The Weirdest Thing That's Ever Happened To Me While Thru-Hiking Alone.. | Q&A 

The whole "stranger danger" thing and how various people think about it, how they deal with it, and whether it makes them fearful enough to not get out there and experience all sorts of things/places, is pretty interesting. Everyone has to make their own decisions about it, and I think Taylor strikes a really good balance. Comfortably balancing a wide variety of goals and risks, while being in tune with ancient instincts, I consider to be a sign of high intelligence, well-rounded life experience, and likely good people skills also. Creepy behavior has many forms, and many levels of severity. Privy man could have been at any of those levels, but unless he was an actual predator, he probably just lacked perspective, judgment, civility, and consideration for others. Of course, those flaws are basically prerequisites to becoming the dangerous sociopathic predator everyone fears. Some cats like stalking a mouse without harming it, some are truly on the hunt. But cats don't agree to be civilized, and humans do. Someone who goes stalking women, even without intent to harm them, are a lot more likely to have a screw loose, than someone with the self control to show respect rather than play games, whether they are instinctive games or not. It's also a dangerous game, as any mouse that gets swatted by a cat just for fun, can attest to. If a woman is not at relative ease around a guy almost immediately, the smart money says she has good reason.

Trusting your gut is a good tool. Have you ever done the fake phone call if someone makes you uncomfortable., Talk into your phone with a plausible message the “weirdo” can hear. This alerts them to the fact someone you know is out of sight but close by.

Thru-hiking is like a marathon .. it’s not for everyone .. some runners are more suited for 1/2 marathons and some hikes are more suited for section or day hiking.

I love hiking alone to the point that I'm disappointed when I see others, haha. I head off potentially uncomfortable situations by getting away from any encounter as quickly as possible. Not out of any fear whatsoever for my safety, just fear of losing my quiet, privacy and personal space.

Definietly make the video about how to vlog a thru hike!

I've poked fun at you from time to time in what I intended to be good natured and light hearted. What I don't think I said was....you're a very brave individual. Thanks for such great motivational videos. Trek on!!!!

How did you finally get rid of the guy that followed you? thanks for sharing!

Winter is my favorite time of year to hike Mt Major! Less crowded, beautiful views, and butt sliding on the way down :)

I live in Colorado . It will blow your mind if you've never hiked here before. I did the West Collegiate Trail this past summer. It's 83 miles and the northern terminus is close to Leadville. If you want to hike double that you can do the Collegiate Loop, starting and ending near Leadville. It's a loop made by the Colorado trail and CDT crossing each other twice.

Hiking recommendation near Leadville CO - Mayflower Gulch FYI Melanzana is booking appointments 6 months out!

If you can do a video about the behind the scenes of blogging that would be amazing. I am planning on thru hiking the AT in 2024 and would love to vlog my journey. Also any advice or tips that might seem obvious but aren’t would be great.

A good podcast is “The Tolkien Professor” to dig into the literature side of the “Lord of the Rings”. He goes deep into the symbolisms, back stories, and connections. It enriches the experience.

About 20 minutes south of Leadville is twin lakes. The CDT is right next to it. There’s also Mt Elbert, which I believe is the highest mountain in Colorado and can easily be summited in a day.

Hocking Hills - grandma gatewood hike ? Since it has to do with AT and another strong 💪 woman when you visit Ohio next year if you go

Florida is more than just beaches and Disney. We have the Florida Trail and a lot of wilderness preserves, state parks, crystal-clear springs…etc Florida is populated, but most of the people live in certain metropolitan areas, and even in the cities you can find nice preserves to hike.

Hocking hills in Ohio is one of my choice. I hiked Grandma Gatewood trail with Dixie in September. It was only 3 miles but there are tons of great trails in this part of ohio that is in the Appalachian region. Another is the ohio trail which is part of the northern trail.

I lived in Colorado for 16 years and also just completed the Colorado Trail just this summer - the Leadville area is gorgeous! Sherman, Elbert and Massive are all awesome 14ers to check out in that area - Sherman is definitely the easiest, followed by Elbert, and then Massive. For somewhat easier day hikes, I'd recommend Timberline Lake and Galena Mountain. The hike up to Hope Pass from Twin Lakes along the Colorado Trail is beautiful and can be a good day hike, though is definitely quite steep!

Hocking hills in ohio is a great place for hiking, waterfalls, and cabins :)

YES, bring Mom .. we love her

If you go to Ohio, please do a vid in Grandma Gatewood's old stomping grounds!

You are right, that was a creepy story. I'm sorry you had such a scary experience.

AT trail vlogging tips would be great. A lot of people plan on vlogging the trail and there isn't too many "how to/tips" videos.

The Suwannee River Section of the Florida trail around Big Shoals and Twin Rivers State Park is absolutely gorgeous but a pretty long drive if you're going to be down around the Everglades during your vacation. I lived near there for years and took up day hiking with my son because I couldn't afford to travel much at that time. Imagine falling in love with hiking in a state where the highest elevation is 345 feet 😆

You enjoyed the Monadnock Sunapee Greenway. Here are a few others to you might like. Metacomet-Monadnock trail (114ish), Robert Frost Trail (50ish), Wapack Trail (22ish)and Tully Trail (22). All NE based trails

Acadia np is a great place to hike, 100 plus miles of maintained trails, and while the mountains are not huge, 1000 or so feet, the terrain is really varied. Just don't go during the summer if you can help it.

This FL girl, who lived in NH for 4 years, would love to see a Loon ski video!

Yay!!! Fly Eagles Fly!!!! 🦅 The privy story is creepy. Glad you were ok.

Gooood evening from central Florida! Hope everyone has a great night!

Keep killing it!!!

I hope you get into Trail Days Taylor. Fingers crossed 🤞 Definitely a great opportunity for your business. I agree, rain and being wet is pretty annoying. Take care ✌️

Anything you can do to prank Chet back? I think he deserves it for that little alarm kerfuffle.😏

I live just off the Florida Trail on the northern end. We love to do day hikes on it. Our section is the dry end, so that’s always good. I’m not a fan of the swampy sections. 😊 If you go all the way to the end, you get to hike on the beach and explore Ft Pickens. You and Cody should do a thru hike if the FT!

I was in Leadville, CO a couple months ago and Mayflower Gulch was recomended to me as a quick easy hike on our drive back to Denver and it did not disappoint! Absolutely gorgeous, definitely check it out if you visit. 😀

I hiked the Colorado Trail last summer and I think you’d really enjoy sections of it. You could go from Tennessee Pass near Leadville to Twins Lakes if you want to backpack. Or just from Tennessee Pass to Timberline Creek Trailhead. Hiking a 14er is also an option, Mount m Massive, and Mount Evans are both near Leadville.

Yes please video on blogging the ATwould love to hear your thoughts on it.

Definitely hike on the CO Trail near Leadville. Amazing!

Hello Taylor truly loving your content as I prepare to thru hike the AT. I would love to vlog my journey so I watched how you edit your video while hiking, thank you for making it so simple. Do you have an app that allows you to include music in the background of your videos?

Taylor is coming down to Fl!😝👍👏🏻🐊😎🌞🌹🌴🎋

Please do some of the buckeye trail.

Enjoyed the video. Thank you. Blessings

Great imformative video, thanks so much.

La Plata Peak in CO! Right near Leadville. Great 14er.

When you come to Ohio, it would be awesome to organize a group hike for those of us who are local and/or willing to drive a bit to meet up. Lots of trails in Cody's area and it would be a blast along with a local craft brewery after with everyone.

There are tons of great mountains to hike near Leadville. Mt. Elbert and Massive are great moderate 14ers and the two highest in Colorado. Mt. Sherman is also nearby, which is considered the easiest 14er. The whole Sawatch range is nice, unlike the Elk range to the west (look up videos of Capitol Peak's knife edge!)

Born in Leadville. In the late 60's I loved hiking to Buena Vista saw the occasional mountain lion though.

Here in Tennessee. Outer skirts of Chattanooga. We had gone to a National State Park has this skinny hiking trail to the point. I couldn't hike on it. It has been years later & I cannot remember the name of the park.

Couple of questions for you. 1st when you go out on a hike you do let people ie you husband or your mom where your going and when to expect you back? 2nd question -- When you were on the AT how much cash did you need to carry for groceries, restaurants and gear repairs. The reason i ask is because planning to hike AT 2025. I did not realize that there are so many things a person must ask them selves before venturing out. Thanks for your help. Retiring 2023 December, any ideas for older hikers.

When you come to Florida consider Ocala or Suwannee sections (I have videos of them on my channel) In the Everglades Big Cypress is a once in a lifetime experience…kind of our Franconia Ridge. 30 miles of amazing swamp. Hope you enjoy our beautiful Florida trail. Happy Trails!!!!

My questions are medication refills on the trail. Advice?? Have you noticed locks on backpacks?? What's your experience. Is your store far from the AT. Maybe you could do trail majic and drive hikers back and forth on a day. ???

Ocean to lake trail best as a winter hike in Florida!

Thank you for answering my question! 13:14 Really liked this video 😊

Leadville = Melanzana 😂😂. Great video Taylor and happy trails.🤘🏻🥾⛰️

I really enjoyed hiking Mt Major!

When you are in FL check out Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.

That story about being followed to the privy is really scary🤯

Awesome fun video

Good to see Taylor👍😊❤

I had a weird incident years ago, hiking in the Glacier Peak Wilderness in Washington state. i had not seen anyone for five days. On my last day in the wilderness area some guy insisted that I was Bob Dylan. He started to get angry when I told him I wasn't, so I finally calmed him down, and told him that yes, I was Bob, and that I just needed to get away from my adoring fans. He asked me to sign his backpack. His name was Jeff, and he was from Seattle. So, I made him promise not to mention to anyone that Bob Dylan was backpacking by himself. After he swore to his Mom that Mum was the word, I then inscribed, "To Jeff, from Bob Dylan - There's no success like failure, and that failure is no success at all." I made his day. You've never seen a happier guy. He said he would frame his pack in glass. I wonder if he ever did.... PS -- It was an old external backpack (Trailwise, I believe) and I signed it in magic marker on the front of his pack. He was blown away, and very afraid that he might get the signature dirty, so he put a plastic garbage bag over it and said he was going to cut his trip short.

if you come to Colorado please consider visiting the San Luis Valley there is a national.park Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preseve and a 14,000 foot peak on the same road and a bunch of other trails. we would love to host you and your family for free.

Have you ever hiked Ice Gulch in Randolph? It's a physically challenging day hike that I last did in my late 50's. Fun hike but you feel like you did a 4000 footer.

I'm the one who asked you how to protect yourself thank you so much for answering!! That was really sound advice and it gave me motivation to get out there and apply it. My problem is that I relish being alone and solitude means so much to me I never actually considered that the smartest thing would be to suck it up and go hike popular trails I think that's the way to go, it's better than not getting out there at all.

Would love to see you in Florida. I live in Florida and hike all the time

Do a vlog on smart hiking.

The guy who followed you to the privy, yikes that is such disordered behavior.

Your Patriots --> Eagles journey is very similar to mine, as a Bostonian transplanted to Philly. 🤣

Do you go cross country skiing or hike on snow shoes during winter?

I feel uncomfortable every morning going to work at 4:30 am in a bad part of town!!

RE: hiking in Ohio, I hiked to Little Lyons and Big Lyons Falls from the Mohican Dam and had fun, but I'm quite a bit older and way more out of shape than you, it kicked my butt :D ask Cody if he recommends hiking around Mohican!

Curious - what happened with you and the creepy guy after the privy incident? Were you able to 'shake' him off your tail - and how did you do it? I may have mentioned this before, but there's a saying in law enforcement and the military that you seem to follow, and that is 'situational awareness' - stick with that mindset. Hope you make it into Trail Days - that would be be fun and you'd make a few $$$. Be well, stay safe. 🥾

i immediately thought they meant the eagles like the band and came here right away to defend haha!

Florida trail... Nothing crazy... 😅 Fearless af.

My wife and I visited your shop in October. Sorry we missed you but had a wonderful visit with your mother. we live near the middle section of the Shenys and would be glad to help you if you decide to hike Va. (shuttle trail magic or anything else you may need) Just give me a shout out if we can be any help. Joe

Most of my hikes are alone and 99% of encounters are positive. I am a male and would probably make different choices if I was a female. In the past year, I did meet two individuals who made me feel creepy. For really desolate locations, I take my dog.

I love New Hampshire!!

Go Eagles! I'm an Eagles fan too, that's awesome.

🦋

Yay Virginia!

Starting in feb 2024 on the AT Any daily blogging video u can do for tips etc for the beginner type daily blogger or on starting a u tube channel to share with family friends etc. thanks

Go Birds! 🦅

Yep PLEASE Do help us with some you tube techniques! Also, sorry to hear about the Creep-Out while rightfully experiencing the Trail. Good advice & it’s right, most people on the Trek are nice; (@ least harmless) 😊 Good Travels ☮️

Off video topic, if you looking for another long hike, why don’t you try the long trail? Nice a close to you up in New Hampshire

❤

Very solid reason why you don’t get post depression.

This is my state. Check All Trails. Bring mosquito spray!

LOL. You mention the Eagles, I immediately think Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Lyin’ Eyes, Hotel California. You mean football. I guess it’s a generation gap thing. I’m from Pennsylvania, too.

People can be a problem. Lots of weird and agressive people go hiking. I've had lots of people sneek up behind me, not say anything, and push me off the trail. And I'm disbaled and older, so tbey usually injure me. It's exactly why i do the opposite of you. I hike alone. I go out when it's less buisy. I avoid people and busy places. I also bring a dog and mace.

E-A-G-L-E-S!!! Let’s go birds

I am sure you'll have fun in Florida. I've been to West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Naples all three so nice. So nice compared to New England it's hard to believe it's even the same country. They have this awesome breakfast restaurant chain called first watch. My wife said wouldn't it be great if they had this back home (Needham) and I said if it were in MA it would be crowded, dirty and the service would suck

Those Philly fans are crazy

Go Birds 🦅

Cowboys and i am from. Connecticut

get yourself a good benchmade and carry it

👌👌👍👍🍻💯

Some people don't have common sense though:)

growing up, it was always football baseball whatever golf it was sports sports sports on TV all the time I swear to God when I moved out of my parents house, I would never ever watch a sports game again and I haven’t football sucks most boring thing who wants to stand around and watch people grab each other‘s asses hut hut hike 😂 only in America. I’m surprised they don’t have a pink football team yet called them Washington. Oh that’s right you’ve already got a Washington team call DC.

Funny but true… I thought Cody was your husband😂

Really? Wallen?

Speaking to you while you were in the privy shows he was saying I follow ed you and I have no respect for you, a control freak.

Please stop with the ads - I pay 20 a month now not to see ads! I know you get a portion of that.

Who the heck is Cody I thought you were married to a guy name chet ,chip something like that. I haven't watched you since you quit the at twice