Nick - This whole documentary has been an eye opener. Inspiring feels like an understatement. I'm in college now and i've been feeling stuck - unsure of where or when or how my adult life will start after college. But i think i've found the answer. AT NOBO thru hiker class of 2025, here i come 💪
Hollywood that was the best hiking documentary I’ve ever seen! You inspired me, made me laugh, made me take a deeper look inward. Thank you for allowing us along for your adventure. It was like a good book I couldn’t put down. You have a gift not only with your filming but how you present yourself and tell a story. You’re a good soul. Keep up the good work and I hope to see much more content from you because we need more from people like you.
This comment means so much to me, thank you. So many people inspired me along the way, so if that came across and inspired you somehow, I’m a happy man! Appreciate you!
Hollywood, I can only echo everyone else's comment, in saying many thanks for your work on your film, and for offering it here. It was a true pleasure to watch, I really enjoyed it. Congratulations on it, on your achievement, and my sincere best wishes for that "next adventure", which I am presuming is going on right now, and long may that be the case. All the best, Jack NYC
I thoroughly enjoyed your perspective on the trail and the way each video and the entire series was put together in chapters. The beauty of the trail, your own personal journey, and the people you encountered wove together masterfully. Stopping to talk at length with the regular folks of the trail, all with very different backgrounds, was unique. These were and are the unsung heroes of the A.T. Such a wonderful film!
I found myself smiling as I binge watched your 7 part series. I am almost one of those people in the "3rd group of hikers" I long for the day that I can walk away from current life and responsibilities for 6 months. But that day is not now. I am 54 and hope I can make my "dream a memory". That was my favorite inspirational line..."die with memories not dreams". After watching, I feel inspired to really try to make it happen. Thanks for putting together this amazing story.
Alright........outstanding job Hollywood. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I truly enjoyed every minute of it. Seeing you propose to your beautiful lady was very special and I hope that the two of you are doing extremely well and that you're both very happy. I appreciate you letting me follow you along and see a little bit of that dream that I've had. You're a wonderful person and it has been a pleasure to get to know you a little bit through your videos. Sending you and yours my very best
But oooooh, what a glimpse❣️❤️ I can only imagine the layers, but getting to know you all gives me wonderful windows into your Trail lives❣️❤️😎 What a proposal❣️woooohoooo❣️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Good that you did it before the climb❣️😉 Super, Hollywood❣️You hiked and captured some awesome miles and memories, Bud❣️❤️❤️❤️ Totally loved this❣️❤️ Congratulations, AT Thru-hiker ALUMNI❣️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤩😎 Hikers hike❣️🥾🥾🥾 Happy Trails, Hollywood❣️🥾🥾🥾😃
Just a glimpse ;-) thank you so much for watching and commenting all your positive comments. You’re such a huge part of this trail, thank you for all you do!
Nick, thank you so much for these beautiful videos. I’m planning my thru hike for 2025 and these have hands down been my favorite videos. Thank you for the realistic information you provide on your channel and for showing the beauty in the trail. The people, the experience, all of it. Thank you!
Great documentary! I watched the whole thing while spending the day home sick. I thru hiked in 2006 at 30 and am fantasizing about going again with one of my kids after they graduate HS.
Binged the entire series yesterday at the tail end of a long work trip that has left me fantasizing about taking a significant detour from the current path I am on. This isn't the first AT doc I've seen (atleast 4 others this past week alone)... but its definitely the most thoughtfully produced and curated. Not only was the video a pleasure to watch, but your infectiously cheerful/optimistic presence on the trail (amongst both old friends and new) is exactly the kind of energy I am hoping to engage with on a trip like this. Cheers to your amazing success and I look forward to following more of your adventures/film projects!
What an amazingly kind comment! Thank you so much, made my day! I hope you’re able to get out there one day, wherever “there” is. Please reach out if you have any questions at all. Hike on!!
Hollywood that was awesome! Congratulations to you and your up coming Bride. Great finish! Loved the Forest Gump quote! Rest up, pray yall have a wonderful Christmas!
Thanks for the inspiration. I’ve watched this series at least a dozen times, time for me to live the trail myself. I’ll be starting in May. Thank you thank you thank you
Nooooooo so sad it’s over! What an unbelievable job you did with this! By far the best AT doc out there, and it isn’t even close. This is a must see for anyone interested in the trail. Bravo
I have to just say that this hsd been one of (if not the) best at documentry i've seen. Not becsue of the beautiful scenery, infact the opisite. And that be seem like a paridoxical insult but its not. I just love the way you portray everyone else. Its good to see a vidoe that isnt just one person but the story of many.
What an incredible journey this was, and how special that we got to follow along. Have a feeling I’m gonna be watching this many times over in the future. Recommending this to EVERYONE! Damn
It must be such a overwhelming feeling to want to finish so badly while at the same time never wanting it to end . I'm 10 minutes in and that is what my head and heart tell me I would be feeling if I were there. Now I'm gonna shut up and watch the rest. I'm sort of feeling that way about your videos. I'm excited to see this last episode but I don't really want it to end
I'm 7 Minutes in and just heard your comments about the South versus the North, lol. I I was born and raised in North Carolina and came back here from Maryland about 15 years ago. I moved to Maryland at 25 and had to learn very quickly that I couldn't pull over and pick people up on the street although I did it quite often but people told me over and over that I wasn't supposed to do that up there, lol. When I moved back to Carolina I started it up again and I have met so many amazing people just in town and out and about who needed a ride. I've never regretted stopping. Since you've already heard so much about Jesus I won't tell you about him again but I will tell you that the Jews are God's chosen people and you've already got a ticket to heaven secured my friend, lol. Thankfully we're all not like that down here with the sticky sweet disguised judgment. But a lot of people are LOL
Love your perspective! I met TONS of amazing Christians on trail. Some of the most generous individuals imaginable, and certainly helped me a bunch! North Carolina will always have my heart
Can’t thank you enough for what you’ve put together here, my friend. I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from this film. Thank you for sharing your adventure, your insights and your gifts. 🤙🏻❤️
Such a unique AT film! So many interesting characters! Incredibly edited! Can't wait to do this myself (although it'll need a lot more heavy planning since I keep Shabbat...) כל הכבוד!
How amazing are those colors up in Maine in fall!! Thanks so much for taking the time to document this whole thing, in such an artistic way. I wish more people would do it more like you did it. Loved every second of this. Sad it’s done
gorgeous and poignant from beginning to end. truly a masterpiece sir. and such a wild time to do it, 2020. thank you for all of this. hope to see more from you.
I just finished the 7pt series... with tears in my eyes. Not a crier, so I'm not real sure what's behind that reaction. I was born with a condition that's super rare, and usually kills in infancy and always results in a noticeably deformed sufferer. When I survived, I had YEARS filled with dozens of surgeries and YEARS filled merciless bullying in school. I ended up throwing myself into physical and athletic endeavors as a teen, mainly out of spite against those who said I couldn't, be they classmates, parents, or doctors. I played basketball (the great joy of my life), football, soccer, hockey, and even learned martial arts, all after being told as a child that I'd probably never even be able to tie my shoes. As I transitioned out of high school, I eventually ended up a wilderness survival instructor for juvenile corrections programs. Through that, I discovered the AT in Jersey, then the AT in NH, even the AT in Rocksylvania, but never had the right time for a thru-hike... something that immediately became a dream of mine the first mile I ever walked the trail. All told, I've done around 120 miles of it, if you put it all together in one... but that's nothing compared to the dream. Then I got sick when I was 30, and spent a decade with my lungs full of fluid to the point that I couldn't even walk without gasping like I was drowning. For the first time in my life, I felt like the cripple everyone called me in childhood. I knew I'd lost out on any chance of fulfilling that AT dream. Hell, I'd lost out on what semblance of normal life I had built for myself. When I was 40, they found the cause of the problem and fixed it with a major surgery on my spine, and within a week, I'd lost ten pounds... of fluid from my lungs. But it had been a decade of being barely able to walk from the bedroom to the kitchen without coughing, wheezing, and choking, so I quite literally forgot how to live a normal life. I've been physically "healthy" for about five years now, but other problems are cropping up from the massive amount of physical abuse I put on myself as a young man, and it's in that context that I found your videos. I've watched a good dozen of other AT thru-hike videos, and each one looked so fun/hard/crushing/triumphant... but yours was downright moving. I don't know if my body can do it anymore. I don't know if my heart can be apart from the love of my life or our furbaby cats. I don't know how I could ever justify the expense. I DO know that I have to try. YOU DID THIS TO ME. SIR. (yelled with love and appreciation, of course) It was this morning, after finishing your finale and wiping away these inexplicable tears that I realized I have to do it next year. I don't know how... but I have to. I've magically formed this conviction that I need to hike every mile, and play basketball in every state along the way. It sounds dumb, but it just clicked immediately when the need to hike materialized. They always told me I wouldn't live a normal life, so I set out to live hard. It's damn time I get back to that. If you read any of this, I'm sorry. If you read all of it, I probably owe you some money on top of the apology. I couldn't just leave a "Hey, nice vid!" Your work is deserving of so much more than that, and so much more than even this rambling diatribe I typed out... but for now, that's all I got. Well, that and.. thank you. SO MUCH. Now I have to figure out how the hell to do this thing...
This is one of the most heartfelt and inspiring things I’ve ever read. THANK YOU for sharing this, it’s literally why I make these videos. I’ve been inspired by so many others, it warms my heart completely to know I may have inspired you. If you have ANY questions whatsoever, please don’t hesitate to reach out. There are also some people I can connect you with who have hiked the trail through challenges, physical and otherwise. The AT can be a wonderfully encouraging community, know you’re not alone in your journey. So pumped for you!!!!! Also…LOVE the basketball in every state venture. Maybe just on don’t carry the ball will you?? Haha. Thanks again so much for this amazing message.
@@PackAndSoul I literally did a short hike this afternoon to see how my body would react. It very clearly missed the wild. I haven't felt that good doing that much activity in at least 15yrs!!! I'm afraid you've awakened a sleeping dragon, and I thank you for it. Also, I hope you don't mind if I take your offer seriously and send you a message one of these days to pick your brain. I promise I'll TRY to make it less longwinded.
@@StrangePhoton Hell yeah! Love that!! Little by little, you're gonna get back right back to form. Please take me up on it, more than happy to talk shop anytime. Wax poetic if you need, as long as it helps get you out there! Where'd you do your hike?
@@PackAndSoul My wife and I went to this wilderness preserve nearby called Bicentennial Woods. It's got a lot of elevation changes (well, a lot when viewed through the context of it being the flat-as-hell Midwest), and quite a bit of old trees with huge root systems, so it was a good test of my knees and general fitness. A little over a month ago, my therapist had given me the assignment to try playing basketball again both for fitness and because it was always so important to me the first 30yrs of my life. I found that my game was still there. Rusty as all hell, but it came back like riding a bike. The hiker in me is apparently still there too. I woke up this morning expecting to be sore, but I feel better than I did before the hike. Granted, we only did a little over two miles, but we did it over a lot of hills and in a pretty short time, so I'm kinda shocked at how quickly and easily my body is taking to all this again. The timing of the therapist's assignment and finding your thru-hike videos is just too wild. Probably why both activities sort of melded together in my mind/heart/soul for a grand adventure next year.
@@StrangePhoton That's fantastic! Amazing how the mind and heart can affect the body, both positively and negatively. How often can you plan on getting out there? Once a week feasible?
This is an AT video for hikers of The Appalachian Trail. AT - Alef Tav, the beginning and the end. Appalachee- The people of the other side. The Spanish named the mountains for the Appalachee. The Trail was named for the mountains that were named for the people. Before there was an AT, there was The Alef Tav. My tent is a NEMO Hornet 2P. My pack is an Osprey 58L Webster said that a coincidence is a meeting by divine appointment. Hope you married the girl.
@@PackAndSoul When i first watched i thought i didn't hear the question and than that this was a running joke i missed in the other episodes and thought of sex and shitting your pants, but after re-watching, they both make no sense 😂 With how you phrase your question my first guess was mastrubating which i didn't even think about.
@@PackAndSoulBy the way, I looked up when this movie was made and I was surprised that it was 2020. It was like completely different from what was going on on the internet this year. I assumed only a handful of people had hiked this year How was the mood on trail. Was there a feeling of doing something wrong? Any hostility towards hikers?
@@ambulowan Great question. 2020 was a hell of a year out there (as it was everywhere obviously). I delayed my trip for a long time (May) because there definitely was a stigma toward hikers being out there. But as the year went on, people started realizing that being outdoors was way safer than being in any city. The townsfolk that we did interact with were SO appreciative of us. Hikers are their livelihood, so without us, they would've lost everything. And as far as getting sick on trail, not a single person I know got covid out there. It wasn't until we came back into "real life" that we started catching it lol. In any case, we were a tight group, not nearly the numbers usual years have, but once we were out there, life was great. And it ended up being the best possible year to hike it in my opinion.
Hate having this end. When’s your next one? Hopefully you do the exact same thing and make the perfect video. Wasn’t too hard right? Lol. Excellent work my dude
This was inspiring. Not sure if I ever will be able to do this but watching your videos makes me want to do this. thanks for the documentary. @@PackAndSoul
although i enjoyed 99% of your series, the way you judge southerners is a bit disappointing. the people who stopped to help you, feed you, shelter you may not have fell in line with all of your beliefs, but they didn't turn you away either.
Thanks for watching! I enjoy when people with differing opinions view the content. Though it was hard not to judge after being told multiple times to my face I was going to hell for being Jewish, along with my gay friends on trail to their faces (and that they were “the cause of all suffering in this country”)… the vast majority of people in the south were fantastic and caring individuals. I maintain close relationships with them and love them dearly. In my life I’ve spent more time in the south than anywhere else. Love it there, but it’s not without its faults. Northerners, westerners, easterners as well, we all have our faults. I think it’s important to talk about it. Again, I thoroughly appreciate you watching!
If someone truly believes that you're going to hell if you're a jew or gay, isn't it the loving thing (from their perspective) to tell you In the hopes that you'll repent and be saved?Perspective is everything. Loved your videos! You did such a good job capturing the humanity of the trail. Very rich. Only documentary that comes close imho is the one put together by the Crawfords (family of 8 that completed the trail). Their channel is fight for together, if anyone is interested. Very different perspective of the trail but also excellent. They have a day-by-day vlog and also an edited documentary.
And here it is... The final part of the Appalachian Trail journey.
Love it ❤ nice trail...dont want it to end.
@@mathdion5058 Thanks for watching! I didn't want it to end either ;-)
Nick - This whole documentary has been an eye opener. Inspiring feels like an understatement. I'm in college now and i've been feeling stuck - unsure of where or when or how my adult life will start after college. But i think i've found the answer. AT NOBO thru hiker class of 2025, here i come 💪
Thanks so much for this kind comment! Pumped for your thru! It’s a life changer for sure - reach out if you have any questions at all!
@@PackAndSoul Thank you !! 🙏
Hollywood that was the best hiking documentary I’ve ever seen! You inspired me, made me laugh, made me take a deeper look inward. Thank you for allowing us along for your adventure. It was like a good book I couldn’t put down. You have a gift not only with your filming but how you present yourself and tell a story. You’re a good soul. Keep up the good work and I hope to see much more content from you because we need more from people like you.
This comment means so much to me, thank you. So many people inspired me along the way, so if that came across and inspired you somehow, I’m a happy man! Appreciate you!
Hollywood, I can only echo everyone else's comment, in saying many thanks for your work on your film, and for offering it here. It was a true pleasure to watch, I really enjoyed it. Congratulations on it, on your achievement, and my sincere best wishes for that "next adventure", which I am presuming is going on right now, and long may that be the case. All the best, Jack NYC
Jack! Thanks so much! Hoping to get on that next adventure in the next couple months!
That's great to hear. I look forward to it and I hope your camera keeps rolling during it. Best.
I thoroughly enjoyed your perspective on the trail and the way each video and the entire series was put together in chapters. The beauty of the trail, your own personal journey, and the people you encountered wove together masterfully. Stopping to talk at length with the regular folks of the trail, all with very different backgrounds, was unique. These were and are the unsung heroes of the A.T. Such a wonderful film!
The people were such a huge part of the trail! Thanks so much for watching and recognizing this :-)
We have watched countless AT videos. Yours are at the top of the list and captures the spiritual nature of the hike so well.
תודה רבה
That means a lot! Thanks so much for the kind comment :-)
תודה לך!
I found myself smiling as I binge watched your 7 part series. I am almost one of those people in the "3rd group of hikers" I long for the day that I can walk away from current life and responsibilities for 6 months. But that day is not now. I am 54 and hope I can make my "dream a memory". That was my favorite inspirational line..."die with memories not dreams". After watching, I feel inspired to really try to make it happen.
Thanks for putting together this amazing story.
The 3rd group is my favorite group!! Thanks so much for these kind words, they mean a whole lot! Here’s to making those dreams into memories!!
This is my favorite AT documentary. Exactly 2 months til my February nobo kickoff. Thank you for the inspiration, laughs, advice, and encouragement.
Yesss!! So pumped for you! Feb’s gonna be cooold. You’re tougher than I am lol
Alright........outstanding job Hollywood. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I truly enjoyed every minute of it. Seeing you propose to your beautiful lady was very special and I hope that the two of you are doing extremely well and that you're both very happy. I appreciate you letting me follow you along and see a little bit of that dream that I've had. You're a wonderful person and it has been a pleasure to get to know you a little bit through your videos. Sending you and yours my very best
You have been so kind in all your comments, and I truly appreciate that. It’s been quite an journey for sure. Pumped for all your future adventures!
Laughter, tears, respect. Loved it. Here's to your next adventure! 🍺
So appreciate that! Thank you for watching
But oooooh, what a glimpse❣️❤️
I can only imagine the layers, but getting to know you all gives me wonderful windows into your Trail lives❣️❤️😎
What a proposal❣️woooohoooo❣️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Good that you did it before the climb❣️😉
Super, Hollywood❣️You hiked and captured some awesome miles and memories, Bud❣️❤️❤️❤️
Totally loved this❣️❤️
Congratulations, AT Thru-hiker ALUMNI❣️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤩😎
Hikers hike❣️🥾🥾🥾
Happy Trails, Hollywood❣️🥾🥾🥾😃
Just a glimpse ;-) thank you so much for watching and commenting all your positive comments. You’re such a huge part of this trail, thank you for all you do!
Love the Woody Allen, just awesome.
Haha thank you! You go kinda nuts out there lol
Nick, thank you so much for these beautiful videos. I’m planning my thru hike for 2025 and these have hands down been my favorite videos. Thank you for the realistic information you provide on your channel and for showing the beauty in the trail. The people, the experience, all of it. Thank you!
Super appreciative of this comment, means a lot! Thanks so much for watching :-)
Great documentary! I watched the whole thing while spending the day home sick. I thru hiked in 2006 at 30 and am fantasizing about going again with one of my kids after they graduate HS.
Appreciate that!! What an amazing trip that’ll be with your kids! Hope you feel better :-)
Binged the entire series yesterday at the tail end of a long work trip that has left me fantasizing about taking a significant detour from the current path I am on. This isn't the first AT doc I've seen (atleast 4 others this past week alone)... but its definitely the most thoughtfully produced and curated. Not only was the video a pleasure to watch, but your infectiously cheerful/optimistic presence on the trail (amongst both old friends and new) is exactly the kind of energy I am hoping to engage with on a trip like this. Cheers to your amazing success and I look forward to following more of your adventures/film projects!
What an amazingly kind comment! Thank you so much, made my day! I hope you’re able to get out there one day, wherever “there” is. Please reach out if you have any questions at all. Hike on!!
My wife and I are going to watch your video at least two more times.
You have some real depth to your video.
Baruch YeHoVah
Appreciate that!!!
That was an absolutely incredible journey! It's on my bucket list now...
Appreciate you watching!! Hope you’re able to get out there :-)
These videos have been invaluable to me. I appreciate you sharing this and all your work with us. Thank you so much.
Appreciate you watching!! Thanks for the comment
Hollywood that was awesome! Congratulations to you and your up coming Bride. Great finish! Loved the Forest Gump quote! Rest up, pray yall have a wonderful Christmas!
Hey Tim! Appreciate that!! Thanks so much for watching
❤inspirational, beautiful. Thank you for sharing your journey and spreading love❤
Appreciate you watching!! Thank you
Thanks for the inspiration. I’ve watched this series at least a dozen times, time for me to live the trail myself. I’ll be starting in May.
Thank you thank you thank you
Yessss!!! So pumped for you. Enjoy every step :-)
All choked up 🧡 ...memories.... YOU ROCK!!!
Thanks so so much for this kind comment :-) appreciate you watching
Thank you for this amazing gift! Nothing on TH-cam compares to the emotions you have shared about the AT. A lot of layers....
Appreciate that!! Thanks so much for watching
Congratulations on both your hike and your engagement! I really enjoyed the film. Very well done. I can't wait for your next act.
Appreciate that a lot! thanks for watching
Congratulations! I have loved these documentaries!
Thanks so much for watching! Really appreciate the kind comment :-)
Nooooooo so sad it’s over! What an unbelievable job you did with this! By far the best AT doc out there, and it isn’t even close. This is a must see for anyone interested in the trail. Bravo
Appreciate that very much!
I have to just say that this hsd been one of (if not the) best at documentry i've seen. Not becsue of the beautiful scenery, infact the opisite. And that be seem like a paridoxical insult but its not. I just love the way you portray everyone else. Its good to see a vidoe that isnt just one person but the story of many.
This just made my day. That you so much for such a kind comment. Truly appreciate it, and for you watching all those amazing folks I met on trail :-)
Just finished the documentary! Along with your gear and food video. Thank you for sharing your experience on the trail in such a beautiful way!
Thanks so much for this comment! Truly appreciate it
What an incredible journey this was, and how special that we got to follow along. Have a feeling I’m gonna be watching this many times over in the future. Recommending this to EVERYONE! Damn
Thoroughly appreciate that!!!
It must be such a overwhelming feeling to want to finish so badly while at the same time never wanting it to end . I'm 10 minutes in and that is what my head and heart tell me I would be feeling if I were there. Now I'm gonna shut up and watch the rest. I'm sort of feeling that way about your videos. I'm excited to see this last episode but I don't really want it to end
SUCH a bittersweet feeling indeed. All you can do is embrace it! Love your comments
Incredible series! Thank you for all the hard work
Thanks so much!! Truly appreciate you watching
Amazing journey. Thank you for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching :-)
Man. Wow. Man
Haha appreciate that
I can’t seem to stop crying….Your journey and the people you met…no words! Thank you for sharing!
What a kind comment! Thank you for watching :-)
Yay!! Gonna watch now :) Hope all is well with you
Loved your video series, Great job on the video and the hike,
Appreciate that! Thank yiu
Wow very inspiring…. Thankyou 🙏
Thanks so much for watching!
I'm 7 Minutes in and just heard your comments about the South versus the North, lol. I I was born and raised in North Carolina and came back here from Maryland about 15 years ago. I moved to Maryland at 25 and had to learn very quickly that I couldn't pull over and pick people up on the street although I did it quite often but people told me over and over that I wasn't supposed to do that up there, lol. When I moved back to Carolina I started it up again and I have met so many amazing people just in town and out and about who needed a ride. I've never regretted stopping. Since you've already heard so much about Jesus I won't tell you about him again but I will tell you that the Jews are God's chosen people and you've already got a ticket to heaven secured my friend, lol. Thankfully we're all not like that down here with the sticky sweet disguised judgment. But a lot of people are LOL
Love your perspective! I met TONS of amazing Christians on trail. Some of the most generous individuals imaginable, and certainly helped me a bunch! North Carolina will always have my heart
Can’t thank you enough for what you’ve put together here, my friend. I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from this film. Thank you for sharing your adventure, your insights and your gifts. 🤙🏻❤️
Really appreciate this comment. Truly. Hike on!!
Such a unique AT film! So many interesting characters! Incredibly edited! Can't wait to do this myself (although it'll need a lot more heavy planning since I keep Shabbat...) כל הכבוד!
Truly appreciate this, means a lot. Keeping Shabbat out there will be such a worthwhile experience. Really get closer to G/d. Stay in touch!
Great series!
Thanks so much!!
How amazing are those colors up in Maine in fall!! Thanks so much for taking the time to document this whole thing, in such an artistic way. I wish more people would do it more like you did it. Loved every second of this. Sad it’s done
Maine is perfect in fall! thanks for watching!
Nick, Another, though regrettably last, great AT video. All of this despite your abysmal rock skipping prowess. 😊 Great job!
Haha thanks so much for watching!
gorgeous and poignant from beginning to end. truly a masterpiece sir. and such a wild time to do it, 2020. thank you for all of this. hope to see more from you.
Appreciate the kind words!
I just finished the 7pt series... with tears in my eyes. Not a crier, so I'm not real sure what's behind that reaction.
I was born with a condition that's super rare, and usually kills in infancy and always results in a noticeably deformed sufferer. When I survived, I had YEARS filled with dozens of surgeries and YEARS filled merciless bullying in school. I ended up throwing myself into physical and athletic endeavors as a teen, mainly out of spite against those who said I couldn't, be they classmates, parents, or doctors. I played basketball (the great joy of my life), football, soccer, hockey, and even learned martial arts, all after being told as a child that I'd probably never even be able to tie my shoes. As I transitioned out of high school, I eventually ended up a wilderness survival instructor for juvenile corrections programs. Through that, I discovered the AT in Jersey, then the AT in NH, even the AT in Rocksylvania, but never had the right time for a thru-hike... something that immediately became a dream of mine the first mile I ever walked the trail. All told, I've done around 120 miles of it, if you put it all together in one... but that's nothing compared to the dream. Then I got sick when I was 30, and spent a decade with my lungs full of fluid to the point that I couldn't even walk without gasping like I was drowning. For the first time in my life, I felt like the cripple everyone called me in childhood. I knew I'd lost out on any chance of fulfilling that AT dream. Hell, I'd lost out on what semblance of normal life I had built for myself. When I was 40, they found the cause of the problem and fixed it with a major surgery on my spine, and within a week, I'd lost ten pounds... of fluid from my lungs. But it had been a decade of being barely able to walk from the bedroom to the kitchen without coughing, wheezing, and choking, so I quite literally forgot how to live a normal life. I've been physically "healthy" for about five years now, but other problems are cropping up from the massive amount of physical abuse I put on myself as a young man, and it's in that context that I found your videos.
I've watched a good dozen of other AT thru-hike videos, and each one looked so fun/hard/crushing/triumphant... but yours was downright moving. I don't know if my body can do it anymore. I don't know if my heart can be apart from the love of my life or our furbaby cats. I don't know how I could ever justify the expense. I DO know that I have to try. YOU DID THIS TO ME. SIR. (yelled with love and appreciation, of course)
It was this morning, after finishing your finale and wiping away these inexplicable tears that I realized I have to do it next year. I don't know how... but I have to. I've magically formed this conviction that I need to hike every mile, and play basketball in every state along the way. It sounds dumb, but it just clicked immediately when the need to hike materialized. They always told me I wouldn't live a normal life, so I set out to live hard. It's damn time I get back to that.
If you read any of this, I'm sorry. If you read all of it, I probably owe you some money on top of the apology. I couldn't just leave a "Hey, nice vid!" Your work is deserving of so much more than that, and so much more than even this rambling diatribe I typed out... but for now, that's all I got. Well, that and.. thank you. SO MUCH.
Now I have to figure out how the hell to do this thing...
This is one of the most heartfelt and inspiring things I’ve ever read. THANK YOU for sharing this, it’s literally why I make these videos. I’ve been inspired by so many others, it warms my heart completely to know I may have inspired you. If you have ANY questions whatsoever, please don’t hesitate to reach out. There are also some people I can connect you with who have hiked the trail through challenges, physical and otherwise. The AT can be a wonderfully encouraging community, know you’re not alone in your journey. So pumped for you!!!!! Also…LOVE the basketball in every state venture. Maybe just on don’t carry the ball will you?? Haha. Thanks again so much for this amazing message.
@@PackAndSoul I literally did a short hike this afternoon to see how my body would react. It very clearly missed the wild. I haven't felt that good doing that much activity in at least 15yrs!!!
I'm afraid you've awakened a sleeping dragon, and I thank you for it.
Also, I hope you don't mind if I take your offer seriously and send you a message one of these days to pick your brain. I promise I'll TRY to make it less longwinded.
@@StrangePhoton Hell yeah! Love that!! Little by little, you're gonna get back right back to form. Please take me up on it, more than happy to talk shop anytime. Wax poetic if you need, as long as it helps get you out there! Where'd you do your hike?
@@PackAndSoul My wife and I went to this wilderness preserve nearby called Bicentennial Woods. It's got a lot of elevation changes (well, a lot when viewed through the context of it being the flat-as-hell Midwest), and quite a bit of old trees with huge root systems, so it was a good test of my knees and general fitness.
A little over a month ago, my therapist had given me the assignment to try playing basketball again both for fitness and because it was always so important to me the first 30yrs of my life. I found that my game was still there. Rusty as all hell, but it came back like riding a bike. The hiker in me is apparently still there too. I woke up this morning expecting to be sore, but I feel better than I did before the hike. Granted, we only did a little over two miles, but we did it over a lot of hills and in a pretty short time, so I'm kinda shocked at how quickly and easily my body is taking to all this again.
The timing of the therapist's assignment and finding your thru-hike videos is just too wild. Probably why both activities sort of melded together in my mind/heart/soul for a grand adventure next year.
@@StrangePhoton That's fantastic! Amazing how the mind and heart can affect the body, both positively and negatively. How often can you plan on getting out there? Once a week feasible?
Just a thought 💭 turn around and go the other way ? 😊 loved your perspective on the trail and life. 😊
I wish!! Thanks so much for watching
Giddy up!
Yalla!
This is an AT video for hikers of The Appalachian Trail.
AT - Alef Tav, the beginning and the end.
Appalachee- The people of the other side. The Spanish named the mountains for the Appalachee. The Trail was named for the mountains that were named for the people.
Before there was an AT, there was The Alef Tav.
My tent is a NEMO Hornet 2P.
My pack is an Osprey 58L
Webster said that a coincidence is a meeting by divine appointment.
Hope you married the girl.
Love this!! Thanks for the info! And yes, been married a year a a half now :-)
@@PackAndSoul So happy for you.
Really caught the soul of the AT.
What was the last question about?
Thanks so much for watching!
The last question was about something private a lot of people do on trail but no one talks about! Any guesses?
@@PackAndSoul When i first watched i thought i didn't hear the question and than that this was a running joke i missed in the other episodes and thought of sex and shitting your pants, but after re-watching, they both make no sense 😂
With how you phrase your question my first guess was mastrubating which i didn't even think about.
@@PackAndSoulBy the way, I looked up when this movie was made and I was surprised that it was 2020. It was like completely different from what was going on on the internet this year. I assumed only a handful of people had hiked this year
How was the mood on trail. Was there a feeling of doing something wrong? Any hostility towards hikers?
@@ambulowan haha you got it! Kinda funny how there are things out there that go unsaid...until you say them
@@ambulowan Great question. 2020 was a hell of a year out there (as it was everywhere obviously). I delayed my trip for a long time (May) because there definitely was a stigma toward hikers being out there. But as the year went on, people started realizing that being outdoors was way safer than being in any city. The townsfolk that we did interact with were SO appreciative of us. Hikers are their livelihood, so without us, they would've lost everything. And as far as getting sick on trail, not a single person I know got covid out there. It wasn't until we came back into "real life" that we started catching it lol. In any case, we were a tight group, not nearly the numbers usual years have, but once we were out there, life was great. And it ended up being the best possible year to hike it in my opinion.
Hate having this end. When’s your next one? Hopefully you do the exact same thing and make the perfect video. Wasn’t too hard right? Lol. Excellent work my dude
Thanks so much! Hopefully soon on trail again!
by the end of the trail he's got the jew-fro going on
haha big time
This was inspiring. Not sure if I ever will be able to do this but watching your videos makes me want to do this. thanks for the documentary. @@PackAndSoul
@@Jim33933 So appreciate you watching, thank you. Hope you're able to get out there one day!
although i enjoyed 99% of your series, the way you judge southerners is a bit disappointing. the people who stopped to help you, feed you, shelter you may not have fell in line with all of your beliefs, but they didn't turn you away either.
Thanks for watching! I enjoy when people with differing opinions view the content. Though it was hard not to judge after being told multiple times to my face I was going to hell for being Jewish, along with my gay friends on trail to their faces (and that they were “the cause of all suffering in this country”)… the vast majority of people in the south were fantastic and caring individuals. I maintain close relationships with them and love them dearly. In my life I’ve spent more time in the south than anywhere else. Love it there, but it’s not without its faults. Northerners, westerners, easterners as well, we all have our faults. I think it’s important to talk about it. Again, I thoroughly appreciate you watching!
If someone truly believes that you're going to hell if you're a jew or gay, isn't it the loving thing (from their perspective) to tell you In the hopes that you'll repent and be saved?Perspective is everything. Loved your videos! You did such a good job capturing the humanity of the trail. Very rich. Only documentary that comes close imho is the one put together by the Crawfords (family of 8 that completed the trail). Their channel is fight for together, if anyone is interested. Very different perspective of the trail but also excellent. They have a day-by-day vlog and also an edited documentary.