Stopping (not quiting) your hike was the smart decision. You had only very limited information on what was to come. If the fires had become a problem on the next stretch, you might have been in need of rescue. And that probably is not what firefighters have capacity to do when there is fire everywhere. Pushing through might just have been selfish. And there was not much to win. The terminus was closed, so those extra miles would not really have made a huge difference. And now you have a nice hike to come back to, and not just a couple of miles. That probably will make it much more authentic feeling to finish the rest in another year. Good on you guys for making a hard decision, and thank you for your wonderful videos. You truly are inspiring.
It’s been an incredible ride, and I feel lucky to have been one of the viewers who cheered you on. Failure begins only when you stop lacing up your shoes for a new hike. You’re going to continue to have amazing adventures, and as long as you put out videos, I’ll be watching them. Cheers mate.
Yeah i remember waking up September 10th, 2022 at 10 am at my girlfriends house in Goldbar that Saturday morning of the bolt creek fire. Orange light was pouring in through the curtains, felt like living in the apocalypse. Its actually pretty crazy to have a big forest fire like that west of the cascades and that close to Seattle. That weekend, western Washington had the worst air quality in the world, and over the passing days the wind would shift back and forth sending smoke both directions over the pass. Y’all would have been suffering on the trail, and forest fire smoke effects everyone differently. For most it was okay, but others had sore throats, headaches, and asthma like symptoms. I cant imagine hiking through that, It was a good choice to end it there. Another small fire would pop up northwest of the bolt creek fire closer to the trail.
You didn't really quit. You had to stop because of fires popping up all over the place and roads were closing! Don't beat yourself up, man. You did beyond great! . . . Selfishly, I enjoy the heck out of your vids! This PCT series was entertaining, informative, humorous and enlightening and I enjoyed every minute! I'm looking forward to more of your regular vids and I hope you get back to Trail Tales too!
Such hard emotions. Quitting is never an easy choice under any circumstances. I can tell this has been going through your head for a while. It will take awhile to come to peace with it. Perhaps it was a blessing you had a ride to airport and all the pieces fell in place to make the quitting easy. I am looking forward to your new videos in the future. Get some rest and you will be 100% ok with how it ended for you.
@@KyleHatesHiking Imagine billions of the world's people hiking the PCT, they would form a solid line from Mexico to Canada! I really did enjoy everything about this series. It was a real story of overcoming obstacles and knowing when it is time to end a journey safely with pride. The Sierra Nevada mountain range is really an incredible treasure.
@@KyleHatesHiking you'll finish doing the thing. No worries 👍. Be happy with the thought that you get to hike next year as long as you get the permit. That's exciting 😄.
I must have just been a few days ahead of you because I was 2-3 days into that stretch when we heard about the new fire and the road closure. We woke up that morning to crazy wind and when we got up on the ridge could see the HUGE plume from that new fire. It was so smokey when we got to Stehekin that you couldn't really even see the other side of the lake! I feel you SO much on the confusion about what to do. This year I had soooo much of that mental battle about what was the "right" choice to make especially when sections of the trail were technically open but still felt unsafe due to smoke and fire proximity. I know that every year has its challenges but this year definitely felt like a wild ride!
You’ve inspired me, friend. I’ve watched the whole trip. The only fail is that the trail failed to be seamless and perfect. You pushed through what you could. Happy trails. Rest and recoup and gain inspiration for the next hike. You/we can only stay away from the backcountry for so long.
Greatly enjoyed following along with you and Flossy and Brandon!! Be proud of what you all accomplished!! Looking forward to the return of Trail Tales and all that comes next!!!
I had the sh!test summer as my wife and I lost three of our four parents this year. You boys brought me joy and laughs each week. I loved your bonding and friendship. I can’t wait to meet y’all on the trail someday. Thank you for all you guys did and accomplished this summer. Money will be coming your way.
I know it’s 11 months later, but I am so sorry that you lost your parents in such quick succession. That has to be heart-rending. I hope the past year has brought you healing and peace in the memories they have blessed you with. ❤
I just found your channel and it's been awesome living vicariously through you as a former hiker and backpacker (injured back wont let me do it any more... for now) You remind me so much of my avid outdoorsman son, who started backpacking as an 11 y/o boy scout. As far as your journey...What an amazing accomplishment! you didn't quit... you chose safety and common sense over ego and being foolish.
What a dope ass adventure…you did what was best and I’m sure it was an incredibly difficult decision…I look forward to watching all three of you finishing the miles you missed…Luke did an amazing job editing your great video…enjoy the aftermath of this awesome adventure!!! Wishing all you guys the best in whatever comes along next!!
Your hike was incredible! Flossy, Brandon, Luke-really, Luke! The entire hike was a PCT original, just like it should be. Unlike other trails, the PCT is fluid. Snow, rain, wildlife, cold, heat, fires, water-did I mention fires?-these all combine to heighten the capability of the hike. With the PCT, you finish the hike when you finish. There's always something more, something different, to hike on the PCT, so you get to declare when you finish. Some people take years, others do it all at once. Some of this year's finishers missed almost 100 miles of Oregon due to an old fire closure that opened up right after PCT Days. But they finished and did did you guys. Now, come back after the snow melts next July and link the sections you want to hike before the fires start. The trail is waiting.
Dude as a 2018 PCT thru hiker I feel your pain. I was so close to calling its quits in Snoqualmie (broke up w/ my gf, Northern Terminus was closed, and just not stoked on the vibes) I was over hiking. I waited 2 or 3 days at Snoqualmie Alpine Club Lodge and just couldn't make the decision to quit. My buddy from Colorado was even hiking a section with me at the time and had a vehicle to take me back home. I ended up hiking on and the Northern Terminus opened up and I made it! Sometimes it's just hard to keep going on. don't feel bad about quitting, the experiences are what it's about. Anyway the trail is always there, heck you could even finish if you got back on the PCT tomorrow.. Or just start back again in Campo next year. Smiles not miles! The PCT is always home, even 4 years later. Cheers
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I was in that area of Washington on my thru hike at the same time as you and we were getting chased around by wildfires and landslides too. I totally understand the challenges you were facing out there. Congratulations on such a huge accomplishment!
Pushing yourself further to just a different unexpected endpoint most likely would not have been any more satisfying, and it may have even been dangerous. I'm glad to hear you don't regret the decision, even considering how difficult it was. Hopefully you can finish the remainder of the miles another year, with Flossy being healthy, and that'll just be the icing on the cake. Looking forward to all the content coming up!
I really appreciate you sharing your trip with us. I'm sorry that it didn't go to plan, but it still looks like an amazing journey. I look forward to your future adventures.
So proud of you, Kyle. You got a Helluva long way, & then you took the smartest out when the universe presented it to you. Also, ppl refer to Flossy's & your bromance, but I feel like you guys got serious a long time ago; you have officially been united in matribrony for quite some time.
Kyle, I want to thank you so much for taking us along for the ride. I'm from the PNW and I absolutely loved watching you hike through my backyard. Sadly massive wildfires have become our new normal and that really changes what is smart and healthy to do outside. You really shouldn't spend a single moment telling yourself that you quit. You and your crew made a smart decision. I appreciate all the content that you make and I can't wait to see whats next.
Thank you for all your videos of the PCT. Looking forward to seeing were this channel is going and seeing more of your future trail adventures. The 45k+ subs are coming soon I can sense it.
No failure on your part. There are conditions on your thru hike you have no control of. Thanks for taking us along and look forward to your upcoming content. Hike on Bro.
That’s a wrap! Congrats and thanks for the inspiring entertainment along your PCT journey. So much can happen over 5 months/3,000+ miles. You did the PCT. That’s ALL 👊
great effort, was in floods of tears hearing flossy pour his heart out when he dropped out. dont beat yourself up about leaving it how you did its clear to see how that experience was valuable foe you all. my only qualm is this particular video wasnt on the PCT playlist on your channel so it just ended pretty randomly and this video popped up randomly today.
Kyle, thank you to Flossie, Brandon and yourself for including us as viewers on your hike. Also kudos to Luke for the editing. We’ve been watching you for over a year. My husband and I are occasional day hikers and we really appreciate your humor. We will keep you all in our prayers. Hike on Kyle. We will be watching. A grateful viewer from New Hampshire.
It has been fun to enjoy your videos and your adventures. Looks like you made the right choice for you so good for you! I live near the Bolt Fire and it is no joke and the smoke is yuk- still is. I look forward to your future content.
I ran into a couple PCT thru hikers that also had to get off trail on the Superior Hiking Trail. They came out to Minnesota to finish their journey to Canada in some form. My heart goes out to you and all the others. I can't imagine walking all that way and then not being able to finish.
I live in WA state and September is always brutal with forest fires and smoke! Ugh. Better safe than sorry to stop your hike when you did (although I love Stehekin). Will be watching your upcoming videos!!!
I am very late to this party, but I just finished watching the whole series. what a wild ride! Congrats on your accomplishments! i am excited to watch the rest of your adventures!
I was trying to find a way to drop in a good "Becker pace" joke somewhere but it really wouldn't fit because you guys flat out crushed miles throughout this hike! It feels defeating having to pull off trail like this but really around here these fires can pop up anywhere and everywhere this late in the summer. You guys made the right decision because there was no chance of 100%-ing this trail right now anyway. It hurts right now but this is not a failure in any way man. You'll do the stretches you couldn't before sometime in the near future 🤘 That section north from Steven's is awesome try to spend more than a minute in Stehekin if you can, god those fish up there have been calling me...Kyle, Flossy, Brandon what a ride, thank you!
You did not quit. You made a very wise and responsible decision to be safe. What if that fire had gone differently and suddenly you guys were trapped and needed to be rescued? That just wouldn't have affect you, but also the first responders who would have had to risked their own lives. And breathing all that smoke may have some serious health consequences later down the line. Living here in California, I know how bad that smoke can get. I've had to change my own hikes and outdoor plans because of it. Don't consider leaving the trail to be a failure, but rather consider it unfinished business. You, Flossy, and Brandon can finish that business up next summer when it's safe again, and you can truly appreciate your surroundings. Great job to all 3 of you and thank you for taking us along for the hike!
You made a good call Kyle. At some point you and Flossy can finish the miles together since you didn't do too much more than him. Almost 2200 miles is not a failure! I thoroughly enjoyed the series and now look forward to regular videos. The parodies are my favorite. Hopefully we will see Brandon in some of them! Welcome home. 🙂
Honestly, I was waiting and expecting this one. I could hear it in your voice, plus I thought now you can finish all the way to Canada next year, maybe all three of you, that would be perfect. Can’t wait to see the new videos! Rock on!
Thanks to the whole team for all the work that went into this hike/series! A bummer to end that way but not unexpected after this chaotic season of fires. You mentioned before how naive you were at the start (about being hopeful to get lucky/avoid fires/complete all of the miles) and that really stuck with me- I’m still planning to do the PCT at some point, but your videos were a helpful reality check! Looking forward to the next series of tips/education!
Hit that final section though. It’s a good one 👍. You did good bro 😎. You can get it later and you know you killed it this summer. Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Always a bummer not to complete something you've worked so hard on and wanted so much. But don't beat yourself up, sometimes things just aren't right and when your gut tells you that it's best to listen to it. I've really enjoyed experiencing the trail through your videos. Kudos to you, Flossy, Brandon and Luke for producing a great record of your trip. Take it from an English senior - you all killed it.
First of all, thank you for sharing all that you did. Your videos are super entertaining and I will definitely be "staying subscribed". All I guess I can say is... don't be too hard on yourself about how things went down. There seemed to be A LOT that was completely out of your control. Take comfort in the idea of going back in 2023 and getting it done. Before you know it, it will be time to make it happen. I look forward to seeing what you produce and post in the meantime. All the best to you, Flossy and Brandon. Stay safe and be well. Cheers and well done, Jack NYC
Safety first. You made an informed "best decision" based on live information. That was smart. No failure on your part. So many fires and closures this year. Get back out there next year if you want and finish what you missed. Great job! Looking forward to your post PCT gear review.
I've enjoyed the ride. Thank you for taking us along. For me, as long as I'm entertained by the content, and the topics stay relevant to me, I'll stick around.
Quitting is not the same as rolling with the punches. You rolled well. The universe is right on time, as much as we may hate to accept that now and then; you made the right choice. Hope Flossie, Brandon and you are all OK. Thank you for taking us along. Thank you for all you taught us on this hike. Looking forward to your further videos.
Due to circumstances in nature beyond your control or choice AND the fact that the PCT Terminus was already closed, you made a good choice of when to exit the trail. With all that you accomplished, witnessed, experienced and the friends you made during this adventure...you have nothing to feel bad about. Your living life and living it well. That's more than most can say. Best wishes to you.
I feel all of this! I ended my hike at Stephen's Pass for the same reasons, also after a zero. I'm still trying to feel fully at ease with the abrupt ending and feelings of failure, but I do know there's no question that physically and mentally I (and you, and Brandon) could have made it to the terminus, and that was the goal. I think this year was the ultimate test of being at peace with what is. It's been great to relive the trail through your videos since being home, thanks for putting in all the extra work to document and congrats on your thru hike!!!
I think your decision was the right one to make. The signs were showing up that tells me it would get worse than it already was. Im glad you are safest home and can continue another time. Get ready for ski season and stay in trail shape because I know you will be wrapping this thing up sooner than most people think. Great job with the footage and Luke really killed the edits. Thank you Kyle, Flossy and Branden for all you've done and sharing your experience with all of us. Cant wait to see your next adventure.
Thank you so much for letting us in on such an intense and beautiful journey. I’m sure, when you have your heart set on something like finishing at the northern terminus, the sudden end can feel like a failure - but as an outsider who has so enjoyed following along, I encourage you to look back and at least ~try~ to see all that you have accomplished. In my eyes y’all have done anything BUT fail!! Major kudos and congratulations to the three of you for not backing down against such a big feat. Looking forward to following along for future adventures!!
You did not fail you can always come back... Im suprised you all didn't stop when flossy stopped and then just made plans to come back... With all the fires im glade you all are safe and off the trail can't wait till you get to come back and finish it up... But can't wait to see you get back to your regular content too.. but this was fun to watch... Love can't wait to see your next video... Can't wait to see Brandon and flossy in your videos again... You guys our awesome 👍😎
It has been great to follow you along on your journey! t is a bummer but that's life, plans change and we adjust. Fantastic job to you all, you should be bursting with pride. Thank you for taking us along. Hike on.
You. Did. Not. Quit. You were smart to get off when you did. The fires are no joke here on the west side. Kinda like the storms on the east. I love you and your videos and can’t wait to see what’s next. Bring on the gear review and what you learned! Xoxo Rene (a backpacker, a mom, and a huge fan)
I've enjoyed your PCT videos! Man, you are hard on yourself. Hiking into a burn zone is a BIG decision, stressful, smoky, and can be extremely dangerous. You guys had a crazy, rad adventure. Love to see a PCT compilation video where you share a bunch of the best clips from this trip.
I had to turn around 900 feet from the summit on the highest mountain in South America. I had cerebral edema symptoms and it was the right decision. There is always a thought deep down that maybe I would have made it. The doctor at base camp shook my hand and assured me I made the right choice. Hindsight you could have kept going but the safe bet was to turn around. That fire could have got out of control and caused injury or death to the hikers that kept going. It really shows strength that you turned around.
Agreed with all the rest of the comments. You didn’t quit, you did what you could and made the logical decision to be safe and not make things unnecessarily complicated for yourselves in having a way home readily available. And although this trip has been captivating, entertaining, and incredibly inspirational to follow, I’ve missed all your other videos and look forward to the new content you’ll be releasing post-PCT. You’re still a champ. Not as big as Flossy, but still a champ to some degree.
Amazingly done inspirational video series!! I'm just getting into backpacking, no plans to ever thur hike... excited for my first trip coming up! Anyway, think you made the right decision, had to be he'll as he'll to make in the moment though!!
hey, It was such great fun to watch the three of you hike! You 3 killed that trail and should be very proud of all you've accomplished! You Kyle, Flossie, and Brandon were fantastic backpackers! Thanks for the awesome show! I'd say the beard shave was a win!!!
Thank you for sharing your amazing journey with us. I’ve cheered you on since you announced your PCT hike. I can’t wait to see what the future brings. You should come to Kentucky and hike Red River Gorge or Big South Fork.
I am relieved you both are okay, it was sure a hard decision to take but the most sensible one! You 3 always can go back and finish the last miles, you can't fight nature if she does not let it happen, it's not that you were quitting, it was just not possible to do the last miles! Onward you go with new endeavors, we will be here watching what you do! Thank you so much for letting us participating on your hike, it sure was amazing!!
Kyle, I had the opportunity to hang out with Luke (really enjoyed meeting him) for a few at the Pinhoti Fest in Alabama last weekend. I even have a pic with him with a full blown Philly cheese steak sub hanging out of his fanny pack. Fantastic pic! We nerded out about video editing and stuff but I told him one of my favorite things in your videos and IG stories was the rap songs with Flossy. They were the best! Your new hiking BFF Brandon seemed like a jam up dude in the videos too. I'm real sorry this didn't end the way you all expected but you gotta trust that it ended the way it was supposed to. Thanks a shit ton for taking us along for the ride. Maybe we'll cross paths somewhere on the southern A.T. sometime now that you're down here full time. Thanks again!
dude, I m from EU and I ve been following you for some time now.. its an amazing thing you ve achieved with your friends. You all should be proud.. thank you for the ride during your trip. I know I ll never be able to see the PCT and I m grateful for your content. Take care boys
I'm 33, I come frome France and hiked the PCT this year (only 100 miles skiped on the entire journey because of fires in Oregon, I was so lucky) but I had to stop at Stevens Pass too. It was on september 7th. I managed to hike 15 miles after the pass but I decided to turn back because of the smoke. It felt too dangerous. After more than 2 weeks home in France it's still difficult to accept, I feel sad sometimes, but I know it was the wise decision. Better safe than sorry. It was'nt the end we wanted. It was a sad decision, a tough decision. We had no clear ending point, no chance to see the monument because all was closed. I know we would have finish it, I know we would have done it. I'm sure we would have had the strenght with proper conditions. But the fires decided other way. What an incredible end to and incredible journey... I feel you so much. But you are safe, and you were brave enough to follow the path of safety. When I came black, my father who did a lot of mountneering in the Alps told me it's the hardest thing to learn, when you have to recognize that you can't go further, that the weather, the mountain is stronger, when making one more step would put your life in danger, and you have to call it an end. You chose the wise path. And we will come back in the future to finish it safely. We hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. Maybe we had to quit but we know what it is to face its reality, we know what it is to be alone, to face greater challenges. And it was to me one of the greatest happiness of my life. Thank you for sharing your story, I feel better to know that we are a lot who had to face this cruel ending. I wish you the best for all that's to come. Cheers. Gaspard "Yoshida"
I am so impressed with you boys. My husband and I followed you throughout your journey. So impressive! It’ll be epic next year when you all (Flossy and Brandon) can come back and finish up! Rest and re-energize! Best to you all!!!
What an amazing journey! You didn't fail, you made a decision to preserve the joy of the PCT. I found your channel a few months before this hike and I have looked forward to every weekly update and strangely, it feels like I've gotten to know you three. Thanks for making great content!
The shortness of your shorts disturbed me this entire video. Just wanted to let you know. Good luck on finishing the PCT next year. Love watching your vlogs. I am thru-hiking the AT next year. God Bless
Kyle, I think you made a wise and safe decision given so much uncertainty ahead. I genuinely anticipated your PCT videos each week and the editing was of course amazing! Looking forward to more!
Sad it had to end this way. Looking forward to your new life here in South Carolina. Hope to meet you in the near future. Hope Hurricane Ian doesn’t harm you or your family.
Stopping (not quiting) your hike was the smart decision. You had only very limited information on what was to come. If the fires had become a problem on the next stretch, you might have been in need of rescue. And that probably is not what firefighters have capacity to do when there is fire everywhere. Pushing through might just have been selfish. And there was not much to win. The terminus was closed, so those extra miles would not really have made a huge difference. And now you have a nice hike to come back to, and not just a couple of miles. That probably will make it much more authentic feeling to finish the rest in another year. Good on you guys for making a hard decision, and thank you for your wonderful videos. You truly are inspiring.
I’m 83 years old and never hiked a day in my life. I clicked on your site one day and I’m hooked. So enjoyable.
It’s been an incredible ride, and I feel lucky to have been one of the viewers who cheered you on. Failure begins only when you stop lacing up your shoes for a new hike. You’re going to continue to have amazing adventures, and as long as you put out videos, I’ll be watching them. Cheers mate.
Thank you for following along Paul!
Yeah i remember waking up September 10th, 2022 at 10 am at my girlfriends house in Goldbar that Saturday morning of the bolt creek fire. Orange light was pouring in through the curtains, felt like living in the apocalypse. Its actually pretty crazy to have a big forest fire like that west of the cascades and that close to Seattle. That weekend, western Washington had the worst air quality in the world, and over the passing days the wind would shift back and forth sending smoke both directions over the pass. Y’all would have been suffering on the trail, and forest fire smoke effects everyone differently. For most it was okay, but others had sore throats, headaches, and asthma like symptoms. I cant imagine hiking through that, It was a good choice to end it there. Another small fire would pop up northwest of the bolt creek fire closer to the trail.
You didn't really quit. You had to stop because of fires popping up all over the place and roads were closing! Don't beat yourself up, man. You did beyond great! . . . Selfishly, I enjoy the heck out of your vids! This PCT series was entertaining, informative, humorous and enlightening and I enjoyed every minute! I'm looking forward to more of your regular vids and I hope you get back to Trail Tales too!
Trail Tales will be coming back! Thanks for all the support Joe
You 3 killed it. It’s not always about the destination so much as the journey it took to get there and you should be proud!
amen
Y'all killed it and made the best of many tough situations - awesome to follow you along the ups and downs. And keep the stache
Hahaha the stache is now gone unfortunately. Thank you
@@KyleHatesHiking Oh no!
If you weren't meant to have a 'stache, your face wouldn't keep insisting on one.
Thanks!
oh shit, thank YOU Josh!
Such hard emotions. Quitting is never an easy choice under any circumstances. I can tell this has been going through your head for a while. It will take awhile to come to peace with it. Perhaps it was a blessing you had a ride to airport and all the pieces fell in place to make the quitting easy. I am looking forward to your new videos in the future. Get some rest and you will be 100% ok with how it ended for you.
Kyle, you've done what billions of people in the World have been unable to do and you killed it! The videos were incredible!
Thank you so much Mitchell! I think you might be exaggerating a bit tho 😂
@@KyleHatesHiking Imagine billions of the world's people hiking the PCT, they would form a solid line from Mexico to Canada! I really did enjoy everything about this series. It was a real story of overcoming obstacles and knowing when it is time to end a journey safely with pride. The Sierra Nevada mountain range is really an incredible treasure.
@@mitchellbarnow1709 That's what happened after the movie Wild came out, no? 🤔
@@KyleHatesHiking you'll finish doing the thing. No worries 👍. Be happy with the thought that you get to hike next year as long as you get the permit. That's exciting 😄.
I loved the videos and like you said can always return next year with your friends everything happens for a reason ♥️
It was a pleasure to follow you guys on your astonishing journey!! Thx for everything!😊
Thank you!
I must have just been a few days ahead of you because I was 2-3 days into that stretch when we heard about the new fire and the road closure. We woke up that morning to crazy wind and when we got up on the ridge could see the HUGE plume from that new fire. It was so smokey when we got to Stehekin that you couldn't really even see the other side of the lake! I feel you SO much on the confusion about what to do. This year I had soooo much of that mental battle about what was the "right" choice to make especially when sections of the trail were technically open but still felt unsafe due to smoke and fire proximity. I know that every year has its challenges but this year definitely felt like a wild ride!
A wild ride indeed! Hope you stayed safe out there
You’ve inspired me, friend. I’ve watched the whole trip. The only fail is that the trail failed to be seamless and perfect. You pushed through what you could. Happy trails. Rest and recoup and gain inspiration for the next hike. You/we can only stay away from the backcountry for so long.
I love the raw truth, you kept yourself safe and made a hard choice. You should be so proud of All you did accomplish. That’s amazing!
Greatly enjoyed following along with you and Flossy and Brandon!! Be proud of what you all accomplished!! Looking forward to the return of Trail Tales and all that comes next!!!
I enjoyed the journey you took us on. PCT is so tough, especially with all the fires/smoke etc etc Look forward to continually follow you.
I had the sh!test summer as my wife and I lost three of our four parents this year. You boys brought me joy and laughs each week. I loved your bonding and friendship. I can’t wait to meet y’all on the trail someday. Thank you for all you guys did and accomplished this summer. Money will be coming your way.
I know it’s 11 months later, but I am so sorry that you lost your parents in such quick succession. That has to be heart-rending. I hope the past year has brought you healing and peace in the memories they have blessed you with. ❤
you made the right choice.. so glad you two are safe and can't wait to hear the complete debrief from the trip.
I just found your channel and it's been awesome living vicariously through you as a former hiker and backpacker (injured back wont let me do it any more... for now) You remind me so much of my avid outdoorsman son, who started backpacking as an 11 y/o boy scout. As far as your journey...What an amazing accomplishment! you didn't quit... you chose safety and common sense over ego and being foolish.
What a dope ass adventure…you did what was best and I’m sure it was an incredibly difficult decision…I look forward to watching all three of you finishing the miles you missed…Luke did an amazing job editing your great video…enjoy the aftermath of this awesome adventure!!! Wishing all you guys the best in whatever comes along next!!
Your hike was incredible! Flossy, Brandon, Luke-really, Luke! The entire hike was a PCT original, just like it should be. Unlike other trails, the PCT is fluid. Snow, rain, wildlife, cold, heat, fires, water-did I mention fires?-these all combine to heighten the capability of the hike.
With the PCT, you finish the hike when you finish. There's always something more, something different, to hike on the PCT, so you get to declare when you finish. Some people take years, others do it all at once. Some of this year's finishers missed almost 100 miles of Oregon due to an old fire closure that opened up right after PCT Days. But they finished and did did you guys. Now, come back after the snow melts next July and link the sections you want to hike before the fires start. The trail is waiting.
Dude as a 2018 PCT thru hiker I feel your pain. I was so close to calling its quits in Snoqualmie (broke up w/ my gf, Northern Terminus was closed, and just not stoked on the vibes) I was over hiking. I waited 2 or 3 days at Snoqualmie Alpine Club Lodge and just couldn't make the decision to quit. My buddy from Colorado was even hiking a section with me at the time and had a vehicle to take me back home. I ended up hiking on and the Northern Terminus opened up and I made it! Sometimes it's just hard to keep going on. don't feel bad about quitting, the experiences are what it's about. Anyway the trail is always there, heck you could even finish if you got back on the PCT tomorrow.. Or just start back again in Campo next year. Smiles not miles! The PCT is always home, even 4 years later.
Cheers
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I was in that area of Washington on my thru hike at the same time as you and we were getting chased around by wildfires and landslides too. I totally understand the challenges you were facing out there. Congratulations on such a huge accomplishment!
Loved following your hike and looking forward to whatever is next!
Really enjoyed following the journey 🙌 3 amigos did great. Shout out to Luke 🤟 great editing 👌
You didn’t quit you just closed out a chapter. What an incredible journey.
It was a wise decision too.
Pushing yourself further to just a different unexpected endpoint most likely would not have been any more satisfying, and it may have even been dangerous. I'm glad to hear you don't regret the decision, even considering how difficult it was. Hopefully you can finish the remainder of the miles another year, with Flossy being healthy, and that'll just be the icing on the cake. Looking forward to all the content coming up!
Flossy is my hero!
Glad you got home back safe man. You guys did great! You'll crush that PCT next time and I'll def be watching! Cheers!
I really appreciate you sharing your trip with us. I'm sorry that it didn't go to plan, but it still looks like an amazing journey. I look forward to your future adventures.
So proud of you, Kyle. You got a Helluva long way, & then you took the smartest out when the universe presented it to you. Also, ppl refer to Flossy's & your bromance, but I feel like you guys got serious a long time ago; you have officially been united in matribrony for quite some time.
Kyle, I want to thank you so much for taking us along for the ride. I'm from the PNW and I absolutely loved watching you hike through my backyard. Sadly massive wildfires have become our new normal and that really changes what is smart and healthy to do outside. You really shouldn't spend a single moment telling yourself that you quit. You and your crew made a smart decision. I appreciate all the content that you make and I can't wait to see whats next.
I loved following along, the videos were awesome and raps were dope. I look forward to seeing what's next! Best wishes to you all.
You rocked it, proud of u ❤
Thank you for all your videos of the PCT. Looking forward to seeing were this channel is going and seeing more of your future trail adventures. The 45k+ subs are coming soon I can sense it.
You guys did great. Next year start north to south.
Thanks for all the entertaining vids...
No failure on your part. There are conditions on your thru hike you have no control of. Thanks for taking us along and look forward to your upcoming content. Hike on Bro.
That’s a wrap! Congrats and thanks for the inspiring entertainment along your PCT journey. So much can happen over 5 months/3,000+ miles. You did the PCT. That’s ALL 👊
great effort, was in floods of tears hearing flossy pour his heart out when he dropped out. dont beat yourself up about leaving it how you did its clear to see how that experience was valuable foe you all. my only qualm is this particular video wasnt on the PCT playlist on your channel so it just ended pretty randomly and this video popped up randomly today.
Kyle, thank you to Flossie, Brandon and yourself for including us as viewers on your hike. Also kudos to Luke for the editing. We’ve been watching you for over a year. My husband and I are occasional day hikers and we really appreciate your humor. We will keep you all in our prayers. Hike on Kyle. We will be watching. A grateful viewer from New Hampshire.
It has been fun to enjoy your videos and your adventures. Looks like you made the right choice for you so good for you! I live near the Bolt Fire and it is no joke and the smoke is yuk- still is. I look forward to your future content.
We loved watching each and every episode! Thanks!
I ran into a couple PCT thru hikers that also had to get off trail on the Superior Hiking Trail. They came out to Minnesota to finish their journey to Canada in some form. My heart goes out to you and all the others. I can't imagine walking all that way and then not being able to finish.
I've really enjoyed following along. I hope that the 3 of you can finish the trail together next year!
That would be sick!
I live in WA state and September is always brutal with forest fires and smoke! Ugh. Better safe than sorry to stop your hike when you did (although I love Stehekin). Will be watching your upcoming videos!!!
I am very late to this party, but I just finished watching the whole series. what a wild ride! Congrats on your accomplishments! i am excited to watch the rest of your adventures!
I was trying to find a way to drop in a good "Becker pace" joke somewhere but it really wouldn't fit because you guys flat out crushed miles throughout this hike! It feels defeating having to pull off trail like this but really around here these fires can pop up anywhere and everywhere this late in the summer. You guys made the right decision because there was no chance of 100%-ing this trail right now anyway. It hurts right now but this is not a failure in any way man. You'll do the stretches you couldn't before sometime in the near future 🤘
That section north from Steven's is awesome try to spend more than a minute in Stehekin if you can, god those fish up there have been calling me...Kyle, Flossy, Brandon what a ride, thank you!
You did not quit. You made a very wise and responsible decision to be safe. What if that fire had gone differently and suddenly you guys were trapped and needed to be rescued? That just wouldn't have affect you, but also the first responders who would have had to risked their own lives. And breathing all that smoke may have some serious health consequences later down the line. Living here in California, I know how bad that smoke can get. I've had to change my own hikes and outdoor plans because of it. Don't consider leaving the trail to be a failure, but rather consider it unfinished business. You, Flossy, and Brandon can finish that business up next summer when it's safe again, and you can truly appreciate your surroundings. Great job to all 3 of you and thank you for taking us along for the hike!
Thanks for taking us along! I wasn’t watching to see you hit the end, I was enjoying the journey. Hope you did, too
You made a good call Kyle. At some point you and Flossy can finish the miles together since you didn't do too much more than him. Almost 2200 miles is not a failure! I thoroughly enjoyed the series and now look forward to regular videos. The parodies are my favorite. Hopefully we will see Brandon in some of them! Welcome home. 🙂
Honestly, I was waiting and expecting this one. I could hear it in your voice, plus I thought now you can finish all the way to Canada next year, maybe all three of you, that would be perfect.
Can’t wait to see the new videos!
Rock on!
It's quite a gorgeous ending! Best to do it in the beginning of the sunny season.
Congratulations to you all! I enjoyed watching these videos! Thank you for taking us along with you
Had a great time watching your journey. Not many other channels I get as excited to see updates.
Thanks to the whole team for all the work that went into this hike/series! A bummer to end that way but not unexpected after this chaotic season of fires. You mentioned before how naive you were at the start (about being hopeful to get lucky/avoid fires/complete all of the miles) and that really stuck with me- I’m still planning to do the PCT at some point, but your videos were a helpful reality check! Looking forward to the next series of tips/education!
Thanks for the all the posts for this journey! Loved following it.
Hit that final section though. It’s a good one 👍. You did good bro 😎. You can get it later and you know you killed it this summer. Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Always a bummer not to complete something you've worked so hard on and wanted so much. But don't beat yourself up, sometimes things just aren't right and when your gut tells you that it's best to listen to it. I've really enjoyed experiencing the trail through your videos. Kudos to you, Flossy, Brandon and Luke for producing a great record of your trip. Take it from an English senior - you all killed it.
I watched the whole trip. It was a great journey to get to see. Awesome job guys.
congrats, thanks for posting your journey
First of all, thank you for sharing all that you did. Your videos are super entertaining and I will definitely be "staying subscribed".
All I guess I can say is... don't be too hard on yourself about how things went down. There seemed to be A LOT that was completely out of your control.
Take comfort in the idea of going back in 2023 and getting it done. Before you know it, it will be time to make it happen.
I look forward to seeing what you produce and post in the meantime.
All the best to you, Flossy and Brandon. Stay safe and be well. Cheers and well done, Jack NYC
Safety first. You made an informed "best decision" based on live information. That was smart. No failure on your part. So many fires and closures this year. Get back out there next year if you want and finish what you missed. Great job! Looking forward to your post PCT gear review.
I've enjoyed the ride. Thank you for taking us along. For me, as long as I'm entertained by the content, and the topics stay relevant to me, I'll stick around.
Thank you Jeff!
Quitting is not the same as rolling with the punches. You rolled well. The universe is right on time, as much as we may hate to accept that now and then; you made the right choice. Hope Flossie, Brandon and you are all OK. Thank you for taking us along. Thank you for all you taught us on this hike.
Looking forward to your further videos.
You guys made the right decision. Loved the videos and look forward to seeing the upcoming episodes.
Due to circumstances in nature beyond your control or choice AND the fact that the PCT Terminus was already closed, you made a good choice of when to exit the trail. With all that you accomplished, witnessed, experienced and the friends you made during this adventure...you have nothing to feel bad about. Your living life and living it well. That's more than most can say. Best wishes to you.
You’re a legend Kyle! Thanks for sharing your journey! ❤
I feel all of this! I ended my hike at Stephen's Pass for the same reasons, also after a zero. I'm still trying to feel fully at ease with the abrupt ending and feelings of failure, but I do know there's no question that physically and mentally I (and you, and Brandon) could have made it to the terminus, and that was the goal. I think this year was the ultimate test of being at peace with what is. It's been great to relive the trail through your videos since being home, thanks for putting in all the extra work to document and congrats on your thru hike!!!
I think your decision was the right one to make. The signs were showing up that tells me it would get worse than it already was. Im glad you are safest home and can continue another time. Get ready for ski season and stay in trail shape because I know you will be wrapping this thing up sooner than most people think. Great job with the footage and Luke really killed the edits. Thank you Kyle, Flossy and Branden for all you've done and sharing your experience with all of us. Cant wait to see your next adventure.
Thank you so much for letting us in on such an intense and beautiful journey. I’m sure, when you have your heart set on something like finishing at the northern terminus, the sudden end can feel like a failure - but as an outsider who has so enjoyed following along, I encourage you to look back and at least ~try~ to see all that you have accomplished. In my eyes y’all have done anything BUT fail!! Major kudos and congratulations to the three of you for not backing down against such a big feat. Looking forward to following along for future adventures!!
You did not fail you can always come back... Im suprised you all didn't stop when flossy stopped and then just made plans to come back... With all the fires im glade you all are safe and off the trail can't wait till you get to come back and finish it up... But can't wait to see you get back to your regular content too.. but this was fun to watch... Love can't wait to see your next video... Can't wait to see Brandon and flossy in your videos again... You guys our awesome 👍😎
It has been great to follow you along on your journey! t is a bummer but that's life, plans change and we adjust. Fantastic job to you all, you should be bursting with pride. Thank you for taking us along. Hike on.
You. Did. Not. Quit.
You were smart to get off when you did. The fires are no joke here on the west side. Kinda like the storms on the east.
I love you and your videos and can’t wait to see what’s next. Bring on the gear review and what you learned!
Xoxo Rene (a backpacker, a mom, and a huge fan)
I've enjoyed your PCT videos! Man, you are hard on yourself. Hiking into a burn zone is a BIG decision, stressful, smoky, and can be extremely dangerous.
You guys had a crazy, rad adventure. Love to see a PCT compilation video where you share a bunch of the best clips from this trip.
great idea!
you guys absolutely killed it. it's been such a joy to watch the series. thank you for doing what you do!!!
Thank you Bill Clinton!
I had to turn around 900 feet from the summit on the highest mountain in South America. I had cerebral edema symptoms and it was the right decision. There is always a thought deep down that maybe I would have made it. The doctor at base camp shook my hand and assured me I made the right choice. Hindsight you could have kept going but the safe bet was to turn around. That fire could have got out of control and caused injury or death to the hikers that kept going. It really shows strength that you turned around.
Agreed with all the rest of the comments. You didn’t quit, you did what you could and made the logical decision to be safe and not make things unnecessarily complicated for yourselves in having a way home readily available. And although this trip has been captivating, entertaining, and incredibly inspirational to follow, I’ve missed all your other videos and look forward to the new content you’ll be releasing post-PCT. You’re still a champ. Not as big as Flossy, but still a champ to some degree.
Loved following your hike, beautiful and entertaining. Excited to see what you're coming out with next.
looking forward to the pod cast. great job!
Amazingly done inspirational video series!! I'm just getting into backpacking, no plans to ever thur hike... excited for my first trip coming up! Anyway, think you made the right decision, had to be he'll as he'll to make in the moment though!!
thank you for bringing us along for the ride kyle! i enjoyed each and every video you put out on this hike
hey, It was such great fun to watch the three of you hike! You 3 killed that trail and should be very proud of all you've accomplished! You Kyle, Flossie, and Brandon were fantastic backpackers! Thanks for the awesome show! I'd say the beard shave was a win!!!
😂😂 thanks for watching Becky!
Thank you for sharing your amazing journey with us. I’ve cheered you on since you announced your PCT hike. I can’t wait to see what the future brings. You should come to Kentucky and hike Red River Gorge or Big South Fork.
I am relieved you both are okay, it was sure a hard decision to take but the most sensible one! You 3 always can go back and finish the last miles, you can't fight nature if she does not let it happen, it's not that you were quitting, it was just not possible to do the last miles! Onward you go with new endeavors, we will be here watching what you do! Thank you so much for letting us participating on your hike, it sure was amazing!!
Kyle, I had the opportunity to hang out with Luke (really enjoyed meeting him) for a few at the Pinhoti Fest in Alabama last weekend. I even have a pic with him with a full blown Philly cheese steak sub hanging out of his fanny pack. Fantastic pic! We nerded out about video editing and stuff but I told him one of my favorite things in your videos and IG stories was the rap songs with Flossy. They were the best! Your new hiking BFF Brandon seemed like a jam up dude in the videos too. I'm real sorry this didn't end the way you all expected but you gotta trust that it ended the way it was supposed to. Thanks a shit ton for taking us along for the ride. Maybe we'll cross paths somewhere on the southern A.T. sometime now that you're down here full time. Thanks again!
watched you guys entire trip on the PCT . It felt like i was there with you 3 and what a adventure hope Floss is doing better
dude, I m from EU and I ve been following you for some time now.. its an amazing thing you ve achieved with your friends. You all should be proud.. thank you for the ride during your trip. I know I ll never be able to see the PCT and I m grateful for your content. Take care boys
I'm 33, I come frome France and hiked the PCT this year (only 100 miles skiped on the entire journey because of fires in Oregon, I was so lucky) but I had to stop at Stevens Pass too. It was on september 7th. I managed to hike 15 miles after the pass but I decided to turn back because of the smoke. It felt too dangerous.
After more than 2 weeks home in France it's still difficult to accept, I feel sad sometimes, but I know it was the wise decision. Better safe than sorry.
It was'nt the end we wanted. It was a sad decision, a tough decision. We had no clear ending point, no chance to see the monument because all was closed. I know we would have finish it, I know we would have done it. I'm sure we would have had the strenght with proper conditions. But the fires decided other way. What an incredible end to and incredible journey... I feel you so much.
But you are safe, and you were brave enough to follow the path of safety.
When I came black, my father who did a lot of mountneering in the Alps told me it's the hardest thing to learn, when you have to recognize that you can't go further, that the weather, the mountain is stronger, when making one more step would put your life in danger, and you have to call it an end.
You chose the wise path. And we will come back in the future to finish it safely. We hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. Maybe we had to quit but we know what it is to face its reality, we know what it is to be alone, to face greater challenges.
And it was to me one of the greatest happiness of my life.
Thank you for sharing your story, I feel better to know that we are a lot who had to face this cruel ending.
I wish you the best for all that's to come.
Cheers.
Gaspard "Yoshida"
I am so impressed with you boys. My husband and I followed you throughout your journey. So impressive! It’ll be epic next year when you all (Flossy and Brandon) can come back and finish up! Rest and re-energize! Best to you all!!!
What an amazing journey! You didn't fail, you made a decision to preserve the joy of the PCT. I found your channel a few months before this hike and I have looked forward to every weekly update and strangely, it feels like I've gotten to know you three. Thanks for making great content!
Thanks for following along Josh! I hope you'll stick around
The shortness of your shorts disturbed me this entire video. Just wanted to let you know. Good luck on finishing the PCT next year. Love watching your vlogs. I am thru-hiking the AT next year. God Bless
Just finished watching your journey! What an amazing accomplishment. Yall didn't fail, the trail will be there for yall to finish! Great job guys!🤙
Dude, 2,187 miles is friggin amazing!! Nothing to feel guilty about. You boys killed it! Peace
You had an amazing summer! Looking forward to hearing more about it. Love your videos!
You’ll always be a winner in my heart😘
Thanks buddy!!
Keep your head up. It's not the destination but it's the journey. I feel like yours is only in the beginning, good sir.
facts
Kyle,
I think you made a wise and safe decision given so much uncertainty ahead. I genuinely anticipated your PCT videos each week and the editing was of course amazing! Looking forward to more!
Loved the PCT series 👍🏻 bummed it’s over but job well done guys
Sad to see but you made the right call. Thanks for sharing your amazing journey.
Sad it had to end this way. Looking forward to your new life here in South Carolina. Hope to meet you in the near future. Hope Hurricane Ian doesn’t harm you or your family.