Hikers/Backpackers---do you journal your hikes? need ideas

[Ottakee]

I hope to journal my hikes a bit more this year.  Things like date, weather, location, difficulty, distance, companions, any fees, special things of interest, etc.

I see tons of journals on Amazon and Esty, etc. but would love some suggestions from someone who has used them....and how many hikes you can record in one journal.  Ideally I would like at least 50.

[regentrude]

I don't keep a written journal, but a photo one. I archive my pics in a library program where everything is sorted by date and titled. That means I have a record of weather, location/hike, sights, plant life, wildlife (if patient and waiting to be photographed) etc.
I also have a hiking facebook page (a companion page to my hiking website) which serves as another record.

ETA: We also mark off and date hikes in our various guidebooks (which have all the info about the trail details already)

Edited December 28, 2021 by regentrude

[Slache]

Digitally. I use a voice app to record notes and screenshot my GPS map afterward and add it. Same with trips. I recently deleted all of my hiking entries because it was depressing under my current circumstances and wanted to start over, but I will copy and paste a 3 day camping entry. My GPS map is from my garmin band, the same can be achieved through a phone app.

Day 1:

I'm carsick. I miss McDonald's fries.

It's gorgeous. Everyone is having a blast.

Alex has given up compiling all of the pinecones into one spot. It was a monumentous feat for a two year old.

Eagle Scout husband refused to take advice on campfire. Everyone is freezing and our dinner is cold.

Alex only tried to climb in the fire once but Mary was completely traumatized. We had to pry her off of him.

It's raining. Yay.

“Absolutely no fish cleaning in the sink.” I wonder why that sign is there.

I got lost on the way back from the bathroom and found a bear but was not eaten.

I'm going to bed. I wonder when my dad will get here.

I want tea. I'm cold.

...

Matt went back to the car for more blankies so I don't die.

Mary wet the bed.

 

Day 2:

I got an hour and 7 minutes of sleep because I was so cold. My dad's asleep in the parking lot which is good because he has all of the cooking equipment.

The kids woke up whispering at their regular time. Alex asked John about his wow-bow (water bottle) and then they all cuddled because they were cold.

I went to the bathroom and have decided to switch to diapers until it's not cold.

I'm so sick I can barely talk. I've been shivering on and off for over 12 hours. Matt finally let me have the heater in here. He was afraid we'd burn the tent down but I guess if only I die it's ok. I'm ok with that. I'm going to try to take a nap.

It's been two hours and I'm still shivering. I hate camping. My dad didn't bring what he said he was so he's at the store and everyone is starving.

THE HEATER DIED!

Benefits of being eaten by a bear: 1) It's warmer 2) I look good in brown 3) No more camping.

I made my step goal by peeing twice.

Off to crater lake.

We didn't fall in. Water was stunning.

“I'm allergic to most of what you're packing so make sure you pack lots of Larabars and veggies.” “I planned on it.” Packs 3 Larabars and no veggies. I'm out of food and no one wants to drive to town. I get a hamburger patty for dinner. I hate camping.

Baby wipes are not a shower. I haz tea. Goodnight.

…

I went to pee at about 3 and Mary and Alex cried. Everyone wants to go home. I'm at about a 75% success rate for getting lost on the way to the bathroom.

 

Day 3:

Goals vs Reality

Breakfast at 7, not until 7:30

Leave at 8, not until 9

-Free puppies! But no.

-I can call 911 now, but no one else. Everyone! It's okay to get hurt!

-Hot. coffee.

Safari at 11, we will be 2.5 hours late

Picnic at 1, Ha!

Home at 5, about 9:30

[Ottakee]

@Slache this is hilarious.  I can totally picture it all.  

[prairiewindmomma]

I also do a photo journal. I find that I remember things visually, so if I want to return, I need to remember where I was and I do that by skimming photos. We saw dozens of waterfalls this summer—and some hikes start to blend together. 
 

I carry the weight of my phone, but I don’t want my pack taken up by a big journal. YMMV.

[Slache]

6 minutes ago, prairiewindmomma said:

I also do a photo journal. I find that I remember things visually, so if I want to return, I need to remember where I was and I do that by skimming photos. We saw dozens of waterfalls this summer—and some hikes start to blend together. 
 

I carry the weight of my phone, but I don’t want my pack taken up by a big journal. YMMV.

Do you print them? What journal do you keep?

[prairiewindmomma]

2 minutes ago, Slache said:

Do you print them? What journal do you keep?

I have a private Instagram so I can look at the photos like tiles. I be lazy and cheap like that. ETA: only my faves make the insta. The ones I don’t want to go back to don’t make it off my phone.

Edited December 28, 2021 by prairiewindmomma

[Slache]

Just now, prairiewindmomma said:

I have a private Instagram so I can look at the photos like tiles. I be lazy and cheap like that. 

I LOVE THAT!

[regentrude]

Here's a screenshot of mine. First pic is a section of a month (small screen on my laptop, so  this fits only a handful of days), 2nd is what it looks like when I click on a day. The pic names contain the exact time.

Edited December 28, 2021 by regentrude

[Slache]

I like words and photos. I wish I had the time and energy to combine them.

[Ottakee]

10 minutes ago, Slache said:

I like words and photos. I wish I had the time and energy to combine them.

Yes, this.  I love it and it is beautiful...but I would never do that.

[catz]

This is a good idea.  I just have been using google timeline but you can't really add notes to those and it can be wildly inaccurate, I wish you could edit it easier.  I am an urban hiker so for most of my adventures it isn't bad.  It also cross references where I am taking photos on my phone that get uploaded to google photos which is nice.  I have NO desire to wear a smart watch.  I used to have a fitbit but it wasn't super accurate and I found myself looking at it far too much.  My husband uses Strava religiously for all his activities and a smart watch.  He loves that.  

  Anyway, following along!

[KungFuPanda]

The closest I come is keeping a book for letterboxing.  It has all the boxes I found, the lovely hand-carved stamps that were in them, the date, and who was with me that day.  

[Granny_Weatherwax]

I write dates and important notes in the guidebook if I have one for the area.

I created a 3 ring binder for all important information: fees, good trails, time to location, nearest amenities, etc I have pockets in it for info sheets, any passes that were purchased and other souvenir' type papers. Pics are just randomly uploaded to my computer; I don't like having my picture taken so 99% of my pics are of nature. I'm going to buy an electronic frame and upload all of my nature shots so I can see them.

For 2022, I created specific spreads in my journal to track hikes, backpacking, and camping (separate spreads for each).

I haven't found a printed journal I liked enough to spend money on so I created one myself. That way, I can change it to meet my needs with every trip and experience.

Maybe you can create your own. Take the best parts of the journals you see online and write it in a blank journal. Michaels has some good journals for under $10. With about 200 pages per journal you could dedicate 3-4 pages per trip and fit in 50 adventures.

[jen3kids]

I have this one from Journals Unlimited.  https://smile.amazon.com/Journals-Unlimited-JU-30-Hiking-Journal/dp/B004DLKCB4/ref=sr_1_8?crid=T8G21RJZ3VS7&keywords=hiking+journal+trail+log+book&qid=1640666377&sprefix=hiking+journal%2Caps%2C75&sr=8-8

 

It's has a full blank page for writing and a page of prompts for each hike.  Some of the prompts are a bit redundant and I usually have to look back to see which detail I included in each area, but I'm pretty happy with it.  

[Slache]

This thread is fabulous. I'm considering changing my ways. Maybe a sketchbook and do like a yearbook type of spread. I can still record my stuff just print it out and paste it. I was going to surprise the kids with a photo printer be before our next trip anyway.

[Eos]

10 hours ago, regentrude said:

Here's a screenshot of mine. First pic is a section of a month (small screen on my laptop, so  this fits only a handful of days), 2nd is what it looks like when I click on a day. The pic names contain the exact time.

Stunning and organized.  I'm blown away, thank you.

[pitterpatter]

Wow! I need to get organized. We just take pics of what we find beautiful or interesting. 🤔

[pitterpatter]

My DH would never let us stop for sketching. He's more of a hike for time kind of guy. Lol.

9 hours ago, Slache said:

This thread is fabulous. I'm considering changing my ways. Maybe a sketchbook and do like a yearbook type of spread. I can still record my stuff just print it out and paste it. I was going to surprise the kids with a photo printer be before our next trip anyway.

[Slache]

12 minutes ago, pitterpatter said:

My DH would never let us stop for sketching. He's more of a hike for time kind of guy. Lol.

No, no sketching, but in a sketchbook. I take quick audio recordings and snap photos. I could print it all out and put it in a sketchbook later. I'm not going to, but I could.

[sbgrace]

Um, wow.

We do tons of hiking and just take pictures, unorganized. I  never do anything with any of it.

I have regrets.

And inspiration.