Many Appalachian Trail hikers keep online journals of their trek. While reading one such journal, I discovered TrailPhone.net, a FREE (as in beer), toll-free, audio trail journal service. You'll find a Google Map with hiker pins in the right-side green sidebar. Click on a hiker and their most recent audio trail journal will play.
Clicking through to the TrailPhone.net website will display a larger map and six of the most recent audio trail journals. There are over 28 pages of archived audio journals covering nearly every section of the Appalachian Trail.
TrailPhone.net is a free service and uses a toll-free number which can be accessed by cell phone or from the many pay phones found along the Appalachian Trail. The ability to record brief audio messages is a great way for family members to keep abreast of their loved ones progress, or lack of progress, along the trail.
I highly recommend all first time hikers listen to several reports for their planned section hike. Hikers often report conditions along a section of the Appalachian Trail, as well as bear activity, wildlife, and useful intelligence such as weather, ticks, etc.
TrailPhone audio journal is donor supported. If you use the service on your section hike of the Appalachian Trail or you become a regular follower of particular hikers, please consider donating to help keep this valuable journal service up and running. Vounteer labor only goes so far. Some of the commercial services used to enable TrailPhone only accept cash.
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