Totally agree on the importance of clean feet. Having a nightly footcare routine can make a trip quite a bit more pleasant. If your feet ain't happy - ain't nobody happy.
I ran one marathon years ago. Mostly to prove to myself that I could do it. And I felt amazing crossing the line. Then I signed up again the next year. And I trained hard for it. Every single day I was doing something to prepare. And I enjoyed it at first. But the closer I got to the race, the less I wanted to do it. During the race, I got to mile 22 and just thought to myself, why am I doing this again?! I didn't hit a physical or mental wall. I just didn't want to do it anymore. I did finish and improve my time. But after that I took a good break. I still run. But only 2-3 miles, three times a week. And it made me love it again after my break. I just realized I was overdoing it. And by stepping back, it made me appreciate it again.
To those who would like to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc: Actually the TMB is also doable with tents, very well in fact, you don't have to hike from hut to hut and/or sleep in those. In France "bivouac" (setting up a shelter like a tent) is allowed from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. and there is often a dedicated area near a hut. In Italy wildcamping is strictly forbidden but there are official camp sides around Courmayeur and you are allowed to set up a tent if you are above 2500 meters. In Switzerland there are a lot of official camp sides, wildcamping is strictly forbidden. I hiked the TMB with a tent and never slept in a hut. If someone is interested in doing some hikes in Western Europe with a tent, I highly recommend the French Alps or the Pyrenees, because you are allowed to 'bivouac' in most of the areas. There are a lot of great trails. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Darwin. I love your documentaries, the one about the Himalayas will be awesome as well, I'm sure (one day I will hike the AZT, just because of "Through The Great Southwest" 😍).
Thanks for commenting as I was going to say the same. I did the TMB in 2018, spending 6 of 7 nights in a tent. I couldn’t camp 1 night in Italy and had to do a refugio instead.
@@patrickmolzahn9380 Yes, Italy can be tricky. Above Rifugio Walter Bonatti is a spot you can reach relatively easily (or when taking the high route you will cross that area anyway).
I have the Onx Backcountry app and was disappointed they don’t show water sources. It’s such an important feature. From what I can see FarOut is the only app that has this noted on their trails. I did call and recommend this as a function on the app. As for feet I’m a big advocate for NOT wearing socks to sleep. During colder months I have the EE booties if required but I think feet need to breath when not hiking. Happy trails.🤘🏻🥾⛰️
Doesn't it show lakes, rivers, creeks, and springs? I don't have ONX, but I thought it used the USGS maps as a base. That would be a weird mapping system if it doesn't show water features.
I live in the Sierra and due to fluctuating snow levels and summer heat I can NEVER count on water unless it is a lake. The only app is far out and that is only for 2 trails. Sure, even paper maps show streams, etc., but I know not to rely on them. I don’t know how an app could provide real time conditions unless it is imaging for you in real time. Sounds impossible, but I didn’t think a computer smaller than a deck of cards was possible either not too long ago. I tend to go to the all trails comments.
@@kristymoore7052 I live by the AT and even water sources noted are sometimes dry but still good to know what could be flowing on the trail. It definitely helps to be able to post comments.
You don't have to finish what you started. That's a Puritanical approach to what should be enjoyment. If it's not fun, why keep going? To each their own!
This was such a helpful video. Being a newbie to thru hiking and finishing a month on the PCT it’s been a real struggle to get out of the post hike funk. Always wanting to do nothing more than to get back out there. I’m glad I fell in love with it but this helps to quiet that inner voice and just enjoy planning the next outing.
I did the TMB exclusively with a tent, many camping options on the tmb, it's like a refuge just they give you a spot to pitch your tent. You can shower, do laundry, buy food. It's great and much prefer my privacy and I can't sleep next to heavy snoring.
Yes! I came into these comments to point out that many people camp along the TMB! There are also wild bivouacing options in many places in the Frenh and Swiss Alps and in the Pyrenees. Google the limitations (tent up late and down early, one night only away from towns and roads above the treeline). When I did the Alta Via I and II in the Dolomites, they were letting folks camp outside the refuges if you agreed to eat dinner there.
I do not really have that mundane thingy on a thru hike :) my mind is working a bit weird I guess :D ( thanks for the nice video again Darwin and teaching me a new word (mundane)) edit extra what I hate most on the trails are all those goals my fellow hikers are setting for them self's Have to make the miles have to be there, no time to talk, o wow good view no picture, its a race, Fastest know time , have to do every inch of this trail, etc etc etc I know why they do it, and it makes me sad (I hate to feel sad) because I know how it can and should be if they let that ego go and just treat it like a holiday and that it is not about the miles or the end or the goal. They will get that Mundane thingy :)
In case you're interested in wild camping I welcome you to travel here into North Europe. In Finland we have multiple National parks with large wildernes areas. Usually there are some marked trails and then larger wilderness area. Similar places are also across the border in Sweden and Norway. And when it comes to navigation, what could be more fun than good 'ol map and compas. Not knowing the exact location and using surroundings, elevation etc. together with the map is part of the experience imho. Gps is still a good backup and a safetynet though.
Great video after 100 days on the PCT this year the mental game started to grind me down and the slog started. After dodging fires I have taken some time off to be with my wife and family. It has been a nice break. I wanted a continuous foot path but I also wanted to prioritize having fun. Part of the having fun mind set was learned from what you’ve communicated about your hikes. I’m looking forward to getting back on Trail next week and I’ll push as far as I can, but I’m gonna make damn sure I’m having fun while I’m on the trail even though it might be a little bit of type two now and then, hopefully not too much type three 🤣. Take it easy and thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Love your honesty Darwin. I totally agree re mundanety. I've been through periods of sticking around a trail town campsite for days with zero motivation and my tent began to feel like a prison. I didn't look after myself, didn't eat properly, maybe had a few too many beers and just kinda entered a downward spiral almost into some kind of depressive state. But it's amazing how a shower, good food, rehydration and maybe even a shave and a haircut then hitting the trail again soon reminds me of why we love doing this. It's getting stuck in an inactive rut that I have to watch out for. I've discovered a new-found fascination with history, so when the trail in Cyprus wasn't doing it for me, I spent a TON of time visiting historical sites. Now, my hikes are richer than ever by diversifying the hike from being just 'a hike'. And when I am stuck in my tent, I enjoy history podcasts as well now. So diversification really helps keep the fires burning.
Right on. One of big secrets of thru-hiking is that, after a while on the trail, it gets boring AF. It gets to the point where the obstacles - blisters, dysentery, blowdowns, fire detours, shitty weather, etc. becomes the most interesting parts of the process. Nowadays I limit backpacking trips to no more than 5 days. That way it stays fresh and interesting. The end is always in sight.
Depends on person and hike. I recently did my longest hike (2 months) and as time passed I got less and less bored. I never listened to music or podcasts. It wasn't a particularity spectacular hike either. In fact by faaar the most boring section was first 5 days into I relaxed into the hike
It’s cool, i feel like we had a similar arch with our passions in adventuring. Your videos have been a huge help through the years, and I’m glad you’re back. Thanks dude
I would recommend the book "Fixing Your Feet" to anyone looking to do any long-distance activity likely to cause foot issues. The book is a bit exhaustive (which can be exhausting), but my big takeaway was that there are a ton of factors that can cause foot issues and just being aware of them can be extremely helpful to guiding your actions and equipment choices. Washing your feet is an excellent one though and you even see elite ultrarunners taking the time to quickly clean their feet in the middle of races even when every second matters.
Love your content, man! Inspired by the authenticity and passion for the outdoors. Love my Ranger pack and looking forward to working it into my section-hiking rhythms.
One thing that has been a great help to me during my AT thru hike (day 87) is self optimism. Instead of I’m tired, it’s I’m going to do a half day and hang out somewhere cool, maybe go see a town, maybe cheering other people up who are feeling tired. I’d rather be here than at work
Outside of nature preserves, wild camping is actually allowed here in Switzerland as long you're not in a group and above the tree line (i.e. about 1900+ meters). Also, emergency camping is generally allowed and since it's hard to classify what exactly constitutes an emergency (it got dark..?) that gives you quite a bit of additional leeway.
You can definitely camp on the TMB as I have done, there are actual paid campsites, wild camping in some areas or camping outside the refuges. Many people camp because booking the refuges can be impossible in the summer, due to popularity.
I take the foot care one step further (see what I did there); I clean my feet at least twice per day if water sources allow it. I also rinse out my socks and switch between my two pairs of socks daily. I think soaking my feet in cold water helps by cooling them down in addition to cleaning them.
Interesting take on thru-hiking! It's refreshing to hear about the not-so-glamorous side of long-distance hiking. Appreciate the honesty and the answers to other questions too. Keep sharing the real stuff - it's super helpful for those of us considering our own hiking adventures. Cheers, Simon - Tales From Abroad
About the content creation advice: I must have curated my UA-cam/ social media well because the advice you give is exactly what everyone else says that I've seen answering this question 😅. Basically: do what you love
Really interesting to hear your take on the mundanity of thru-hikes. I started following your channel a few years back while thinking wistfully about my thru of the AT in ‘00 and daydreaming about hiking the PCT. A big part of that desire stems from the simplicity of waking up every day and knowing exactly what you’re going to do. In my head, I was too young to appreciate it for what it was at the time and imagine that I’d be able to now, but perhaps you’re right and the mundane is mundane no matter what. I still have hopes of filling out the triple crown someday, but you’ve given me some food for thought!
I also think that with thru hikers, you are walking so fast and putting in so many hours just to get from point a to point b, you are missing half the fun of just enjoying the scenery and the sensations around you. I mean what's the point of putting 15 or 20 miles in a day if you don't see the scenery and all you are seeing in the trail in front of you.
I agree with your advice about UA-cam. I’m creeping up on 6 years of making videos. For a lot of that time I chased the algorithm, and tried to make what I thought people wanted to see. And in the end that approach robbed a lot of the fun out it for me. It was often depressing and never truly fulfilling. This year I’ve taken a step back, tried to figure out what I want to create, and just accepted that I won’t be some big channel with hundreds of thousands of subscribers. The handful of folks who check my stuff out, seem to enjoy it, and it’s more fun for me.
Same with my channel. It's not big (less than 40 subscribers) but I'm happy with what I produce. Could it be better? Definitely. Will it? Probably not since I'm not gunning for large crowds using click bait titles.
@@robynroamsoutdoorsI guess it depends on how you define improvement. I’ve been focused on more interesting editing styles trying to tell a story with as few words as possible. My viewership has actually dropped a little, but the engagement has increased. I get more comments etc. I feel I’ve improved as a storyteller and videographer. Personal improvements like that are more important to me than seeing bigger numbers.
@@LostAgainwithJim that's awesome. Improving your style is a key thing and one that should be worked on. I'm still finding mine. I get more interactions from my 60 second shorts than my long videos. So I have been focusing on those. Glad you are working on your style and have found one.
@@robynroamsoutdoors I think the most important realization I came to was that it’s not a competition. As long as I feel my next video is better than the last, I doing good! That’s interesting about the shorter videos. Kind of a cool bit of data!
@@LostAgainwithJim it's definitely always a work in progress. My first videos were clips from video games but changed it all up for outdoor stuff. I'm much happier with that and enjoy making them when I get a chance to.
Great questions and video, love you and the channel! Learned so much about hiking the last 5 years because of you! Just finished my second thru-hike in Switzerland called the Haute Route (High Route). For sure a hike you should consider when you go to europe again. Did it when you where hiking the TMB. I did the TMB 2 years ago. The Haute Route is much more higher elevated and less crowded. Starting in Chamonix and ending in Zermatt. You should check it out!! Love you man!
Except in Italy where it is forbidden to use a tent in the mountains, it is very common to find campsites in France. Specifically on the TMB, the French side is dotted with campsites, sometimes with free donation and sometimes free. In Switzerland, too, there are campsites on the TMB though less frequent
@@dankenyon924 Yes, 100% true. Although going up 2500m means deviating a lot from the TMB route, and the campsites on the other hand are often in the valley... this also very often means deviating from the route... I know it from experience 😢
Great video! You should get into trail running! There are some excellent long-distance trail races that would be very good for you where you get the long distance done in a short time period, like the Cocodona 250. You're fast enough as well.
1000% A lot of people love camping....or backpacking....but in general those involve short duration excursions and often not a ton of monotony or distance. Not everyone has experienced or enjoys shouldering a pack with the prospect of 4, 5, 6, or even 7 hours on the trail all day....every day....for days or weeks or months on end. Being in places with epic scenery helps but even in some of the worlds most beautiful places there can be stretches of trail that are basically the same for half the day and those just get LOOOOONNG....and there's nothing for it but to just put your head down and keep walking....let your mind go somewhere else and try not to think about it. Those are the hardest moments...mostly because they are not just "moments" but actually hours on end and can somewhat frequent depending on the location of the through hike.
I grew up in the 60’s hiking with rolling over in my bag and boiling up breakfast. Fast forward as I hiked into critter life with hiking, I had to adapt to food storage rules and separate even the coffee time from my shelter area. But oh how at times I miss that (grins) I also know how having a job doing day after day wilderness inventory hiking and backpacking can kill the joy.
During my PCT thru, about half way I started HATING filtering water. Not sure why that was the thing that stood out, but especially as it got hot and I filtered about a gallon a day, I just couldn’t stand doing it. Wanted to quit multiple times just cause I was so sick of filtering water all day, every day.
I just came back from the TMB and I sleptmostly in my tent. Only once in a hut. Many hikers do the same. Bivouaking (pitching your tent after 7 pm and leaving before 9 am) is legal in France and above 2,500 m also in Italy. Only in Switzerland it is forbidden, so you need to find a campground or sleep in a hut. The "Bare Essential Campers's Tour Du Mont Blanc" by K.R. Allcoat lists all authorized and unauthorized camp sites.
hi Darwin, I saw you on the TMB last week at the Gites les mottets - I wanted to point out that the TMB can be done camping - some refuges will allow you to pitch a tent near to the refuge (especially if you pay for dinner / BreaKfast). also there are many camp sites on the TMB - Ive done the TMB several times - without refuges , only camping and a mix. However I do speak French and that helps!
Hey Nic, I don't recall ever hearing you talk about how you deal with mosquitos, and I don't remember seeing anything about repellent in your gear videos. Maybe I've missed it, but curious about how you approach this. Thanks, I enjoy your content.
1. Agree. I'm fine for the first couple MONTHS. It sounds insane that people walk for so long. But after a couple of months on the trail...I get bored. Just walking for the sake of walking miles. I know, I know, it's a privilege, it's true, it is. But I start to think about my office in my home. I miss my dog. Sure after a couple months home...I start to miss the trail and think about hiking again. Maybe I should make a time limit...two months and then I'm go back home. It's sad to be on such beautiful trails and just want to end it. But, it is what it is. 2. I HATE the thru hiker puritanical mantra that you have to hit "every blaze". What happened to just having fun? I don't WANT to care what others hikers think. If you say that you took a blue route to see a fun town...you're not a "real" hiker. What exactly is a "real hiker". I'm at about 12,000 miles with a backpack on. I shouldn't have to justify where I hike or how I hike.
Just want to point on to anyone thinking about the TMB its not just a hut to hut trail. Many people (including myself) camp the entire route, there are campsites along the way and there are legal wild camping spots in France, Italy has its own rules and Switzerland isnt allowed. To say its only a hut to hut trial is factually wrong
Hmmm I didn't get the mundane feeling with bikepacking (at least not on the full GDMBR). I wonder if that's because I'm moving quicker through more varied terrain or if I do it even more that it will become that way as well.
The anticipation of getting out there is such a powerful force. Yeah, then the mundane. I think there’s a bit of machochism (sp) involved and the fact of overcoming and conquering. But don’t you love the first miles of some new kicks and having your guitar riff-ear worm playing in your head.
I have a leg injury that has me off the trails for over a month and possibly another month to go. I’m going crazy without being able to hike, be physically active, and get out into the back country. Have you ever had to hang it up for a while? If so, how did you deal with it mentally?
Darwin hasn’t answered yet, but I’d like to chime in. Last August I woke up and could not walk!?!? Sciatica! Took a road trip and hobbled to various overlooks in places I’d rather be hiking in, like the North Rim Grand Canyon. I was so mad and depressed, feeling that perhaps my future was my present. Was laid up for four months, then A LOT of PT later, I’m set to embark on the John Muir Trail next week. Hopefully I still have a decade or two, (I’m 60) before I face more permanent immobility issues. During my down time I planned and planned and planned future backpack trips and I know it helped me mentally get to the other side.
@@kristymoore7052 much appreciated! I am trying to remind myself that this is actually a short blip in a long life, even when it feels like a long blip in a short life. Glad to hear you are back out there 🙂
Taking care of your feet by taking a 40-60 minute break while taking off your boots/socks and elevating your feet. This allows the blood to flow away from your feet, let's your feet cool off, let's your boots/socks to air out and cool off.
After eating breakfast those smells would linger on your tent when you open that night. I personally don't worry too much because your much more likely to die driving to the woods than from anything in the woods.
Do you think the reason you fall out of love of thru hiking is the lack of proper nutrition? I'm into weight lifting these days and all anyone talks about is the need for protein. Weight lifters try to get 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight every day. That's how they build and maintain their muscles. Getting that on the trail would be hard so you are essentially falling a part on the trail.
@@Nynke_K It's mostly about nuances. In German "irritiert" will often be used like "suprised", not necessarily in a negative way: something unexpected happened. Your reaction to that might be negative but not necessarily so. I am no native English speaker but to me irritated is somewhat similar to being annoyed by so. or sth.. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
#1 suck about backpacking is the indignity of being forced to crap in the woods (and in some places, forced to carry your crap out). Sure youtubers will minimize this but it is by far such a lame thing and gets old really fast. Better to offroad car camp with a porta potty and shelter from bugs. Bugs...the #2 suck about backpacking. Until you've actually experienced swarms of biting bugs or ticks, no amount of spray , citronella, etc helps. #3 Backpackers SMELL. Ive known plenty of through hikers and of course they shower but they all eventually pick up a gross smell that stays with them always. Worse, they all get used to it so they don't realize they smell bad.
@@DarwinOnthetrail Every day is a blessing, especially if we are not laborers in a third world country. Although one could argue that they don't know of a better lifestyle so who are we to judge?
Great advise on trying to grow a UA-cam channel. I’m trying to talk about gear and hiking while I’m actually using the gear and hiking on my channel. And yes please like share and subscribe;) I promise it won’t be a cheese fest.
Regarding the not eating where you sleep, Darwin hasn't hiked where grizzlies or mountain goats are present. Cooking on a backcountry camp site in Canada national park and you'll get a massive bill if caught. Laziness does not justify not following "Leave no trace" and other safety concerns for others following after you.
I sure have. Many of times, but thanks for assuming. I would NEVER eat in my tent, then stay the night in it right after. That will attract animals while sleeping. I do however drink coffee in the morning from my tent, then pack up & leave. 😉
That's why us true expert level hikers (not these phony utubers), don't bring any food at all with us when we camp. it's reckless and dangerous and embarrassingly amateur to drop even one crumb so the safest thing is just to eat before and after your thru hikes. Wykyk.
I truly despise people who choose to look for adventure, then get mad when they find it. This typically results in social media posts that are akin to a prisoner of war on a death march. We all struggle, get blisters, sore legs, and rained on from time to time. But nobody did that to you, except you.
In a world of nauseating content creators and live love laugh/ gear-bros UA-cam hikers, you're a good dude.
Totally agree on the importance of clean feet. Having a nightly footcare routine can make a trip quite a bit more pleasant. If your feet ain't happy - ain't nobody happy.
FO SHO! Keep them dogs happy & they'll keep you happy 😄
I ran one marathon years ago. Mostly to prove to myself that I could do it. And I felt amazing crossing the line. Then I signed up again the next year. And I trained hard for it. Every single day I was doing something to prepare. And I enjoyed it at first. But the closer I got to the race, the less I wanted to do it.
During the race, I got to mile 22 and just thought to myself, why am I doing this again?! I didn't hit a physical or mental wall. I just didn't want to do it anymore. I did finish and improve my time. But after that I took a good break.
I still run. But only 2-3 miles, three times a week. And it made me love it again after my break. I just realized I was overdoing it. And by stepping back, it made me appreciate it again.
To those who would like to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc: Actually the TMB is also doable with tents, very well in fact, you don't have to hike from hut to hut and/or sleep in those. In France "bivouac" (setting up a shelter like a tent) is allowed from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. and there is often a dedicated area near a hut. In Italy wildcamping is strictly forbidden but there are official camp sides around Courmayeur and you are allowed to set up a tent if you are above 2500 meters. In Switzerland there are a lot of official camp sides, wildcamping is strictly forbidden. I hiked the TMB with a tent and never slept in a hut.
If someone is interested in doing some hikes in Western Europe with a tent, I highly recommend the French Alps or the Pyrenees, because you are allowed to 'bivouac' in most of the areas. There are a lot of great trails.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Darwin. I love your documentaries, the one about the Himalayas will be awesome as well, I'm sure (one day I will hike the AZT, just because of "Through The Great Southwest" 😍).
Thanks for commenting as I was going to say the same. I did the TMB in 2018, spending 6 of 7 nights in a tent. I couldn’t camp 1 night in Italy and had to do a refugio instead.
@@patrickmolzahn9380 Yes, Italy can be tricky. Above Rifugio Walter Bonatti is a spot you can reach relatively easily (or when taking the high route you will cross that area anyway).
I didn’t really say the you “couldn’t”
I was just referring to the “majority” of people stay in Refuges. Wild camping isn’t “as common”
Good to know. .....I snore so am terrified of sharing sleeping spaces!
@@CJoy076 dont worry there are loads of other snorers in the huts already :')
I have the Onx Backcountry app and was disappointed they don’t show water sources. It’s such an important feature. From what I can see FarOut is the only app that has this noted on their trails. I did call and recommend this as a function on the app. As for feet I’m a big advocate for NOT wearing socks to sleep. During colder months I have the EE booties if required but I think feet need to breath when not hiking. Happy trails.🤘🏻🥾⛰️
I've been helping to give feedback myself & this is high on my list too! 🤙
Doesn't it show lakes, rivers, creeks, and springs? I don't have ONX, but I thought it used the USGS maps as a base. That would be a weird mapping system if it doesn't show water features.
I live in the Sierra and due to fluctuating snow levels and summer heat I can NEVER count on water unless it is a lake. The only app is far out and that is only for 2 trails. Sure, even paper maps show streams, etc., but I know not to rely on them. I don’t know how an app could provide real time conditions unless it is imaging for you in real time. Sounds impossible, but I didn’t think a computer smaller than a deck of cards was possible either not too long ago. I tend to go to the all trails comments.
@@kristymoore7052 I live by the AT and even water sources noted are sometimes dry but still good to know what could be flowing on the trail. It definitely helps to be able to post comments.
Probably one of the best videos you have done in a while. Thank you for keeping things real.
You don't have to finish what you started. That's a Puritanical approach to what should be enjoyment. If it's not fun, why keep going? To each their own!
This was such a helpful video. Being a newbie to thru hiking and finishing a month on the PCT it’s been a real struggle to get out of the post hike funk. Always wanting to do nothing more than to get back out there. I’m glad I fell in love with it but this helps to quiet that inner voice and just enjoy planning the next outing.
I did the TMB exclusively with a tent, many camping options on the tmb, it's like a refuge just they give you a spot to pitch your tent.
You can shower, do laundry, buy food.
It's great and much prefer my privacy and I can't sleep next to heavy snoring.
Yes! I came into these comments to point out that many people camp along the TMB! There are also wild bivouacing options in many places in the Frenh and Swiss Alps and in the Pyrenees. Google the limitations (tent up late and down early, one night only away from towns and roads above the treeline). When I did the Alta Via I and II in the Dolomites, they were letting folks camp outside the refuges if you agreed to eat dinner there.
I do not really have that mundane thingy on a thru hike :) my mind is working a bit weird I guess :D ( thanks for the nice video again Darwin and teaching me a new word (mundane)) edit extra what I hate most on the trails are all those goals my fellow hikers are setting for them self's Have to make the miles have to be there, no time to talk, o wow good view no picture, its a race, Fastest know time , have to do every inch of this trail, etc etc etc I know why they do it, and it makes me sad (I hate to feel sad) because I know how it can and should be if they let that ego go and just treat it like a holiday and that it is not about the miles or the end or the goal. They will get that Mundane thingy :)
In case you're interested in wild camping I welcome you to travel here into North Europe. In Finland we have multiple National parks with large wildernes areas. Usually there are some marked trails and then larger wilderness area. Similar places are also across the border in Sweden and Norway. And when it comes to navigation, what could be more fun than good 'ol map and compas. Not knowing the exact location and using surroundings, elevation etc. together with the map is part of the experience imho. Gps is still a good backup and a safetynet though.
Great video after 100 days on the PCT this year the mental game started to grind me down and the slog started. After dodging fires I have taken some time off to be with my wife and family. It has been a nice break. I wanted a continuous foot path but I also wanted to prioritize having fun. Part of the having fun mind set was learned from what you’ve communicated about your hikes. I’m looking forward to getting back on Trail next week and I’ll push as far as I can, but I’m gonna make damn sure I’m having fun while I’m on the trail even though it might be a little bit of type two now and then, hopefully not too much type three 🤣. Take it easy and thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Darwin, your videos are awesome, authentic, and insightful!!
Thank you 🙏🏻
Love your honesty Darwin. I totally agree re mundanety. I've been through periods of sticking around a trail town campsite for days with zero motivation and my tent began to feel like a prison. I didn't look after myself, didn't eat properly, maybe had a few too many beers and just kinda entered a downward spiral almost into some kind of depressive state. But it's amazing how a shower, good food, rehydration and maybe even a shave and a haircut then hitting the trail again soon reminds me of why we love doing this. It's getting stuck in an inactive rut that I have to watch out for.
I've discovered a new-found fascination with history, so when the trail in Cyprus wasn't doing it for me, I spent a TON of time visiting historical sites. Now, my hikes are richer than ever by diversifying the hike from being just 'a hike'. And when I am stuck in my tent, I enjoy history podcasts as well now. So diversification really helps keep the fires burning.
Right on. One of big secrets of thru-hiking is that, after a while on the trail, it gets boring AF. It gets to the point where the obstacles - blisters, dysentery, blowdowns, fire detours, shitty weather, etc. becomes the most interesting parts of the process. Nowadays I limit backpacking trips to no more than 5 days. That way it stays fresh and interesting. The end is always in sight.
Depends on person and hike. I recently did my longest hike (2 months) and as time passed I got less and less bored. I never listened to music or podcasts. It wasn't a particularity spectacular hike either.
In fact by faaar the most boring section was first 5 days into I relaxed into the hike
It’s cool, i feel like we had a similar arch with our passions in adventuring. Your videos have been a huge help through the years, and I’m glad you’re back. Thanks dude
I would recommend the book "Fixing Your Feet" to anyone looking to do any long-distance activity likely to cause foot issues. The book is a bit exhaustive (which can be exhausting), but my big takeaway was that there are a ton of factors that can cause foot issues and just being aware of them can be extremely helpful to guiding your actions and equipment choices. Washing your feet is an excellent one though and you even see elite ultrarunners taking the time to quickly clean their feet in the middle of races even when every second matters.
GREAT BOOK! I read it years ago while racing Triathlon.
Love your content, man! Inspired by the authenticity and passion for the outdoors. Love my Ranger pack and looking forward to working it into my section-hiking rhythms.
One thing that has been a great help to me during my AT thru hike (day 87) is self optimism. Instead of I’m tired, it’s I’m going to do a half day and hang out somewhere cool, maybe go see a town, maybe cheering other people up who are feeling tired. I’d rather be here than at work
Outside of nature preserves, wild camping is actually allowed here in Switzerland as long you're not in a group and above the tree line (i.e. about 1900+ meters). Also, emergency camping is generally allowed and since it's hard to classify what exactly constitutes an emergency (it got dark..?) that gives you quite a bit of additional leeway.
I've never been backpacking, just short hikes. Your videos are so interesting!!
You can definitely camp on the TMB as I have done, there are actual paid campsites, wild camping in some areas or camping outside the refuges. Many people camp because booking the refuges can be impossible in the summer, due to popularity.
Loving what you do and sharing your experiences with the community! 😊
Great classic Q&A, authentic 😎👍
I take the foot care one step further (see what I did there); I clean my feet at least twice per day if water sources allow it. I also rinse out my socks and switch between my two pairs of socks daily. I think soaking my feet in cold water helps by cooling them down in addition to cleaning them.
Interesting take on thru-hiking! It's refreshing to hear about the not-so-glamorous side of long-distance hiking. Appreciate the honesty and the answers to other questions too. Keep sharing the real stuff - it's super helpful for those of us considering our own hiking adventures.
Cheers,
Simon - Tales From Abroad
About the content creation advice: I must have curated my UA-cam/ social media well because the advice you give is exactly what everyone else says that I've seen answering this question 😅. Basically: do what you love
Really interesting to hear your take on the mundanity of thru-hikes. I started following your channel a few years back while thinking wistfully about my thru of the AT in ‘00 and daydreaming about hiking the PCT. A big part of that desire stems from the simplicity of waking up every day and knowing exactly what you’re going to do. In my head, I was too young to appreciate it for what it was at the time and imagine that I’d be able to now, but perhaps you’re right and the mundane is mundane no matter what. I still have hopes of filling out the triple crown someday, but you’ve given me some food for thought!
I look forward to your Nepal video. Thank you for all of your content.
Thanks for the genuine videos, loved the Q&A
You answer questions and refer us to other vids you've done. Very smart!!! Also your edits are amazing!
I also think that with thru hikers, you are walking so fast and putting in so many hours just to get from point a to point b, you are missing half the fun of just enjoying the scenery and the sensations around you. I mean what's the point of putting 15 or 20 miles in a day if you don't see the scenery and all you are seeing in the trail in front of you.
I agree with your advice about UA-cam. I’m creeping up on 6 years of making videos. For a lot of that time I chased the algorithm, and tried to make what I thought people wanted to see. And in the end that approach robbed a lot of the fun out it for me. It was often depressing and never truly fulfilling. This year I’ve taken a step back, tried to figure out what I want to create, and just accepted that I won’t be some big channel with hundreds of thousands of subscribers. The handful of folks who check my stuff out, seem to enjoy it, and it’s more fun for me.
Same with my channel. It's not big (less than 40 subscribers) but I'm happy with what I produce. Could it be better? Definitely. Will it? Probably not since I'm not gunning for large crowds using click bait titles.
@@robynroamsoutdoorsI guess it depends on how you define improvement. I’ve been focused on more interesting editing styles trying to tell a story with as few words as possible. My viewership has actually dropped a little, but the engagement has increased. I get more comments etc. I feel I’ve improved as a storyteller and videographer. Personal improvements like that are more important to me than seeing bigger numbers.
@@LostAgainwithJim that's awesome. Improving your style is a key thing and one that should be worked on. I'm still finding mine. I get more interactions from my 60 second shorts than my long videos. So I have been focusing on those. Glad you are working on your style and have found one.
@@robynroamsoutdoors I think the most important realization I came to was that it’s not a competition. As long as I feel my next video is better than the last, I doing good! That’s interesting about the shorter videos. Kind of a cool bit of data!
@@LostAgainwithJim it's definitely always a work in progress. My first videos were clips from video games but changed it all up for outdoor stuff. I'm much happier with that and enjoy making them when I get a chance to.
Great questions and video, love you and the channel! Learned so much about hiking the last 5 years because of you!
Just finished my second thru-hike in Switzerland called the Haute Route (High Route). For sure a hike you should consider when you go to europe again. Did it when you where hiking the TMB. I did the TMB 2 years ago. The Haute Route is much more higher elevated and less crowded. Starting in Chamonix and ending in Zermatt. You should check it out!!
Love you man!
Thanks again for the good advice Darwin. After finishing the AZT this year I have had a hard time readjusting back to a normal life.
I just got back from the TMB, refuge to refuge is luxury hiking to me. First time in Europe to hike. It's certainly a journey I enjoyed 😂
I really dig that style of Trekking. It's a nice change of pace.
😮you have been in my home town Freiburg 🎉🎉🎉🎉 such a beautiful city, i hope you enjoyed my black forrest 🌲🌲🌲
Ah, that shot was Freiburg! I'll visit in a few weeks, looking forward to it!
Except in Italy where it is forbidden to use a tent in the mountains, it is very common to find campsites in France.
Specifically on the TMB, the French side is dotted with campsites, sometimes with free donation and sometimes free. In Switzerland, too, there are campsites on the TMB though less frequent
You can bivouac above 2500m in the Italian section of the TMB legally. Plus there are a bunch of campsites in the valley the cater to TMB hikers
@@dankenyon924 Yes, 100% true. Although going up 2500m means deviating a lot from the TMB route, and the campsites on the other hand are often in the valley... this also very often means deviating from the route... I know it from experience 😢
I like the post serial thru hiker Darwin better, you seem much more chill now, it suits you!
Thanks… I think 😅
Great video! You should get into trail running! There are some excellent long-distance trail races that would be very good for you where you get the long distance done in a short time period, like the Cocodona 250. You're fast enough as well.
1000% A lot of people love camping....or backpacking....but in general those involve short duration excursions and often not a ton of monotony or distance. Not everyone has experienced or enjoys shouldering a pack with the prospect of 4, 5, 6, or even 7 hours on the trail all day....every day....for days or weeks or months on end. Being in places with epic scenery helps but even in some of the worlds most beautiful places there can be stretches of trail that are basically the same for half the day and those just get LOOOOONNG....and there's nothing for it but to just put your head down and keep walking....let your mind go somewhere else and try not to think about it. Those are the hardest moments...mostly because they are not just "moments" but actually hours on end and can somewhat frequent depending on the location of the through hike.
Love it. Could you maybe do a video on the best 3 to 5 days sections of you thru hikes.
I grew up in the 60’s hiking with rolling over in my bag and boiling up breakfast. Fast forward as I hiked into critter life with hiking, I had to adapt to food storage rules and separate even the coffee time from my shelter area. But oh how at times I miss that (grins) I also know how having a job doing day after day wilderness inventory hiking and backpacking can kill the joy.
5:02 not true. Many countries allow wildcamping, others under certain conditions or it's tolerated. Backpacking is big and fantastic outside of the US
I've wildcamped on TMB with no problem whatsoever + there are several legal places to set up a tent.
During my PCT thru, about half way I started HATING filtering water. Not sure why that was the thing that stood out, but especially as it got hot and I filtered about a gallon a day, I just couldn’t stand doing it. Wanted to quit multiple times just cause I was so sick of filtering water all day, every day.
Good insight Nic 💙
Thank you Deb! 🙌
Appreciate the advice about starting a UA-cam channel to be real!
I just came back from the TMB and I sleptmostly in my tent. Only once in a hut. Many hikers do the same. Bivouaking (pitching your tent after 7 pm and leaving before 9 am) is legal in France and above 2,500 m also in Italy. Only in Switzerland it is forbidden, so you need to find a campground or sleep in a hut. The "Bare Essential Campers's Tour Du Mont Blanc" by K.R. Allcoat lists all authorized and unauthorized camp sites.
Agreed - however there are few places above 2500m on the tab - maybe Brevent above the Col, near the refuge bellachat....
hi Darwin, I saw you on the TMB last week at the Gites les mottets - I wanted to point out that the TMB can be done camping - some refuges will allow you to pitch a tent near to the refuge (especially if you pay for dinner / BreaKfast). also there are many camp sites on the TMB - Ive done the TMB several times - without refuges , only camping and a mix. However I do speak French and that helps!
I didn’t really say the you “couldn’t” I was just referring to the “majority” of people stay in Refuges. Wild camping isn’t “as common”
Great video Nick! I’ll be rocking out to Luna, hoping you make it up the horn. Look forward to the footage!
Hey Nic, I don't recall ever hearing you talk about how you deal with mosquitos, and I don't remember seeing anything about repellent in your gear videos. Maybe I've missed it, but curious about how you approach this. Thanks, I enjoy your content.
I heard in one of your videos that you were going to do the EBC (Everest). Have you done that video yet? I can’t find it.
After a long hike, I enjoy sitting in Tim Hortons next to the window watching cars drive by with an extra large coffee.
1. Agree. I'm fine for the first couple MONTHS. It sounds insane that people walk for so long. But after a couple of months on the trail...I get bored. Just walking for the sake of walking miles. I know, I know, it's a privilege, it's true, it is. But I start to think about my office in my home. I miss my dog. Sure after a couple months home...I start to miss the trail and think about hiking again. Maybe I should make a time limit...two months and then I'm go back home. It's sad to be on such beautiful trails and just want to end it. But, it is what it is.
2. I HATE the thru hiker puritanical mantra that you have to hit "every blaze". What happened to just having fun? I don't WANT to care what others hikers think. If you say that you took a blue route to see a fun town...you're not a "real" hiker. What exactly is a "real hiker". I'm at about 12,000 miles with a backpack on. I shouldn't have to justify where I hike or how I hike.
Onx is cool but here in Missouri it dosent map out the whole Ozark trail. It’s all broken up. So have to use Gaia cause it’s showed the whole trail
Just want to point on to anyone thinking about the TMB its not just a hut to hut trail. Many people (including myself) camp the entire route, there are campsites along the way and there are legal wild camping spots in France, Italy has its own rules and Switzerland isnt allowed.
To say its only a hut to hut trial is factually wrong
Darn tough socks!!! Two pair.
My biggest hate on the trail- Mosquitoes! 😔
Hmmm I didn't get the mundane feeling with bikepacking (at least not on the full GDMBR). I wonder if that's because I'm moving quicker through more varied terrain or if I do it even more that it will become that way as well.
How do you convince your spouse about wanting to do a thru hike of the AT
Not sure... Mine convinced ME to do it with her in 2015 😉
@@DarwinOnthetrail that easy but mine doesn’t camp at all
So breakfast in tent is okay!
The anticipation of getting out there is such a powerful force. Yeah, then the mundane. I think there’s a bit of machochism (sp) involved and the fact of overcoming and conquering.
But don’t you love the first miles of some new kicks and having your guitar riff-ear worm playing in your head.
I have a leg injury that has me off the trails for over a month and possibly another month to go. I’m going crazy without being able to hike, be physically active, and get out into the back country. Have you ever had to hang it up for a while? If so, how did you deal with it mentally?
Darwin hasn’t answered yet, but I’d like to chime in. Last August I woke up and could not walk!?!? Sciatica! Took a road trip and hobbled to various overlooks in places I’d rather be hiking in, like the North Rim Grand Canyon. I was so mad and depressed, feeling that perhaps my future was my present. Was laid up for four months, then A LOT of PT later, I’m set to embark on the John Muir Trail next week. Hopefully I still have a decade or two, (I’m 60) before I face more permanent immobility issues. During my down time I planned and planned and planned future backpack trips and I know it helped me mentally get to the other side.
@@kristymoore7052 much appreciated! I am trying to remind myself that this is actually a short blip in a long life, even when it feels like a long blip in a short life. Glad to hear you are back out there 🙂
How to overcome the mundaneness of hiking/ life? Remember the purpose of the hike / life - find meaning in what you are doing.
Taking care of your feet by taking a 40-60 minute break while taking off your boots/socks and elevating your feet. This allows the blood to flow away from your feet, let's your feet cool off, let's your boots/socks to air out and cool off.
After eating breakfast those smells would linger on your tent when you open that night. I personally don't worry too much because your much more likely to die driving to the woods than from anything in the woods.
no wild camping in other countries ?
oh, boy... you should come to argentina...
BTW...does ACONCAGUA ring any bells?
That’s not what I said. I said in most of the countries I’ve trekked in, wild camping is less of a thing.
@@DarwinOnthetrail ok, so MOST of the places you've been to.
this was not an attack, but an invitation.
after 3-4 days of backpacking, i'm pretty much done.
Is there anything not to like about thru hiking ????😮
Do you think the reason you fall out of love of thru hiking is the lack of proper nutrition? I'm into weight lifting these days and all anyone talks about is the need for protein. Weight lifters try to get 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight every day. That's how they build and maintain their muscles. Getting that on the trail would be hard so you are essentially falling a part on the trail.
I was very irritated by seeing my hometown (Freiburg) in this video 😂
Why Irritated? Such a lovely place! ❤️
Hey Adrian, irritated has not the same meaning as "irritiert". False friends! 😊
@@KerstinHausmann-pw5pm thanks for telling me, I was using the word in that context all the time 😅
@@KerstinHausmann-pw5pmirritert doesn't mean irritated? Does it mean excited instead or something? Heading over to a German dictionary now...
@@Nynke_K It's mostly about nuances. In German "irritiert" will often be used like "suprised", not necessarily in a negative way: something unexpected happened. Your reaction to that might be negative but not necessarily so. I am no native English speaker but to me irritated is somewhat similar to being annoyed by so. or sth.. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I thought Darwin would enjoy Washington State. Perhaps he did not like it because it was towards the end of the trip and was starting to feel mundane.
#1 suck about backpacking is the indignity of being forced to crap in the woods (and in some places, forced to carry your crap out). Sure youtubers will minimize this but it is by far such a lame thing and gets old really fast.
Better to offroad car camp with a porta potty and shelter from bugs. Bugs...the #2 suck about backpacking. Until you've actually experienced swarms of biting bugs or ticks, no amount of spray , citronella, etc helps.
#3 Backpackers SMELL. Ive known plenty of through hikers and of course they shower but they all eventually pick up a gross smell that stays with them always. Worse, they all get used to it so they don't realize they smell bad.
Great video but what I hated about it was how many times you said mundane or mundaneness.
HATE is a strong word. Perhaps you mean dislike?
Nope.... I HATE IT 😂
@@DarwinOnthetrail Every day is a blessing, especially if we are not laborers in a third world country. Although one could argue that they don't know of a better lifestyle so who are we to judge?
Did Kyle put you up to this topic? 😂
recomendado por AgusLajeYT eme aqui... buenisimo canal
Good toe dexterity
All good advice but your best was that to a new YTer. Be real, be authentic.
👍🐿👍
Great advise on trying to grow a UA-cam channel. I’m trying to talk about gear and hiking while I’m actually using the gear and hiking on my channel. And yes please like share and subscribe;) I promise it won’t be a cheese fest.
Keep at it & just be you! ❤️🤙
I miss the old beard...
Regarding the not eating where you sleep, Darwin hasn't hiked where grizzlies or mountain goats are present. Cooking on a backcountry camp site in Canada national park and you'll get a massive bill if caught. Laziness does not justify not following "Leave no trace" and other safety concerns for others following after you.
I sure have. Many of times, but thanks for assuming. I would NEVER eat in my tent, then stay the night in it right after. That will attract animals while sleeping. I do however drink coffee in the morning from my tent, then pack up & leave. 😉
It's Darwin's fault if he drops crumbs wow. You better stay in your house bud life is to dangerous for you.
That's why us true expert level hikers (not these phony utubers), don't bring any food at all with us when we camp. it's reckless and dangerous and embarrassingly amateur to drop even one crumb so the safest thing is just to eat before and after your thru hikes. Wykyk.
I truly despise people who choose to look for adventure, then get mad when they find it. This typically results in social media posts that are akin to a prisoner of war on a death march. We all struggle, get blisters, sore legs, and rained on from time to time. But nobody did that to you, except you.
good advice
Hope you can take something from it! 😉🤙
Don’t care about yourup good luck to ya