
Now my wife. Yes I’m bubbly, no she’s not whiny, just very clever and an excellent writer. The journal was her outlet at the end of some tough days for her, most people enjoyed it, myself included. The people who bitch at her would never do so to her face, very cowardly yet so easy to do online where everyone is faceless. She has a talent, I can only assume that the people who say all the bad stuff about her are purely and simply…jealous. Go Grace!!
Cheers
Cheers
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#18
I wish I oozed that kind of articulative life changing scripture. When all else fails, try my home brew…:cheers?
BW
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#19
How could I forget to mention SD? This man knows how to string together some words… he might not always spell them right, but he sure knows how to use them!
just a sample:
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=78490
Wild Hare