Thank you as always for watching! I thought it would be cool to look back on lessons I've learned from every trail I have ever done, and didn't realize until midway through that I started long distance hiking almost exactly 10 years ago! (st patricks day 2012) So here is to a decade of hiking, and hopefully an even better next!
Trying!! For maybe one of the only times in my life I've decided to cut sugar and carbs out of my diet in between trails. A lot of veggies fruits and good stuff instead and the weight for sure reflects the change
Not that anyone watching this probably needs this information, but the main thing I've learned starting backpacking again after a 20+ year break: It's kind of nice, waking up, walking, camping, waking up, walking, camping. I don't through hike like this guy does, but I would say we all need a break from the commotion of "normal" life for a bit, and nothing does me better than just going "I start here, and I plan on being here in X days time. Everything in between I deal with as it's dealt"
What a great shot at 11:04 😂 And great video as always, I'm going to take a leaf from your book and reflect on previous hikes and what I learned from them!
Word! beautifully told insights! I´d give miles of thumbs up just to listen to your narration of your experiences on trail. Great stuff! Maybe you´ll someday be here in spain and we´ll just hike a camino or a GR (Gran Recorrido) for some miles together. Cheers mate!
As someone who’s hiked all of Connecticut at this point (all of its local trails) I want to start getting into longer hikes. The longest I’ve done was 10 miles. Nothing even remarkably comparable to the PCT or any of the other ones you’ve mentioned or have done. I’m quite experienced in the woods, know bushcraft, survival skills, and am currently learning some foraging. I think with the right gear I can do a long hike like the PCT. I will start out with a 50 mile trail, then a 100; to get more acclimated to longer hikes. Then make a drastic leap to attempt the AT. I figure 100 miles compared to 2,000+ can be no different other than it would just be 1900 more miles, more of the same lol. Thanks for your content.
Sounds great! :D I'm in the UK and have done a lot of shorter trails (10-30 miles) as most are shorter here and I'm fairly new to backpacking, but I'm building up to a long coastal trail along the entire coast of Wales (870 miles) and the South West Way (630 miles.) Then I plan to do some more remote trails in the Scottish Highlands, such as the Cape Wrath Trail, climb a few mountains, then finally the grand daddy of UK trails, Lands End to John O'Groats along the 1200 mile End to End trail. Then after that I guess I'll need to hop over the pond to take on the PCT, or head to Europe for one of the long distance trails there! Happy hiking :)
Great video! Good luck out there in the PCT! Definitely give the LT E2E another go some time. It’s my new favorite, while I can only do short thrus. I’m going to try to improve on my 24-day time last year, during the wettest July on record in VT. Going sobo this time instead too. I’ll be looking forward to your PCT footage! Stay safe.
Early starts are my thing man! I'm sooo not a morning person but the solitude and quiet on the trail during early morning is sooo worth waking up. I usually don't even start seeing other people until closer to 11 and by then I'm typically finishing up, depending on the days hike. Thanks for sharing!
I enjoyed your video and it has taught me a lot. I am considering backpacking but haven't done so yet but every video from yours to others has given me inspiration. Thank you and tread safely.
It's been something I've really enjoyed doing! I hope you find that same enjoyment when you do get out there. Feel free to email me anytime if there's anything I could help with
Thank you for the videos you put out. Always good content it’s much appreciated. I will be through hiking Oregon this year after already completing Washington happy trails maybe we’ll cross paths.💯💯👍👍
Thanks for what you do, Jupiter. You're simple, down to earth information, coupled with an almost child like enthusiasm, is always good. PS: The t-shirt's great! Now I don't have to make my own gear list! LOL!!
I enjoy all your videos and this feels a good one to preceed your PCT. I wish you well with your journey and look forward to what you'll share. I won't get to hike these sort of trails myself but your attitude and approach inspires me in my life.
Jupiter, I gave you some props on the N2Backpacking Podcast latest episode on the Ocean To Lake Trail. I was the guest and talked about my two trips on that trail. Since you are the expert, I pointed people to you website and page on the OTL. Good luck with your hike!
Awesome! I will have to check the podcast out, thank you! Over the years the trail itself has changed, but in every way I think for the better. That big tower in the Lox Slough, and the addition of a new campsite as well as more information and more hikers out there. Glad you got to check it out!
As always, excellent video! I am currently training for my upcoming PCT thru attempt (in FL) after very little hiking since my AT thruhike in 2019. Thank you for all the excellent tips and lessons, they served as great reminders and mental exercise. Your videos have been very influential to me when getting into backpacking and I continue to find value in them, thank you! Wishing you fortunate conditions and fun on the PCT, was hoping maybe we'd cross paths but you'll probably be long gone before I start mid April. Cheers!
Happy hiking on the PCT! I’m so impressed by all you have accomplished in 10 years. As always, I love the shout-out to the Sheltowee. I appreciate that you aren’t afraid to stop hiking a trail when necessary, and still talk about it. Best of luck in your next adventure!
I am looking forward to following your PCT journey. It isn't possible for me at the moment due to family needs but the PCT calls me and one day I want to attempt it
It’s been very enjoyable watching your videos as it’s very natural, informative and inspiring. All the best. Happy trails! And by the way, which camera did you shoot video on?
👍 Nice video. I think it was a WW2 Veteran who told me that carrying more than 1/4 of your body weight too long or too often will wreck your joints. ☮️ Thanks
Really nice video. Though I don't agree with the fact that getting up early makes the day more enjoyable. Not being a morning person, I much prefer hiking in the evening if I need to do big day. Waking up before 7am makes me feel like I'm going to work 😅 Looking forward to see the PCT videos.
Awesome video as always. One question... in your opinion how does thru hiking affect a person's overall health before, during and after the hike? Thanks.
I've seen all sorts of things and in th end it depends on you and how you go about it. I could diet and train before the hike and develop good habits or I could treat it like 'oh I'm going hiking let's eat all I want!' during the hike is no different, I could survive on goldfish and honey buns for months which many hikers do and even though I'm exercising constantly it's still not good, or I could eat a little bit healthier and come away from the experience a bit more internally well. After the hike though I think is the hardest, as you've just gone from burning 5,000+ calories a day too... Normal activities. It's troubling to give up the habits built the months prior, and hard to give up the junk food that once helped to keep weight on. I personally really try to focus on vegetables and healthier foods when I finish a hike. Something I've gotten better at over the years.
Hi all, I had foot surgeries as a kid for bilateral (both feet) club foot. My left foot is by far the worst as they moved my heel to the left and made the foot completely flat. I'm on a quest for hiking footwear that will best help support my 'bad' foot. In 2011 I tried Asolo 520 GV evos with a pair of super feet inserts (recommended by a friend) on the West Highland Way in Scotland. I butchered my left foot after just 15 miles but completed the rest of the 97 mile trail after wrapping it daily in moleskin. This was my First backpacking trip so my pack was ridiculously (roughly 60 lbs) heavy...which absolutely added to the 4 inch gash I had on the instep of my foot.... any footwear recommendations would be so appreciated! Thanks in advance, -Brandon
97 miles is a big first hike! I am not a doctor of course, and it's very difficult to recommend footware given the variance in human to human but I do always like to recommend starting out slow. And as you mentioned maybe a reduction of packweight could help. Maybe a reduction in daily miles could also help! Slowly working up towards larger trips and learning new things along the way. You know yourself best, and the shorter trips are great places to figure new things out
Thank you so much for all your informative videos. We’re all learning from you. I have a question regarding Altitude. Since you’re doing the PCT, you will be experiencing some high altitude terrains specially the Sierras (Mt Whitney, 14er mountain) How do you train for this? Do you have any tips and tricks to avoid altitude sickness? Any work out or diet plan? Diamox? Thanks Jupiter. Happy Trails from Los Angeles ⛰
I have never actually experienced altitude sickness! Though the high elevation does make things harder. I think since I've lived at 7,000ft elevation for the past two years that will help me personally. But my advice to anyone else would be to drink and eat more than you may feel you need, and remember that Advil can really help with altitude sickness
Question: It’s about preparation for the PCT, what did you do to prepare for this trail? What pre season hiking did you do to prepare? Last question how many miles are you averaging, and how is many do you think you will be able to do this year? Thanks for your videos, you have got lots of good info. Planning on attempting AT 2023, starting in Alabama, at Flagg mountain. Start date later part of February. Regards Plus1
I think probably the biggest thing for me this year has been diet. Since the beginning of january I've lost 20 pounds, and am starting this trail at the weight I normally would be half way into a hiking year. But beyond that I've been day hiking, running, cycling, overnight trips, and just staying very active. I don't exactly keep track of miles but the more time on my feet the better
Not yet! Instead of going straight to the triple crown as most do I've spread the journey out a bit and have done a ton of the lesser known trails, though the CDT and finishing the triple has been more on my mind lately
@@JupiterHikes Dont rush it brother, do whatever u feel like! Just seems like (with the international at, estearn contintental etc) like u really enjoy those big "solitude" trails.
I mostly felt the happyness in familiarity around the towns I remembered stopping in. Always so cool to revisit places many years later. The Inn at the Long Trail and Rutland VT specifically were both great
I disagree with only 1 point. At around 7:50 or so you stated that had you hiked more slowly you would have had to prepare less. I can say for a fact that I am pretty dang slow as a hiker and there's still a whole lot of prepping going on around here 😏
