Found a hidden gem on TH-cam. Love how this video was put together. None of that walking and talking into the camera. A great blend of video, amazing photos, and wonderful story telling. Thanks for sharing!
Truly inspirational journey. I’ll never have the guts to take on this endeavor but I will f/e be envious of your and all those who have been brave enough to tackle this journey. It must have been epic! Now that’s living!
Excellent video! Did this 65 yr old man's heart good to see these two complete this, and especially the lady. Her fall and injuries did not deter her - she is a real go-getter!
Guys ! Really a terrific job of video making. Moreover, you have a terrific story to tell. You both were super fit and slim at the end of that walk. Also, with the greatest respect, a certain element of computer geekness and the intelligence to plan and organize the walk adds to the video and I'm sure your experience . Well done !
I was a few days behind you guys and I'm glad you got footage of the parts I didn't remember to take pictures of, like the 10 foot high snow drift at the top of Forrester Pass.
A beautifully edited video 👍 Congrats on your accomplishment...and welcome to the club of long distance hiking. You've represented the hiking community in outstanding fashion through this video.❤ ✌ 👣 🐵 👑 "Between every two trees is a doorway into another world" - John Muir
Beautiful and simply amazing! Congratulations on completing your journey. And thanks for sharing your adventure. I have committed myself to attempting a through hike of the AT on March 2017. All because of inspiration from people like you! Take care.
Awesome video. Thank you for all of the hard work that went into producing and filming it. Can't believe you kept going after the tumble. Holy smokes, you go girl!
Thanks a lot for sharing, Mulch and Spreadsheet! I just can't wait experiencing the PCT myself next year... until then I have to live of your film and enjoy the awesome scenery :)
Absolutely the best thru hike video I've ever watched, AT or PCT. you two are a true inspiration. Bought all our gear and made plans, just in time to find out we were pregnant. Thank you for giving me hope!
Congratulations! Everything in life happens for a reason. :-) We had our sons when we were young so later, when they were in college, we all hiked together on The Wonderland Trail, JMT and the ColoradoTrail. It was a great bonding experience. You will hit the trail soon, as a family perhaps. Good luck, best wishes, and Happy New 2017!
Awesome video. I'm so jealous you guys got to the Sierra with that much snow remaining, it looks stunning. That fall that Mulch took on the other hand, not so stunning. Congratulations on finishing!
Amazing video and PCT journey. I plan on hiking the PCT in 2020 but still have many fears, especially the passes in the Sierras and the river crossings. Mulch I am so inspired by your courage and perseverance, especially after falling. Watching your journey gives me the courage to face my fears! Thank you for sharing.
Congratulations on getting to Canada. Loved your video. Very nice music that worked perfectly with the video and thank you for sharing. I can't wait for 2020 when I'll have a go.
Day Tripper here - saw y'all at the Deep Creek crossing after the spillway (the day I got my trail name) and then again and again off and on. Well done on the video. For real. You two did a good thing for the trail with this.
What an amazing well put together and beautiful video! I'd love to hike the PCT but right now I'm thinking 2018. I cannot wait to experience all the beauty you two did.
I enjoyed this very much. Thanks for sharing. I am thru-hiking the Colorado Trail next summer and the PCT is on my list for some time in the future, when I no longer have the four-legged fuzzy kids to love and care for.
We did the CT in 2015 - great trail but be prepared for daily rain & storms. We had more rain and storms on the CT than then entire PCT. Good luck with the CT!
I'm looking forward to section hiking in 2022. Either Kennedy meadow's or Bridge of the gods. I live in the Northwest, cost management and a bit of intimidation. Lol
Agree with everyone else,,,Great video! Thank you for sharing your hike. Glad to see the slide didn't do any serious injury! That HAD to have been a scary event. 2017 Sobo is planned and ready. Can't wait to see what you have seen.
I feel so lost without being in the mountains for so long, I long to hike that trail. I pray god will allow me to hike it, I feel motivated to try even more so now. I cannot describe how much I want to hike that trail and things just keep getting in the way. #life, "The Mountains are calling and I must go"
Jeff Ingersoll We have been back for over 6 weeks now, and we miss it more than ever. "If there is a will, there is always a way." The younger you are, the easier it is. Our sons are grown and are engaged now, so we were more motivated to save money and just do it. Everything will fall into place and you'll be on that trail again enjoying nature and the simplicity of life. Good luck!
STUNNING video!! I really enjoyed watching!! Thank you for sharing your lovely experience with all of us! I'm so looking forward to the same in 2018! Many blessings to y'all!
Awesome! Really tough lady!! Took a lot of courage to continue after taking a tumble like that. Blessings from The Lord on you guys! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Greg - Sorry I did not see this until after you started... 90% of the video/photos were taken with a Sony rx100m3 camera. The rest were on a Droid Turbo 2 or iPhone 6. Wish we were out there on the trail with you - have a great hike!
When you fell down Sonora Pass, did you leave your poles behind? Because I saw two poles that had fallen down the mountain when I descended on the morning of June 25th.
Yes, actually left a trail of several things... one trekking pole (she only had one out), ice axe after she lost her grip trying to self arrest, and small items that were in her backpack mesh. Her eyeglasses were knocked off but were transition lenses that turned very dark and I was able to see them while coming down and retrieve them. I was more concerned about getting down to her to make sure she was really ok than retrieving the other gear.
Did you guys rent your axes? I kept seeing "camp" stenciled on them. I keep hearing that they can be rented at KM and dropped off at Toloumne...is this correct? And was Red's your first Zero Day?
CAMP is the brand and we used the Corsa model for its light weight (~8-9 oz depending on length). I've not heard they can be rented at KM. I wish they could be rented there as they are expensive to ship around. We did the typical resupplies and several zeros in the SoCal section to give the snow a bit of time to melt out.
My favorite thru hiking video so far!! short and beautiful and inspiring! I have this on my list to do with my son when he's a bit older right now he's 8 (lanky and energy packed!), we do 5-8 days out but want to wait til he's older. Having hiked with your kids what age would you say? 12,13,14,15? I heard a mom and her 12yr old son thru hiked in 2016? Also watching you cross all those big rivers with the sierra snow run off.. did you put on sandals or hike in wet shoes? How did you not get Blisters? Lastly love to know if you sent resupply boxes for most points or did you resupply as you went? And your favorite foods. A lot of the food videos have pop tarts, candy bars and a lot of sugary stuff that doesn't sit well in my gut. Thank you as your video is very inspiring and MY FAVORITE!!!! Have a great 2017 and I can't wait to see more hikes that you all do!
Thanks Carmen! We did our first backpacking trip with our sons on the Wonderland trail when they were about 18 and 21. We did lots of day hikes prior to that. I don't think we saw anyone younger than about 17 thru-hiking the PCT (a father and high school age daughter). I know people have done it younger but much less than that and I would be thinking section hiking at the ideal time of year for each section. It will probably be a more enjoyable (and safer) experience for a young person that way. That is great that you are already doing 5-8 day trips - I wish we would have done that sooner with our kids. It would be hard to avoid wet shoes/socks in the Sierra - water is absolute everywhere. Our shoes and socks were wet pretty much all the time for about 2 weeks. If we were ready for a break we would wait until after the next big crossing so we could let shoes/socks dry in the sun while eating. You figure all this out as you go. We did not have any blisters or real foot issues even with all the water. Those ice cold water crossings first thing in the morning though were not a highlight experience. We mostly resupplied on the trail as we went to give us the most flexibility - we probably did mail resupplies for about 8 locations (including much of Washington). I eat fairly healthy in the real world but you learn to not be picky out there. No specific favorite food - lots of Nature Valley granola bars, granola cereal/oatmeal/carnation. Most flexible food was probably ramen noodle blocks... we made spaghetti, mac & cheese, tuna casserole, and a few others with them for many meals. They are cheap, available everywhere on the trail, and decent calories/oz. And everything tastes better with about an ounce of extra virgin olive oil ;-)
Thanks Keith for your quick reply. I appreciate your insight on age appropriate hiking. Watching your thru hike video I did feel nervous watching your snow hiking sections and where your wife fell. So glad she was okay that looked like a scary section in my hiking book! I watched another video of a couple and they didn't seem to encounter any snow in 2015? And then a best friend (2 guys) 2011 (?) thru hike was months of snow and to me looked really tough (a lot of folks didn't complete that year due to the snow). that honestly did not look fun. It looks like it's different year to year and important to follow the winter. This is a huge snow year in Oregon and I bet the Sierras too so it will be interesting to see how 2017 thru hikers do? Your video was pure inspiration and made my heart sore with wanting to really put this dream into action. Now to prime the pump with backpacking until my son is old enough and ready. My husband loves nature but is not a huge backpacker and being that he's gluten and dairy intolerant I think resupplying in towns would be hard since nearly every solitary meal has one or both of these ingredients! He can be our cheerleader and pillar of home strength. I like to eat healthy too!! Watching all the food videos there does seem to be a lot of sugar! I imagine as the weeks and months go by what you thought you'd eat and what you eat changes. I think that's wise to have that flexibility. Did you plan the 8 caches ahead of time or mail them from the towns you dropped into? Thanks and what's next on your alls hiking plans?
Yes the snow varies dramatically year to year. I watched some footage from 2015 on the same days we went over the passes and there was a lot less snow. Keep in mind we left Kennedy Meadows on 5/27 which is considered pretty early (vs the "typical" recommendation of mid June). You just have to deal with the hike you are dealt for a given year, and make personal judgement on if you feel comfortable with a given section. A lot of people tried flipping strategies but the snow line just tends to get lower the further north you go so I don't think it really helped them avoid much snow. We only sent food from home to one early location as it was not clear what the resupply options would be there - in hindsight we would not have done even that one. The other resupplies were sent while in a trail town ahead to some upcoming locations. You have to really lower your standards of eating to do full on trail resupply... walk into a gas station and imagine buying food for 4 or 5 days. That is literally what you will need to do in some places. That said you get to a point where "a calorie is a calorie" and pretty much just eat as many of them as you can in whatever form they come. Something to consider is your husband meeting you at strategic road crossings for resupply and a bit of shared time on the trail. Several couples were doing this approach, and they had some really nice and easy resupplies as a result ;-). We have our eyes set on the triple crown - which of the CDT or AT will be next will depend on the snow.
Ditto on the amazing video. Thank you for sharing your adventure of a lifetime! Hiking the PCT is a goal of mine. Gina, what are the black Nike pants/leggings you hiked in?
Hi, Girl on the go! Hmm... I am really not sure (sorry). I replaced them with another Nike pair in Portland and pitched the ones I had. They both wicked sweat and kept me cool in hot weather - but warm in cool weather. Weird, I know... The main thing is they have to be comfortable. :-)
Not a significant amount but we have done a number of 100+ mile backpack trips so our bodies are use to the back to back days of hiking and I think we retain some of that from trip to trip. We usually change our gym workout to some treadmill hill training with backpacks on starting about a month before a trip. Best bet is to take it easy at the start and rampup on the trail to the 20+ mile days you ultimately will need to be doing.
What are your thoughts on carrying bear spray? Loved the video! I was super excited to see that I have a lot of the same gear as you (bag,tent,clothes,umbrella)! I am thru hiking the pct with a friend this year! :) any tips or tricks for a beginner hiker about to embark on a trail like the pct?
No need for bear spray - You will see a few black bears, probably around car campgrounds or other accessible areas where they have (unfortunately) become acclimated to humans. They behave much more like giant raccoons than vicious man-eaters. We saw 3 total, all near campgrounds, and heard one tromp by our tent at night. We did not have to scare any away. In the true wilderness areas, you will see a lot more bear scat than actual bears. Consider yourself fortunate if you do see one, they remind you that you are living in the wilderness ;-) If you are a total beginner I would do some gear shakedown trips prior to starting. These also get you used to back to back days of hiking. Even if it is just a few nights local it is best to be really comfortable with your gear and get rid of what you don't absolutely have to have. We have been doing this for about 10 years so we know our gear and used 90+% the same gear from Mexico to Canada. A LOT of first time backpackers were swapping / dumping gear often. Most beginners take way too much "just in case", "backup", "spare", or luxury items they don't really need. You will be walking 80+% of your awake hours - focus your gear on making that as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. That said, you should hike your own hike hence the shakedown trips. Also, start slow and build miles up over the first 2-3 weeks. It is really hard to train your body for 20+ mile days, every day, short of just doing it. Don't start so hard out the gate that you get an injury. It is a marathon (actually about 100 of them), not a sprint. Lastly, don't try to plan too much - whatever you put together will only be good for the first few days. We have found the longer the trip, the *less* time we spend planning for it. Have the big picture objectives in mind to make sure you are on track to finish by mid-September and then just adjust things as you go. Plan to be flexible and adapt - much easier than trying to force things to work according to a preconceived plan. Good luck on your adventure - we are so envious of those doing it 2017!
We had the same gear the entire trip except for the Kennedy Meadows South to Sonora section where we added microspikes, ice axes, and bear canisters. At Sierra City I changed from a 3300mAh battery pack to a 10000 mAh one and at Cascade Locks added a second 10000 mAh one for Gina since solar charging was getting pretty iffy. Key pieces of gear: ZPacks Duplex tent, Enlightened Equipment 20deg Enigma quilts, ZPacks arc blast backpacks, alcohol stove. Our detailed gear list for our Colorado Trail hike is at www.keithandgina.com/Trips/2015-Colorado-Trail-Info/n-bpXwjc/ and is very similar (except we took 2 phones on the PCT instead of a Kindle and a few other minor changes). Our base weight on the PCT was around 11.5 pounds (vs 10.5 on the CT) due to the addition of solar charger, Delorme, and battery pack/charger. For the Sierra that went up about 3.5 pounds including the microspikes. When I finally complete my photo gallery for the PCT it will include the detailed gear list.
OUTSTANDING video. What camera did you guys use? And since I'm asking gear questions, which Suunto watch was that? Might be one of the best PCT thru hike videos I have ever seen, and I've been dreaming of a thru hike since before the internet existed. So many shots made me feel like blurting out "WOW!" I think you were just a few days ahead of me and my son and some friends as we section hiked Tuolumne Meadows to Donner Pass. We had the same experience at Sonora pass!
Thanks CJ! 90% of the video/photos were taken with a Sony rx100m3 camera. The rest were on a Droid Turbo 2 or iPhone 6. The watch is a Suunto Core that is about 4 or 5 years old (highly recommended BTW). If you have the itch to do a thru hike you should definitely make it happen - an incredible experience.
It will happen. I do a section every year. Looking at doing it thru in about 4 years. I've started collecting "The Gear" that will be used. I was wondering how important a Suunto is, so your recommendation is excellent. Those last few days look cold. I have a down quilt I think will work for 2/3rds of the trail but wouldn't work for early and late snow. What sleeping bags did you guys use. Thanks for posting your video and your gear recco's!
We used 20 degree Enlightened Equipment enigma quilts. We wore a few layers of clothes some nights including our down puffies and were only chilly a few nights, mainly in Washington due to the damp conditions.
We have a group on Facebook called "Footprints of Keith and Gina" - can do a search in Facebook if you would like to read our on trip posts (it is a closed group so just request to join and we will add you).
This is a great video guys & I'm so glad I stumbled across it. I wonder if you'll read my comment, but did you use a Zpacks Duplex Tent for your hike? It looks like it. My apologies if you've answered this elsewhere. Cheers from Australia.
DuneMountainTrip thanks so much! And yup - we used a Zpacks duplex. It was wonderful shelter and was our “home away from home” on the PCT and several other hikes. We would love to hike the PCT again. :-)
![pct sierra [2012]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cZZBdq58qDY/mqdefault.jpg)
![pct sierra [2012]](/img/tr.png)
Found a hidden gem on TH-cam. Love how this video was put together. None of that walking and talking into the camera. A great blend of video, amazing photos, and wonderful story telling. Thanks for sharing!
I watched this video full-screen start to finish. Congratulations, we'll done!
Truly inspirational journey. I’ll never have the guts to take on this endeavor but I will f/e be envious of your and all those who have been brave enough to tackle this journey. It must have been epic! Now that’s living!
Excellent video! Did this 65 yr old man's heart good to see these two complete this, and especially the lady. Her fall and injuries did not deter her - she is a real go-getter!
Yep, she's a real bad ass. One step at a time. Inspirational. Thank you for a great video!
You made it. Great respect for your couple....
Nice job with this video, Its the third time i have watched it, Gina you are a real trooper, that was a nasty fall. Be Safe. From Canada.
Congratulations! Very impressive feat of perseverance.
Well done!! 🙌🏼 thank you for sharing your journey!!
This just showed up on the suggestions from TH-cam. Beautiful video and what an amazing adventure, thanks for sharing.
One of most enjoyable videos of a thru-hike that I've seen. Congratulations to you both! Very inspiring!
Guys ! Really a terrific job of video making. Moreover, you have a terrific story to tell.
You both were super fit and slim at the end of that walk. Also, with the greatest respect, a certain element of computer geekness and the intelligence to plan and organize the walk adds to the video and I'm sure your experience . Well done !
That was one of best PCT videos I have seen. Well done! Very inspiring.
I was a few days behind you guys and I'm glad you got footage of the parts I didn't remember to take pictures of, like the 10 foot high snow drift at the top of Forrester Pass.
Amazing video!!! I'm hooked I've watched it about 5 times now!!
fantastic job hiking it and showcasing. one of the best PCT movies. thank you for sharing.
Wonderful film, thanks! Beautiful photography. I hope you are readjusting to life off-trail ok.
A beautifully edited video 👍
Congrats on your accomplishment...and welcome to the club of long distance hiking.
You've represented the hiking community in outstanding fashion through this video.❤ ✌ 👣 🐵 👑
"Between every two trees is a doorway into another world"
- John Muir
Beautiful and simply amazing! Congratulations on completing your journey. And thanks for sharing your adventure. I have committed myself to attempting a through hike of the AT on March 2017. All because of inspiration from people like you! Take care.
Outstanding PCT documentary! I'm starting April 28th and I can't wait!
Awesome video. Thank you for all of the hard work that went into producing and filming it. Can't believe you kept going after the tumble. Holy smokes, you go girl!
Thanks a lot for sharing, Mulch and Spreadsheet! I just can't wait experiencing the PCT myself next year... until then I have to live of your film and enjoy the awesome scenery :)
Absolutely the best thru hike video I've ever watched, AT or PCT. you two are a true inspiration. Bought all our gear and made plans, just in time to find out we were pregnant. Thank you for giving me hope!
Congratulations! Everything in life happens for a reason. :-) We had our sons when we were young so later, when they were in college, we all hiked together on The Wonderland Trail, JMT and the ColoradoTrail. It was a great bonding experience. You will hit the trail soon, as a family perhaps. Good luck, best wishes, and Happy New 2017!
Awesome video. I'm so jealous you guys got to the Sierra with that much snow remaining, it looks stunning. That fall that Mulch took on the other hand, not so stunning. Congratulations on finishing!
Hi Keith, wonderful... this video motivates me to include the PCT in my 10 years hike + bike world-travel I plan to do from 2020 on :)
Really enjoyed this your video. I start my PCT hike 5 years to the day 4/5 /21 after you guys. Thanks for sharing
Thank you! Best wishes to you on your adventure! :-)
Great job and video! Thank you for taking the trouble to document it!
What a wonderful documentation of your trail journey. Thanks for sharing!
Congrats to you both.... You made it to the Northern Terminus on my B-day.... Sept 20th!
Amazing video and PCT journey. I plan on hiking the PCT in 2020 but still have many fears, especially the passes in the Sierras and the river crossings. Mulch I am so inspired by your courage and perseverance, especially after falling. Watching your journey gives me the courage to face my fears! Thank you for sharing.
grmaleah You can DO IT!!! If there’s a will, there is *ALWAYS* a way! 😄
Congratulations on getting to Canada. Loved your video. Very nice music that worked perfectly with the video and thank you for sharing. I can't wait for 2020 when I'll have a go.
Fantastic video. Good filming, great told story and excellent editing! So inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
gosh all that snow!!
Congratulations on hiking the PCT. really enjoyed your movie
Excellent film guys! Heard rumblings of Spreadsheet back in the desert, glad to finally put a face with a name.
- Nemo
One of the best videos! Thanks for sharing and the inspiration! Greetings from México
Day Tripper here - saw y'all at the Deep Creek crossing after the spillway (the day I got my trail name) and then again and again off and on. Well done on the video. For real. You two did a good thing for the trail with this.
Thanks, Hightower! It was such a wonderful adventure!! So glad we met you on the trail, with all of us sharing the *same* goal - to reach Canada!
Many, many thanks for sharing your journey!
This video is OUTSTANDING! Major WOW factor. Such a beautiful video. I so enjoyed this.....
How many calories did you burn every day ? Did you loose weight on your hike ? Amazing journey , happy trails .
Love this video and Gina you are a BRAVE BRAVE WOMEN. Respect
Kudos to both of you. Excellent images, outstanding video, inspirational, loved it!
Congrats on a beautiful video and thank you for sharing. I very much enjoyed experiencing you journey through your words and pictures. Thank you.
Beautiful video. I enjoyed every minute of it. Memories to last a lifetime. You two are sure tough cookies.
What an amazing well put together and beautiful video! I'd love to hike the PCT but right now I'm thinking 2018. I cannot wait to experience all the beauty you two did.
Super achievement guys.Loved every step of your epic adventure. You could see you guys become fitter along the trail. Good job. God bless.
Awesome video!!!! Congrats on completing the trek. I hope to do the trip myself one day. Cheers
Congratulations on an amazing achievement! I enjoyed the video tremendously. Just beautiful and inspiring. I love all the smiles through everything!
Thanks for making this fantastic video. You two are Badass! what incredible views, just stunning. Inspirational. Amazing!
Great video!!! Nice photography.
Great adventure, you two were awesome. interesting comments along the way and beautiful scenery! Thank you for sharing!!
I enjoyed this very much. Thanks for sharing. I am thru-hiking the Colorado Trail next summer and the PCT is on my list for some time in the future, when I no longer have the four-legged fuzzy kids to love and care for.
We did the CT in 2015 - great trail but be prepared for daily rain & storms. We had more rain and storms on the CT than then entire PCT. Good luck with the CT!
What a great trip...wish I had someone to do it with...
I'm looking forward to section hiking in 2022. Either Kennedy meadow's or Bridge of the gods. I live in the Northwest, cost management and a bit of intimidation. Lol
Agree with everyone else,,,Great video! Thank you for sharing your hike. Glad to see the slide didn't do any serious injury! That HAD to have been a scary event. 2017 Sobo is planned and ready. Can't wait to see what you have seen.
You will have an incredible experience... I wish I could rewind the clock and be looking forward to it again! Good luck with your hike.
Awesome video and really brave to keep going after sliding down the snow. I couldn't look at those cuts!!!!!
Oh wow! Thanks for the memories. Many familiar sights.
Awesome video. I can't get enough, lol. I'll be starting my through hike in April of 2018. I can't wait and you guys are an inspiration. Thanks...
It will change your life - for the BETTER! Good luck! Be safe!
the best PCT video I've ever seen.AWESOME
Theres much better ones
I feel so lost without being in the mountains for so long, I long to hike that trail. I pray god will allow me to hike it, I feel motivated to try even more so now. I cannot describe how much I want to hike that trail and things just keep getting in the way. #life, "The Mountains are calling and I must go"
Jeff Ingersoll We have been back for over 6 weeks now, and we miss it more than ever. "If there is a will, there is always a way." The younger you are, the easier it is. Our sons are grown and are engaged now, so we were more motivated to save money and just do it. Everything will fall into place and you'll be on that trail again enjoying nature and the simplicity of life. Good luck!
Very well done! Thanks for the great video!
STUNNING video!! I really enjoyed watching!! Thank you for sharing your lovely experience with all of us! I'm so looking forward to the same in 2018!
Many blessings to y'all!
My daughter and boyfriend did their first miles today. If they make it, they will see some beauty. Nice video.
That is great, it will be an incredible adventure! Each day we are reliving the pictures from exactly one year ago and wishing we were out there.
Its a dream come true.
Awesome! Really tough lady!! Took a lot of courage to continue after taking a tumble like that. Blessings from The Lord on you guys! Thanks for sharing.
Congratz, loved the movie. real nice. Good Job!
Terrific video--congratulations on your thrus!
Great Video. Thanks for sharing!!!
Congratulations and thank you for sharing your journey.
My most sincere wow of admiration to you two.....true giants both!!
Great show! Loved the zoom into the hamburger! Bet that tasted good.
Great time-lapse shots!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful story 🙏🏼
just an amazing accomplishment! thanks for sharing.
Thank you - I really enjoyed watching!
Beautiful video! Great photography and videography. Thank you! May I ask what kind of camera you used?
Thanks! Most of the photos/videos were shot with a Sony RX100 Mark 3.
Great trip! im doing it this year ! starting may 13th. What camera did you use for this? looking at buying one
Hi Greg - Sorry I did not see this until after you started... 90% of the video/photos were taken with a Sony rx100m3 camera. The rest were on a Droid Turbo 2 or iPhone 6. Wish we were out there on the trail with you - have a great hike!
When you fell down Sonora Pass, did you leave your poles behind? Because I saw two poles that had fallen down the mountain when I descended on the morning of June 25th.
Yes, actually left a trail of several things... one trekking pole (she only had one out), ice axe after she lost her grip trying to self arrest, and small items that were in her backpack mesh. Her eyeglasses were knocked off but were transition lenses that turned very dark and I was able to see them while coming down and retrieve them. I was more concerned about getting down to her to make sure she was really ok than retrieving the other gear.
Impressive!! Great video.
Did you guys rent your axes? I kept seeing "camp" stenciled on them. I keep hearing that they can be rented at KM and dropped off at Toloumne...is this correct?
And was Red's your first Zero Day?
CAMP is the brand and we used the Corsa model for its light weight (~8-9 oz depending on length). I've not heard they can be rented at KM. I wish they could be rented there as they are expensive to ship around. We did the typical resupplies and several zeros in the SoCal section to give the snow a bit of time to melt out.
Awesome. Really inspiring! You two are made of good stuff!
congratulations to both of you! well done!
thank you for the really nice video
My favorite thru hiking video so far!! short and beautiful and inspiring! I have this on my list to do with my son when he's a bit older right now he's 8 (lanky and energy packed!), we do 5-8 days out but want to wait til he's older. Having hiked with your kids what age would you say? 12,13,14,15? I heard a mom and her 12yr old son thru hiked in 2016? Also watching you cross all those big rivers with the sierra snow run off.. did you put on sandals or hike in wet shoes? How did you not get Blisters? Lastly love to know if you sent resupply boxes for most points or did you resupply as you went? And your favorite foods. A lot of the food videos have pop tarts, candy bars and a lot of sugary stuff that doesn't sit well in my gut. Thank you as your video is very inspiring and MY FAVORITE!!!! Have a great 2017 and I can't wait to see more hikes that you all do!
Thanks Carmen! We did our first backpacking trip with our sons on the Wonderland trail when they were about 18 and 21. We did lots of day hikes prior to that. I don't think we saw anyone younger than about 17 thru-hiking the PCT (a father and high school age daughter). I know people have done it younger but much less than that and I would be thinking section hiking at the ideal time of year for each section. It will probably be a more enjoyable (and safer) experience for a young person that way. That is great that you are already doing 5-8 day trips - I wish we would have done that sooner with our kids.
It would be hard to avoid wet shoes/socks in the Sierra - water is absolute everywhere. Our shoes and socks were wet pretty much all the time for about 2 weeks. If we were ready for a break we would wait until after the next big crossing so we could let shoes/socks dry in the sun while eating. You figure all this out as you go. We did not have any blisters or real foot issues even with all the water. Those ice cold water crossings first thing in the morning though were not a highlight experience.
We mostly resupplied on the trail as we went to give us the most flexibility - we probably did mail resupplies for about 8 locations (including much of Washington). I eat fairly healthy in the real world but you learn to not be picky out there. No specific favorite food - lots of Nature Valley granola bars, granola cereal/oatmeal/carnation. Most flexible food was probably ramen noodle blocks... we made spaghetti, mac & cheese, tuna casserole, and a few others with them for many meals. They are cheap, available everywhere on the trail, and decent calories/oz. And everything tastes better with about an ounce of extra virgin olive oil ;-)
Thanks Keith for your quick reply.
I appreciate your insight on age appropriate hiking. Watching your thru hike video I did feel nervous watching your snow hiking sections and where your wife fell. So glad she was okay that looked like a scary section in my hiking book! I watched another video of a couple and they didn't seem to encounter any snow in 2015? And then a best friend (2 guys) 2011 (?) thru hike was months of snow and to me looked really tough (a lot of folks didn't complete that year due to the snow). that honestly did not look fun. It looks like it's different year to year and important to follow the winter. This is a huge snow year in Oregon and I bet the Sierras too so it will be interesting to see how 2017 thru hikers do?
Your video was pure inspiration and made my heart sore with wanting to really put this dream into action. Now to prime the pump with backpacking until my son is old enough and ready. My husband loves nature but is not a huge backpacker and being that he's gluten and dairy intolerant I think resupplying in towns would be hard since nearly every solitary meal has one or both of these ingredients! He can be our cheerleader and pillar of home strength. I like to eat healthy too!! Watching all the food videos there does seem to be a lot of sugar! I imagine as the weeks and months go by what you thought you'd eat and what you eat changes. I think that's wise to have that flexibility. Did you plan the 8 caches ahead of time or mail them from the towns you dropped into? Thanks and what's next on your alls hiking plans?
Yes the snow varies dramatically year to year. I watched some footage from 2015 on the same days we went over the passes and there was a lot less snow. Keep in mind we left Kennedy Meadows on 5/27 which is considered pretty early (vs the "typical" recommendation of mid June). You just have to deal with the hike you are dealt for a given year, and make personal judgement on if you feel comfortable with a given section. A lot of people tried flipping strategies but the snow line just tends to get lower the further north you go so I don't think it really helped them avoid much snow.
We only sent food from home to one early location as it was not clear what the resupply options would be there - in hindsight we would not have done even that one. The other resupplies were sent while in a trail town ahead to some upcoming locations. You have to really lower your standards of eating to do full on trail resupply... walk into a gas station and imagine buying food for 4 or 5 days. That is literally what you will need to do in some places. That said you get to a point where "a calorie is a calorie" and pretty much just eat as many of them as you can in whatever form they come.
Something to consider is your husband meeting you at strategic road crossings for resupply and a bit of shared time on the trail. Several couples were doing this approach, and they had some really nice and easy resupplies as a result ;-).
We have our eyes set on the triple crown - which of the CDT or AT will be next will depend on the snow.
Ca I ask how old you were when you did this?
I was 49 - husband turned 51 on the trail. :-)
This was so well done, thank you!
Ditto on the amazing video. Thank you for sharing your adventure of a lifetime! Hiking the PCT is a goal of mine. Gina, what are the black Nike pants/leggings you hiked in?
Hi, Girl on the go! Hmm... I am really not sure (sorry). I replaced them with another Nike pair in Portland and pitched the ones I had. They both wicked sweat and kept me cool in hot weather - but warm in cool weather. Weird, I know... The main thing is they have to be comfortable. :-)
love you video. I would love do this hike. did you do any type of training before hand?
Not a significant amount but we have done a number of 100+ mile backpack trips so our bodies are use to the back to back days of hiking and I think we retain some of that from trip to trip. We usually change our gym workout to some treadmill hill training with backpacks on starting about a month before a trip. Best bet is to take it easy at the start and rampup on the trail to the 20+ mile days you ultimately will need to be doing.
thank you 🤗
What are your thoughts on carrying bear spray? Loved the video! I was super excited to see that I have a lot of the same gear as you (bag,tent,clothes,umbrella)! I am thru hiking the pct with a friend this year! :) any tips or tricks for a beginner hiker about to embark on a trail like the pct?
No need for bear spray - You will see a few black bears, probably around car campgrounds or other accessible areas where they have (unfortunately) become acclimated to humans. They behave much more like giant raccoons than vicious man-eaters. We saw 3 total, all near campgrounds, and heard one tromp by our tent at night. We did not have to scare any away. In the true wilderness areas, you will see a lot more bear scat than actual bears. Consider yourself fortunate if you do see one, they remind you that you are living in the wilderness ;-)
If you are a total beginner I would do some gear shakedown trips prior to starting. These also get you used to back to back days of hiking. Even if it is just a few nights local it is best to be really comfortable with your gear and get rid of what you don't absolutely have to have. We have been doing this for about 10 years so we know our gear and used 90+% the same gear from Mexico to Canada. A LOT of first time backpackers were swapping / dumping gear often. Most beginners take way too much "just in case", "backup", "spare", or luxury items they don't really need. You will be walking 80+% of your awake hours - focus your gear on making that as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. That said, you should hike your own hike hence the shakedown trips.
Also, start slow and build miles up over the first 2-3 weeks. It is really hard to train your body for 20+ mile days, every day, short of just doing it. Don't start so hard out the gate that you get an injury. It is a marathon (actually about 100 of them), not a sprint.
Lastly, don't try to plan too much - whatever you put together will only be good for the first few days. We have found the longer the trip, the *less* time we spend planning for it. Have the big picture objectives in mind to make sure you are on track to finish by mid-September and then just adjust things as you go. Plan to be flexible and adapt - much easier than trying to force things to work according to a preconceived plan.
Good luck on your adventure - we are so envious of those doing it 2017!
Keith thank you so much for your reply and all the advice!
amazing video from both of you. Incredible effort. How much re-supplying did you do?
Congratulations what trip...!
Can you do a video of the gear you took and stuff you picked up along the way and stuff you dropped off along the way. It appears you went ultralite.
We had the same gear the entire trip except for the Kennedy Meadows South to Sonora section where we added microspikes, ice axes, and bear canisters. At Sierra City I changed from a 3300mAh battery pack to a 10000 mAh one and at Cascade Locks added a second 10000 mAh one for Gina since solar charging was getting pretty iffy.
Key pieces of gear: ZPacks Duplex tent, Enlightened Equipment 20deg Enigma quilts, ZPacks arc blast backpacks, alcohol stove. Our detailed gear list for our Colorado Trail hike is at www.keithandgina.com/Trips/2015-Colorado-Trail-Info/n-bpXwjc/ and is very similar (except we took 2 phones on the PCT instead of a Kindle and a few other minor changes). Our base weight on the PCT was around 11.5 pounds (vs 10.5 on the CT) due to the addition of solar charger, Delorme, and battery pack/charger. For the Sierra that went up about 3.5 pounds including the microspikes.
When I finally complete my photo gallery for the PCT it will include the detailed gear list.
Amazing journey
So awesome!
Another thumbs up! Great
OUTSTANDING video. What camera did you guys use? And since I'm asking gear questions, which Suunto watch was that? Might be one of the best PCT thru hike videos I have ever seen, and I've been dreaming of a thru hike since before the internet existed. So many shots made me feel like blurting out "WOW!" I think you were just a few days ahead of me and my son and some friends as we section hiked Tuolumne Meadows to Donner Pass. We had the same experience at Sonora pass!
Thanks CJ! 90% of the video/photos were taken with a Sony rx100m3 camera. The rest were on a Droid Turbo 2 or iPhone 6. The watch is a Suunto Core that is about 4 or 5 years old (highly recommended BTW). If you have the itch to do a thru hike you should definitely make it happen - an incredible experience.
It will happen. I do a section every year. Looking at doing it thru in about 4 years. I've started collecting "The Gear" that will be used. I was wondering how important a Suunto is, so your recommendation is excellent. Those last few days look cold. I have a down quilt I think will work for 2/3rds of the trail but wouldn't work for early and late snow. What sleeping bags did you guys use. Thanks for posting your video and your gear recco's!
We used 20 degree Enlightened Equipment enigma quilts. We wore a few layers of clothes some nights including our down puffies and were only chilly a few nights, mainly in Washington due to the damp conditions.
Thanks! I do plan my sleeping bag to be something that goes over me wearing everything I have on the coldest nights. Did you do a blog?
We have a group on Facebook called "Footprints of Keith and Gina" - can do a search in Facebook if you would like to read our on trip posts (it is a closed group so just request to join and we will add you).
only 2649 miles . seems very short right ? if I am driving with car at least need 24 hours
This is a great video guys & I'm so glad I stumbled across it. I wonder if you'll read my comment, but did you use a Zpacks Duplex Tent for your hike? It looks like it. My apologies if you've answered this elsewhere. Cheers from Australia.
DuneMountainTrip thanks so much! And yup - we used a Zpacks duplex. It was wonderful shelter and was our “home away from home” on the PCT and several other hikes. We would love to hike the PCT again. :-)
Great video! Thanks for sharing... Inspiring! I hope to do the same someday.
Beautiful..
That rattlesnake in the beginning was HUGE!
Great video.. thank you