I appreciated that you didn't waste my time showing how you pitched your tent every night, what you ate every meal or talked about your fabulous gear forever. You highlighted the trail. And the music was tasteful and beautifully performed. The "magic" gave it a fanciful, playful tone which I also enjoyed. Thanks for taking me along
Hi Stanley, really happy you enjoyed it. The three week was just so wonderful I was trying to capture that a little in the video, so yeah… tried to stay out of the way of the trail for the most part. Then also, the “magic”, I was just having so much fun out there. Happy that came through!
Bonjour , J'ai beaucoup aimé votre vidéo ( les paysages sont grandioses de beauté ) filmée avec le coeur celui de l'amoureux de la nature et par la délicatesse du regard posé sur cette dernière , et puis les petites touches d'humour sont délicieuses :) le tout bercé par une musique d'une grande douceur ....randonner avec pour compagnon son seul sac à dos est toujours une expérience des plus enrichissante , merci pour le partage !
Dear Sacha, thank you so much! Your words are kind and so poetic! I’m very happy that you enjoyed the film, the music, and the humor. Yes, you are right, backpacking can be very rewarding. Being immersed in the natural world can help foster a sense of the fullness of conscious experience; both in solitude and with the many new friends you can meet. All the distractions of the busy world are removed, leaving only our natural environment, and what you bring along in your thoughts. In a short time, if you look, your thoughts can give way to just observation and awareness of beauty, of impermanence, and our interconnections within all of it. Thanks again!
I am watching your video❤. What a hauntingly beautiful one ! Thank you for making it one of the best ones which I have ever seen so far . I love your music .
Thank you for sharing your beautiful journey. You captured the majesty and and the intmacy of the Sierras, the place that makes my heart sing. And your music was a magical addition.
Hi Diane! Ditto! Loved your film so much! You’re so right about the Sierra. There is just such a sense of fullness and peace, gravity and lightness. I think Muir called it a “gentle wilderness”. Everyone I met seemed to be filled with it and channeling it to others. Thanks so much for watching and listening… happy adventuring!
YES! Do it! Thanks for enjoying the film. One thing I didn’t include was all the camaraderie with people on the trail and in camp. Such a wonderful trip.
We went NOBO last year as well! Your video is one of the best I have ever watched, and I have watched hundreds of them! You really capture the spirit, the immense beauty and emotion the trail evokes. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Thank you so much Christie! It was such a wonderful three weeks… watching the film and films from others brings back some of the sense of it. Eager to go back! Thanks so much for watching!
Remarkable video that awakens in me the feeling of fullness, which I experienced while hiking the JMT NoBo ( 250 ml, 6/29 - 7/18 ), passing Mt Langley, Whitney, Clouds Rest, and icy on the cake, Half Dome at sunrise. What a beauty !! Many thanks.
“… the feeling of fullness” Yes! That’s it! I was on trail 8/23 - 9/10 (zero mosquitos except at the end in Yosemite valley). I bypassed Clouds Rest but have put it on the plan for next time (whenever that can be). Happy to hear the mood and fullness of the trail came through in the video. Thanks!
Hi Bill, all your viewers feel like we know you!! What an awesome JMT film!!!! One of the best in every way! But your scenery shots were breathtaking!! Thank you for sharing...Many more safe happy trails. 🦘🤗
Oh wow! What a wonderfully nice thing to say! Really! To connect with you and others through a film or other form of art… fills up my heart! Thank you SO much!
@@billsterling6645 well it's true! Ive been watching JMTs for a few years now, delaying my aspirations because of covid, so ive seen quite a few. I think sharing your feelings, humour, let alone musicianship, just added that extra human dimension. Well done to say the least!! Im hoping for 2024 to see it for myself. Please make some more of these🥰
@@BG-ez1jm Thanks again! The trip was emotional. When I got to the top of Forester Pass I just broke down it was so beautiful. Good that nobody was there for a while or they might have called for a helicopter! Lol. Best of luck getting there in 2024.
@@billsterling6645 Thank you - I think adding that touched your viewers hearts, it was so personal and real. So lovely to see you share that!!! JMT will be emotional for me too. I had started planning pre-covid, which claimed my husband. It became even more important. 🦘
Oh no… I’m so sorry to hear this. That must be so incredibly difficult. I’m sad with you. What a difficult journey that is for you. I’m hopeful that you can make the trip with him in your memories. There are many places along the trail where you can sit and feel the presence of friends and even generations and millennia of peoples that have come before us. Even when you’re by yourself you’re not alone. I’m “waxing poetic” here but the place holds something magical. I think people have been going there for summer holidays for perhaps 10-15 thousand years. Feels like the soul of the earth laid bare. I hope it can be part of your healing journey.
Wow! I loved your journey through the John Muir Trail, breathtaking scenery, brilliant photography, and I really loved the music all the way through. I will watch this fabulous video over and over again, the John Muir Trail is absolutely stunning! Well done! And thank you!!
Wow thanks Jilly! Super happy you like the video! I like watching it too… The trail, the wilderness, the animals, flora, people, solitude, wonder… it was such a great trip. I’m eager to do it again! Thanks again for your nice words!
This is a fantastic movie with spectacular cinematography and very suitable music! We really appreciated the distant shots that required you to retrace your many steps to get the camera. They give a wonderful sense of perspective so thank you for making the effort. Your snippets of humor came as unexpected treats, and I have to say that we completely fell for the first one of your eating with the bear in the background! Conjuring up the orca was really fun and I loved the subtle detail of the dorsal fin off in the distance . . . We spend as much time as we can in the Sierra but will never do the John Muir Trail and have watched several videos of the trek. Yours has been the best! But we wish it was twice as long! We will stay tuned for your next movie. Thank you.
Genevieve, thank you so much for such nice words and for watching.. and for appreciating the humor snippets! Hahaha… glad I caught you out with the bear scene. Regarding the Orca, yes, they have been moving to higher elevations as the climate has warmed. Great to see them up there but worried they don’t have much higher lakes to migrate to sadly. Have plans for more videos… thanks again for watching so appreciatively!
Oh man! Wow. Thanks so much for the kind words. Super glad you enjoyed it. Sitting on that rock this year reminded me of those good times with him, and how fast time goes by. Important to savor each moment.
Thxs for sharing your adventure with the so nice inspiring nylon gtr music us musicians need to get our talents out there where it will be enjoyed. You did everything I want to accomplish soon when I get healthy er and ready 65 and walking 30 to 40 miles a week and jogging 3 days a week and retired playing in a Rondalla band here in fresno Cali take and may God truly bless you in all that you do
Really creative endeavor making this video! I’ve watched many hiking videos and have never seen the wildlife humor that you interjected… well done! One word “ marmots “ ! I can tell that you truly appreciate the wilds of the sierras and how special they are. The brief family pictures were touching and I’m sure you passed on the torch. Hope to one day do the same hike, but with my fly rod of course. Thanks for the time you put into this !
Thanks! The evening before starting the hike I walked a little way up the trail and found a rise in the middle of Horseshoe Meadows. Sitting there these marmots came and sat next to me and we just watched the meadow together for a while. Fell in love with these guys! Definitely bring the fly rod! I could have sight cast to about 200 fish along the way but with 18 days to do the whole trail I really didn’t have time. Thinking of bringing a Tenkara next time so set up/break down is super quick and easy. And yeah… the kids love the Sierra. Hoping to do the HST this summer with my daughter. Thanks again!
@@lisaryner7971 Appreciate that… yeah, that was fun. My son said he was imitating Mickey Mouse in Fantasia at Ruby Lake… I came back 14 years later and recreated that at the same location (and added the Orcas :).
I’ve watched many videos of this genre. Yours is by far the best. Your deep connection to nature speaks through the work of art you created. All the extra miles you walked in pursuit of your equipment and great footage. Thank you so much for this wonderful story.
Oh wow! This is very touching and meaningful. I had a guitar teacher once who said the purpose of playing is to say something from your heart that someone else hears. It’s true for all forms of art. It’s wonderful to connect with you through this. So happy to read your comments! Thank you!
Good job I love the bear in the background funny! I did the JMT NOBO in July of 2022. It was a great time, and the people on the trail are incredible. I am planning to do the PCT next year if things go well with my permit this week. You did a super job editing your video. 👍
Hey thanks Mike! You’re so right… the people I met were the best. That’s something that I didn’t really put in the video… the camaraderie was amazing and added so much to the experience. Yeah… had a little fun with green screen with the bears and the Orca! Good luck with your PCT permit!
Bill- just amazing music, composition, and storytelling. I found you through the algorithm and I'm so happy I did. But PLEASE- when you walk with the bears, please encourage them to not walk so close to you, and in regard to the Orca- he really should be left to peacefully play without human distraction. Other than those two points- Brilliant!
Hey Jan! Thanks so much! You’re probably right about the bears and the orca. Tried to ignore the bears but they really just want to be friends. Hard to say no! Re the Orca, it seems they’ve been migrating to higher altitudes in response to the warming climate. This one has stayed in Ruby lake for at least 12 years so that’s a good sign. They do need to be left alone, but not many people know how to summon them. I will be careful though. Thanks again! :)
@@billsterling6645 Good point about the Orcas- duly noted. Keep playing your beautiful music and creating such wonderful content. I really enjoy all the wildlife ( the talking marmots especially) .
@@billsterling6645 Im on the planning and training too for next year...i hope theres not so much snow next year. Im hoping to do JMT and as much WA PCT as i can. Where r u planning for next?
Hey thanks! I stopped in Muir Trail Ranch to resupply and again in Mammoth City. Left those out to keep the solitary wilderness vibe. Glad you like it.
Cheers Bill. I find myself returning to this beautiful video one year on and I find it as lovely now as it was then. One question if you don't mind - what is the piano/violin/orchestral music that is playing in the incredibly moving section featuring the 14 year old footage of your son? My apologies if it's listed and I just stupidly missed it. Cheers!
Hey there! Thanks so much. I watch it again occasionally too! The whole project was so wonderful. I did part of the High Sierra Trail with my daughter but haven’t posted that video yet. Can’t wait for next project. The piece you’re referring to is called Fugacious by Gavin Luke. I found it as royalty free music by subscribing to www.epidemicsound.com. Lots of good stuff there to put under videos. Thanks again for watching and for the kind feedback!
Best one I've seen, and I think I've seen all of them.What made it so good? The pace. You show us enough, and enough of you, but not too much of either. The humor, obviously. The use of google map juxtaposed against video with g-map place pointers overlayed onto the vid. (No one every does that). You speak, but not too much. Nice to see you playing guitar. And, of course, being moved by the beauty from the top of Forester. Oh, ya, and the lovely father/daughter, father/son moments, from years ago, repeated here, solo, same rock. I have kids about the same age as yours and relate. Not a criticism, given the extra work of walk-back shots, but weren't you walking the wrong way (SOBO) by the Palisades Lakes? My sense: that was a hard day and so you filmed the walkback WHILE walking back rather than walk back, film and walk back to capture it and then retrace the steps you'd filmed. Great work.
Wow brother! Thank you so much. I’d watched a lot of hiking videos too and modeled this after what I liked best from those. Snappy start, a little intro dialogue, short clips (3 seconds max usually), a little bit of camp life, nostalgia, reflective moments broken up with a little humor so it’s not too self-serious, occasional talking, etc. Also, I’ve been dabbling at home movies for years and have learned how not to totally bore people! Also, it might have helped that I was just having so much fun out there… I hope that showed through. Thank you for noticing all this. The one thing that I did not include was the camaraderie in camp with total strangers. Would’ve had to get their permission to put it in the video but might try that next time… just video of people laughing and enjoying togetherness-in-wilderness after a long day. Re Palisades, nope, there’s a switch back there so it looks like I’m headed up valley for a moment… but… the walk back down from “pride rock” at Ruby Lake after summoning the Orca was briefly SOBO. Again man… wow! Appreciate the kind review!
Non-existent! Seriously, I mailed by permethrin home from Mammoth Lakes with some other stuff I wasn’t using. A few little mosquitos at Backpacker’s Camp on Yosemite floor at the end is all. Thanks for watching!
Hey Carlos, thanks much! The pack was the ZPacks Arc Air. I liked it but it did slump a little which put a little more weight on my shoulders than I like. Had 20-34 lbs in it with a BV500. ZPacks recommends the new Arc Haul Ultra 60 for these weights and the big bear cans. Will go with Arc Haul Ultra 60 next time.
Great video!! What shoes were you wearing? Was that a rain skirt....who's the manufacture? I'd like to know more about the Hyperlite pouch? Do you make your own meals and use the pouch to hold the zip lock bags w food & hot water....Thanks
Hey there… thanks much! Really enjoyed making the video. The shoes are Altra Lone Peak 6 in the 11W size. Gives your toes plenty of room. Also used Injinji toe socks under Darn Tough socks. Only one small blister on little toe the whole trip which I just slapped leukotape on an forgot about it. On top of the shoes I used Dirty Girl gators to keep sand and pebbles out (dirtygirlgators.com). Rain skirt or “kilt” was is from Enlightened Equipment. Better than rain pants because it’s easy to put on and take off, and it breathes better than rain pants. Hyperlite pouch or “cozy” was awesome. I bought Peak Refuel (or whatever freeze dried meals) and repackaged them into small freezer bags just before the trip. Don’t use the small sandwich bags… they wont hold up to boiling water. I like this technique because there’s no dishes to wash and it’s super fast.
Hi Jim, Thanks! I just used an iPhone 12! That and a good lightweight tripod by AOKA and a peak design quick mount. The iPhone did a great job in most cases, especially wide shots and close ups with plenty of light. The shot of the red tailed hawk wasn’t great but I was shooting at 60 fps to make sure I captured the high speed of flight well (I was anticipating take off after it finished it’s meal). The astrophotography of the iPhone 12 is just ok… I hear the iPhone 14 pro is much better. I met a friend with a Pixel 6 and her pictures of the Milky Way were astonishing. I also used the iPhone because of it’s low weight, plus I would have brought it anyway for navigation so it didn’t really add any weight. Thanks again!
Great video! I was curious if you have a list of the daily mileages you did on your hike. I’m planning a nobo hike from cottonwood pass and I’m stuck on whether I should resupply at onion valley first or try to make it all the way to mtr in 10 days. Thanks!
Hey there! Thanks for watching! Re daily miles, I had a plan but had to modify it on day 4 and ended up adding a day. I summited Whitney on day 3, and on day 4 was planning to do one summit per day for 5 days and arrive in MTR on day 9, however, I didn’t quite get over Forester. Finished Forester and Glen to Rae Lakes on day 5. Then Pinchot to base of Mather day 7. Finished Mather on day 8. Finished Muir on day 9 and got to MTR on day 10… so plan was 9 days and took 10. I think I was planning two 17 mile days after Whitney and that just wasn’t gonna happen! Regarding food…
Regarding food… couple things: I really studied the UA-cam videos by Gear Skeptic on backpacking nutrition. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to pack enough calories into a BV500. In the end, however, I actually had two full days of extra food at the end of day 10… so I had 12 days packed into the BV500… A big caveat here: during the first 3-4 days I wasn’t hungry at the end of the day. Either altitude or exhaustion, but I had to force my food down in the evening and ended up not eating everything I brought. I was probably expedient about 5,000 calories per day and taking in about 3,000 or less, which is why I lost about 15 pounds on the trip. My energy levels were great the whole trip… I didn’t bonk once… but man my body was using up reserves for sure. Regarding getting cramming the BV…
… again, really recommend Gear Skeptic. I ate a lot of nuts, and literally drank olive oil. I did a 1 ounce shot of Olive oil every morning and also at lunch. The stuff is pure long haul energy… like diesel fuel. Again, this is all from Gear Skeptic. It’s extremely calorie dense. I tested that diet for a few week before I left to make sure it agreed with my gut, but all good. Other food was nut bars and protein bars (you need ratio of 4:1 carbs to protein). Also I repacked freeze dried meals into small freezer baggies (use freezer baggies not the regular kind so that you can add boiling water). Repack these the night or two before you leave. They start taking up moisture out of the mylar bags.
Re Onion valley, your call, but you could always plan for MTR in 10 days and then bail early if you’re running low or not feeling well. I trained my ass off walking around town with a pack full of rock salt for months ahead of the trip so I was really ready. You have to prepare three things: your cardio system, your muscles/joints, AND, the bottom of your feet (calluses). I did that all just by hiking fully loaded a lot. Hard to prepare for altitude but I did take Diamox before… not sure I needed that but no harm.
Oh… another thing. If you can make it all the way from Horseshoe to Rock Creek on day 1, there’s a bear vault just before the creek and lots of camping. You could bring food for day 1 and 2 outside your canister if it won’t fit, and store it in the bear vault. P.s. don’t forget to get water at Chicken Spring Lake. I didn’t and was really thirsty 8 miles later coming into Rock Creek… no water between the two, although this year may be different. Hope you have the best time!
Hey guys! Yes, it’s an X-Mid 2P original. The tent was great… very spacious and easy to set up. It was a little big for some of the sites, especially if you arrived late in the day when bigger sites were taken. Had to cowboy twice because of that. Thinking of the 1P next time. Glad you liked the video… thanks!
What were your dates? There wasn’t anybody there in your shots. You seemed to have the sierras to yourself and I know that that is not common on the JMT.
Hey Sean. Dates were 8/23 to 9/10 NOBO. There was a nice mix of solitude and community. Slept alone a few times but most nights had company. It was pretty easy to take shots without others in background. The only place this was difficult was descending from Little Yosemite Valley, then below the Mist trail cutoff it was almost impossible. Otherwise the trail felt very quiet.
This is another kid like me that grew up watching Dan Haggerty as Grizzly Adams. Love it. GORGEOUS videography, thank you!
Hahaha! Yeah… it does have a Grizzly Adams vibe! Hadn’t thought of that but it’s true. Did watch him as a kid. Glad you enjoyed it!
Very enjoyable especially your guitar music as well. Beautiful and moody. Looks like a memorable experience in the Sierras. Thanks for sharing.
I appreciated that you didn't waste my time showing how you pitched your tent every night, what you ate every meal or talked about your fabulous gear forever. You highlighted the trail. And the music was tasteful and beautifully performed. The "magic" gave it a fanciful, playful tone which I also enjoyed. Thanks for taking me along
Hi Stanley, really happy you enjoyed it. The three week was just so wonderful I was trying to capture that a little in the video, so yeah… tried to stay out of the way of the trail for the most part. Then also, the “magic”, I was just having so much fun out there. Happy that came through!
Wow!! Loved this so much. Just the right amount of everything.
Thank you Georgia! I still watch it now and then to re-live it all. Eager to go again! Thanks for watching!
Bonjour ,
J'ai beaucoup aimé votre vidéo ( les paysages sont grandioses de beauté ) filmée avec le coeur celui de l'amoureux de la nature et par la délicatesse du regard posé sur cette dernière , et puis les petites touches d'humour sont délicieuses :) le tout bercé par une musique d'une grande douceur ....randonner avec pour compagnon son seul sac à dos est toujours une expérience des plus enrichissante , merci pour le partage !
Dear Sacha, thank you so much! Your words are kind and so poetic! I’m very happy that you enjoyed the film, the music, and the humor. Yes, you are right, backpacking can be very rewarding. Being immersed in the natural world can help foster a sense of the fullness of conscious experience; both in solitude and with the many new friends you can meet. All the distractions of the busy world are removed, leaving only our natural environment, and what you bring along in your thoughts. In a short time, if you look, your thoughts can give way to just observation and awareness of beauty, of impermanence, and our interconnections within all of it. Thanks again!
Beautiful country
I am watching your video❤. What a hauntingly beautiful one ! Thank you for making it one of the best ones which I have ever seen so far . I love your music .
Wow!!! Thanks so much! You are very kind!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful journey. You captured the majesty and and the intmacy of the Sierras, the place that makes my heart sing. And your music was a magical addition.
Hi Diane! Ditto! Loved your film so much! You’re so right about the Sierra. There is just such a sense of fullness and peace, gravity and lightness. I think Muir called it a “gentle wilderness”. Everyone I met seemed to be filled with it and channeling it to others. Thanks so much for watching and listening… happy adventuring!
Thoroughly enjoyed this film. Retiring soon and JMT is on my list of must hikes. Loved the music too. Thanks for sharing..
YES! Do it! Thanks for enjoying the film. One thing I didn’t include was all the camaraderie with people on the trail and in camp. Such a wonderful trip.
We went NOBO last year as well! Your video is one of the best I have ever watched, and I have watched hundreds of them! You really capture the spirit, the immense beauty and emotion the trail evokes. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Thank you so much Christie! It was such a wonderful three weeks… watching the film and films from others brings back some of the sense of it. Eager to go back! Thanks so much for watching!
Truly excellent. Thank you!💕
Thanks Holly!
Great connection to your environment...great video thank you
Thanks!
Dear Bill Sterling , Very beautiful view and nice sounds. I enjoyed your video. Thank you so much.❤
Remarkable video that awakens in me the feeling of fullness, which I experienced while hiking the JMT NoBo ( 250 ml, 6/29 - 7/18 ), passing Mt Langley, Whitney, Clouds Rest, and icy on the cake, Half Dome at sunrise. What a beauty !! Many thanks.
“… the feeling of fullness” Yes! That’s it! I was on trail 8/23 - 9/10 (zero mosquitos except at the end in Yosemite valley). I bypassed Clouds Rest but have put it on the plan for next time (whenever that can be). Happy to hear the mood and fullness of the trail came through in the video. Thanks!
Hi Bill, all your viewers feel like we know you!! What an awesome JMT film!!!! One of the best in every way!
But your scenery shots were breathtaking!! Thank you for sharing...Many more safe happy trails. 🦘🤗
Oh wow! What a wonderfully nice thing to say! Really! To connect with you and others through a film or other form of art… fills up my heart! Thank you SO much!
@@billsterling6645 well it's true!
Ive been watching JMTs for a few years now, delaying my aspirations because of covid, so ive seen quite a few. I think sharing your feelings, humour, let alone musicianship, just added that extra human dimension.
Well done to say the least!!
Im hoping for 2024 to see it for myself.
Please make some more of these🥰
@@BG-ez1jm Thanks again! The trip was emotional. When I got to the top of Forester Pass I just broke down it was so beautiful. Good that nobody was there for a while or they might have called for a helicopter! Lol. Best of luck getting there in 2024.
@@billsterling6645 Thank you - I think adding that touched your viewers hearts, it was so personal and real. So lovely to see you share that!!!
JMT will be emotional for me too. I had started planning pre-covid, which claimed my husband. It became even more important. 🦘
Oh no… I’m so sorry to hear this. That must be so incredibly difficult. I’m sad with you. What a difficult journey that is for you. I’m hopeful that you can make the trip with him in your memories. There are many places along the trail where you can sit and feel the presence of friends and even generations and millennia of peoples that have come before us. Even when you’re by yourself you’re not alone. I’m “waxing poetic” here but the place holds something magical. I think people have been going there for summer holidays for perhaps 10-15 thousand years. Feels like the soul of the earth laid bare. I hope it can be part of your healing journey.
That was great, in all aspects! Thank you! :>)
Wow! I loved your journey through the John Muir Trail, breathtaking scenery, brilliant photography, and I really loved the music all the way through. I will watch this fabulous video over and over again, the John Muir Trail is absolutely stunning! Well done! And thank you!!
Wow thanks Jilly! Super happy you like the video! I like watching it too… The trail, the wilderness, the animals, flora, people, solitude, wonder… it was such a great trip. I’m eager to do it again! Thanks again for your nice words!
This is a fantastic movie with spectacular cinematography and very suitable music!
We really appreciated the distant shots that required you to retrace your many steps to get the camera. They give a wonderful sense of perspective so thank you for making the effort. Your snippets of humor came as unexpected treats, and I have to say that we completely fell for the first one of your eating with the bear in the background! Conjuring up the orca was really fun and I loved the subtle detail of the dorsal fin off in the distance . . .
We spend as much time as we can in the Sierra but will never do the John Muir Trail and have watched several videos of the trek. Yours has been the best! But we wish it was twice as long! We will stay tuned for your next movie. Thank you.
Genevieve, thank you so much for such nice words and for watching.. and for appreciating the humor snippets! Hahaha… glad I caught you out with the bear scene. Regarding the Orca, yes, they have been moving to higher elevations as the climate has warmed. Great to see them up there but worried they don’t have much higher lakes to migrate to sadly. Have plans for more videos… thanks again for watching so appreciatively!
A joy to watch. The shot(s) of where you and your son sat many years ago were moving beyond words. Very well done mate. Cheers!
Oh man! Wow. Thanks so much for the kind words. Super glad you enjoyed it. Sitting on that rock this year reminded me of those good times with him, and how fast time goes by. Important to savor each moment.
Wow, just wow! Inspiring, funny, moving, beautiful, sweet!
Thanks so much! The mountains, new friends and old memories of those trails made it such a great trip. Thanks for watching!
I've watched twice, Love everything about it! Well done!
Hey awesome!!! Thanks so much!
Thxs for sharing your adventure with the so nice inspiring nylon gtr music us musicians need to get our talents out there where it will be enjoyed. You did everything I want to accomplish soon when I get healthy er and ready 65 and walking 30 to 40 miles a week and jogging 3 days a week and retired playing in a Rondalla band here in fresno Cali take and may God truly bless you in all that you do
Hey thanks for watching and for the kind words. Really loved the hike and reliving it making the video. Hope you’re able to accomplish everything!
Really creative endeavor making this video! I’ve watched many hiking videos and have never seen the wildlife humor that you interjected… well done! One word “ marmots “ ! I can tell that you truly appreciate the wilds of the sierras and how special they are. The brief family pictures were touching and I’m sure you passed on the torch. Hope to one day do the same hike, but with my fly rod of course. Thanks for the time you put into this !
Thanks! The evening before starting the hike I walked a little way up the trail and found a rise in the middle of Horseshoe Meadows. Sitting there these marmots came and sat next to me and we just watched the meadow together for a while. Fell in love with these guys! Definitely bring the fly rod! I could have sight cast to about 200 fish along the way but with 18 days to do the whole trail I really didn’t have time. Thinking of bringing a Tenkara next time so set up/break down is super quick and easy. And yeah… the kids love the Sierra. Hoping to do the HST this summer with my daughter. Thanks again!
Well done!!! Beautiful!!!
Thanks Lisa!
...And loved the silly parts!
@@lisaryner7971 Appreciate that… yeah, that was fun. My son said he was imitating Mickey Mouse in Fantasia at Ruby Lake… I came back 14 years later and recreated that at the same location (and added the Orcas :).
This is awesome. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve watched many videos of this genre. Yours is by far the best. Your deep connection to nature speaks through the work of art you created. All the extra miles you walked in pursuit of your equipment and great footage. Thank you so much for this wonderful story.
Oh wow! This is very touching and meaningful. I had a guitar teacher once who said the purpose of playing is to say something from your heart that someone else hears. It’s true for all forms of art. It’s wonderful to connect with you through this. So happy to read your comments! Thank you!
@@billsterling6645 You are a heartfelt guy!
I agree, it's by far one of the best! And the music allowed me to just sit back with my beer and enjoy! NOBO in 2023!
Thank you for a wonderful presentation of your experience and adventure. It was truly enjoyable!!!!!!!!!
Hi Lynn! Thank you so much. It was such a great adventure and super fun to share it with people! Thanks!!!!!!
Thank you very much for sharing not only the views but also your experience of them. Hauntingly beautiful.
Dude! Really good!
Thanks John!
Good job I love the bear in the background funny! I did the JMT NOBO in July of 2022. It was a great time, and the people on the trail are incredible. I am planning to do the PCT next year if things go well with my permit this week.
You did a super job editing your video.
👍
Hey thanks Mike! You’re so right… the people I met were the best. That’s something that I didn’t really put in the video… the camaraderie was amazing and added so much to the experience. Yeah… had a little fun with green screen with the bears and the Orca! Good luck with your PCT permit!
Video was great Bill. Brings me back to the trail. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, moving! And what good use you've made of your life and time, Bill!
Bill- just amazing music, composition, and storytelling. I found you through the algorithm and I'm so happy I did. But PLEASE- when you walk with the bears, please encourage them to not walk so close to you, and in regard to the Orca- he really should be left to peacefully play without human distraction. Other than those two points- Brilliant!
Hey Jan! Thanks so much! You’re probably right about the bears and the orca. Tried to ignore the bears but they really just want to be friends. Hard to say no! Re the Orca, it seems they’ve been migrating to higher altitudes in response to the warming climate. This one has stayed in Ruby lake for at least 12 years so that’s a good sign. They do need to be left alone, but not many people know how to summon them. I will be careful though. Thanks again! :)
@@billsterling6645 Good point about the Orcas- duly noted. Keep playing your beautiful music and creating such wonderful content. I really enjoy all the wildlife ( the talking marmots especially) .
This is amazing! Truly professional product and adventurous hike 👍😊
It's unusual to see Orca that high up in the Sierra. He sure responded to your commands.
Yeah. They’ve started migrating to higher elevations as the climate has warmed.
Happy to watch your film over and over...its joyous....please make some more😃🦘
Thanks so much! It was definitely a joyous journey… happy this came through movie to you! Planning the next one now!
@@billsterling6645
Im on the planning and training too for next year...i hope theres not so much snow next year.
Im hoping to do JMT and as much WA PCT as i can.
Where r u planning for next?
Hey nice! Have permits for the High Sierra Trail late this August. About 5 weeks of snow melt between now and then so hoping it’s clear through.
Good luck with melt...happy safe trails...youve set the bar high for your next video...looking forward to it!
awesome video. would also like to see one where it showed your in town visits if any.
Hey thanks! I stopped in Muir Trail Ranch to resupply and again in Mammoth City. Left those out to keep the solitary wilderness vibe. Glad you like it.
Your video is very touching. I salute you for your hard work.
- from seoul korea
Wow! From Korea! Thanks!
Amazing video!
Cheers Bill. I find myself returning to this beautiful video one year on and I find it as lovely now as it was then. One question if you don't mind - what is the piano/violin/orchestral music that is playing in the incredibly moving section featuring the 14 year old footage of your son? My apologies if it's listed and I just stupidly missed it. Cheers!
Hey there! Thanks so much. I watch it again occasionally too! The whole project was so wonderful. I did part of the High Sierra Trail with my daughter but haven’t posted that video yet. Can’t wait for next project. The piece you’re referring to is called Fugacious by Gavin Luke. I found it as royalty free music by subscribing to www.epidemicsound.com. Lots of good stuff there to put under videos. Thanks again for watching and for the kind feedback!
Best one I've seen, and I think I've seen all of them.What made it so good? The pace. You show us enough, and enough of you, but not too much of either. The humor, obviously. The use of google map juxtaposed against video with g-map place pointers overlayed onto the vid. (No one every does that). You speak, but not too much. Nice to see you playing guitar. And, of course, being moved by the beauty from the top of Forester. Oh, ya, and the lovely father/daughter, father/son moments, from years ago, repeated here, solo, same rock. I have kids about the same age as yours and relate. Not a criticism, given the extra work of walk-back shots, but weren't you walking the wrong way (SOBO) by the Palisades Lakes? My sense: that was a hard day and so you filmed the walkback WHILE walking back rather than walk back, film and walk back to capture it and then retrace the steps you'd filmed. Great work.
Wow brother! Thank you so much. I’d watched a lot of hiking videos too and modeled this after what I liked best from those. Snappy start, a little intro dialogue, short clips (3 seconds max usually), a little bit of camp life, nostalgia, reflective moments broken up with a little humor so it’s not too self-serious, occasional talking, etc. Also, I’ve been dabbling at home movies for years and have learned how not to totally bore people! Also, it might have helped that I was just having so much fun out there… I hope that showed through. Thank you for noticing all this. The one thing that I did not include was the camaraderie in camp with total strangers. Would’ve had to get their permission to put it in the video but might try that next time… just video of people laughing and enjoying togetherness-in-wilderness after a long day. Re Palisades, nope, there’s a switch back there so it looks like I’m headed up valley for a moment… but… the walk back down from “pride rock” at Ruby Lake after summoning the Orca was briefly SOBO. Again man… wow! Appreciate the kind review!
LOVED this! Breathtakingly beautiful. How were the bugs during this time of year?
Non-existent! Seriously, I mailed by permethrin home from Mammoth Lakes with some other stuff I wasn’t using. A few little mosquitos at Backpacker’s Camp on Yosemite floor at the end is all. Thanks for watching!
I keep hoping that one day I'll have the time and money to do this trek
Gorgeous, amazing! What app ? How you had the bear walking next to you and sitting next to you?
Hey Oua, thanks! I took the video with an iPhone 12 and then got some green screen video from UA-cam, then applied it during edit with LumaFusion.
Thanks for the great video Bill..
We can see that you had a great time.
What backpack were you using?
I noticed that it does not touch your back !!
Hey Carlos, thanks much! The pack was the ZPacks Arc Air. I liked it but it did slump a little which put a little more weight on my shoulders than I like. Had 20-34 lbs in it with a BV500. ZPacks recommends the new Arc Haul Ultra 60 for these weights and the big bear cans. Will go with Arc Haul Ultra 60 next time.
Great video!! What shoes were you wearing? Was that a rain skirt....who's the manufacture? I'd like to know more about the Hyperlite pouch? Do you make your own meals and use the pouch to hold the zip lock bags w food & hot water....Thanks
Hey there… thanks much! Really enjoyed making the video. The shoes are Altra Lone Peak 6 in the 11W size. Gives your toes plenty of room. Also used Injinji toe socks under Darn Tough socks. Only one small blister on little toe the whole trip which I just slapped leukotape on an forgot about it. On top of the shoes I used Dirty Girl gators to keep sand and pebbles out (dirtygirlgators.com). Rain skirt or “kilt” was is from Enlightened Equipment. Better than rain pants because it’s easy to put on and take off, and it breathes better than rain pants. Hyperlite pouch or “cozy” was awesome. I bought Peak Refuel (or whatever freeze dried meals) and repackaged them into small freezer bags just before the trip. Don’t use the small sandwich bags… they wont hold up to boiling water. I like this technique because there’s no dishes to wash and it’s super fast.
Excellent videography (what did you use?) and brilliant production.
Hi Jim, Thanks! I just used an iPhone 12! That and a good lightweight tripod by AOKA and a peak design quick mount. The iPhone did a great job in most cases, especially wide shots and close ups with plenty of light. The shot of the red tailed hawk wasn’t great but I was shooting at 60 fps to make sure I captured the high speed of flight well (I was anticipating take off after it finished it’s meal). The astrophotography of the iPhone 12 is just ok… I hear the iPhone 14 pro is much better. I met a friend with a Pixel 6 and her pictures of the Milky Way were astonishing. I also used the iPhone because of it’s low weight, plus I would have brought it anyway for navigation so it didn’t really add any weight. Thanks again!
Here’s the tripod: a.co/d/3j73ag6
Great video! I was curious if you have a list of the daily mileages you did on your hike. I’m planning a nobo hike from cottonwood pass and I’m stuck on whether I should resupply at onion valley first or try to make it all the way to mtr in 10 days. Thanks!
Hey there! Thanks for watching! Re daily miles, I had a plan but had to modify it on day 4 and ended up adding a day. I summited Whitney on day 3, and on day 4 was planning to do one summit per day for 5 days and arrive in MTR on day 9, however, I didn’t quite get over Forester. Finished Forester and Glen to Rae Lakes on day 5. Then Pinchot to base of Mather day 7. Finished Mather on day 8. Finished Muir on day 9 and got to MTR on day 10… so plan was 9 days and took 10. I think I was planning two 17 mile days after Whitney and that just wasn’t gonna happen! Regarding food…
Regarding food… couple things: I really studied the UA-cam videos by Gear Skeptic on backpacking nutrition. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to pack enough calories into a BV500. In the end, however, I actually had two full days of extra food at the end of day 10… so I had 12 days packed into the BV500… A big caveat here: during the first 3-4 days I wasn’t hungry at the end of the day. Either altitude or exhaustion, but I had to force my food down in the evening and ended up not eating everything I brought. I was probably expedient about 5,000 calories per day and taking in about 3,000 or less, which is why I lost about 15 pounds on the trip. My energy levels were great the whole trip… I didn’t bonk once… but man my body was using up reserves for sure. Regarding getting cramming the BV…
… again, really recommend Gear Skeptic. I ate a lot of nuts, and literally drank olive oil. I did a 1 ounce shot of Olive oil every morning and also at lunch. The stuff is pure long haul energy… like diesel fuel. Again, this is all from Gear Skeptic. It’s extremely calorie dense. I tested that diet for a few week before I left to make sure it agreed with my gut, but all good. Other food was nut bars and protein bars (you need ratio of 4:1 carbs to protein). Also I repacked freeze dried meals into small freezer baggies (use freezer baggies not the regular kind so that you can add boiling water). Repack these the night or two before you leave. They start taking up moisture out of the mylar bags.
Re Onion valley, your call, but you could always plan for MTR in 10 days and then bail early if you’re running low or not feeling well. I trained my ass off walking around town with a pack full of rock salt for months ahead of the trip so I was really ready. You have to prepare three things: your cardio system, your muscles/joints, AND, the bottom of your feet (calluses). I did that all just by hiking fully loaded a lot. Hard to prepare for altitude but I did take Diamox before… not sure I needed that but no harm.
Oh… another thing. If you can make it all the way from Horseshoe to Rock Creek on day 1, there’s a bear vault just before the creek and lots of camping. You could bring food for day 1 and 2 outside your canister if it won’t fit, and store it in the bear vault. P.s. don’t forget to get water at Chicken Spring Lake. I didn’t and was really thirsty 8 miles later coming into Rock Creek… no water between the two, although this year may be different. Hope you have the best time!
Really liked this video ❤. Is that an Xmid I see?
Hey guys! Yes, it’s an X-Mid 2P original. The tent was great… very spacious and easy to set up. It was a little big for some of the sites, especially if you arrived late in the day when bigger sites were taken. Had to cowboy twice because of that. Thinking of the 1P next time. Glad you liked the video… thanks!
@@billsterling6645 👍 on the Xmid and the wonderful video.
What were your dates? There wasn’t anybody there in your shots. You seemed to have the sierras to yourself and I know that that is not common on the JMT.
Hey Sean. Dates were 8/23 to 9/10 NOBO. There was a nice mix of solitude and community. Slept alone a few times but most nights had company. It was pretty easy to take shots without others in background. The only place this was difficult was descending from Little Yosemite Valley, then below the Mist trail cutoff it was almost impossible. Otherwise the trail felt very quiet.