Has anyone out there kept up their own trail journal during a Thru-hike without the use of pocketmail? if so, how?
mando
Trailjounal on AT
system
#3
Plently of folks just snail mail their entries back to a transcriber. The entries are slow, but usually just as entertaining.
Red Hat
system
#4
Take notes during your hike and when you get into town, use a public library computer to access your TJ account and update your journal. Some hotels & hostels also have internet access.
Unfortunately, many of the above have time limits on their use.
IF you write neatly, I will volunteer to be your transcriber (I hear Liteshoe laughing at me now). There is a link in your journal to a list of transcribers, as well.
Wild Hare
system
#5
I am going to try this. http://www.quickpad.com/Item.asp?id=38
It is about a 1.5 lbs, but my penmanship stinks,and this has a larger keyboard than pocketmail. I am more confident about not losing data during transmission with this device than other devices used out there. It shouldn’t take long to transmit to trailjournals, my transcriber, or my email acount when I do get in front of a computer in town. I can keep current with my journal instead of having to recreate it from memory in town. And no monthly fee. There are lightly used ones available on Ebay, and maybe from the manufacturer. If you are going to buy one, contact me, I can give you some advise.
Clay R. Farris
clay R Farris
system
#6
it’s pretty easy to update your TrailJournal from the internet when you get to town. You don’t really even need notes unless you want to get really specific with your milesage, since you’ll hit a computer most every time you go into town.
0101
system
#7
You will have minimal trouble finding access to a computer in town. Yes, there are town that will not have access or limited access but all in all it was a pretty easy and inexpensive way to update our TJ. I wouldn’t bother with the expense of pocketmail but some found it useful. Notes are helpful but I stopped doing that after a couple of weeks. As 0101 said, unless you want to be really specific, you’ll remember more than enough to update 4-5 days worth when you get to town.
We did send our digital camera memory cards home to be downloaded by a family member. Most library computers won’t allow you do do this and we found it easier to send a note with the card explaining which pictures to put on line and what to name them.
Bluelight
system
#8
I brought a cell phone and a pocketmail. At the end of everyday I would write in the pocketmail, and If I had a signal I would send what I wrote to my girlfriends email and she would then cut and paste to my trailjournal.Worked very well. I have something written for almost everyday I was on the trail, and everyone could keep up with what I was doing with only a lag of a day or two.
Buckwheat
system
#9
Mando,
Using TJs w/o a transcriber is very doable.
I did this for my entire AT thru last year.
How I did it: Used pocketmail to send my entries to one of my email addresses, then in town, I would cut 'n paste from email directly onto the TJ add page. Additionally, I put up over 500 pictures, but this took time. It may be a good idea to perhaps have someone at home to correct minor typos and to format the entries, but isn’t necessary.
The drawback is time-I conservatively estimate that time spent doing TJs added about a week to my trek, although it only took me 141 days (including 5 zeros).
I hope this helps, good hiking!
Big Daddy D
Big Daddy D