My journal from my 2009 Tahoe Rim Trail thru-hike.  Additionally I have planning information in case you’d like to do the trail as well.

Note May 2016: This journal is seven years old. I have no intention of updating the information. It was correct at the time of the original writing. 

• Journal
• Overall Impressions
• Logistics and Planning info
• Photos
• YouTube slideshow

Journal

My journal has proven to be interesting. Much like my memory card acting up the last day, I had some interesting issues with my journal. Mainly in the fact I washed it by accident. Doh!

However, I am able to piece it together…blurry writing and all.

NOTE: All the mileage figures are derived from the signs helpfully placed around the TRT.  They are rounded off. After hiking all day, I was too lazy to add in the mileage figures from my map vs the easy to add up sign mileage!

Continue reading Ring Around The Lake: Tahoe Rim Trail journal 2009 at PMags.com.

The journal from my 2009 thru-hike of Benton MacKaye Trail. This article also has planing info.

• Photos
• Journal
• Overall BMT Impressions
• Other Resources and Planning Info

Journal

February 6th, 2009 – Colorado

In 2009, I became a casualty of the economic recession: I was laid off.

My first thought? What mountains are relatively snow free in February?

My mind wandered and I thought of the Benton MacKaye Trail .

At 300 miles, it is the perfect length to thru-hike before obligations in early March occur.

The BMT meanders through a part of the southern Appalachians that is a bit more isolated and less well traveled than the more famous Appalachian Trail.

During my time on the BMT, I hope to again see the subtle beauty of the southern Appalachians.

Continue reading Return to the Hills – 2009 Benton MacKaye Trail Journal at PMags.com.

Here is my journal from my journey on the Continental Divide Trail .

Unlike my other journals, this journal was kept up every few days or so rather than every day.

Part of the reason was that I was also writing articles for the Boulder Daily Camera about my journey.  Keeping two writing projects going (while hiking ~25 miles per day) was difficult enough. Writing a daily entry, in addition to my newspaper articles,  would be another ball of wax entirely.

Originally, I transcribed these journal entries with Pocketmail. Both the journal entries and my articles would be sent out. The articles would show up every two weeks. My entries would be uploaded to a framed Blogger entry courtesy of my friend Emily. This method made it easier to add the entries to my website without Emily having to futz around with any interfaces.  The downside is that while it worked, it was kludged on.

Continue reading Continental Divide Trail Journal 2006 – Part 1 – Montana and Idaho at PMags.com.

My original plan in 2004 was to hike the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). However it just did not feel right.

So I did the Colorado Trail instead.

Walking the length of the Colorado Trail was a great way to see my adopted home state. It was not just a “consolation prize” for not doing the CDT, but a wonderful wilderness pilgrimage in its own right.

You can also see my Colorado Trail resupply information, Colorado Trail photos and other related links here.

The mileage of the Colorado Trail is a “best guess”. Even the official route is debatable. Coup, the owner of GoLite, thinks the Colorado Trail is closer to 500 miles in length vs. the 468 officially reported in 2004. As I took two longer alternate routes, my total mileage may have exceeded the 480 that I estimated.

No matter. It was a beautiful trail;  full of much wonder and delight.

Continue reading Colorado Trail Journal 2004 at PMags.com.

Here is my 2002 journal of my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike. It was four years since I took a long walk on the Appalachian Trail, so the theme of this hike was "Another Long Walk"

And a long walk it was. From desert to alpine, from sea level to over 14000 feet it was a journey that I will not forget.  The Pacific Crest Trail was just not 2700 miles of hiking, it was 2700 miles of unforgettable memories.

Fri  February 22   Boulder, CO    Mileage 0.0

Typing this entry brings back many of the feelings I had at this time four years ago. Before I started my hike of the Appalachian Trail, felt a mixture of anxiousness, happiness and excitement.  Could not wait to begin my walk

on the “AT”. But, some feelings are a little different. Unlike four years ago, I am not as anxious to leave my current life behind.

Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail Journal 2002 – Part 1 : California at PMags.com.

This journal was originally hosted onTrailplace.com originally hosted by Dan "Wingfoot" Bruce. The current site is now a bit different than the original site.

My Appalachian Trail journal was not the  first online hiking journal, but I would not be  surprised if it was one the first fifty (or less)  hiking journals to be published online. In the years since completing my  hike, online hiking journals are much more common

.

Paul Magnanti’s 1998 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike

Final thoughts before leaving Rhode Island

February 22~ Several thoughts are my mind before I depart for Springer. Anxiety, excitement, the disbelief that this adventure is really happening. In a few short days, I will be on top of Springer mountain, gazing northward knowing that Katahdin is 2160.7 miles away. Many steps are between these two points. Who knows what adventures will come from this walk in the woods.

Continue reading Appalachian Trail Journal 1998 : Part 1 – The South at PMags.com.

Mon  July 29 and Tues  July 30  Ashland, OR  1721.5 miles

Though the border was crossed a few days ago, it now truly feels as if I am in Oregon. Ashland is a psychological way station for most hikers. A chance to buy new gear, rest up and prepare for the next step of the trail.

Yesterday, did all the town chores. Today is time for some relaxation.

As I explore the town I can’t help but think of my home in Boulder. Ashland, like Boulder, is a college town with an active outdoor oriented community. Many book stores and coffee shops and both towns have an odd cross between tourist area and a liberal, hippie-like atmosphere.

From a hiker’s standpoint Ashland is better. Smaller and easy to get around on foot.

Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail Journal 2002 – Part 2 : Oregon and Washington at PMags.com.

 
October 1st – Chama, NM
Three months on the trail.
Three months of walking from Canada .
Three months of again be immersed in the wilderness and being on a
journey.

The past month has proven to be challening due to the amount of snow.
The weather has finally be consistent with I expect of Colorado in
autumn. Blazing aspen, warm days and cool nights. There is still much snow
left from the storm of last week though. Attempted joining up with the
divide again near Elwood Pass; still found much snow. Continued walking
a jeep road that led to a dramtic canyon and a picturesque valley. The
walk was not what I had planned. But like all my walks, the unplanned
is often memorable.

Today I reached Cumbres Pass. Though still in Colorado, it is
psychologically the of Colorado. New Mexico is downhill and less than four trail
miles away.

Continue reading Continental Divide Trail Journal – Part 4 : New Mexico at PMags.com.

August 29th – On the divide in Colorado

1350 Miles
4 States
22.5 miles per day overall average
60 days on the CDT
3 pairs of shoes
...and who knows how many Snicker bars.

The raw stats of my hike does not give the whole story of this
journey.

How do you explain what it is like to see wild horses gallopping in the
desert? The feel of the cold rain on your face? How to put in words the
elation of finding a cold drink put out for you on the trail?

A hike on any long trail is more than just miles hiked total and
average daily miles. The hike is about laughter shared with friends while
hiking. The hike is about seeing the alpenglow on the mountains. It is
about making the long climb to the crest of the ridge.

Continue reading Continental Divide Trail Journal – Part 3: Colorado at PMags.com.

Continental Divide Trail Thru-Hike Journal 2006 – Part 2 : Wyoming

August 7th – Old Faithful Village
"Colter's Hell" was the name for Yellowstone when originally described

by John Colter over two-hundred years ago. Seeing the steam and
smelling the sulphur certainly brings up images right from my Catholic school
days (minus nuns with rulers! ).

Yellowstone is pretty unique to say the least. The thermal pools, the
geyers and the most famous landmark of all: Old Faithful. Along with
seemingly 3000 other people, saw this spectacle.

The park is slowly recovering from the infamous 1988 fire. Young pines
are growing. Wildflowers abound. Nature is healing itself.

Continue to see more northbound CDT hikers. Looks like Wyoming is where
we are crossing paths. And just ahead are more Southbounders.

As of today, I am in Wyoming. The border is arbitary, but feel a
milestone has been reached. The Montana/Idaho section was intense.

Continue reading Continental Divide Trail Journal – Part 2 : Wyoming at PMags.com.