Journal Suggestions

imported
#21

Before hiking the AT I followed Green Bean, Hammock Hanger, Birch, Bluebearee, Papa Smurf and Flame.
For the class of 2003 before I left I followed Flying Scotsman, Rocket, Bono, Molassass, Goldberry and Journey.

The best of course is mine - www.trailjournals.com/sarahw
I’m still not finished and don’t know if I ever will!

I’ve had alot of people say they liked mine, I even met fans along the trail. And it was a mixed bag of those who liked my journal - both men and woman.

I’m still trying to catch up on reading those of my other AT friends.

But I know Moo and 42 have a great NJ bear story and Flash has a great naked hiking day story. Read those!

Blip

#22

Every journal is the very best that it is. I kind of cringe at all this rating stuff. The journalists are hiking all day. They have little energy to entertain us, however, it is an honor that they do and I appraciate their efforts. They are the hiker’s personal journals so I’m sure they are exactly what the writer has intended and we should just accept them as they are without all the judgment.

180

#23

But I don’t think the question was intended to make journalers not mentioned feel badly. (And I have really enjoyed this thread.)

I greatly appreciate each of the journalers for allowing me to experience the trail through them–especially since I won’t be able to go myself, at least not before 05 or 06. I look forward to reading ALL of the journals. :girl

a dreamer

#24

I was just looking for guidance since there are so many journals on the site now. What an overwhelming response. I have a whole bunch of reading to do. BTW, I absolutely DID NOT mean to diminish any journalist not mentioned. Stay tuned for the next “top five” request. TG

TrailGuy

#25

I have to say that, on average, women write the better journals. They tend to be much more rounded and give a more honest picture of what’s actually going on in the hiker’s thoughts. Bluebearee tells it like it is and Buttercup nearly broke my heart with a very moving account of her thru-hike’s disintegration. I want to know about the journey on the inside as well as the one up the trail.

Too often the guys paint this upbeat, goforit, picture but you can tell that something’s not right, but don’t know what it is. The next thing you know they’re off the trail and you never really know why. Luckily, I have a very advanced feminine side, so this doesn’t apply to me!

Don’t worry 180! The thrus are a tough bunch and won’t feel left out. I have 3 journals on this site - nobody’s mentioned them and yet I know they’re absolutely fantastic!! We all have the option to hit the little button that keeps the journal offline, but most of us don’t take that road. I’m hitting the trail on Tuesday and I’m not sure if I’ll be too tired to entertain the folks back home at the end of a hard days hiking. You’ll just have to stay tuned and find out. :cheers

Rick Bayley

#26

“Two Scoops” AT03 Slipped on the ice and had a shoulder seperation down in GA. He hid his pack and was helped off the trail and to a clinic by “Tiger Paw”. Now you would think this guy would heed the Doc’s advice and go home. He checked himself out, found his pack and had someone help him into it. He hiked himself well and climbed Katahdin. Pretty inspirational all the way.

bailcor

#27

sometimes i liked to think that mine was the best. thinking that made me feel good about myself.

but, bono, rocket, grace, xena, buttercup, dimples, little chicken, greenbean, hopeful, blip, and papa smurf & flame all have great journals.

i guess i need to find something else to do besides read journals. i really need to get out on the trail.

it is decided, then. i’m going to rob a bank and hit the trail. or, maybe i’ll just sell my truck and hit the trail. or, better yet, maybe i’ll sell my truck and move to europe and buy a little red motor scooter and travel europe on my little red motor scooter.

grizzly adam

#28

hey grizzly adam arent you still in Dalton?

circus

#29

Rick,

I am all for guys with advanced feminine sides, and even more for guys who are smart enought and “man enough” to be proud of it.

However, should you ever have problems with that advanced feminine side and need some support in that area, I would refer you to Bushwhack. He could loan you Bramble’s sports bra, assuming of course he is not wearing it at the time!

That Bushwhack cracks me up! Never met the guy, or even sene a picture, but am still laughing about him warming up Bramble’s sports bra for her. (See the recent thread about “Keeping Dry”). What a hoot!

Tim “The Toolman” Taylor

#30

Tim

I read Bushwack’s tip on the sports bra and I’m keeping that one in mind. My intention had been to go with a Western Moutaineering down flight jacket for warmth, but I’m questioning that now. I suppose if you get a large enough bra you could sling it between a couple of trees and you have yourself a hammock - I love multi-use gear and those Hennessy things are pricey.

I think the real heros are the kilt wearing male hikers this year like Haiku and Bloody Cactus. I questioned BC on this when I met up with him in London. I told him he might get away with it in Melbourne, but there are strange folks living up in those Appalachian hills and if they see you coming down the trail wearing a skirt they’re liable to mistake you for their mother and stick you in a little cage under the bed for breeding purposes. Cactus was undaunted and I read in Burn’s journal the kilt is being proudly worn.

Thanks for your kind comments on my advanced feminine side and I promise to post a pocketmail entry immediately if I should chip a nail.

Rick Bayley

#31

Hey Everyone! I HIGHLY recommend you read COMER & JEAN MORRISON’S trail journal!!! They were both retired when hiking entire Appalachian trail and their journal is interesting, comical and has great tips for anyone who may be interested in doing the hike!! They have had over 175,000 hits on their site and many people have sought out their advice!! Their final completion atop Katahdin was shown on The Discovery Channel (although they were not aware of it)!! Anyway, just a suggestion to check out my FAVORITE JOURNAL!! Thanks!

Teresa Shrewsbury

#32

And then, there are the truly strange hikers, like yours truly, in his tenth years of section hiking and day hiking. I’m hoping to make my 1000th mile this year, probably somewhere near Mount Washington. (If the sciatica doesn’t kill me first.) Will I ever learn? Doesn’t seem likely. Definitely not a thruhiker’s journal. :wink: And, maybe I’ll see you on the trail, somewhere.
Lightweight, Harry. Lightweight is much easier on the feet.
Which journals do I like reading? Those written by people I meet on the trail. Last year: Commander in Chief and LiteShoe.

Harry Dolphin

#33

1.Yogi
2. two scoops
3. B and B
4.Aswah
5. Poetry in motion

my favorite is Big G, not on this site and I thought Liteshoe was a rose colored glasses snooze fest.

Bono

#34

Last year on the PCT I was hiking with The Northerner and he had all these fans helping him and sending him stuff, apparently his journal was pretty engaging. And you wonder why I started mine… (free stuff, people!)
Anyway, Maintain, I’m trying to make mine more interesting, I’m working on the cute girl pictures (me :girl ). If I figure out how to resize them there will be more… (suspense).

Apple Pie

#35

By the way, The Northerner’s is a PCT journal.

Apple Pie

#36

I like Apple Pie. Keep them cut girl pictures coming. 2000 hits or “hats” as Bono or the Bonnie Scotsmans would say, and you ain’t even started your hike yet.

Keep them cute girl pictures coming. I just had to take a look and I did and I must admit, I do like Apple Pie.

See you out there. :cheers

Maintain

#37

TRAINWRECK without a doubt–she is hysterical. So glad she’s hiking again this year!

MD

#38

BearSnax rocks! Funniest entries I have read yet, and she it not even on the trail yet.

Hiker99

#39

Well I’ve been totally engrossed in THA WOOKIES PCT journal, though I’m only a little into it. His writing is captivating and beautiful and hes got a real appreciation and love for the land. His words flow very well and his photos are remarkable.

I’ve followed a lot of AT journals. Moose’s from 01’ was a good one I followed. He had a good mix of humor and pain and was very honest about reasons for leaving the trail.

Jan Liteshoe’s was a great read as many have mentioned, but I could never read the whole thing. Maybe someday!

There are really too many to list. I did like Dimples’ from 03’ since it was fun to go back after I finished to see what she had said and to see the different takes shes had on people and places while we hiked together.

A-Train

#40

I agree, BearSnax journal looks very promising. It put a smile on my face :happy

Apple Pie