I keep a diary as a tool for reflection.  If it is not on my desk at home or at work, it is with me on the trail.  When it comes to backpacking, my journal is a vital component of the process, from organizing and planning, to logistics and reflecting.

Using a Journal to Plan a Backpacking Trip

When I am researching ideas for a trip, I use my journal to record or “bookmark” potential winners.  I note down relevant information, such as location, length, and elevation gain.  I star the hikes that are “epic” and I check off trips once they are completed.  Here is an example of an entry from earlier this year:

A list of potential backpacking trips I made earlier this year

As you’ll see, I also note a “goal” that I hope to accomplish on the next trip.  In this case, I was looking for something secluded with lots of physical exertion.  This helped me narrow down my options for a more productive trip because I knew not to waste any time looking at hikes under a certain level of elevation gain.

Using a Journal to Organize a Backpacking Trip

Now with my list of potential trips narrowed (and presumably chosen), I can start to think about organizing the trip.  This includes all of the nitty-gritty details, including logistics surrounding destination, transportation, and gear.

• Destination – where are we going, and for how long?  Is it an overnight trip or a day-hike?
• Transportation – if I am driving to a trailhead, are there any planned stops?  What about food to pack for the drive?  How many meals, snacks, and how much water?
• Gear – all of the backpacking gear, including food and shelter.  Is it an overnight hike, or just a day-hike?  How many meals will I need?  Are there streams or will I need to pack water?

As you can see, there is a lot to cover here.  The journal helps keep everything organized.

Using a Journal for Reflection

When I am on the trail, I use my journal as a tool to reflect.  Usually, I start with details about the adventure – where I am (on a specific trail), what have I just done (just hiked one thousand feet in elevation gain, and enjoying a view), what am I looking forward to (making camp before dark!).  Then, I write wherever my thoughts take me.

My thoughts on a hike will sometimes have nothing to do with the hike.  I might be thinking about life, my career, my family, my ambitions – the usual musings of a late-twenties man.  And the journal, unbiased, captures all of it.  Later, I can go back and read.  Like a gateway to a time long forgotten, the journal grants me entry into my memories.  Surprisingly enough, I will read something that I do not even remember about the trip, let alone remember writing it while on the trip.  Reading details like this is what motivates me to always have my journal with me.  What I think was, was once never at all, while what I don’t consider at all, is what truly was.

I will always bring my journal with me on the trail.  In fact, I am just about to finish my current journal and am going through the struggles of choosing my next trail companion – more to come on that soon!