And I remember watching this video in my tiny condo in Toronto thinking "damn is this guy lucky to hike in such beautiful places". Fast forward a few years and I was packrafting this river with you while living next to the Rockies. The perfect example of "never stop dreaming"! With hard work and a little bit of will, everything's possible. Third time's a charm and we will curse COVID from the Castleguard Meadows in a few months together. 🤠🤠🤠
I could watch your videos all day. Your style and all the effort you make to place the camera so we can watch your experience. Setting up camp, cooking, etc. It's nice when hikers show us the country but they oft times leave the camera on a beautiful shot for ever, and they talk about the same thing over and over again. The scenery is great; but its great to feel like we went on the hike with you. Thanks for all your work.
Marty, I really enjoy your videos, and I greatly admire the beauty of the Canadia wilderness from Banff northward. My hiking days are behind me, but I live vicariously through your terrific trips. Cheers.
"I might not get there, but I will have fun exploring on the way". That's it, you get it! And you brought your dog, and you made a good video. Awesome. Great navigation in remote wilderness too.
The end of this video is the best part. You're right about getting into bush and exploring it for yourself. Every time I start one of these videos I never end up finishing it because I get so inspired to leave my apartment and find a new trail.
At 6:22 you find fresh footprints. Good chance those are mine haha My wife and I did that trip May 15-17... we came off the trail the day before you started. We went south from the warden cabin to the Alexandra headwaters. Beautiful country, thank you for sharing the video.
Martyupnorth If you are interested there are a few trip reports of Alexandra/Castleguard (including my own adventure) done up on clubtread. That is how I found the video - it is linked there now. I loved that trip so your video was a welcome surprise.
I watched this video last night and have been thinking about it all day. You did what I have always dreamed of doing. I mainly just do day hikes and play with map and compass navigation....I love that. I can't tell you enough how impressed I was with your confidence in your "bushwhacking/wayfaring" skills. I am super impressed and hope to get too that level some day too. I'm going to look for more of your video's.
I Mark, welcome to my channel. I'm 53 and I've been sharpening my skills for for 35 years. If you liked this one, you'll certainly have to check out my play list of just solo hikes. Feel free to fire off any questions you might have. Cheers.
Awe-inspiring terrain, for sure. Thanks for taking us along with you and Tikka. I was just thinking about you finding your way back to campsite when you went looking for the trail at the first camp and then you expressed the same thoughts, lol. Appreciate how you emphasize common sense on whether to continue in the face of the snow, rather than bravado. New backpackers need to learn those lessons before making a big mistake.
You're Amazing! I wish I had the courage to solo even overnight! I make up excuses as to why I shouldn't, women, small, not knowledgeable enough (but I am a camper, just with a group)... guess I'm just a firm believer of the buddy system. i think someday I'll do it, somehow. Loved your adventure, thanks for sharing!
Wow. Awesome video. About 20 years ago I mountain biked down the fire road and along the river bed for a bit till I got boxed out by that first big creek (terrace). I was sing my fool head off worried about bears and nearly had a heart attack when some grouse flew out of the trees in the middle of the road. One day maybe I'll get further down that valley. It always seemed to call me since I saw it from sunset lookout. Thanks for all the effort you put into these videos. (Subscribed).
Very awesome video. Watched the whole thing. We went to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado this past summer and it was my first time experiencing the rockies, so I was content on the highways and overlooks, it didn't take much to impress me. But your videos add a whole new dimension to experiencing these places. I've never backpacked before, but I feel that I would like to start. Thanks for the awesome video once again.
A very enjoyable video of a very exciting hike! Me, my husband and our GS dog also do lots of hiking in Canadian wilderness. I wish I could be so relaxed on our trails! I'm always checking behind our back for bears! :-) Tika is an adorable companion! I subscribed to you!
Lol...Marty...at 8:20 Tikka is resting on your lap...then 8:26 you comment about the stream going by..."listen to this"...and Tikka lifts her head and her ears perk up as if she heard you say "listen to this" Love it
I really enjoy that you point out the need to be able to navigate on your own without relying on a clearly defined trail. I wish more people would get comfortable with a map and compass (and having both available) as an adjunct to blazes/signs/GPS. It's not a difficult skill to learn, and it's one that really pays off in both normal and emergency situations. Even in "easy" terrain, I habitually have a topo map and compass -- and it's fun to take sightings to see how accurately you can pin down your position.
Agreed. Too often these channels are all about gear and trends as if you cannot go on an adventure unless you have all the greatest ultralight gear or something. The focus goes from the experiance to how many stupid ounces you carry. This channel is so refreshing because, while everyone obviously needs decent gear which Marty has, it is never about having the very latest or being onsessed with weight These things are all factored but never interfere with the primary objective and that is the experiance. I lke that his trips are to lesser known areas because it makes you wonder what is available locally although Banff is obviously a blassing, you don't have to go to the world famous spots to have fun.
I love your multi days hike man. I just want to shareto you experience in multi days hike, we did a 2 weeks hike/expedition back in 2009 it was a fantastic feeling being in the woods and sound of the tropical forest. Amazing! Keep posting your videos man. Take care!
I'm temporarily unemployed so I'm taking advantage of the situation to catch up on some hiking. I'm planning to do all 175 km of Jasper's North Boundary trail later this summer, with a side trip to the "Natural arch" near Topaz lake. Should be a good trip.
such an amazing adventure Marty. You are really teaching everybody that going out into the wilderness is about simplicity not bringing a bunch of unnecessary BS.
+griffy83 That's certainly the philosophy I try to live by. Some guys and gals are just walking gadgets and advertising bill boards. Fancy clothes, things to tie gear together, pelican cases for cameras, GPS, headlamp, tech stoves, separate bowls and plates, espresso coffee maker, plastic wine glasses, UV filters..... I hike to escape civilization, not to bring it with me. Thanks for watching.
Great video - so sad, but true about how most people see the national parks from the roadside parking lot. I bet most there would hardly believe you if you told them you'd just completed a 5-day solo hike!
I just found your videos and have watched them all. Very well done and Tika is beautiful. I live in Sask where there is some awesome hiking surrounding some of the nicest lakes up north. We take our Lab/Collie named Jet with us. If we have come thru the trail Jet will always find it on the way back. We try to get to Banff/Jasper every year or two to camp and hike and take in the Johnson's Canyon trail early in the season. I haven't done a solo hike yet but am looking forward to trying it with my faithful companion. Good luck on your next adventure, I look forward to the video. God Bless.
+Dandino Dandy Thank you. I like this one also. It's too bad my camera was failing and the sound around rivers is so high pitch. I have a new camera for this summer.
Great video and trip beautiful country thank you for sharing.. Followed a lot of your adventures ... one man and his dog in the wilderness just dosen't get any better than that ! Some great tips too. John Scotland
I like Tika's post-water-crossing-ritual. I may do that myself in the future! Excellent video; these are the types of videos that I watch in the winter while planning trips for next season. Thank you for the effort!
Saw 2 of your hikes, the 9 day and the 5 day solos. You do a great job with the video, and make it very interesting. Very enjoyable to watch. The 5 day solo seemed to me to have more snow and prettier. Also seems that it would be easy to get lost on the 5 day one. Your a veteran solo hiker and it shows. You do a great job. Good luck to you. I think I'll subscribe.
+Alan Lenzi Thanks for the positive feedback. Every hike offers something different. I wish they were all spectacular, but that's rarely the case. I just love getting out there.
Wow am I jealous!! I Drove through Jasper as a young kid when I drove alone to Alaska and only spent a night along side my Jeep. What an awesome trip you had.
Just wanted to thank you for an awesome escape for me...watched your 9 day and now this...would love to go along with you sometime. I use to do ultrarunning on trails...bad knee stopped me...trying to get back to hiking/backpacking at 60....you are inspiring and your videos are so professionally done and fascinating. It's like going along with you on the trip. You need your own show... Thanks again! Happy trails...
+Mark Fugel Thanks for the positive comments. I'd sure like to have my own show. If you have any ideas how to make than happen, I'm all ears. Thanks for watching. Peace.
Love your comments at the end of the video. That was a great video, one of the trails i was hoping to attempt in the coming yrs so it was great to see others out there attempting these long forgotten(by parks canada) trails. Stay safe out there and maybe run into you someday. We are starting the NB on august 14. Safe trails.
You might be the only guy on TH-cam that makes hour long videos that I'll take the time to watch, you have a wealth of knowledge and are the real deal (40 lb pack/25 km days, bush wacking) compared to all these guys that do 35-40 km with 5 lb base weights on well worn trails. Keep on hiking, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Ross. I developed my passion for hiking when I was 16-17 living in Ontario. I have a picture of me from those days. My gear was primitive and everything I knew, I had learned from a book. After graduating from university I moved to northern Alberta, close to the Rockies. That was 28 years ago. I hiked every trail in the national parks, often twice and even three times. Then I started just exploring. In Alberta we also have crown lands which offer great opportunities. I just love being out in the woods. I don't criticize the folks that choose the ultra-light stile. To each his own. I just explain in a lot of my videos that hiking with 5 lbs of gear in the Canadian northern Rockies is a bit foolish. Lots can and will go wrong. I'm actually proud that my extra gear has come in handy more than once when I've had to help a fellow hiker who got in trouble, or simply underestimated the task. Thanks for watching my videos. Cheers.
Sherrel Romans Thanks for the positive comments. I enjoy hiking and I enjoy the challenge of documenting the trips. I just recently completed a 155 kk journey across Jasper's North Boundary. I'm currently editing that video. Thanks for watching.
Nice video, lover your Tikka, my German Shepherd has too much prey drive to take backpacking, she would always be on the hunt. I was surprised to see that you can drink unfiltered water out of the stream, maybe that's Canadian water. I look forward to watching more of your videos now that I subsrcribed, Thanks for sharing!
Most of my hikes are in protected National parks above the tree line, so water is very clean and safe to drink. I try to drink from small, flowing creeks with lots of natural filtration.
Deadly! I've camped at that trailhead/bridge a couple times and wondered where that trail went but never looked into it. I'm happy you made this vid; such good beta on what to expect, and I love the idea of a seldom used trail! I'm gonna see if I can't get in there later this summer or next year.
She's a great dog. She's a little hyper at home, so that's why I like taking her on trips. In the bush she just calms down. She's more comfortable around rivers now. Thanks for watching. I'm heading out this weekend.
Thanks. I've had a few people make the same comment. One person even told me they watch my videos while they run on a treadmill. Thanks for the positive feedback.
love all your videos! Very inspiring! I have done a number of hikes on Vancouver island. I would like to do more hikes near Banff. Keep up the uploads. Very cool!
I watch her closely. I take off her pack whenever I take mine off. She gets lots of water from streams. If it's too hot fer her, it's probably too hot for me as well. We're actually more likely to be cold. Thanks for watching and commenting Susan. Cheers.
I wish I could backpack in the summer!!! I live in texas and everything is flooded. And of course there's the snakes!!! I've fought for my life against 2 poisonous snakes in the past 3 weeks!! Hopefully I can get some day hikes in once the lakes and streams dry up a bit
My maternal Grand Mother is from Moncton. We're all bilingual in the family. Your part of the world has its own beauty. I love the ocean and lakes. I think I prefer water over mountains. Ultimately you find joy in what you have. Cheers.
Thanks for sharing. That's a nice shot of Labrador Tea beside your first fire '4:40'. Is that what you used for your tea? Good to see you are not afraid to drink the water, as long as you know where it is coming from. I'll never be able to go on such an epic adventure, it's nice to see the back country.
It has a couple of look alikes from the same family, you should always be sure before consuming wild edibles. This is the source that I take though a second source would be safer to compare harmonicarts.ca/product/edible-and-medicinal-plants-of-the-rocky-mountains/
I wish you would show a video of how you do you post production. I'm trying to learn how to compile all my video of a trip into one video, but still learning the process. Your channel was the first "hiking" channel that I subscribed to a while back and it is still one the best! It's so nice to see videos that aren't just about the PCT, CDT, or AT... Thanks Marty, and keep up the great work!
another great video Marty can't understand why people are giving you a thumb's down i am going to get a pack for my Jack Russel so she can carry her snacks. best regards Paul. Bournemouth UK.
I think the negative votes are mostly related to the quality of the videos. We live in a world where everyone expects the videos to be 1080p or higher. I've posted a good video explaining several reasons why my videos are only 720. I find that hiking with dogs is one of the most natural things we can do. The association between man and dog is a long one, and nowhere is that more evident than in the UK. So many incredible breeds of dogs have been developed in the UK. Thanks for watching and enjoy the time in the outdoors with you companions. Cheers.
Really enjoyed watching this adventure.....I especially like it with your dog along. I'd still prefer adventure in a Winnebago View 24 ft...with all the comforts of home and safe from Bear! Bravo to you and T!
My brother from the north. ...you put up another great video. A plethora of good information. If you ever come to the United States..you have an invitation to hike with me in Missouri. Not like Northern Alberta but it's nice here.
I like the fact that you are calmingly showing some rather "hard" hikes as if it was easy like that. Inspiring videos. Be sure to check out Lars Monsen's expeditions in Canada :) Looking forward to new videos. Regards from Norway
Thanks for recognizing that some of my hikes are hard. I really appreciate all the feedback I get. I will look for Lars' journeys. I just completed a hike yesterday. I'll have a new video in a few days.
You inspired me to bring canned oysters onto the trail, the only problem is that the can wont burn and my pack smells like oysters after I eat them! Good protein though. Thanks for the videos!
I bring cans of oysters and small cans of tuna for protein. You can find the tuna in pouches. I clean the cans and then thrown them in the fire for a few minutes to burn off the small and give them a good smoking. The I put them in a zip lock back and pack out. All good. Cheers.
I meant to ask you, as I was sleeping in my tent last night, I wondered if you always bring all of your gear into the tent? I personally don't hang my food up , but leave it away from my tent. I even leave my pack outside of my tent unless my water bladder is my only water source. I just don't want the attention throughout the night. Do you protect your food in your tent or hang it up? Im still learning, but your videos and comments are helping.
If there's a pole provided by the park service or one left behind by previous hikers I'll for sure hang my pack with food and most of the gear I don't need. About half the time I leave the food in the pack, under the tent's vestibule. I kind of evaluate each situation on its own. Where am I, are there others nearby, have I seen evidence of animals, what season. I don't think there's a perfect answer. I honestly think that small animals like porcupines and squirrels are a bigger threat to my food than bears. In very remote areas where I hike bears tend to keep their distance. On popular trails, they certainly associate people as an easy source of food. I had good debates concerning the "curiosity" of bears. People claim that their excellent sense of smell and curiosity is what attracts them to hikers. Based on the same argument, a bear would be just as likely to investigate a dead elk in the valley as opposed to a hiker that smells like cheese. I'd argue that since a bear's sense of smell is so good, he's going to smell my body odor, my smoke, my fuel, my food, the coating on my tent, the resin in my boots and sulphur of my matches. If he wants to really investigate me while I''m awake or asleep there's not much I can do. Keep you bear spray handy at night.
Well that certainly helps, as always I appreciate the feedback. You should consider hosting a 'Facebook Live" event for 30 minutes that allows viewers to ask questions in a groupthink atmosphere. You could really reach out to a lot of people in a short amount of time. Anyways, thanks again, happy hiking Marty!
I took my 70 lb lab and my daughters 50 lb husky out this last weekend with their dog packs. They both ran into the scrub oak with their packs on and ran out says pack, ugh. it was a 451 slope of very very dense brush. Guess they didn't get stuck is the only good point.
ahoj marty-pěkná akce,rád se podívám na tvoje podařené videa,máš hezkého psa,te musí být šťastný,že to může podnikat s tebou,ať se ti daří-pozdrav jura česká republika
Reminder, always prep your animals prior to a wilderness hike. Just like us unless there is vigorous exercise, 2-3 miles daily of exercise prior to hikes of distance to keep your dogs in healthy condition. We run with our Collie/Shepard mix 10-25 miles a week. So a hike with dog pack is not that arduous. But we do practice and exercise with the pack before setting off. Good Trailing
We live out in the country. One day i'll attach my Garmin GPS to Tikka just to see how far she travels in a day. I bet you it's at leats 10 miles per day. Cheers.
Love your videos!! I'm in Ottawa and have a real DEEP WANTING TO hit some trails just like that. any advice you have? I'm 40 in excellent condition and a lover of all things natural/nature.
I got my start hiking in Algonquin park. It's not too far from Ottawa. Start with a simple overnight hike with friends and build up from there. We all started somewhere. Hike 10 km and camp. At worse you forget something and go without a for a night. Nothing really bad can happen.
Algonquin! Yes thats where I'm leaning towards for this venture. I dont have many friends that enjoy this kind of thing, so I go it alone. I'm kind of a lone wolf. Currently I have bear spray. Any brand recommendations? And I've got loads of gear/kit
Thank you for the videos Marty! I want to do this but I want to get lost and stay there :) Did you notice the soap in the water when you got back to that first bridge?? :P Many more happy adventures for you I hope!! Thanks Again!!
Well, hell... made up mind. I gotta get myself up to Alberta to backpack. I'm one of those unfortunate shlubs who got to experience the mountains only through my camera viewfinder. I think I'd like to connect with other hikers in the area who are familiar with the Canadian Rockies. I'm fairly familiar with the country down here in Arizona but I like to hang with people who are knowledgeable of wilderness that is unknown to me. At least that policy has always worked for me. I've subscribed to your channel so I'll check out all your vids. Cheers!
OMG, yes! I'm located near Sedona-- in the middle of the state. That means, in addition to Arizona lands, you have almost equal access to the states of California, Utah, New Mexico, and Mexico. A lot of the area you don't want to mess with in high summer but there are many places at higher altitude that are cool and nice. We have conifer forests as well as cacti and rock canyons. There's variety here. There's too much information for me to impart in a comment section... we'll have to contact by other means. I can send you an invite to my Flickr page and you can see my photos to get a better idea of what's here to enjoy...
I remember some of these moments like they happened yesterday.
And I remember watching this video in my tiny condo in Toronto thinking "damn is this guy lucky to hike in such beautiful places". Fast forward a few years and I was packrafting this river with you while living next to the Rockies. The perfect example of "never stop dreaming"! With hard work and a little bit of will, everything's possible. Third time's a charm and we will curse COVID from the Castleguard Meadows in a few months together. 🤠🤠🤠
I could watch your videos all day. Your style and all the effort you make to place the camera so we can watch your experience. Setting up camp, cooking, etc. It's nice when hikers show us the country but they oft times leave the camera on a beautiful shot for ever, and they talk about the same thing over and over again. The scenery is great; but its great to feel like we went on the hike with you.
Thanks for all your work.
Marty, I really enjoy your videos, and I greatly admire the beauty of the Canadia wilderness from Banff northward. My hiking days are behind me, but I live vicariously through your terrific trips. Cheers.
You are living my dream Marty. Love your videos. Keep it up!
"I might not get there, but I will have fun exploring on the way". That's it, you get it! And you brought your dog, and you made a good video. Awesome. Great navigation in remote wilderness too.
The end of this video is the best part. You're right about getting into bush and exploring it for yourself. Every time I start one of these videos I never end up finishing it because I get so inspired to leave my apartment and find a new trail.
The best outdoor video I ve seen so far!
Thanks for the great comment.
At 6:22 you find fresh footprints. Good chance those are mine haha My wife and I did that trip May 15-17... we came off the trail the day before you started. We went south from the warden cabin to the Alexandra headwaters. Beautiful country, thank you for sharing the video.
Vacate Ssyzr I went to the same area. Ran into too much snow higher up.
Martyupnorth If you are interested there are a few trip reports of Alexandra/Castleguard (including my own adventure) done up on clubtread. That is how I found the video - it is linked there now. I loved that trip so your video was a welcome surprise.
I watched this video last night and have been thinking about it all day. You did what I have always dreamed of doing. I mainly just do day hikes and play with map and compass navigation....I love that. I can't tell you enough how impressed I was with your confidence in your "bushwhacking/wayfaring" skills. I am super impressed and hope to get too that level some day too. I'm going to look for more of your video's.
I Mark, welcome to my channel. I'm 53 and I've been sharpening my skills for for 35 years. If you liked this one, you'll certainly have to check out my play list of just solo hikes. Feel free to fire off any questions you might have. Cheers.
Awe-inspiring terrain, for sure. Thanks for taking us along with you and Tikka. I was just thinking about you finding your way back to campsite when you went looking for the trail at the first camp and then you expressed the same thoughts, lol. Appreciate how you emphasize common sense on whether to continue in the face of the snow, rather than bravado. New backpackers need to learn those lessons before making a big mistake.
You're Amazing! I wish I had the courage to solo even overnight! I make up excuses as to why I shouldn't, women, small, not knowledgeable enough (but I am a camper, just with a group)... guess I'm just a firm believer of the buddy system. i think someday I'll do it, somehow. Loved your adventure, thanks for sharing!
Wow. Awesome video. About 20 years ago I mountain biked down the fire road and along the river bed for a bit till I got boxed out by that first big creek (terrace). I was sing my fool head off worried about bears and nearly had a heart attack when some grouse flew out of the trees in the middle of the road. One day maybe I'll get further down that valley. It always seemed to call me since I saw it from sunset lookout. Thanks for all the effort you put into these videos. (Subscribed).
awesome video...really appreciate the time you take to record your journey.
Very awesome video. Watched the whole thing. We went to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado this past summer and it was my first time experiencing the rockies, so I was content on the highways and overlooks, it didn't take much to impress me. But your videos add a whole new dimension to experiencing these places. I've never backpacked before, but I feel that I would like to start. Thanks for the awesome video once again.
A very enjoyable video of a very exciting hike! Me, my husband and our GS dog also do lots of hiking in Canadian wilderness. I wish I could be so relaxed on our trails! I'm always checking behind our back for bears! :-) Tika is an adorable companion! I subscribed to you!
Lol...Marty...at 8:20 Tikka is resting on your lap...then 8:26 you comment about the stream going by..."listen to this"...and Tikka lifts her head and her ears perk up as if she heard you say "listen to this"
Love it
Ya, that's a great scene.
I really enjoy that you point out the need to be able to navigate on your own without relying on a clearly defined trail. I wish more people would get comfortable with a map and compass (and having both available) as an adjunct to blazes/signs/GPS. It's not a difficult skill to learn, and it's one that really pays off in both normal and emergency situations. Even in "easy" terrain, I habitually have a topo map and compass -- and it's fun to take sightings to see how accurately you can pin down your position.
I'm watching your videos and really enjoying them. Great job.
Always appreciate the way you do things---not about the food or the gear.....it is all about being out in nature with a good friend!
Agreed.
Too often these channels are all about gear and trends as if you cannot go on an adventure unless you have all the greatest ultralight gear or something. The focus goes from the experiance to how many stupid ounces you carry.
This channel is so refreshing because, while everyone obviously needs decent gear which Marty has, it is never about having the very latest or being onsessed with weight
These things are all factored but never interfere with the primary objective and that is the experiance.
I lke that his trips are to lesser known areas because it makes you wonder what is available locally although Banff is obviously a blassing, you don't have to go to the world famous spots to have fun.
I love your multi days hike man. I just want to shareto you experience in multi days hike, we did a 2 weeks hike/expedition back in 2009 it was a fantastic feeling being in the woods and sound of the tropical forest. Amazing! Keep posting your videos man. Take care!
this was almost 40 miles of some awesome country very well done thank you for taken us along on this trip
Nicely documented, thanks for sharing...
Great adventure Marty! Thanks for sharing! I cant wait to hit the trail soon!
I'm temporarily unemployed so I'm taking advantage of the situation to catch up on some hiking. I'm planning to do all 175 km of Jasper's North Boundary trail later this summer, with a side trip to the "Natural arch" near Topaz lake. Should be a good trip.
That's awesome! I definitely have to plan a trip like this with my fuzzy friend - you have inspired me!
Oh man! Incredible! I will never see such things with my own eyes so thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing! Thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
such an amazing adventure Marty. You are really teaching everybody that going out into the wilderness is about simplicity not bringing a bunch of unnecessary BS.
+griffy83 That's certainly the philosophy I try to live by. Some guys and gals are just walking gadgets and advertising bill boards. Fancy clothes, things to tie gear together, pelican cases for cameras, GPS, headlamp, tech stoves, separate bowls and plates, espresso coffee maker, plastic wine glasses, UV filters..... I hike to escape civilization, not to bring it with me. Thanks for watching.
I agree fully---to me getting away from everyday "gadgets" is the goal.........
Great video - so sad, but true about how most people see the national parks from the roadside parking lot. I bet most there would hardly believe you if you told them you'd just completed a 5-day solo hike!
You dog really looks to enjoy it as well!
I just found your videos and have watched them all. Very well done and Tika is beautiful. I live in Sask where there is some awesome hiking surrounding some of the nicest lakes up north. We take our Lab/Collie named Jet with us. If we have come thru the trail Jet will always find it on the way back. We try to get to Banff/Jasper every year or two to camp and hike and take in the Johnson's Canyon trail early in the season. I haven't done a solo hike yet but am looking forward to trying it with my faithful companion. Good luck on your next adventure, I look forward to the video. God Bless.
I have watched 5-6 of your hiking videos and this is certainly the one I have enjoyed the most... great adventure, great edition!!!
+Dandino Dandy Thank you. I like this one also. It's too bad my camera was failing and the sound around rivers is so high pitch. I have a new camera for this summer.
great video.. you have such a good bond with your dog.. you are doing what I hope to do some day .. awesome...
Great video and trip beautiful country thank you for sharing..
Followed a lot of your adventures ... one man and his dog in the wilderness just dosen't get any better than that !
Some great tips too.
John
Scotland
I like Tika's post-water-crossing-ritual. I may do that myself in the future! Excellent video; these are the types of videos that I watch in the winter while planning trips for next season. Thank you for the effort!
Thanks for taking us along for the trip! Jamie-Maple ridge BC
Saw 2 of your hikes, the 9 day and the 5 day solos. You do a great job with the video, and make it very interesting. Very enjoyable to watch. The 5 day solo seemed to me to have more snow and prettier. Also seems that it would be easy to get lost on the 5 day one. Your a veteran solo hiker and it shows. You do a great job. Good luck to you. I think I'll subscribe.
+Alan Lenzi Thanks for the positive feedback. Every hike offers something different. I wish they were all spectacular, but that's rarely the case. I just love getting out there.
Great Video. This is about my fourth video of yours. Love them.
Wow am I jealous!! I Drove through Jasper as a young kid when I drove alone to Alaska and only spent a night along side my Jeep. What an awesome trip you had.
Great ending to the video mate, couldn't agree more!
Just wanted to thank you for an awesome escape for me...watched your 9 day and now this...would love to go along with you sometime. I use to do ultrarunning on trails...bad knee stopped me...trying to get back to hiking/backpacking at 60....you are inspiring and your videos are so professionally done and fascinating. It's like going along with you on the trip. You need your own show... Thanks again! Happy trails...
+Mark Fugel Thanks for the positive comments. I'd sure like to have my own show. If you have any ideas how to make than happen, I'm all ears. Thanks for watching. Peace.
Love your comments at the end of the video. That was a great video, one of the trails i was hoping to attempt in the coming yrs so it was great to see others out there attempting these long forgotten(by parks canada) trails. Stay safe out there and maybe run into you someday. We are starting the NB on august 14. Safe trails.
Thank you, I'm planning a backpacking trip for later this summer and have enjoyed you videos very much
You might be the only guy on TH-cam that makes hour long videos that I'll take the time to watch, you have a wealth of knowledge and are the real deal (40 lb pack/25 km days, bush wacking) compared to all these guys that do 35-40 km with 5 lb base weights on well worn trails. Keep on hiking, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Ross. I developed my passion for hiking when I was 16-17 living in Ontario. I have a picture of me from those days. My gear was primitive and everything I knew, I had learned from a book. After graduating from university I moved to northern Alberta, close to the Rockies. That was 28 years ago. I hiked every trail in the national parks, often twice and even three times. Then I started just exploring. In Alberta we also have crown lands which offer great opportunities. I just love being out in the woods. I don't criticize the folks that choose the ultra-light stile. To each his own. I just explain in a lot of my videos that hiking with 5 lbs of gear in the Canadian northern Rockies is a bit foolish. Lots can and will go wrong. I'm actually proud that my extra gear has come in handy more than once when I've had to help a fellow hiker who got in trouble, or simply underestimated the task. Thanks for watching my videos. Cheers.
Great job. I'm really enjoying your videos. Have a great summer....
nice trip :) looks so fun and relaxing. I love how there is not a single human around
I seek out solitude.
Just discovered your channel, best find i've made in a while, im loving the videos
Obviously put a lot of work into filming these
Sherrel Romans Thanks for the positive comments. I enjoy hiking and I enjoy the challenge of documenting the trips. I just recently completed a 155 kk journey across Jasper's North Boundary. I'm currently editing that video. Thanks for watching.
Nice video, lover your Tikka, my German Shepherd has too much prey drive to take backpacking, she would always be on the hunt. I was surprised to see that you can drink unfiltered water out of the stream, maybe that's Canadian water. I look forward to watching more of your videos now that I subsrcribed, Thanks for sharing!
Most of my hikes are in protected National parks above the tree line, so water is very clean and safe to drink. I try to drink from small, flowing creeks with lots of natural filtration.
You've got a good dog. Enjoyed this video.
Deadly! I've camped at that trailhead/bridge a couple times and wondered where that trail went but never looked into it. I'm happy you made this vid; such good beta on what to expect, and I love the idea of a seldom used trail! I'm gonna see if I can't get in there later this summer or next year.
Another fantastic video. Can't wait until I get an overnight hike in next weekend.
Wow...thank you for sharing your backpacking adventure. It was very heartwarming.
I have enjoyed your videos,inspiring.
Greetings from England, what a wonderful adventure you went on, I admire Tika's tenacity! Thank you for sharing.
She's a great companion. She's been on some tough hikes with me.
I love these videos. Tikka was definitely star of this show! Thank you for posting.
She's a great dog. She's a little hyper at home, so that's why I like taking her on trips. In the bush she just calms down. She's more comfortable around rivers now. Thanks for watching. I'm heading out this weekend.
great to see he finally made it. Way to keep this determination since the first attempt
Amazing videos, these get me so stoked for hiking and camping. You're an engineer too which is awesome! Adorable dog too
Chemical engineer. It's a great degree that has afforded me a wonderful career.
Your vids are so chill, ive never watch an hour long YT video with such ease.. Sometimes simple is the best
Thanks. I've had a few people make the same comment. One person even told me they watch my videos while they run on a treadmill. Thanks for the positive feedback.
love all your videos! Very inspiring! I have done a number of hikes on Vancouver island. I would like to do more hikes near Banff. Keep up the uploads. Very cool!
Awesome video,many thanks for sharing it with us.
Another awesome hike and video. Thanks for sharing it.
Nice job on the video. Tikka is a beast.
Dogs can get hot Marty, with pack packs on,so they can over heat quickly...I’ve noticed she doesn’t always have it on though.
Great video .
I watch her closely. I take off her pack whenever I take mine off. She gets lots of water from streams. If it's too hot fer her, it's probably too hot for me as well. We're actually more likely to be cold. Thanks for watching and commenting Susan. Cheers.
I wish I could backpack in the summer!!! I live in texas and everything is flooded. And of course there's the snakes!!! I've fought for my life against 2 poisonous snakes in the past 3 weeks!! Hopefully I can get some day hikes in once the lakes and streams dry up a bit
Great video. Thanks for taking me along.
You are so light---really easy to pull off.
Hi Five Man ! Awesome hike, I'm from the maritimes(N-B) and I wish I could hike this far and see these landscape in my "backyard" !
My maternal Grand Mother is from Moncton. We're all bilingual in the family. Your part of the world has its own beauty. I love the ocean and lakes. I think I prefer water over mountains. Ultimately you find joy in what you have. Cheers.
Man, what an adventure! From Alberta also and this makes me want to get back into backpacking/hiking..
Thanks for sharing. That's a nice shot of Labrador Tea beside your first fire '4:40'. Is that what you used for your tea? Good to see you are not afraid to drink the water, as long as you know where it is coming from. I'll never be able to go on such an epic adventure, it's nice to see the back country.
+Ross Gurtler I had to lookup Labrador Tea. I'll pay attention more closely next time. Thanks for watching.
It has a couple of look alikes from the same family, you should always be sure before consuming wild edibles. This is the source that I take though a second source would be safer to compare harmonicarts.ca/product/edible-and-medicinal-plants-of-the-rocky-mountains/
I am really enjoying your videos, thank you so much for making the effort and sharing your experiences!
Outstanding Bravo ! Thanks for sharing.Peace
Maybe bring a sling to carry Tikka across rivers?
Once again,Outstanding video mate.And like your dogs Finnish name👍
I visited this area again in 2018. My new video will have much better sound quality
I wish you would show a video of how you do you post production. I'm trying to learn how to compile all my video of a trip into one video, but still learning the process. Your channel was the first "hiking" channel that I subscribed to a while back and it is still one the best! It's so nice to see videos that aren't just about the PCT, CDT, or AT... Thanks Marty, and keep up the great work!
My brother from the great north...looking forward to it.
Great adventure bud! I love me some smoked oysters and cheese
another great video Marty can't understand why people are giving you a thumb's down i am going to get a pack for my Jack Russel so she can carry her snacks. best regards Paul. Bournemouth UK.
I think the negative votes are mostly related to the quality of the videos. We live in a world where everyone expects the videos to be 1080p or higher. I've posted a good video explaining several reasons why my videos are only 720. I find that hiking with dogs is one of the most natural things we can do. The association between man and dog is a long one, and nowhere is that more evident than in the UK. So many incredible breeds of dogs have been developed in the UK. Thanks for watching and enjoy the time in the outdoors with you companions. Cheers.
Martyupnorth I love 720p perfect for me.
Just found you Marty. Been loving the videos. Keep it up.
Martin your videos are true gems!
I hope someday I will be ready for such an awesome trip, solo with my dog like Marty and Tikka.
Great video! Always enjoy your vids!
Really enjoyed watching this adventure.....I especially like it with your dog along. I'd still prefer adventure in a Winnebago View 24 ft...with all the comforts of home and safe from Bear! Bravo to you and T!
Thanks.
My brother from the north. ...you put up another great video. A plethora of good information. If you ever come to the United States..you have an invitation to hike with me in Missouri. Not like Northern Alberta but it's nice here.
I like the fact that you are calmingly showing some rather "hard" hikes as if it was easy like that. Inspiring videos. Be sure to check out Lars Monsen's expeditions in Canada :) Looking forward to new videos. Regards from Norway
Thanks for recognizing that some of my hikes are hard. I really appreciate all the feedback I get. I will look for Lars' journeys. I just completed a hike yesterday. I'll have a new video in a few days.
Awesome video ,can't ask for anything more ,very beautiful , great dog and ya some hot sauce would of been good !!! enjoyed every minute !
atb john
Awesome; great vid....I cant wait to go on my solo trip...
Hay Marty, that stream most likely has some great fly fishing.
Awesome! Thank you for the videos.
Cool video man thanks.I love that dog!
I do also. She's a great companion. She's so calm on the trail compared to home.
Saw Tika tell you "your nuts" crossing that river--my faithful little hound likes to pull rank sometimes on me too!
You inspired me to bring canned oysters onto the trail, the only problem is that the can wont burn and my pack smells like oysters after I eat them! Good protein though. Thanks for the videos!
I bring cans of oysters and small cans of tuna for protein. You can find the tuna in pouches. I clean the cans and then thrown them in the fire for a few minutes to burn off the small and give them a good smoking. The I put them in a zip lock back and pack out. All good. Cheers.
I meant to ask you, as I was sleeping in my tent last night, I wondered if you always bring all of your gear into the tent? I personally don't hang my food up , but leave it away from my tent. I even leave my pack outside of my tent unless my water bladder is my only water source. I just don't want the attention throughout the night. Do you protect your food in your tent or hang it up? Im still learning, but your videos and comments are helping.
If there's a pole provided by the park service or one left behind by previous hikers I'll for sure hang my pack with food and most of the gear I don't need. About half the time I leave the food in the pack, under the tent's vestibule. I kind of evaluate each situation on its own. Where am I, are there others nearby, have I seen evidence of animals, what season. I don't think there's a perfect answer. I honestly think that small animals like porcupines and squirrels are a bigger threat to my food than bears. In very remote areas where I hike bears tend to keep their distance. On popular trails, they certainly associate people as an easy source of food. I had good debates concerning the "curiosity" of bears. People claim that their excellent sense of smell and curiosity is what attracts them to hikers. Based on the same argument, a bear would be just as likely to investigate a dead elk in the valley as opposed to a hiker that smells like cheese. I'd argue that since a bear's sense of smell is so good, he's going to smell my body odor, my smoke, my fuel, my food, the coating on my tent, the resin in my boots and sulphur of my matches. If he wants to really investigate me while I''m awake or asleep there's not much I can do. Keep you bear spray handy at night.
Well that certainly helps, as always I appreciate the feedback. You should consider hosting a 'Facebook Live" event for 30 minutes that allows viewers to ask questions in a groupthink atmosphere. You could really reach out to a lot of people in a short amount of time. Anyways, thanks again, happy hiking Marty!
I took my 70 lb lab and my daughters 50 lb husky out this last weekend with their dog packs. They both ran into the scrub oak with their packs on and ran out says pack, ugh. it was a 451 slope of very very dense brush. Guess they didn't get stuck is the only good point.
great video, looked a wee bit like Scotland !
Hi from the uk great videos thanks very much
Really enjoyed this video through and through. Very beautiful country.
Loved your comments about tourists too. Couldn't agree more.
Thank you for the video. Very inspiring.
ahoj marty-pěkná akce,rád se podívám na tvoje podařené videa,máš hezkého psa,te musí být šťastný,že to může podnikat s tebou,ať se ti daří-pozdrav jura česká republika
Reminder, always prep your animals prior to a wilderness hike. Just like us unless there is vigorous exercise, 2-3 miles daily of exercise prior to hikes of distance to keep your dogs in healthy condition. We run with our Collie/Shepard mix 10-25 miles a week. So a hike with dog pack is not that arduous. But we do practice and exercise with the pack before setting off. Good Trailing
We live out in the country. One day i'll attach my Garmin GPS to Tikka just to see how far she travels in a day. I bet you it's at leats 10 miles per day. Cheers.
Thanks for sharing , enjoyed the video !!!
Love your videos!!
I'm in Ottawa and have a real DEEP WANTING TO hit some trails just like that.
any advice you have?
I'm 40 in excellent condition and a lover of all things natural/nature.
I got my start hiking in Algonquin park. It's not too far from Ottawa. Start with a simple overnight hike with friends and build up from there. We all started somewhere. Hike 10 km and camp. At worse you forget something and go without a for a night. Nothing really bad can happen.
Algonquin! Yes thats where I'm leaning towards for this venture.
I dont have many friends that enjoy this kind of thing, so I go it alone.
I'm kind of a lone wolf.
Currently I have bear spray.
Any brand recommendations?
And I've got loads of gear/kit
I'm from Tennessee, US love your videos! Canada looks amazing, thanks for sharing your adventures.
Thank you for the videos Marty! I want to do this but I want to get lost and stay there :) Did you notice the soap in the water when you got back to that first bridge?? :P Many more happy adventures for you I hope!! Thanks Again!!
Thanks. When I first read you comment I was thinking "Huh". Then I remembered the scene where I used a bit of soap to wash my face. Cheers.
Well, hell... made up mind. I gotta get myself up to Alberta to backpack. I'm one of those unfortunate shlubs who got to experience the mountains only through my camera viewfinder. I think I'd like to connect with other hikers in the area who are familiar with the Canadian Rockies. I'm fairly familiar with the country down here in Arizona but I like to hang with people who are knowledgeable of wilderness that is unknown to me. At least that policy has always worked for me.
I've subscribed to your channel so I'll check out all your vids. Cheers!
+hendrsb33 Any good hiking in Arizona. MAybe I host you in Alberta, and you return the favor in your state?
OMG, yes! I'm located near Sedona-- in the middle of the state. That means, in addition to Arizona lands, you have almost equal access to the states of California, Utah, New Mexico, and Mexico. A lot of the area you don't want to mess with in high summer but there are many places at higher altitude that are cool and nice. We have conifer forests as well as cacti and rock canyons. There's variety here.
There's too much information for me to impart in a comment section... we'll have to contact by other means. I can send you an invite to my Flickr page and you can see my photos to get a better idea of what's here to enjoy...
I've been enjoying this videos. Have you encountered any bears on your hikes? The scenery is outstanding!
+Sea Stew Unfortunately I don't see many bears.