Thank you for watching! Please consider subscribing to my channel as 2023 is shaping up to be a pretty exciting hiking year as well. Arizona Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, John Muir Trail and possibly, the PCT again in ‘23 or ‘24. Cheers, guys!
Superior job on this PCT video. Your editing and narration were a cut above. Of all the videos I have seen on the PCT. Yours is the most balanced and insightful, as well as, entertaining to watch. It really makes me want to consider doing it myself. Planning to do the first section of it this Spring. Kudos!!!
I've watched a lot of these and you strike the perfect balance of showing the trail and thoughtful narration. Well done. My plan is to be in the class of 2024.
I’m going to start section hiking in 2026 when I turn 50 but you’ve taught me how important it is to do the entire trail in order to establish a trail family. I might have to do that when I’m 60. Congrats to you! Thank you for sharing!
I think there are pros and cons to both, honestly. It is fantastic to do a full thru-hike at least once in your life. But if sections fit your lifestyle more right now, then do that and just soak it all in. You and me are about same age. Probably both know by now now it’s not the destination it’s the journey. So, go live it in the way that makes the most sense to you and just be present and each day and love it for what it is.
Damn... I almost got post-trail depression just knowing the video was going to end. Congrats and well done! Love the music at the end, very inspirational.
😂 thank you! That post-trail depression is pretty real but this experience I had out here has forced me to start evaluating my values, beliefs and it continues to change me. It’s like I saw something out there and I’m still trying to figure out what it was, what it means.
@@JDPPDXYou were alive , truly alive as your ancient ancestors were for thousands of years and your soul and even genetics awoke and yiu became whole alive in body and mind...travelling and being , really being a Human. Societies’ sugar coating has been lost and you are a real person now, that will never change. Congratulations to you!
Just watched your video- possibly the best I have seen regarding the PCT. Interesting to me how your answers to how the hike was- evolved over time. It made me even more excited to do this hike.- which will be in a few more years. Amazing pics too, really enjoyed it. Thank you. I liked that you said you liked that guy you were on trail. interesting perspective - to acknowledge the difference on or off trail. I hope if you do more videos I get to see them.
Congrats on your thru hike!! I hiked the PCT as well in 2022 and amazing video. All the memories come back to me from watching your video. Thank you! Yes I agree the stretch from Dunsmuir to Ashland was absolutely epic and what a way to finish California. -Unfiltered
Thank you! What sections did you hike in 2022? Yes, that section in Nor Cal, somebody referred to it as the I-5 to I-5 section and I thought that was a great reference for it, is pretty underrated. Some of the trail was in such shit condition, but other than that, probably one of the better sections of the whole trail.
@JDPPDX I thru hiked from Mexico to Canada (minus the Cedar Creek Fire section). I jumped up from Burney Falls to Timberline to Canada and then went back to finish Nor Cal and Oregon.
Hi Magnet it’s Twilight!! I recognise so many people from this video (honestly my favorite part is to see all the people I recognise) it’s crazy we never crossed paths- I started March 13th and finished August 13th but I’m guessing you probably saw my name in a bunch of trail logs! Glad to see your video really brings back the trail
Loved the video Magnet, great to see it from the perspective of an earlier start. I hiked May 15 - Sept 30 2022. You really captured the spirit of the trail transformation and helped me stay connected to my own trail experience. Thanks for sharing.
I think this was one of the most beautiful PCT documentaries I’ve seen yet. Well done on the documentary, your completion of it and the changes it’s made in your life.
Love this James! So well done. Felt like I was there with you. Loved seeing one of my favorite bakeries (Stehekin and "the bus" ride up the valley again). BTW - Bend is my hometown too (we spoke on the phone a few times -- narrowly missed hiring you to take a sunset photograph of my 90+ yr.-old father and I before you did this thru-hike). I've hiked the JMT and several small portions of the PCT. It was my goal to thru-hike it when I was in my 20s. Went to the South Pacific for 5 months and hiked all over New Zealand instead. Happy trails!
Brilliantly done worked at Timberline Lodge twenty plus years you captured PNW perfectly. Brings back lots of memories really liked Glacier Peak Wilderness and Kennedy Hot Springs also. Thank you.
Really well done and the timing to release this documentary was perfect! I'm starting the PCT on March 15th, 2023 - watching this video was both educational and very inspirational to me. Thanks so much for sharing!
Well dang, there is a good chance you will see a lot of the same conditions that I saw. Starting on that date means that 4 of the 5 sections will be pretty ideal, but the Sierra will be type 2 fun, only able to be appreciated once it’s over.
@@JDPPDX One of the reasons I was so interested in your video was precisely because of your start date. I know the Sierra will be challenging. Fortunately I'm used to a lot of type 2 fun - I thru-hiked the AT in 2021. Thanks again for sharing your video. It was very well done.
Your video hurt my eyes with so much beauty. I've seen so many of these videos. This one is just so beautiful! Brings back so many memories I had. And your thoughtful commentary, how you felt at different times, was right on.
I’m glad you can relate to the commentary. Such a tornado of thoughts and emotions. I was hoping it would especially resonate with other hikers so I’m glad to hear it did with you. Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for this nice documentary! I've watched so many pct documentaries and I really had a good time watching your video. Your storytelling is open hearted, emotional, touching. You have a lot to share!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Haha yea my mind is always going. I have thoughts on almost everything and it’s not always healthy but, I do enjoy hiking and looking for the deeper meaning in things. Cheers!
I wasn't expecting such an incredible film. This was so good it gave me goose bumps. And you really nailed it with the music. Congratulations on a great hike and a great film.
Wow! This is one of the best videos I have watched on You tube and I have watched ALOT of hiking videos. The whole thing is just awesome. End to end. Brilliant music, great hiker coverage, great documentary. Loved it. Very inspirational
Simply put, the best PCT video I've ever seen. Thank you!!! We're avid Washington hikers/backpackers who spend the winter watching hiking videos and this was SO special. Oh yeah, and Bend has some of the best beer on the planet, just sayin'.
That’s a huge compliment! Thank you! Yes, we have a lot of beer here! 😂 I love the Washington Cascades far more than the Oregon Cascades. You are so lucky but I guess, we have a longer season to enjoy them here. Cheers!
Great film I loved following your Blog , but this put it although in one big package with a bow...Merry Christmas and here is to a happy and healthy 2023 !! Great job and Accomplishment James!!!
Haha! Thanks Tom. Yea it’s all the same footage and a lot of the same music as my vlogs, just with a twist and obviously stitched into one long movie. Happy New Year to you Tom!
Wonderful trail story Magnet. Wonder and I met you just past Warner Springs and at Paradise Valley. We recognize several of the hikers in the video, Optimist Prime, Azul and Maui. We hiked with all of them. Sweet memories. I finished 6 days after you. Wonder completed 1,843 miles. May the Wind be with You, Pa'at and Wonder.
Hey Pa’at! I remember you guys. You probably know but the video of you finishing went viral and I saw it all over IG. Really touching moment that was captured. So I knew you had made it to the terminus. Congrats on your finish! The fires must have been very soon after you got there.
@@JDPPDX The viral video clip was fun! Outside Magazine even did an article. Your section videos were watched by everyone following us so they could get an idea of what we were experiencing. Ash was falling as I left the border. I told everyone I met coming in to hurry up and get there before the trail was closed. Lightning started another fire off the trail a bit as I neared Harts Pass. I was so glad I pushed hard to the end and so sorry for hikers who couldn't make it.
Thank You for your honest commentary through this video as your hike progressed from South to North This video was wonderful to watch, listen to, and follow along .. It made me wish I was there
Really appreciate your approach to this video-in addition to the absolutely stunning scenery, the testimonials are heartfelt, humble and genuine. Seems like you had an epic adventure with a truly unique “tramily”. Congratulations on your accomplishment and thank you for the inspiration.
Thanks for your comment! Yes, was an epic adventure. So much that it’s been hard to move on from it. I vlogged the whole journey and this is sort-of a compilation of my vlogs. My style was trying to capture more of the emotional side of the trip, so I kept that theme going with this recap. Cheers!
Thanks again for sharing your thru hiking adventure! Your videos throughout the entire summer were absolutely beautiful and amazing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on both the emotional highs and lows of thru hiking. I especially enjoyed the portions in the Sister’s Wilderness and Three Finger Jack / Mt Jefferson! We love your calendar and are proudly displaying it.
Excellent job on this! From a fellow long distance thru-hiker I definitely felt this. I did the AT in ‘21 and hope to do the PCT in ‘24. It looks amazing. Thank you
I loved your PCT film. I thought your commentary was so honest, it was really great knowing how a trail that long affects a person. All those river crossings and slogging through snow, definitely epic. Your footage of northern Washington was so beautiful it just broke my heart. I can see why that part was your favorite. Thanks for taking us along with you on this adventure, I love your calendar, and will definitely follow along on your next hike. From western Washington. Joan
Thank you so much for all of your support, Joan. Glad you are enjoying the calendar. I definitely wanted to address the suck part of the hike along with the highs. I always felt like that part was missing from other documentaries but it really so much of the experience. It’s a lot like life I guess. Accepting it isn’t perfect and you aren’t perfect, and at times it’s down right savage, but you are at peace with that and just keep going anyway, hoping that at least maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
@@JDPPDX yes, exactly. Ever since my NOLS kayaking course in 1973 my personal motto has been, “Keep paddling, lean into the waves and trust your own hands to get you safely across.” Keep up the great hiking, photography and perseverance.
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it. It’s honestly such a hard experience to summarize, and I could talk about it for so many hours, so glad I could provide a little bit of a summary in not very many words.
Wow…this was a masterpiece. I followed along all season and they were great but you outdid yourself here with the genuine dialog, the cinematography, the music…really awesome. We’ll done. I saw Avatar 2 this weekend and your film was much better! 😁👍🙌. Happy trails! -GoalTech
Thank you for sharing your experience. I think we crossed paths in Etna (I was SOBO section hiking). You probably remember me because I said that your hometown sucks (disclaimer: I grew up there). Anyhow, I am so glad you finished. I'll be back on trail more this summer. Hopefully we will cross paths again.
Awesome. I watch a lot of these, and this is one of the best I’ve seen. We are also in Bend (have had a place there a couple years, but moving full time from Michigan this summer). I’ve wondered before what it would be like passing home so deep into a through hike…whether it would be energizing or more challenging to continue. Also, totally agree about the Glacier Peak Wilderness.
Hey John! Thanks for this nice comment. I think heading towards home was super motivating in the first 2/3rds of the hike. Wanting to get home, and walking in the proper direction, jives with the brain pretty well. Arriving at home was pretty exhilarating, but leaving was pretty rough. Having a trail family to hike with, and knowing I’ll be back in 5 weeks, made it easier.
What an amazing job putting it all together in a tight, beautiful bundle. You hit all the scenic highlights with your wonderful photography, and also conveyed a sense of what it was like for you to take on and conclude this epic adventure. ❤
I will say that walking towards home, feeling that constant pull, then getting there finally, is pretty amazing. Not all hikers get that so it’s extra special for us.
Im slated to start march 1st on a nobo. Alot of the docs are started much farther into the year so this is quite a helpful resource for me. Also beautifully shot. Thank you for this!
I’m jealous. Should be so much fun! Sierras will be hard but epic in its own way. Rest of trail will be really ideal timing with that start. Have a freakin blast!
Thanks for sharing your epic adventure! It's on my bucket list! I'm a ultra trail runner, and outdoor enthusiast. I love running hiking and camping. And I can't wait to take on a thru-hike like this one day soon! Keep adventuring!💚
Well done. Excellent, well balanced, great photo/vidoegraphy. Enjoyed your narrative quite a bit. Would love to hear why you started this epic journey?
Thank you very much! Well, I am really into backpacking and photography. I started hiking the PCT in sections in 2019. In 2022 I decided to go all-in and do a thru-hike. I think I had seen enough of the trail and the lifestyle to know it was awesome, and had enough stagnation in my regular life to make doing this seem irresistible. There aren’t many ways in life a regular person can have this level of adventure with no special training or skill. It’s guaranteed epic adventure if you just show up and keep walking every day. But it definitely comes at a price, and I’m paying for it now. My life is completely upside-down. I threw away all my stability to be able to be here.
Beautiful documentary. You captured some amazing scenery and were able to relay that it isn’t always fun and that there are different emotions/feelings throughout the hike. It’s interesting the perspective of what you thought of the trail while you were on it and then afterwards. I had a similar perspective after finishing the Appalachian Trail. Congratulations on finishing the entire trail! ~CrazyQuilt (CQ)
Thank you and congrats to you as well! I was definitely hoping my experiences would resonate with other thru-hikers. It’s such a roller coaster of crazy highs, and some very low lows, sometimes in the same day. All the while, you are growing and changing as a person in the background, only to be fully realized once you get home. I always felt there was a little hole in the market, if you will, for a vlog or documentary to get into that part of the experience. Cheers, my friend!
Wow! What an amazing epic journey you took us on! Incredible photography and videography. As you put into words, "cherish each ment." Well put from start to the end of the PCT. Class of 2022 Rocks!!!
Thank you! Yea I think that summarizes how fatigue and just general discomfort can cloud over the trip so a person doesn’t fully appreciate the beauty of the experience in the moment.
Well edited! Filmography is awesome. Length is good! I'd shorten the black screens myself. 34:32 - Awesome video of South Sister. Great journey but I have a few questions: 1) What equipment did you use for your video? 2) With the stream crossings in the Sierras, it looks like you did a lot of wet crossings, did you wind up hiking a lot of miles with wet feet? How did you dry out your shoes in the Sierras?
Thank you for the feedback! Yea a couple of the black screens might linger too long. There isn’t any way to change it and reload it here. UA-cam doesn’t let me. But for any future use, I definitely could. I would make some other changes too. Video was done on an iPhone 12 Pro Max and a DJI Pocket 2 gimbal. Mostly, the wet feet issue was wherever there was snow or heavy snow melt along the trail. This was the Sierras like the whole way up until about Sierra City. So like 500 miles maybe. Feet were wet like the whole time during the day. My tactic was to use two pairs of socks. I would put the wet pair of socks on the back of my pack to dry while I hiked. This way, at the end of each day, I had a dry pair to put on for sleeping and to start the next day. I just kept rotating and drying them like that. Worked really well. I wouldn’t change that technique. You have wet feet a lot during the day but as long as you have dry ones for camp and sleeping at least, my feet held up well.
Thank you so much for this beautiful video! I’m currently planning my first thru-hike (the Vermont Long Trail) and was curious what you used to film this. All of your shots are phenomenal & I’d love to be able to record my trip like this.
Happy to share it! I used an iPhone 12 Pro Max and a DJI pocket 2 gimbal camera. So, nothing too fancy. If you like the style of this film though, one thing I would recommend is to switch to 24 frames per second. The defaults are usually 30 frames per second. 24 is movie industry standard and is probably the #1 thing you can do to get a cinematic look. The other thing I consistently did was use slow and smooth panning and tilting. No harsh movements. Good luck to you!
Congratulations, James. I enjoyed following your journey this year. This was a fantastic summary of the trip and all the bonds and ups & downs along the way. Awesome film. Kudos from the Netherlands.
Wow, great job on your film. I really like the way you explain what you’re feeling when you’re out on the trail I’m going to attempt the Pacific crest Trail,, March 11, 2023. I can only hope my trip is as good as yours. Thanks again.
Thank you very much, and good luck! I’m a firm believer in the early start for so many reasons, but you just have to be willing to mountaineer your way through a lot of the Sierra.
CONGRATULATIONS ❗ BREATHTAKING BEAUTY VIEWS COLORS SCENERY LANDSCAPE WEATHER WILDLIFE VIDEO FOOTAGE 📹 ❤ GLAD EVERYONE MADE IT SAFELY 😀 BE SAFE ! HAVE FUN ! ENJOYED 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 GOD BLESS YOU ALL ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES 🙏 THANK YOU 🙏
That’s a really tough thing. I can’t imagine. Having such a laser focus on tagging that monument, then not being able to. They are all still thru-hikers though, but still. There is closure in getting to the monument.
Thank you for watching! Please consider subscribing to my channel as 2023 is shaping up to be a pretty exciting hiking year as well. Arizona Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, John Muir Trail and possibly, the PCT again in ‘23 or ‘24. Cheers, guys!
Top!!! Genoten. Groetjes Corina den Haan the Netherlands
Loved this production, really, really good! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wonderful video, thanks for posting it!
Very beautiful and inspring movie !
Superior job on this PCT video. Your editing and narration were a cut above. Of all the videos I have seen on the PCT. Yours is the most balanced and insightful, as well as, entertaining to watch. It really makes me want to consider doing it myself. Planning to do the first section of it this Spring. Kudos!!!
Thank you very much! Hope you enjoy your hike! I’ll be in the desert section starting March 14th
I've watched a lot of these and you strike the perfect balance of showing the trail and thoughtful narration. Well done. My plan is to be in the class of 2024.
Thank you and good luck to you! Hopefully 2024 will be a more suitable year for northbounders than this one is shaping up to be.
I'll see ya out there
Excellent, thoughtful, and beautifully edited with wonderful music choices. Thank you for the hard work and for sharing your adventure.
I loved the video. Spectacular. Epic vistas. Thank you.👍🙏
Thanks for this great movie guys, greetz from the Netherlands.
I’m going to start section hiking in 2026 when I turn 50 but you’ve taught me how important it is to do the entire trail in order to establish a trail family. I might have to do that when I’m 60. Congrats to you! Thank you for sharing!
I think there are pros and cons to both, honestly. It is fantastic to do a full thru-hike at least once in your life. But if sections fit your lifestyle more right now, then do that and just soak it all in. You and me are about same age. Probably both know by now now it’s not the destination it’s the journey. So, go live it in the way that makes the most sense to you and just be present and each day and love it for what it is.
Awesome video! The 2022 class has produced some very impressive work. Yours is one of the best. Thanks for sharing it!
Damn... I almost got post-trail depression just knowing the video was going to end. Congrats and well done! Love the music at the end, very inspirational.
😂 thank you! That post-trail depression is pretty real but this experience I had out here has forced me to start evaluating my values, beliefs and it continues to change me. It’s like I saw something out there and I’m still trying to figure out what it was, what it means.
@@JDPPDXYou were alive , truly alive as your ancient ancestors were for thousands of years and your soul and even genetics awoke and yiu became whole alive in body and mind...travelling and being , really being a Human. Societies’ sugar coating has been lost and you are a real person now, that will never change. Congratulations to you!
Very nice video with all the highs and lows of this endeavor.....I'm glad you did this... document ed the scenery....thank you
Just watched your video- possibly the best I have seen regarding the PCT. Interesting to me how your answers to how the hike was- evolved over time. It made me even more excited to do this hike.- which will be in a few more years. Amazing pics too, really enjoyed it. Thank you. I liked that you said you liked that guy you were on trail. interesting perspective - to acknowledge the difference on or off trail. I hope if you do more videos I get to see them.
What a great video of an amazing trail - thanks for walking it and making the movie!
Glad you enjoyed it!
All I have to say is Well Done!
I appreciate that!
I really enjoyed your video of the PCT experience. Loved the music selections.
Another great documentary of the PCT. I will never hike it but admire those who do. Thank you for sharing 🌻👣
"I need to get north!"
I'm going to be yelling that the whole stretch, probably, most likely.
This was perfect. I loved the commentary ❤.
Thank you!
This account of your journey was awesome. Thank you so much for sharing.
Wonderful! I enjoyed your vlog posts last year, and this was a great synopsis. Looking forward to your further posts!
Glad you enjoyed the vlogs as well as this summary. I’ll be on the Arizona Trail in a week. Hope to be able to start vlogging again then.
Thank you. That was incredible and felt perfectly genuine.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful! Great job capturing the beauty of the PCT!
Dude, this is an epic summary of a most inspirational journey. The flora alone kept me excited for the whole video length.
So glad you watched and enjoyed! Yea the flowers in the desert were really amazing. Such perfect timing!
Excellent recap of your Thru Hike. Congrats on your finish, what an Epic Adventure! Cheers!
Glad you enjoyed it!
What an Amazing Life Journey............. Amazing!!
Wow! The authenticity with how you captured and shared your experience with all of us is a thing of beauty. I am grateful you did. 🙏
Thank you so much!
Just beautiful brother thank you thank you thank you 😊
This was so good makes me feel like I need some adventure
Beautiful memories & future dreams. Love how you have woven it all together in your unique style Magnet. Clint.
Beautiful memories, and future dreams for us both. Cheers, Clint!
Congrats on your thru hike!! I hiked the PCT as well in 2022 and amazing video. All the memories come back to me from watching your video. Thank you! Yes I agree the stretch from Dunsmuir to Ashland was absolutely epic and what a way to finish California. -Unfiltered
Thank you! What sections did you hike in 2022? Yes, that section in Nor Cal, somebody referred to it as the I-5 to I-5 section and I thought that was a great reference for it, is pretty underrated. Some of the trail was in such shit condition, but other than that, probably one of the better sections of the whole trail.
@JDPPDX I thru hiked from Mexico to Canada (minus the Cedar Creek Fire section). I jumped up from Burney Falls to Timberline to Canada and then went back to finish Nor Cal and Oregon.
Have never hiked PCT but have been through a number of the parts you showed. Just incredible!
Glad you liked it! There is much much beauty to see on this route.
Cherish this moment thanks bro!
Gorgeous cinematography, great editing, beautiful music, and emotional storytelling!
Thank you Paul! Cheers!
Hi Magnet it’s Twilight!! I recognise so many people from this video (honestly my favorite part is to see all the people I recognise) it’s crazy we never crossed paths- I started March 13th and finished August 13th but I’m guessing you probably saw my name in a bunch of trail logs! Glad to see your video really brings back the trail
That’s awesome! Nice to virtually meet you. You were in front of me then probably the whole way, but not too far.
Beautiful story!!
Loved the video Magnet, great to see it from the perspective of an earlier start. I hiked May 15 - Sept 30 2022. You really captured the spirit of the trail transformation and helped me stay connected to my own trail experience. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats on finishing! Glad you enjoyed it! That’s the challenge, right? To stay connected to this life and the ideals. Otherwise, was it worth it?
I think this was one of the most beautiful PCT documentaries I’ve seen yet. Well done on the documentary, your completion of it and the changes it’s made in your life.
Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed it.
Love this James! So well done. Felt like I was there with you. Loved seeing one of my favorite bakeries (Stehekin and "the bus" ride up the valley again). BTW - Bend is my hometown too (we spoke on the phone a few times -- narrowly missed hiring you to take a sunset photograph of my 90+ yr.-old father and I before you did this thru-hike). I've hiked the JMT and several small portions of the PCT. It was my goal to thru-hike it when I was in my 20s. Went to the South Pacific for 5 months and hiked all over New Zealand instead. Happy trails!
Hey Debra! I remember you! Yes, Stehekin is such an awesome place. That bakery is just amazing! Hope NZ was awesome for you. Please stay in touch!
Brilliantly done worked at Timberline Lodge twenty plus years you captured PNW perfectly. Brings back lots of memories really liked Glacier Peak Wilderness and Kennedy Hot Springs also. Thank you.
Thank you for the compliment and so glad it brought back memories. Cheers!
Wow! Thank you for letting the rest of us live vicariously through your adventures! What an epic experience!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Really well done and the timing to release this documentary was perfect! I'm starting the PCT on March 15th, 2023 - watching this video was both educational and very inspirational to me. Thanks so much for sharing!
Well dang, there is a good chance you will see a lot of the same conditions that I saw. Starting on that date means that 4 of the 5 sections will be pretty ideal, but the Sierra will be type 2 fun, only able to be appreciated once it’s over.
@@JDPPDX One of the reasons I was so interested in your video was precisely because of your start date. I know the Sierra will be challenging. Fortunately I'm used to a lot of type 2 fun - I thru-hiked the AT in 2021. Thanks again for sharing your video. It was very well done.
Your video hurt my eyes with so much beauty. I've seen so many of these videos. This one is just so beautiful! Brings back so many memories I had. And your thoughtful commentary, how you felt at different times, was right on.
I’m glad you can relate to the commentary. Such a tornado of thoughts and emotions. I was hoping it would especially resonate with other hikers so I’m glad to hear it did with you. Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for this nice documentary! I've watched so many pct documentaries and I really had a good time watching your video. Your storytelling is open hearted, emotional, touching. You have a lot to share!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Haha yea my mind is always going. I have thoughts on almost everything and it’s not always healthy but, I do enjoy hiking and looking for the deeper meaning in things. Cheers!
I wasn't expecting such an incredible film. This was so good it gave me goose bumps. And you really nailed it with the music. Congratulations on a great hike and a great film.
Thank you to both! Glad you enjoyed it.
Definitely one of the best PCT documentaries!!!
Wow, thank you!
This is an excellent video documentary! Thanks so much for your hard work--your honesty, and the visual beauty. Excellent work!
Thank you very much!
A beautiful story of your journey. It made me smile, tear up and most of all dream!
That’s awesome! Thank you for relaying the effect it had on you. Dream away!
Wow! This is one of the best videos I have watched on You tube and I have watched ALOT of hiking videos. The whole thing is just awesome. End to end. Brilliant music, great hiker coverage, great documentary. Loved it. Very inspirational
Thank you, Shaun. I tried to do something different with it, so I’m glad it worked out.
Simply put, the best PCT video I've ever seen. Thank you!!! We're avid Washington hikers/backpackers who spend the winter watching hiking videos and this was SO special.
Oh yeah, and Bend has some of the best beer on the planet, just sayin'.
That’s a huge compliment! Thank you! Yes, we have a lot of beer here! 😂 I love the Washington Cascades far more than the Oregon Cascades. You are so lucky but I guess, we have a longer season to enjoy them here. Cheers!
Great film I loved following your Blog , but this put it although in one big package with a bow...Merry Christmas and here is to a happy and healthy 2023 !! Great job and Accomplishment James!!!
Haha! Thanks Tom. Yea it’s all the same footage and a lot of the same music as my vlogs, just with a twist and obviously stitched into one long movie. Happy New Year to you Tom!
Patty here. My favorite pct video. You captured the scenery better than any other hiker. Thank you! LOVED IT!
Wow, thank you!
Wonderful trail story Magnet. Wonder and I met you just past Warner Springs and at Paradise Valley. We recognize several of the hikers in the video, Optimist Prime, Azul and Maui. We hiked with all of them. Sweet memories. I finished 6 days after you. Wonder completed 1,843 miles. May the Wind be with You,
Pa'at and Wonder.
Hey Pa’at! I remember you guys. You probably know but the video of you finishing went viral and I saw it all over IG. Really touching moment that was captured. So I knew you had made it to the terminus. Congrats on your finish! The fires must have been very soon after you got there.
@@JDPPDX The viral video clip was fun! Outside Magazine even did an article. Your section videos were watched by everyone following us so they could get an idea of what we were experiencing. Ash was falling as I left the border. I told everyone I met coming in to hurry up and get there before the trail was closed. Lightning started another fire off the trail a bit as I neared Harts Pass. I was so glad I pushed hard to the end and so sorry for hikers who couldn't make it.
Thank You for your honest commentary through this video as your hike progressed from South to North
This video was wonderful to watch, listen to, and follow along .. It made me wish I was there
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this nice comment.
W❤️W! Absolutely Stunning And Breathtaking Adventure! Cheers!🥂❤️✨
Glad you enjoyed it!! Cheers!
Really appreciate your approach to this video-in addition to the absolutely stunning scenery, the testimonials are heartfelt, humble and genuine. Seems like you had an epic adventure with a truly unique “tramily”. Congratulations on your accomplishment and thank you for the inspiration.
Thanks for your comment! Yes, was an epic adventure. So much that it’s been hard to move on from it. I vlogged the whole journey and this is sort-of a compilation of my vlogs. My style was trying to capture more of the emotional side of the trip, so I kept that theme going with this recap. Cheers!
Thanks again for sharing your thru hiking adventure! Your videos throughout the entire summer were absolutely beautiful and amazing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on both the emotional highs and lows of thru hiking. I especially enjoyed the portions in the Sister’s Wilderness and Three Finger Jack / Mt Jefferson! We love your calendar and are proudly displaying it.
Thank you so much for your comment and your support of my photography!
Awesome content, gave me a lot of insight of what to expect when i attempt a 2023 thru of the PCT. Congrats on finishing.
Good luck fellow hiker trash!
Excellent job on this! From a fellow long distance thru-hiker I definitely felt this. I did the AT in ‘21 and hope to do the PCT in ‘24. It looks amazing. Thank you
Thank you and good luck on your upcoming PCT hike!
Awesome,great job man. Loved it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I loved your PCT film. I thought your commentary was so honest, it was really great knowing how a trail that long affects a person. All those river crossings and slogging through snow, definitely epic. Your footage of northern Washington was so beautiful it just broke my heart. I can see why that part was your favorite. Thanks for taking us along with you on this adventure, I love your calendar, and will definitely follow along on your next hike. From western Washington. Joan
Thank you so much for all of your support, Joan. Glad you are enjoying the calendar. I definitely wanted to address the suck part of the hike along with the highs. I always felt like that part was missing from other documentaries but it really so much of the experience. It’s a lot like life I guess. Accepting it isn’t perfect and you aren’t perfect, and at times it’s down right savage, but you are at peace with that and just keep going anyway, hoping that at least maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
@@JDPPDX yes, exactly. Ever since my NOLS kayaking course in 1973 my personal motto has been, “Keep paddling, lean into the waves and trust your own hands to get you safely across.”
Keep up the great hiking, photography and perseverance.
Thanks for sharing your journey. Very inspirational--especially the remarks at the beginning. This was so well done.
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it. It’s honestly such a hard experience to summarize, and I could talk about it for so many hours, so glad I could provide a little bit of a summary in not very many words.
Beautiful video! Well done. Very cinematic. New follower here. Crow✌️
Hey Crow! Thank you. Subscribed to your channel as well. Cheers.
Absolutely incredible film and footage.
Thank you so much! It’s a long watch but, thanks for checking it out.
@@JDPPDX I watched the whole thing. It was incredible! Thank you for putting it together.
Fantastic viewing!
Wow…this was a masterpiece. I followed along all season and they were great but you outdid yourself here with the genuine dialog, the cinematography, the music…really awesome. We’ll done. I saw Avatar 2 this weekend and your film was much better! 😁👍🙌. Happy trails! -GoalTech
Holy crap! That’s really kind of you. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I think we crossed paths in Etna (I was SOBO section hiking). You probably remember me because I said that your hometown sucks (disclaimer: I grew up there). Anyhow, I am so glad you finished. I'll be back on trail more this summer. Hopefully we will cross paths again.
Haha! Yes I remember. Hope to see you out there again this year.
Awesome. I watch a lot of these, and this is one of the best I’ve seen. We are also in Bend (have had a place there a couple years, but moving full time from Michigan this summer). I’ve wondered before what it would be like passing home so deep into a through hike…whether it would be energizing or more challenging to continue.
Also, totally agree about the Glacier Peak Wilderness.
Hey John! Thanks for this nice comment. I think heading towards home was super motivating in the first 2/3rds of the hike. Wanting to get home, and walking in the proper direction, jives with the brain pretty well. Arriving at home was pretty exhilarating, but leaving was pretty rough. Having a trail family to hike with, and knowing I’ll be back in 5 weeks, made it easier.
What an amazing job putting it all together in a tight, beautiful bundle. You hit all the scenic highlights with your wonderful photography, and also conveyed a sense of what it was like for you to take on and conclude this epic adventure. ❤
Thank you April! I just responded to your text so I won’t duplicate it but, thank you. Cheers!
Watched it tonight! I was mesmerized by the captures, scenes, views and narration. You are a creator my friend! Thank you so much for doing this!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the comment too. 🍻
Fellow Oregonian here, I'm looking forward to that feeling crossing the border.
I will say that walking towards home, feeling that constant pull, then getting there finally, is pretty amazing. Not all hikers get that so it’s extra special for us.
Great film!
I loved your video. Thank you!
So glad!
Congratulations and thank you for sharing your experience
It was really awesome for me to put this together!
Sounds like you are getting ready to go on another through hike. Please keep taking us with you.
I believe I am! I will definitely keep taking you along. Cheers!
Im slated to start march 1st on a nobo. Alot of the docs are started much farther into the year so this is quite a helpful resource for me. Also beautifully shot. Thank you for this!
I’m jealous. Should be so much fun! Sierras will be hard but epic in its own way. Rest of trail will be really ideal timing with that start. Have a freakin blast!
Wonderful job! -Kiwi
Thank you!
Great editing of a wonderful adventure JP!!
Hey Joe! Thank you man. Cheers.
Thanks for sharing your epic adventure! It's on my bucket list! I'm a ultra trail runner, and outdoor enthusiast. I love running hiking and camping. And I can't wait to take on a thru-hike like this one day soon! Keep adventuring!💚
Happy to share this! I hope you can fulfill this dream! It’s life-altering and only fully appreciated once it’s over. Cheers!
EPIC.
Well done. Excellent, well balanced, great photo/vidoegraphy. Enjoyed your narrative quite a bit. Would love to hear why you started this epic journey?
Thank you very much! Well, I am really into backpacking and photography. I started hiking the PCT in sections in 2019. In 2022 I decided to go all-in and do a thru-hike. I think I had seen enough of the trail and the lifestyle to know it was awesome, and had enough stagnation in my regular life to make doing this seem irresistible. There aren’t many ways in life a regular person can have this level of adventure with no special training or skill. It’s guaranteed epic adventure if you just show up and keep walking every day. But it definitely comes at a price, and I’m paying for it now. My life is completely upside-down. I threw away all my stability to be able to be here.
Brilliant! Great footage and a story well told.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful documentary. You captured some amazing scenery and were able to relay that it isn’t always fun and that there are different emotions/feelings throughout the hike. It’s interesting the perspective of what you thought of the trail while you were on it and then afterwards. I had a similar perspective after finishing the Appalachian Trail. Congratulations on finishing the entire trail! ~CrazyQuilt (CQ)
Thank you and congrats to you as well! I was definitely hoping my experiences would resonate with other thru-hikers. It’s such a roller coaster of crazy highs, and some very low lows, sometimes in the same day. All the while, you are growing and changing as a person in the background, only to be fully realized once you get home. I always felt there was a little hole in the market, if you will, for a vlog or documentary to get into that part of the experience. Cheers, my friend!
Wow! What an amazing epic journey you took us on! Incredible photography and videography. As you put into words, "cherish each ment." Well put from start to the end of the PCT. Class of 2022 Rocks!!!
Oops! Moment.
Thank you! Yea I think that summarizes how fatigue and just general discomfort can cloud over the trip so a person doesn’t fully appreciate the beauty of the experience in the moment.
Well edited! Filmography is awesome. Length is good! I'd shorten the black screens myself. 34:32 - Awesome video of South Sister. Great journey but I have a few questions: 1) What equipment did you use for your video? 2) With the stream crossings in the Sierras, it looks like you did a lot of wet crossings, did you wind up hiking a lot of miles with wet feet? How did you dry out your shoes in the Sierras?
Thank you for the feedback! Yea a couple of the black screens might linger too long. There isn’t any way to change it and reload it here. UA-cam doesn’t let me. But for any future use, I definitely could. I would make some other changes too.
Video was done on an iPhone 12 Pro Max and a DJI Pocket 2 gimbal. Mostly, the wet feet issue was wherever there was snow or heavy snow melt along the trail. This was the Sierras like the whole way up until about Sierra City. So like 500 miles maybe. Feet were wet like the whole time during the day. My tactic was to use two pairs of socks. I would put the wet pair of socks on the back of my pack to dry while I hiked. This way, at the end of each day, I had a dry pair to put on for sleeping and to start the next day. I just kept rotating and drying them like that. Worked really well. I wouldn’t change that technique. You have wet feet a lot during the day but as long as you have dry ones for camp and sleeping at least, my feet held up well.
Well done!
Thank you so much for this beautiful video! I’m currently planning my first thru-hike (the Vermont Long Trail) and was curious what you used to film this. All of your shots are phenomenal & I’d love to be able to record my trip like this.
Happy to share it! I used an iPhone 12 Pro Max and a DJI pocket 2 gimbal camera. So, nothing too fancy. If you like the style of this film though, one thing I would recommend is to switch to 24 frames per second. The defaults are usually 30 frames per second. 24 is movie industry standard and is probably the #1 thing you can do to get a cinematic look. The other thing I consistently did was use slow and smooth panning and tilting. No harsh movements. Good luck to you!
@@JDPPDX Thank you so much!!
Great video. Can’t wait to watch AZT. New subscriber.
Welcome aboard! AZT episode 1 is loading currently. Cheers.
Enjoyed the documentary and perspective. Congrats.
Update:watched it twice. So good
Awesome, thank you! 🍻
Thank you for great video and for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it
Congratulations, James. I enjoyed following your journey this year. This was a fantastic summary of the trip and all the bonds and ups & downs along the way. Awesome film. Kudos from the Netherlands.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow, great job on your film. I really like the way you explain what you’re feeling when you’re out on the trail I’m going to attempt the Pacific crest Trail,, March 11, 2023. I can only hope my trip is as good as yours. Thanks again.
Thank you very much, and good luck! I’m a firm believer in the early start for so many reasons, but you just have to be willing to mountaineer your way through a lot of the Sierra.
This was great, very inspiring! Congrats on your epic hike!
Thanks so much!
CONGRATULATIONS ❗ BREATHTAKING BEAUTY VIEWS COLORS SCENERY LANDSCAPE WEATHER WILDLIFE VIDEO FOOTAGE 📹 ❤ GLAD EVERYONE MADE IT SAFELY 😀 BE SAFE ! HAVE FUN ! ENJOYED 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 GOD BLESS YOU ALL ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES 🙏 THANK YOU 🙏
Thank you very much, David! Glad you enjoyed! Cheers to you! Have a wonderful 2023🎉
Really amazing photoage, thanks for sharing
Many thanks!
Wow. 🎉
Absolutely beautiful, thank you 🤙
Thank you too!
Was following Sparkle lizzard class of 2022, and the trail closed like 30 miles before the monument. Must be very disappointing
That’s a really tough thing. I can’t imagine. Having such a laser focus on tagging that monument, then not being able to. They are all still thru-hikers though, but still. There is closure in getting to the monument.