Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,962
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Post by Westy on Dec 3, 2016 17:08:00 GMT -8
Depends...if prepping for a longer trip, often will field test equipment, clothing and food in a preliminary outing. The result would be a written assessment and changes for the future specific application would be made accordingly.
In most cases and more commonly it involves post-trip reminiscing about the critical item we forgot and how we improvised around it.
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swmtnbackpacker
Trail Wise!
Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Dec 3, 2016 17:30:08 GMT -8
Now only debrief to improve logistics or equipment (used to analyze weather, but only a 3-season bunny now). I use backpacking and hiking to kind of get away from "over-analyzing" of everything else, but also I focus on mileage. With smartphone cameras .. BAM.. caught the pic, move on.
Add that I'll enjoy a viewpoint looking at the biology and geography for a little while, but mileage calls,
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Post by Lamebeaver on Dec 3, 2016 18:16:01 GMT -8
I have in the last several years become more and more interested in just enjoying my experiences rather than documenting them. THIS
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 3, 2016 19:54:36 GMT -8
I'm a writer, so no surprise that I keep a journal, though when we're hiking it often ends up being more a log of where we went and what we did. But it's also where I note what worked well or flopped in the food department, and I do check back to that.
Sorting and editing the photos after the trip, then presenting the slide show to relatives, is also a form of de-briefing.
And, of course, as soon as possible after returning to the car I find a place to de-brief, and de-shirt too, and get a nice shower :D
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582
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Post by tarol on Dec 4, 2016 3:17:17 GMT -8
No notes, but when I get home I go through photos and write a trip report on my website. Depends on my writing bug at the time as to how much I write.
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markskor
Trail Wise!
Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
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Post by markskor on Dec 4, 2016 7:06:29 GMT -8
Being reflective and introspective on things like a hike is far too complicated for me. Agree! However, a few decades ago, started saving my old wilderness permits... 200+ now, all stuck in a drawer. (Would post a pic but Photobucket is acting up.) Someday, may dig them all out and "Reflect" back on them, but, generally today, more concerned with the next year's backpacking trips instead.
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balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
Posts: 4,551
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Post by balzaccom on Dec 4, 2016 7:11:08 GMT -8
We do this too, Marksor. We have a folder of permits. Some day the kids are going to have to deal with all of that--hee hee.
Meanwhile, we post our photos on our website with comments, and let that stand as our only trip log. But these days of cold weather, snow, and short daylight hours are a lovely time to "go" on one of those hikes via our photos...and bring back the memories of better times.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on Dec 4, 2016 8:13:19 GMT -8
We have a folder of permits. I do save permits from my favorite places. For some reason, I keep the special Moon House permit in my computer bag, so it's always with me. Grand Canyon, Havasu Falls, Grand Gulch/Cedar Mesa, Boundary Waters/Quetico and a few others are in a drawer in my nightstand.
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davesenesac
Trail Wise!
Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
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Post by davesenesac on Dec 4, 2016 11:56:45 GMT -8
What you are suggesting is something that may be useful to new backpackers but not the long experienced.
Have never kept a log even decades ago during my first decade. Have always had a very detailed paper check list and during a trip if there was something I needed to remember like, "fix leak in pack rain cover", and thought I might not recall, would then pencil that down. But more generally I've never needed to record anything on paper to remember stuff like, "need a better sleeping bag", or whatever. Take photos, post trip review them and may create a trip report but that is not a post trip analysis. Before new trips will peruse my check list and trip itinerary spreadsheet and if something needs attention will deal with it then.
David www.davidsenesac.com/2016_Trip_Chronicles/2016_Trip-Chronicles-0.html
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gabby
Trail Wise!
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Post by gabby on Dec 5, 2016 0:02:17 GMT -8
I'm sort of like Ben. Being reflective and introspective on things like a hike is far too complicated for me. I used to obsess about "journaling" - I wrote a lot of notes. I found that the more notes I wrote, the less time I had for everything else. However, In most cases and more commonly it involves post-trip reminiscing about the critical item we forgot and how we improvised around it. ^^ I do some of this. I make short (and quite seldom these days) notes to myself in the form of very brief audio or video segments on my phone (or an old, tiny voice recorder) to document problems or discoveries. Sadly, I have fallen out of the habit of backpacking for various reasons, though the urge springs up now and again.
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 7, 2016 7:17:17 GMT -8
I do in a few ways.
I have a master list of my backpack items and I use it to make sure I'm ready for an outing. I include food on it. I take a list of the items I'm taking with me and as I use something I cross it off. In time I get to see what I'm not using and then I think about if I want to take it again. Some items always go like emergency, etc. so I consider that. If I wish I had brought something I jot that down.
In my little notebook I do write some things down and I examine it later. Sometimes I realize that certain socks aren't working, maybe because of temperature, maybe because of something else.
If I go with someone else there is usually a google hangout chat that goes on about the trip. In there is a "what wasn't fun/worked, what did". It's a chit-chatty way to get to what we want to change.
I also take a camera with me. I use it to force myself to slow down and enjoy the hike but it also helps me reflect later.
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kenv
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Posts: 974
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Post by kenv on Dec 7, 2016 7:28:36 GMT -8
I don't journal either. But I've done a lot of group hiking and backpacking with Boy Scouts, Sierra Club members, and the backpacking club members at work. In Boy Scouts I was trained to do a "thorns and roses" assessment after each trip and do that on all my trips.
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