Just finished mapping my 50th route in the Smokies and it felt like a real win

I've been slowly adding my own notes and GPS tracks to a personal map for years, mostly for fun. Yesterday I added a 12-mile loop off the Alum Cave trail and realized I'd hit 50 total routes logged. Has anyone else kept a personal log like this and found it super helpful for planning new trips?

3 comments

3 Comments

norab212mo ago

Used to think digital logs were overkill until my paper notes failed me on a foggy ridge... @mia_hart90 your notebook comment hits home. Now I keep a simple map file with basic notes like "stream crossing tricky after rain." Having those 50 routes to look back at really cuts down on planning stress for the next one.

mia_hart902mo ago

Honestly, my version of this is a sad little notebook where I scribble things like "turn left at the weird rock" and then can't read my own handwriting later. Fifty routes is seriously impressive, that's a proper guidebook right there.

jenkins.reese2mo ago

Oh man, @mia_hart90, I feel that in my soul. My old notebooks look like a chicken walked through ink and then danced on the pages. Here's what finally worked for me without going full digital nerd: I started taking a quick phone picture of the notebook page right after I wrote it. That way I've got the messy original for the vibe, but a clear backup for when I can't tell if that squiggle is a tree or a bear. Fifty routes is amazing, but even just saving those "weird rock" notes clearly makes such a difference later.