Paper vs. digital journaling on the trail | Pinnacle Newsletter #53
#53 Paper vs. digital journaling on the trail
When I go backpacking, keeping a journal is an important part of the process for me – as important as taking photographs. But should you keep a digital journal or record your thoughts in a real, physical notebook? Here’s what I’ve learned about the pros and cons of each.
First of all, there is no right answer to this conundrum. Over the last 15 years I’ve used both methods more or less equally, and have come to appreciate the unique benefits of each technique. And there’s no need to stick religiously to one or the other, either – some kinds of trips lend themselves to keeping a journal in a notebook, while other objectives may be better suited to jotted records in the Notes app on your phone. Before I dive in, the most important point is that there’s no need to overthink this (I'm terrible for overthinking stuff like this). Consider the pros and cons, but do whatever works for you.
Benefits of a paper journal
If you’re accustomed to handwriting, it can encourage keeping richer, more detailed notes. I tend to write more when I write by hand and I record events in far greater detail. Digital encourages me to be brief, but a pen encourages focus, immersion, and the more vivid recall of events.
A notebook never needs recharging. You can write in it for hours without draining the battery on your phone. It works in deep cold or fierce sunlight, too.
You can draw a map, scribble in the margins, do whatever you like. In some ways it’s a less constrained medium.
Your notebook is a tangible artefact of your adventure that, if carefully stored, will be readable decades from the moment you create it. The file format will never become obsolete and it’ll never start charging you a subscription fee to read your notes.
Benefits of a digital journal
You already carry a smartphone, and that’s all you need to keep a digital journal. There’s no need to carry any additional item that adds weight and bulk to your pack. A digital notebook will never run out of pages either.
While handwriting can encourage richer recall, digital is more accessible and convenient. It’s easy to whip your phone out of your pocket and dash down a few lines many times during the day – potentially even embedding audio clips, photos, and other media into the note.
A digital journal can be backed up, shared, emailed, cut and pasted into blog posts, and duplicated. It’s also easily searchable: a major benefit when it’s time to read through your journal and start writing features about the trip.
If carefully stored in a sensible file format (plain text or PDF, ideally), a digital journal can be as long-lasting as paper.
I think that sums it up. Anything you’d add? I still haven’t decided whether to take a paper notebook on my upcoming Haute Route Pyrenees. I kept a journal on paper during my Cape Wrath Trail, and was glad I did, because it encouraged me to write in far greater detail – which has already proved invaluable. However, I’m leaning towards digital this time.
Image by James Roddie
In other news…
I’m currently working on the new novel by John Burns, working title Sky Dance, to be published by Vertebrate Publishing later this year. It’s a true pleasure to see what a difference my developmental edit has made to the draft. Characters have come to life and subplots blossomed. I value all the work I do, but there’s little I find more satisfying than helping to create a book I believe in.
Recently published
What I’ve been reading this week – this week’s quality online reads.
Haute Route Pyrenees planning: maps, apps, GPX data, and smart watch – further planning details for my upcoming HRP.
The Great Outdoors Guide to planning a winter Cape Wrath Trail: part two – the second part of my bumper online guide to planning a winter CWT.
The Great Outdoors Guide to Smart Watches – first published in the January 2019 issue of TGO, I coordinated this comparative review of six outdoor smart watches, now free to read online. I’m currently using the Suunto 9 Baro.
Until next time,
Alex
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