I love the JMT and in the years that I don’t get to backpack a lot I watch JMT videos. I REALLY enjoyed yours in particular because you let the landscape speak to the beauty and didn’t do a lot of narrating. And your eye for the small things and the wildlife moments was especially impressive. The birds in the nest - amazing! Keep hiking!!
Amazing!!! Thank you for sharing with the world your beautiful journey. You are giving me the courage and motivation to do what you are doing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. ❤
Congratulations on your hike. I enjoyed watching your video. I’ve hiked section of the JMT but am now too old to do the entire trail. Your video brought me back to the sections I hiked and allowed me to share in your success. Thanks much. P.S. I was a high school media teacher and I thought your video was really quite wonderful - good camera work, good editing, nice way you inserted commentary and wonderful vistas! Cheers!
I enjoyed watching your journey you are a strong person to do that by yourself. For what it's worth you have inspired me to possibly take this on in the future! Thanks for sharing.
Oh my goodness, I’m so happy I found this, Nikki! Beautiful beautiful videography and photos. You are an amazing lady, congratulations on completing the JMT! 🤩🥲😍
Hello Nikki, came across this video of yours👍 I camped @ Woods creek suspension bridge with you and a host of others. I remember having pleasant conversations with you and the others. I was feeling slightly less than my best and I remember Francis ? the guy playing the guitar kindly giving me some hot tea bags. Your footage @ the the Woods creek campsite included a couple sec. of me at the bearbox during the rain “Blue Rain jacket & rain kilt. I repeated the JMT again NOBO from Cottonwood to Happy Isles again end of June early July 2022. Nice meeting you and congratulations on you JMT adventure.
Your photography is wonderful. I have watched a lot of trail videos and enjoy them all, but thought your pics were some of the best. Gratz on your accomplishment.
Wow! I’m so happy I came across this video!! I am planning on hiking the JMT sometime next year and your video was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your journey and giving me both the confidence and excitement to walk the trail myself. It helped so much to see it from start to finish to give me a good idea of stopping points and approx. amount of days to complete it. Your video and photography was just beautiful. My favorite was the Mount Whitney summit and the way the sun just looked like gold! OMG, that was just stunning! And seeing all the wonderful people you met on the trail is so fantastic. I plan to do the hike with a friend but it was so nice to see that even as a SOLO hike, you met so many people. I would love to see you on the trails one day :-). I just subscribed to your channel.
Thoroughly enjoyed your trip! Unlike so many other videos I've watched of the 211 mile hike on the JMT, yours was easily one of the most enjoyable. You took the time to "smell the roses" and stopped to enjoy more wildlife, big and small, than I've seen on any other videos of the hike. And your attitude is great. I'm surprised you had as much rain as you did but that's one of the aspects of the hike. (the umbrella was a good idea) If I planned the hike, I would take as much time as you did, simply to enjoy my walk. Thanks for sharing and I'm marking it as one of my favorite videos!
What a kind comment. Thank you so much for taking the time to see through my eyes. I hope to do it again this year and see all new stuff! See you on the trail!
I really appreciate you sharing your JMT journey. It's amazing to me how unique each person's story is as they take on the many challenges of this through hike. You captured so many beautiful scenes that have a unique and peaceful rhythm. Thank you Sparkles.
Thank you for making the effort to create a lovely video that showcased the scenery so well. You were blessed with some awesome wildlife encounters and filmed them like a pro! Great job, in addition to the huge accomplishment of completing the John Muir Trail. Thank you for sharing the trip of a lifetime!
We (my brother and I) was on the Selden Pass part of the trail when you were there. For a drought year, that was a really rainy hike. Loved your video. Great combination of stills and videos. Loved you showing your emotions as you went down the trail. I remember my high and low emotions when I did the JMT solo (now a long time ago).
Hey I saw you on the trail and talked to you right at the turn off to Whitney from the pct/jmt, my buddy had purple shorts! Aug 1.. I'm happy to see you made it! 🙏🤘❤️
I am really enjoying your video. Loving the view from your lenses ❣️. Great shots of such extraordinary scenery! Remember that you are a beast girl!!! Thank you for the encouragement, I hope to do the JMT by 2024.
I love watching your videos. I’m from Washington state but I have migrated south to South Carolina. I regret that I never visited the John Muir trail. Maybe one day… Until then thank you for taking me there.
Thanks for watching! I’m from Washington State too. I was so happy to fall in love with the Sierra. You should definitely make it happen. It’s wonderful
You rock! I'm almost finished watching this, inspired by your courage and bravery to hike that route solo. Girl power for sure! I just had to pause and write a comment after seeing 1:06:15 where I'm wondering what are we looking at? some small creature? and then antlers pop out from the left side if the boulder and you stayed with it for over 1.5 minutes and there's another surprise. You could be a wildlife filmmaker for the patience it takes to capture that. Thank you so much for taking the time to enjoy your journey. Too many just trudge through that beautiful wilderness (for whatever reason and I understand food supply and safety) but you really take time to take it all in in your own sweet time. Although I don't know you I'm so proud of you for going after your dream and making it a reality. I have climbed Half Dome in Yosemite and that part of the country is one of my favourite places in California. But I climbed up and down from Yosemite valley and back in a day. I have never carried my own supplies to camp outdoors, totally self reliant. I think I need to set another goal.
Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement and your thoughtful reply! Climbing Half Dome is no small feat! You should be extremely proud of that! I did that in a day many years ago as well and dang, that’s a gnarly one day walk! The deer and the small wildlife moments were some of my favorite moments on the trail. The vastness of those places and the length of the trail are sometimes very overwhelming. In past long sections I have hiked out there I have been overwhelmed with those aspects so on this trip I made a practice of being as present as I could and seeing what was actually around me. It kept me from doing trail math (6.5 miles to camp 156.4 miles til the end of the trail, 14 days to go, etc) and it really made me appreciate the small gifts that are so much bigger than just the scenery. Backpacking is a wonderful activity, if you have any interest I would definitely encourage you to try it. It feels like special access to secret places of the world that most people will never see and that is only granted with sweat and grit. 100% worth it.
Wow!!! Well done!! I have so much admiration for you, what a tremendous achievement!! Your photography was fabulous, what an incredibly beautiful trail! I'm in the uk so we have no dangerous wildlife here, hiking on your own are you not afraid of bears in particular? So proud of you and you have to be very proud of yourself! Thank you for a wonderful video, will subscribe and watch some of your other hiking trips!!
Thank you so much for watching! There are a lot of Black Bears here in the Sierra Nevada but they are not hunters and primarily eat berries and bugs. They scare easily and behave like stray dogs. The most important consideration is food storage so that they won’t be interested in stealing your provisions. I am not afraid of animals in the Sierra. 2 legged monsters are way scarier and I feel pretty secure deep in the wilderness :)
Just finished the video and you are amazing and inspiring !!! That was such an accomplishment!!! Keep it up !!! At 60 I discovered this great kind of adventure 5 years ago and wish it would have been years ago . So much I want to see and do . !!!!!
I’m really fortunate in that I spent most of my childhood outside on the Olympic Peninsula. My dad took me on my first backpacking trip at age 13 so wilderness has always been part of my world.
@@nikkihikes Fellow former Washingtonian here--born and raised in the Longview and Kalama areas along I-5. I didn't spend much time in the Olympics but did spend a fair bit of time in the Goat Rocks wilderness and did a few trips around the Glacier Peak area. I'm living in OR now but will be headed to Yosemite this September to hike the Kerrick/Matterhorn canyon loop, starting out of Mono Village. Great job on the JMT trip and filming it!
DEAN!!! You gotta find me on the socials man (if you do that)! I sent pics to Mike but I don’t have your contact info. It was such a cool adventure and im so glad you were part of it 🥰💝
Okay Miss Sparkles tell me this, who captures a Hummingbird moth on film and includes the drama of a dim witted lizard just missing lunch? I'll tell you young lady you have talent and grit. Outstanding production. Great accomplishment?
You know I think you’re the first one to mention that! I was fascinated with the sphinx moth and took a bunch of footage of it wanting to know if it was a bird or moth. I didn’t notice the skink until I reviewed the videos later! I almost felt bad, like he missed his shot because he was wary of me. But such is the circle of life. It was really great to focus on the tiny things I found happening in the vastness of that terrain. Thank you for the lovely compliment. I can’t wait to do it again.
Thanks so much for sharing your journey! I just finished watching! Do you have a blog or anything? I am interested in more details about your resupply plan.
I don’t have a blog but I do a lot on Instagram @snoflkz for resupply I purchased a little bit from Tuolumne Meadow, I took the bus into mammoth at reds and got food at vons, I mailed myself a bucket to MtR with the remaining 10 days of supplies. I did not hire a mule or go out over Kearsarge.
Wow you killed it! Thank you for sharing your adventure. I watched the whole thing and loved every minute. I loved all of the detail and your daily updates. The sound of your footsteps on the granite and all of the wildlife! I have been thinking about doing this trail for a number of years and I’m really inspired to somehow find the time to do it. It looked magical! Quick question, what did you use to film it?
Thanks so much for watching and enjoying and for all of your kind words! I shot the whole thing on my iPhone 13 pro max. You should definitely go and spend some time out there. I can’t wait to go back
Just watched your video. I really enjoyed your documenting and the extra tilde spent capturing the beauty. You are an inspiration. I’m watching your pct hike now. Is there more than one episode? Thank you for being so brave and being completely authentic and open. Well done and congratulations.
I absolutely enjoyed your video. I missed my chance of doing a thru hike of the JMT so this was a great virtual hike for me. Maybe one day we'll bump into each other on the hikes.
Do you have a gear list you would share with a newbie to the Sierras? Loved your video. Planning a trip in August, hoping to do Silver to JMT to Mammoth.
Not that you have the time or want to carry around a cotton ball and some tape but you can tape a couple of cotton balls around your microphone to cut out the wind.
I agree. I loved the video but don't think this one is for me. I got an 8 day, 7 night backpacking permit for Yosemite starting from Happy Isles. I'll just go around Yosemite - Half Dome, Sunrise Lakes, Cloud's Rest, Cathedral. I think Yosemite high country is the best part of this trail.
It is rocky and arid for much of the trail. The giant views above the trees and the starkness of the lakes in the basin is a draw for many. Every time you go over a high pass you drop back down into a lush river drainage with lots of streams, trees, wildflowers and mosquitoes. But that was a smaller percentage of the hike, about every day or day and a half.
Beautiful. Love your videos. Especially no music. No greater sound than boots on gravel and flowing water. Inserted music the reason I no longer watch Catherine Gregory. But at least she told me about your site !
Watching now. So far I note 2 things; 1) that hail storm reminds me very much of what we experienced coming over Silver Pass. 2) of COURSE you slept at Purple Lake! Was there even a choice? :))
I definitely was required to camp at Purple lake, and that was a running joke out there for a few days. A couple hikers I saw a few times but didn’t meet actually referred to me as ‘purple girl’. Haha
@@nikkihikes That’s the exact name I would’ve given you! lol Great video though I loved it, I especially loved that you didn’t put music to it. The stillness and the quiet of the forest and the mountains It’s something that stands out, at least to me anyway, when you’re out there and your video really captured that. I especially loved entire section from evolution valley all the way to Woods Creek bridge. Of course we went the other direction but Woods Creek bridge, over Pinchot, GORGEOUS Lake Marjorie, Mather Pass, beautiful Palisades Lakes and the stunning view from the top of the golden staircase down into Leconte Canyon, then up and over Muir Pass all the way down into evolution valley was my favorite section of the entire trail. Thanks so much for reminding me how much I loved that hike. I would 100% (and will) do it again one of these days!
I am glad you liked it too. The heavy quietness and stillness was something that I loved. It was so easy to spot creatures because nothing else moved at all. Am I still going to see you in like a week?
In Aug, we are starting from Reds Meadows to Whitney and looking for a long term parking in Mammoth Lakes. Do you have any suggestions where can I leave the car? Due to the altitude sickness of my husband, we stop at the Reds and we got a permit and I’m driving from Fl. and picking hike up from Reno.
I had used this S7 for about 4 years now and it has done well on all but that trip. I think it was maybe a cord issue but it wouldn’t charge my anker battery and I had to charge my devices directly from the panel and it was very slow… but typically it has been great. I haven’t taken it out on any of my trips since but I intend to bring it on the HST next week. Hopefully it doesn’t let me down.
Hi! I don’t actually live in Mammoth. I live in LA county but I work have worked in Mammoth for the last 6 years and spend a lot of my time there and all along the 395 corridor!
@@nikkihikes ah OK awesome. 👍 The Owen's Valley is a special place. I am going back next summer to hike the JMT myself. Thank you for sharing your adventures
You videos are of such high quality compared to those of many other hikers. 1. What camera are you using? 2. I don't see you wear the camera, so is it hand held, and if so how in the world do you keep is so on point? Will be hiking through in mid July 2022. Thanks for your beautiful videos . Freddie
Thank you so much for your kind comment. I hope to be out again in July as well. My whole video and pictures were shot and edited with my iPhone13 pro max. I used to take a dslr but I haven’t in several years
Hi! Thanks for watching. Yes I took 10 days of food from MTR. I have a bearicade expedition and I felt pretty strong by then so it was not too bad. I didn’t want to have to time meeting a resupply or hike all the way down to onion valley. It worked for me.
I didn’t weigh it until I finished at Whitney Portal. What I don’t know can’t hurt me ;). Hahaha! It was 42 lbs with no water and some left over food. At one point I carried 11 days of food. I know my pack is heavy but I weigh a lot and am strong so percentages wise, it’s not so bad.
Around 50 lbs. it varies depending on how many days of food I’m carrying. One day of food weighs about 2 lbs and I’ve carried as long as 11 days at a time. So then my pack is way heavier!
@@thienthan324 there are lots of people who carry lighter packs. You can get lighter gear or bring less stuff. I weigh a lot so it’s not as tough on me. You want your pack to be no more than 20% of your body weight. I take a few extra comfort items and things to keep my camera charged. Most people think my pack is too heavy probably.
3:15 love those 2 x trees too. Resilient.
I love the JMT and in the years that I don’t get to backpack a lot I watch JMT videos. I REALLY enjoyed yours in particular because you let the landscape speak to the beauty and didn’t do a lot of narrating. And your eye for the small things and the wildlife moments was especially impressive. The birds in the nest - amazing! Keep hiking!!
Thank you!! It’s so easy to be overwhelmed by the huge vistas that for me seeing the small things places into the scene 💜
Yeah I liked it too, the crunch of her steps was perfect and when she did narrate it was just enough. Awesome video.
Amazing!!! Thank you for sharing with the world your beautiful journey. You are giving me the courage and motivation to do what you are doing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. ❤
Congratulations on your hike. I enjoyed watching your video. I’ve hiked section of the JMT but am now too old to do the entire trail. Your video brought me back to the sections I hiked and allowed me to share in your success. Thanks much. P.S. I was a high school media teacher and I thought your video was really quite wonderful - good camera work, good editing, nice way you inserted commentary and wonderful vistas! Cheers!
I enjoyed watching your journey you are a strong person to do that by yourself. For what it's worth you have inspired me to possibly take this on in the future! Thanks for sharing.
Oh my goodness, I’m so happy I found this, Nikki! Beautiful beautiful videography and photos. You are an amazing lady, congratulations on completing the JMT! 🤩🥲😍
Hello Nikki, came across this video of yours👍 I camped @ Woods creek suspension bridge with you and a host of others. I remember having pleasant conversations with you and the others. I was feeling slightly less than my best and I remember Francis ? the guy playing the guitar kindly giving me some hot tea bags. Your footage @ the the Woods creek campsite included a couple sec. of me at the bearbox during the rain “Blue Rain jacket & rain kilt. I repeated the JMT again NOBO from Cottonwood to Happy Isles again end of June early July 2022. Nice meeting you and congratulations on you JMT adventure.
36:52 amazing reflection.
Love how you capture the grand scenery and the flora a and fauna.
Your photography is wonderful. I have watched a lot of trail videos and enjoy them all, but thought your pics were some of the best. Gratz on your accomplishment.
Wow what an adventure & accomplishment!! U are amazing. Such beautiful sights.
I am in total admiration. Good job and great attitude!
Wow! I’m so happy I came across this video!! I am planning on hiking the JMT sometime next year and your video was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your journey and giving me both the confidence and excitement to walk the trail myself. It helped so much to see it from start to finish to give me a good idea of stopping points and approx. amount of days to complete it. Your video and photography was just beautiful. My favorite was the Mount Whitney summit and the way the sun just looked like gold! OMG, that was just stunning! And seeing all the wonderful people you met on the trail is so fantastic. I plan to do the hike with a friend but it was so nice to see that even as a SOLO hike, you met so many people. I would love to see you on the trails one day :-). I just subscribed to your channel.
Thoroughly enjoyed your trip! Unlike so many other videos I've watched of the 211 mile hike on the JMT, yours was easily one of the most enjoyable. You took the time to "smell the roses" and stopped to enjoy more wildlife, big and small, than I've seen on any other videos of the hike. And your attitude is great. I'm surprised you had as much rain as you did but that's one of the aspects of the hike. (the umbrella was a good idea) If I planned the hike, I would take as much time as you did, simply to enjoy my walk. Thanks for sharing and I'm marking it as one of my favorite videos!
What a kind comment. Thank you so much for taking the time to see through my eyes. I hope to do it again this year and see all new stuff! See you on the trail!
I really appreciate you sharing your JMT journey. It's amazing to me how unique each person's story is as they take on the many challenges of this through hike. You captured so many beautiful scenes that have a unique and peaceful rhythm. Thank you Sparkles.
Great adventure.😍
Thank you for making the effort to create a lovely video that showcased the scenery so well. You were blessed with some awesome wildlife encounters and filmed them like a pro! Great job, in addition to the huge accomplishment of completing the John Muir Trail. Thank you for sharing the trip of a lifetime!
Loved this beautiful video .
You are a very awesome 😎 person. Powerful!!!
Thank you!
We (my brother and I) was on the Selden Pass part of the trail when you were there. For a drought year, that was a really rainy hike. Loved your video. Great combination of stills and videos. Loved you showing your emotions as you went down the trail. I remember my high and low emotions when I did the JMT solo (now a long time ago).
Thank you for posting this wonderful journey of yours!
Thanks! I’m thinking maybe I’ll do it again this summer!
Wow, wow! So many things to say. This video and that trail are beautiful and amazing; you are beautiful and amazing. Thank you for sharing!
A powerful inspiration to get on the trail......thank you!
Thanks for sharing Sparkles, your motivating!
At around 19:00 it's so beautiful! Wow...
That’s Island Pass, in the Ansel Adams Wilderness
Enjoyed your approach to the trail. Lot's of photos to share that other hikers rushed by. Thanks
Thank you!
Hey I saw you on the trail and talked to you right at the turn off to Whitney from the pct/jmt, my buddy had purple shorts! Aug 1.. I'm happy to see you made it! 🙏🤘❤️
Yep I remember you chillin on a boulder. I hope you had a wonderful rest of your walk!
Thanks for sharing. My wife and i hope to do next summer.
Amazing video! Thank you so much for posting 💕
Lovely video. Thanks much for sharing.
Thank you!
Beautiful photography.
Thanks! 😀
wow congrats. you are now ready to do pct, cdt, or at which ever one you choose.
Love this national park, passed by there many many years ago during studies in the US. Stay safe
My son and i started NOBO on July 7… we had to cross paths with you at some point! Great video!
Thank you! I hope you caught some fish!
I am really enjoying your video.
Loving the view from your lenses ❣️. Great shots of such extraordinary scenery!
Remember that you are a beast girl!!! Thank you for the encouragement, I hope to do the JMT by 2024.
Thank you so much!
I love watching your videos. I’m from Washington state but I have migrated south to South Carolina. I regret that I never visited the John Muir trail. Maybe one day… Until then thank you for taking me there.
Thanks for watching! I’m from Washington State too. I was so happy to fall in love with the Sierra. You should definitely make it happen. It’s wonderful
You rock! I'm almost finished watching this, inspired by your courage and bravery to hike that route solo. Girl power for sure! I just had to pause and write a comment after seeing 1:06:15 where I'm wondering what are we looking at? some small creature? and then antlers pop out from the left side if the boulder and you stayed with it for over 1.5 minutes and there's another surprise. You could be a wildlife filmmaker for the patience it takes to capture that. Thank you so much for taking the time to enjoy your journey. Too many just trudge through that beautiful wilderness (for whatever reason and I understand food supply and safety) but you really take time to take it all in in your own sweet time. Although I don't know you I'm so proud of you for going after your dream and making it a reality. I have climbed Half Dome in Yosemite and that part of the country is one of my favourite places in California. But I climbed up and down from Yosemite valley and back in a day. I have never carried my own supplies to camp outdoors, totally self reliant. I think I need to set another goal.
Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement and your thoughtful reply! Climbing Half Dome is no small feat! You should be extremely proud of that! I did that in a day many years ago as well and dang, that’s a gnarly one day walk!
The deer and the small wildlife moments were some of my favorite moments on the trail. The vastness of those places and the length of the trail are sometimes very overwhelming. In past long sections I have hiked out there I have been overwhelmed with those aspects so on this trip I made a practice of being as present as I could and seeing what was actually around me. It kept me from doing trail math (6.5 miles to camp 156.4 miles til the end of the trail, 14 days to go, etc) and it really made me appreciate the small gifts that are so much bigger than just the scenery.
Backpacking is a wonderful activity, if you have any interest I would definitely encourage you to try it. It feels like special access to secret places of the world that most people will never see and that is only granted with sweat and grit. 100% worth it.
@@nikkihikes I do want to backpack and for the very reasons you state here. Do you have a book or website to refer me to?
Awesome video
Wow!!! Well done!! I have so much admiration for you, what a tremendous achievement!! Your photography was fabulous, what an incredibly beautiful trail! I'm in the uk so we have no dangerous wildlife here, hiking on your own are you not afraid of bears in particular? So proud of you and you have to be very proud of yourself! Thank you for a wonderful video, will subscribe and watch some of your other hiking trips!!
Thank you so much for watching! There are a lot of Black Bears here in the Sierra Nevada but they are not hunters and primarily eat berries and bugs. They scare easily and behave like stray dogs. The most important consideration is food storage so that they won’t be interested in stealing your provisions. I am not afraid of animals in the Sierra. 2 legged monsters are way scarier and I feel pretty secure deep in the wilderness :)
Just finished the video and you are amazing and inspiring !!! That was such an accomplishment!!! Keep it up !!! At 60 I discovered this great kind of adventure 5 years ago and wish it would have been years ago . So much I want to see and do . !!!!!
I’m really fortunate in that I spent most of my childhood outside on the Olympic Peninsula. My dad took me on my first backpacking trip at age 13 so wilderness has always been part of my world.
I’m so thankful to see woman in my age group doing this! Such inspiration ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@@nikkihikes Fellow former Washingtonian here--born and raised in the Longview and Kalama areas along I-5. I didn't spend much time in the Olympics but did spend a fair bit of time in the Goat Rocks wilderness and did a few trips around the Glacier Peak area. I'm living in OR now but will be headed to Yosemite this September to hike the Kerrick/Matterhorn canyon loop, starting out of Mono Village. Great job on the JMT trip and filming it!
You have a great eye for photography and video. I'll be hiking the JMT sobo late July Happy Isles to Whitney in 2022
Thanks so much! I hope to be doing the same around the same time. 😁
Congrats Nikki!! Loved the video!
Thanks!! How was your HST adventure?
@@nikkihikes It was fantastic! I may do it again next summer and take my wife too! If you're interested, let us know!
@@RolandLabana definitely!
Wonderfull place!
The woman, the myth, the legend: Sparkles.
DEAN!!! You gotta find me on the socials man (if you do that)! I sent pics to Mike but I don’t have your contact info. It was such a cool adventure and im so glad you were part of it 🥰💝
Okay Miss Sparkles tell me this, who captures a Hummingbird moth on film and includes the drama of a dim witted lizard just missing lunch? I'll tell you young lady you have talent and grit. Outstanding production. Great accomplishment?
You know I think you’re the first one to mention that! I was fascinated with the sphinx moth and took a bunch of footage of it wanting to know if it was a bird or moth. I didn’t notice the skink until I reviewed the videos later! I almost felt bad, like he missed his shot because he was wary of me. But such is the circle of life. It was really great to focus on the tiny things I found happening in the vastness of that terrain. Thank you for the lovely compliment. I can’t wait to do it again.
Thanks so much for sharing your journey! I just finished watching! Do you have a blog or anything? I am interested in more details about your resupply plan.
I don’t have a blog but I do a lot on Instagram @snoflkz for resupply I purchased a little bit from Tuolumne Meadow, I took the bus into mammoth at reds and got food at vons, I mailed myself a bucket to MtR with the remaining 10 days of supplies. I did not hire a mule or go out over Kearsarge.
The trail always provides
Wow you killed it! Thank you for sharing your adventure. I watched the whole thing and loved every minute. I loved all of the detail and your daily updates. The sound of your footsteps on the granite and all of the wildlife! I have been thinking about doing this trail for a number of years and I’m really inspired to somehow find the time to do it. It looked magical! Quick question, what did you use to film it?
Thanks so much for watching and enjoying and for all of your kind words! I shot the whole thing on my iPhone 13 pro max. You should definitely go and spend some time out there. I can’t wait to go back
Really nice video! Thanks for sharing
Thank you!! Thanks for watching!!
@@nikkihikes you're welcome 😊 we really enjoy filming our adventures also
Just watched your video. I really enjoyed your documenting and the extra tilde spent capturing the beauty. You are an inspiration. I’m watching your pct hike now. Is there more than one episode? Thank you for being so brave and being completely authentic and open. Well done and congratulations.
Thanks so much! We are doing the next section of the PcT at the end of April.
I absolutely enjoyed your video. I missed my chance of doing a thru hike of the JMT so this was a great virtual hike for me. Maybe one day we'll bump into each other on the hikes.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it! It’s a small world for sure
@@nikkihikes Watching this video again. I can't get enough of it as you are taking me through Sierra sights I am never going to see in person.
My son and I probably crossed paths with you. We were north bound starting on July 6.
Do you have a gear list you would share with a newbie to the Sierras? Loved your video. Planning a trip in August, hoping to do Silver to JMT to Mammoth.
Not that you have the time or want to carry around a cotton ball and some tape but you can tape a couple of cotton balls around your microphone to cut out the wind.
I really wonder if Yosemite is the best part of this trail, the rest of it is very rocky and arid.
I agree. I loved the video but don't think this one is for me. I got an 8 day, 7 night backpacking permit for Yosemite starting from Happy Isles. I'll just go around Yosemite - Half Dome, Sunrise Lakes, Cloud's Rest, Cathedral. I think Yosemite high country is the best part of this trail.
It is rocky and arid for much of the trail. The giant views above the trees and the starkness of the lakes in the basin is a draw for many. Every time you go over a high pass you drop back down into a lush river drainage with lots of streams, trees, wildflowers and mosquitoes. But that was a smaller percentage of the hike, about every day or day and a half.
Beautiful.
Love your videos.
Especially no music.
No greater sound than boots on gravel and flowing water.
Inserted music the reason I no longer watch Catherine Gregory.
But at least she told me about your site !
Thank you. I agree :)
Watching now. So far I note 2 things;
1) that hail storm reminds me very much of what we experienced coming over Silver Pass.
2) of COURSE you slept at Purple Lake! Was there even a choice? :))
I definitely was required to camp at Purple lake, and that was a running joke out there for a few days. A couple hikers I saw a few times but didn’t meet actually referred to me as ‘purple girl’. Haha
@@nikkihikes That’s the exact name I would’ve given you! lol
Great video though I loved it, I especially loved that you didn’t put music to it. The stillness and the quiet of the forest and the mountains It’s something that stands out, at least to me anyway, when you’re out there and your video really captured that.
I especially loved entire section from evolution valley all the way to Woods Creek bridge. Of course we went the other direction but Woods Creek bridge, over Pinchot, GORGEOUS Lake Marjorie, Mather Pass, beautiful Palisades Lakes and the stunning view from the top of the golden staircase down into Leconte Canyon, then up and over Muir Pass all the way down into evolution valley was my favorite section of the entire trail. Thanks so much for reminding me how much I loved that hike. I would 100% (and will) do it again one of these days!
I am glad you liked it too. The heavy quietness and stillness was something that I loved. It was so easy to spot creatures because nothing else moved at all. Am I still going to see you in like a week?
1:10:34 see that lizard go after the butterfly/moth?
In Aug, we are starting from Reds Meadows to Whitney and looking for a long term parking in Mammoth Lakes. Do you have any suggestions where can I leave the car? Due to the altitude sickness of my husband, we stop at the Reds and we got a permit and I’m driving from Fl. and picking hike up from Reno.
You can park along the road near the main lodge of mammoth. That’s where you catch the bus to Reds Meadows
how did the suntastics solar panel work out for you?
I had used this S7 for about 4 years now and it has done well on all but that trip. I think it was maybe a cord issue but it wouldn’t charge my anker battery and I had to charge my devices directly from the panel and it was very slow… but typically it has been great. I haven’t taken it out on any of my trips since but I intend to bring it on the HST next week. Hopefully it doesn’t let me down.
You live in Mammoth! Awesome are you from there? I'm originally from Lone Pine. I don't see many folks on trail from our neck of the woods!
Hi! I don’t actually live in Mammoth. I live in LA county but I work have worked in Mammoth for the last 6 years and spend a lot of my time there and all along the 395 corridor!
@@nikkihikes ah OK awesome. 👍 The Owen's Valley is a special place. I am going back next summer to hike the JMT myself. Thank you for sharing your adventures
You videos are of such high quality compared to those of many other hikers. 1. What camera are you using? 2. I don't see you wear the camera, so is it hand held, and if so how in the world do you keep is so on point? Will be hiking through in mid July 2022. Thanks for your beautiful videos . Freddie
Thank you so much for your kind comment. I hope to be out again in July as well. My whole video and pictures were shot and edited with my iPhone13 pro max. I used to take a dslr but I haven’t in several years
Where did you say you started from again? Happy Isles?
Hi! Yes I started at Happy Isles and finished at Whitney Portal.
Thank you for a beautiful journey of JMT. After Muir Ranch resupply, you took 10-11 days of food without second resupply?
Hi! Thanks for watching. Yes I took 10 days of food from MTR. I have a bearicade expedition and I felt pretty strong by then so it was not too bad. I didn’t want to have to time meeting a resupply or hike all the way down to onion valley. It worked for me.
Thank you, Sparkles for the video I really enjoyed it. Did you film it entirely with your phone? And, if so what model was it?
Beautiful !!! How much does your pack weigh ?
I didn’t weigh it until I finished at Whitney Portal. What I don’t know can’t hurt me ;). Hahaha! It was 42 lbs with no water and some left over food. At one point I carried 11 days of food. I know my pack is heavy but I weigh a lot and am strong so percentages wise, it’s not so bad.
How heavy is your back pack?
Around 50 lbs. it varies depending on how many days of food I’m carrying. One day of food weighs about 2 lbs and I’ve carried as long as 11 days at a time. So then my pack is way heavier!
Oh my goodness, that is heavy. I don’t think I can do that.
@@thienthan324 there are lots of people who carry lighter packs. You can get lighter gear or bring less stuff. I weigh a lot so it’s not as tough on me. You want your pack to be no more than 20% of your body weight. I take a few extra comfort items and things to keep my camera charged. Most people think my pack is too heavy probably.
👍🏻
Where is that lake at 40:10
That is Marie Lake on the North side of Selden Pass. It was one of the prettiest spots for sure.
Solo? Wow, impressive.