@Jeff Dur LOL oh yes it is. The fact the you keep switching gears till you find the "perfect" setup that you will never find. UL gears can easily go 2k+ for a tent...so yea
@Jeff Dur im not saying a single loadout is 10k. Some UL gearfreaks go buying and switchin gears and amass bills quick. big agnes carbon tigerwall is 2000. There are other dyneema tents that are around it. 400 dollar packs, ul 0 degree sleepbags 900, sat com 400, poles 200, pads 300 dollars...list goes on and on...
I met courier early on in So Cal and would run into many more times along the trail. He would write down ever hikers trail name he met along the way. He never forgot who I was the entire trail even if I hadn’t seen him in months. He was very inspiring.
The first time I ran into him, he was literally running Mt Whitney in flip flops, I kid you not. He was always such a happy, positive guy, I wish I ran into him more often.
How do you guys just encounter this dude randomly in the wild 😂 or even in socal im from southern cali too and there’s way to many people to notice lol. Like are you guys like a couple hundred miles on the trek and just stumble upon him eating fresh picked berries 🤣?
There’s a concept in surfing that the best surfer in the water that day is the one having the most fun. It’s a good reminder of what matters most. Courier seems to exemplify this entirely. He seems interested in having fun more than anything. More than miles per day, having high end gear, having the lightest pack, or any other false metric we assign ourselves. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I’ve gotten really into surfing over the last two years but I’ve made pretty slow progress. I get really self-conscious in the lineup and it’s made it difficult to relax and make friends. I love this perspective, I always relax as soon as I get a really good ride and stop thinking so much.
After I finished the AT, I sat down and typed out everybody's name that I could remember. It came out to 200 names. I'm sure someone who was moving significantly faster (or slower) than most people or didn't intentionally try to stay in sync with others would have a name list double or triple that length.
I love it when a guy like this shows up. No matter the context or sport or activity. In this case, he will out-hike and out-camp anyone with $5000 worth of gear. Reminds me of the story where athletes were running ultramarathons with the best sneakers, health monitors, teams following them, and a Tarahumara indigenous woman outran them all in sandals.
Courier is rad. First met him in NorCal just north of Sierra City, and last saw him in Rainier natl park. Over the course of the trail, his English improved so much and I'm so proud of him, cause I know at the beginning he was very nervous about it, and by the end, it was great, and his infectious personality could really come across.
Met this delightful dude when he was hiking with Spliff, coming off San Jacinto. I made all my gear, everybody made fun of it, except him. Without question one of the best folks I've met on the road. ~Wasteland
Wasteland - Alex/Neighbor here. I think I met you in Hauser Canyon on 4/15/22. And we crossed paths intermittently until the state park campground in Idyllwild. If you're the same one I met, you were talking about hiking the highways up from SanJac to the Sierras rather than following the PCT over to Agua Dulce? Specifics of our conversations are a little blurry, but hope you're doing well.
Wasteland, sorry, but I didn't grasp what pack he is using. It's an 18 Liter pack he is using, right? or did he cut down another pack? thanks. I know that sounds like a dumb question, but I haven't been hiking for a while. I previously thru-hiked the AT with a frameless go-light gust duffel style pack with a martin backpacker guitar tied to it the whole time; something not many people have done (because it was kinda crazy, but worked well enough).
@@pawpawbandit3871When I met him he had a 40 liter custom pack. Quilt, tent, pack, he made everything from scratch. Looks like he downsized by 50% to a 20 l. Also, he appears to have become fluent in English in 3 states, our exchange was a few words and a lot of gestures, but goddamn that's impressive
Nah, so much hassle to do the simplest things. I’d rather take all the gear that would make my hike comfortable. It might weigh a bit more but it’s no big deal
@@ivanschekoldin7315 he is completely comfortable the way he lives, he does not need extraluggage that you would take for comfort because he has comfort enough without it, which is exactly what op is talking about, its not extra hassle because he is happiest with simplicity.
@@echo6710He is definitely a bad ass and his kit works on the PCT. On the AT he may have to add a couple of pounds to stay dry. That said it’s clear to me he is tough as nails and would do well anywhere. I am an UL backpacker but certainly nowhere near as close to this man. He is a legend.
Wow did not expect to see courier in my feed, met him in northern Oregon on the PCT, someone gave him a brand new neo air xlite b/c they were leaving trail and didn’t need it. Courier left his old broken neo air in the hiker box and I took it since I was heading into town the next day and I could just send it home for a friend of mine to use it. Now that friend of mind is going to be hiking some of the full pct with me this year with that sleeping pad of couriers. It’s so amazing how things get around.
@@jeffdur1330Hiker boxes are for hikers who will use them. Preventing waste and keeping people on trail is the end goal. Seems end goal was met here in a unique way. All is well.
I love Courier sooo much! I was so fascinated learning about his gear when I hiked with him briefly. I gave him his trail name before Scissors Crossing when he delivered my mini tripod to me after it slipped out of my pack. So happy he finished his hike alongside John + Alex. Such a great video!
Gearlist: * 20L backpack with diy foam padding added and extra paracord to hold things, messages from other people written on the bag. * Small 500ml water bottle and diy bottle sleeve * One treking pole (broken but still usable for holding up a tarp) * DIY tarp copied from 'pocket tarp' - used sketchup to fit the dimensions to his height so the tarp is the smallest practical size. * Tent stakes but has only a few left because he gave them away to others in need since he wasn't using them often. * X-lite short sleeping pad from a hiker box. It has a small leak so he has to refill it once or twice while using it. * Sleeping bag with bivy, bivy is copied from bora gear. Sleeping bag has bug netting on the end. His hat brim keeps the net off his face so the bugs can't bite through it. * Belt bag carries 1L water bottle * Handmade wood spoon * nail clippers * Platypus water bag cut in half is used as a bowl for cold soaking food. * permanet marker and paper to leave messages for friends hiking up behind. * Zip ties to quickly attach stuff to his bag or other things. Food: One bag with everything sweet mixed together and one bag with everything salty mixed together. For example dehydrated mashed potato and couscous and cocao powder and oats. Sometimes has chocolate milk in his small bottle. He can carry up to 5 days of food but first 2 days his sleeping bag is tied to the top of his pack on the outside. Clothes: Brimed hat, glasses, sandles, trail running shoes, socks, 2 shirts - alpha direct fleece, shorts (underwear too I'm guessing but obviously not shown 😅)
as a hiker/mountain guide from Taiwan, more and more islanders here are humbly following the path like what courier is doing. now the video featuring courier officially made those islanders proud.
ปีที่แล้ว +4
Hey, I'm from taiwan too. May I ask in which area you do hiking/ mountain guides ? I'm from Kaohsiung but would get to know some light trails for my senior mum who is visiting the next 3 months
I stayed with Courier at a trail angel's house in Skykomish, WA. While we were there he drew an awesome self-portrait of himself at the northern terminus on his tarp. Such a cool guy! So nice.
Courier! One of the favorite people I met on the PCT. Incredible hiker and human. Super glad he made it. He should definitely start designing gear. Would love to know his IG. Thanks for the video
I continue to re-watch this video so often for Courier. I never had the pleasure of crossing paths with him on trail, but he is exactly the noble hiker that I am continuously seeking to become myself. He has tapped into a consciousness that is so sincere, bright, and so uniquely alive, that I tear up every time I watch this. Thank you Courier, for showing me that it is possible to fully embody such serene and aspirational ideals! --- Whistles
There are always a few truly free people akin to spirits who seem blissful and unique, they are created and molded by the material conditions of this horrible system we live in and despite adversity they remain free in the way children are.
I also come back and rewatch this video from time to time. I've been nervous to try UL after using a 60L bag for so many years. But this has helped me feel more confident and capable
I saw this pack at Timberline Lodge next to my overly filled Hyperlite and was GOBSMACKED by its size. This landed on my front page and now I get to know the man behind the pack! Great video.
that is a freaking awesome story....its just impossible to find the person behind the pack, and absolutely impossible that John Z came out of retirement to feature him and you see it. I hope you bought a lottery ticket that day.
THIS is the dude we all want to be! The goal is to not be distracted by comfort and instead honor each second of the walk! Man…I’d love to get to that place!
I thruhiked this year too, and it was always delightful to meet up with Courier as we leapfrogged down (up?) the trail. He was always so cheerful and fun to talk with. Cheers, Courier, from Butterfly!
This is the first video of yours I've ever seen but holy cow, something about courier and the reverence and respect this video pays him, this was one of the best things I've seen on the internet. Heartwarming, educational, inspiring, bravo
Some of my favorite miles of my PCT hike were those shared with Courier. Thanks for the vid, brought back so many memories! Still have the 1 gram tent stake he gave me when I lost one. Such a kind person!
And his joy in his hiking possessions (or lack of them when he gave away his tent stakes :-) is SO BIG! What a wonderful moment to be there as he crosses into Canada, I can feel his joy at reaching it and at the same time sadness at having the journey come to an end. John, thank you for sharing this beautiful moment with us all, my heart is full!
@@yemin88 well it's just a saying back there people use to say that if you hike enough on the pct you'd end up meeting him one day or another, if you look at the comments most people did haha
Since finishing my thru hike I've sometimes wondered if he would have made it to Canada. I met Courier back in the desert at Mary's place and didn't see him after that. Glad to know he made it and thanks for this awesome little portrait of him!
i met Courier this a few weeks ago on my NOBO section hike on the AT. He is still traveling in the same lightweight style. I wanted to see what was in his pack as he only mentioned a few of his tricks. He worked for stay at a hostel we both stays at. I saw him again in Damascus VA then that was the last time. With this light pack and his fitness he hikes pretty fast. He's one of the more memorable people i met on the trail this year. When i saw title of this video i immediately thought of him, video was about same guy, its a small world sometimes.
Met Courier while going SOBO through Goat Rocks right before knife's edge. He told me it was the best view on the entire PCT. Amazing dude! Wish I had got him on camera. I love his resourcefulness and inventiveness, that really impressed me. Really enjoyed this interview!
Courier!! Or Gavi as I know him! I started from the border with Gavi and we hiked the first 80 miles together. Glad to see you made it and Gavi, your english is fantastic!! ;) /Stumbler, Sweden
Courier was an inspiration on trail. I hiked with him for a bit outside of Sierra City, and the best way I can describe his optimism is unyielding. Thanks for interviewing this awesome dude and highlighting his resourceful personality and indomitable spirit.
Courier is a great dude. Glad to see him getting some love in the comments here. I was impressed by how fast he was and how little gear he had. But mostly he was just super nice and excited to be on the trail.
Man this dudes cool!! 2,650 miles on extremely minimal gear and supplies! That's dedication!! He cared more about just hiking the trail and the experience of a life time over high end/ heavy weight gear and comforts! Hiked the sierras with just a sweater, two rain jackets and a homemade dyneema tarp! Damn!!! I learned two things. Firstly you are a very resourceful and resilient human being! Lastly i have wayy too much gear!! Lol... Congrat's on finishing the PCT!! Stay safe all.. Hike on!!
I also like many others hiked with Courier, first met him just before Sierras and then briefly in Bishop during the resupply. He was one of the most humble and keen to learn hikers I've met along the trail. I'm so happy that he finished the trail and got a highlight like this, well deserved! Greetings to all the PCT class 2022 hikers! Cinnamon.
Courier is breathtaking, I met him on my way to the end of the trail and walked a day aside him, very inspiring person and impressive, he is above any other adventurers I met.
Love this kid! Most of my gear is from Goodwill so I respect his ability to do more with less. I'm tired of watching how the backpacking industry is transforming the simple joy of playing in the woods into this hipster endeavor for those who can afford the trendy high dollar gear. Great video!
La même chose en France, nous avons une chaîne de magasins de sport grand public ( Decathlon) et pas mal de gens le denigraient , heureusement les choses changent...
I'm hiking, backpacking and camping with decathlon gear. I've spent roughly 300 euros for my whole setup from backpack to tent and I'm having fun every time. In the end of the day that's what counts, not your budget. Courier is also a great example of what it means to have fun with the bare minimum.
I did a little less than half of the PCT last year (Campo-Truckee) and was completely unprepared. It was my first backpacking trip and I definitely threw myself into the deep end. On my first day at Cleef, someone asked me what my base weight was and I was like “I don’t know maybe 30lbs” and the guy just looked at me with this expression of pure pity and at that very second I realized what I’d just gotten myself into. P.S. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever done. I regret nothing and it changed my life forever!
I do have to say the insistence on the baseweight is something I still don't get. Of course it's good to pack light, but at the end of the day your food and water will most likely mess with the weight quite a bit
@@ulhi7564 I agree with you, but I also understand the desire to have ultra light gear. On one hand, you have people who pay thousands of dollars to get their pack 4lbs lighter, which is a little bizarre to me. But if that’s how they want to spend their money, then they should go for it, it’s not up to me. The only issue I have with ultra light culture is that some people get very snobbish about it and look down on other hikers who don’t have ultralight gear. I experienced a fair amount of that on the PCT and it was pretty annoying. But on the other hand, when you’re hiking 20 miles a day, you do realize that every pound counts. Shaving even a few pounds off of your pack can impact how many miles you’re able to hike each day.
This is a walking zen monk, smilingly stepping more and more consciously on his trail, realizing possessions don't exist and only experience bring freedom. His biggest treasure is his smile and example, what a gift do many of U out here seem to have enjoyed it. 'Hiked in Europe and S.- A. with 12 to 15 liter backpack + a small plastic carrier bag for food when on transport or evening meal.But that was in warm weather& no tarpsleeping!!! Tx for sharing this xonderful human being. Hope to get onto ur favourite Washington bit once in my life.
He has completely changed my perspective. From watching TH-cam videos and comparing gear and buying thr best. I have now realized I can make my own stuff and get creative. I have been conditioned to just spend and buy because I can but no more! Brilliant video
Brilliant! So it is to ask hikers about their gear nearing the end of the PCT. At that point, moving light is critical. It would be interesting to set up a booth at the end of the trail where you could interview everyone about the remaining gear and what’s been ditched or traded…
I’m tearing up… this was amazing. Courier is such an incredible and inspirational person. Your video really shows it! So glad that I was able to spend time with you guys! Thank you for this memory memorialized !
I think this guy is truly amazing, so simple and effective with little else to worry about. Just enjoying life on the trail and bringing smiles to everyone he meets on his travels, a lot to learn from him. 👏
This is awesome! Thank you for this video! Courier’s joy of hiking is inspiring … he travels in the backcountry like I imagine John Muir did; with pure simplicity.
*This is the most inspirational video ever of all the outdoor community (and more).* Woaaaa Thank you John for this amazing video. I've been in the outdoors since my birth and met thousands of people from hikers, fishermen, hunters, store staff, distributor staff you name it. I've seen tons of gear and own a lot myself. I've also watched hundreds if not thousands of videos because my philosophy is that you can learn something even from the less experienced ones and of course from experienced ones and mistakes by others. So I've seen a lot. But this video... let's put it this way. It's inspirational, and something else... You know, most people would walk by this guy without talking to him, maybe even laughing at him and his gear. But you know what? We ALL can learn from him and YOU took the time to make this simple, but yet amazing video. Thank you a LOT for this John, and I just subscribed.
Just yesterday I had the thought "I wonder how John Z is doing?" I used to follow lots of thru hikers and really enjoyed your commentary and thoughtfulness while you hiked. Thank you for sharing this video... it made me smile in a way I haven't in a while. :thumbsup:
This has nothing to do with this video but John I am so thankful you are putting up new content again as well as reposting some old. Your videos truly inspire and I can’t tell you how great full I am for them. Thank you so much for taking your time and making these.
Amazing hiker and person. And John’s video let’s Courier shine. Only a great hiker can really appreciate and interview another great hiker like this. Would love to see a full length documentary on Courier.
I have met some badass and inspirational young hikers recently. No Cameras or blog gear. Not interested in socials at all, Just loving being in the moment, imagine that.
Thank you so much for reuploading all of your old hiking videos. I want you to know how much of an impact they had on my life at that time. It inspired me to hike the Mountains to Sea Trail in North Carolina. I have lived next to a section of it for the majority of my adulthood and hike it regularly. Your videos inspired me to do the whole thing in 2018 after breaking up with my partner of 3 years. Seriously, John. Thank you.
Major props to him. Like he said when you don’t have a lot of money you do with what you got. Sometimes we get wrapped up in all this expensive gear and look at this guy making it work.
You can tell his biggest purchase was the borah bivy, his face lights up. Wish we got to see the missing items you can see in the final moments, I think it’s his ditty bag with his sawyer and hygiene stuff. Great video man.
This was both impressive and beautiful at the same time. You can see his heart of gold in this video. Two rain jackets? Yep...gonna give that a try. Thanks for posting!
Awesomely great video John..❤.you can’t buy what that young man has in him....live your dreams walk the walk and keep the faith.....no amount of money can buy that level of happiness...Freedom!
great video! inspiring to watch :) would love the full cut...? and im sure others would too! sorting my gear out the pass couple of days and ditching stuff in honour of this guy!
Possessions are tools that we use to solve problems. As we go through life, we have to decide which problems we can live with and which ones we need to solve. It's perfectly fine to choose not to fix most problems. However, the problems that we do decide to solve, we have to choose how to solve them. Sometimes we can solve them elegantly, like Courier using creativity and thoughtfulness. Other times, we may try to solve a problem by buying things, but end up buying things that just turn to clutter and are burden themselves. It's impressive to see someone like Courier who is able to be so comfortable going fully raw through life. This reminds me in a positive way of the quote by Viktor E. Frankl: "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way." John - thank you for this short film, I think it is an amazing representation of your personality please keep on making more videos. PS: Waiting for the podcast with Courier, he is definitely someone who has ventured off the beaten path.
Borah Bivys are worth every dollar you pay ! this video is amazing I have been able to live homeless out of a 22 liter reHOSE back pack and a dyneema fanny pack a friend made for me this man is very intelligent and definitely understands KISS (keep it simple stupid) and "one man's trash is another man's treasure" my prized possession is an alpaca beanie my aunt made for me 😊
John Z!!! I haven't seen this channel come up in my feed for years. I came across your channel in December 2017 and you inspired me to leave for the PCT the following April. It was absolutely one of the greatest experiences of my life and has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I can't thank you enough for putting out your original videos on the trail, I possibly would have never thru hiked the PCT without finding your videos. Thank you so much dude.
He seems to be a genuinely kind person. You get at wonderful vibe from just listening to him and seeing his expressions. It makes me want to hit the trail right now!! Sadly its so goddam wet and cold here in Sweden atm..
Wow! an asian John Z. Amazing your face watching this guy unfold his treasures. You wouldn't have been more interested if they were thousand dollar bills....so fun to watch.
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This kid is a maximalist’s biggest fear. UL hikers who spent $10k on gear hate him, backpack companies run from him, and enthusiasts look up to him
It's literally impossible to spend 10k on ultralight gear.
@Jeff Dur LOL oh yes it is. The fact the you keep switching gears till you find the "perfect" setup that you will never find. UL gears can easily go 2k+ for a tent...so yea
@@33sosa85 lmao what tent is 2k?
@33sosa85 let's hear about the other 8k 🤣 I've UL hiked for 20+ years and you're completely wrong.
@Jeff Dur im not saying a single loadout is 10k. Some UL gearfreaks go buying and switchin gears and amass bills quick. big agnes carbon tigerwall is 2000. There are other dyneema tents that are around it. 400 dollar packs, ul 0 degree sleepbags 900, sat com 400, poles 200, pads 300 dollars...list goes on and on...
I met courier early on in So Cal and would run into many more times along the trail. He would write down ever hikers trail name he met along the way. He never forgot who I was the entire trail even if I hadn’t seen him in months. He was very inspiring.
The first time I ran into him, he was literally running Mt Whitney in flip flops, I kid you not. He was always such a happy, positive guy, I wish I ran into him more often.
@@mikepeterson2023 😂
How do you guys just encounter this dude randomly in the wild 😂 or even in socal im from southern cali too and there’s way to many people to notice lol. Like are you guys like a couple hundred miles on the trek and just stumble upon him eating fresh picked berries 🤣?
@@ozzy_fromhell the pct is 2650+ miles lol so you'll sometimes see the same people over the several months you're hiking.
@@naranja1972 people do that in one go? I'm gonna do an alp crossing soon and thought I was the insane one. Lol
There’s a concept in surfing that the best surfer in the water that day is the one having the most fun. It’s a good reminder of what matters most. Courier seems to exemplify this entirely. He seems interested in having fun more than anything. More than miles per day, having high end gear, having the lightest pack, or any other false metric we assign ourselves. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I’ve gotten really into surfing over the last two years but I’ve made pretty slow progress. I get really self-conscious in the lineup and it’s made it difficult to relax and make friends. I love this perspective, I always relax as soon as I get a really good ride and stop thinking so much.
It’s not a concept , it’s a direct quote from Duke Kahanamoku. The father of surfing . Please give credit where it’s due .
@@abigailv5347 Good to know. Why so accusatory tho? If I’d know he was to be credited for saying that don’t you think I would have mentioned it?
@@erikl10001 I’m educating you. You’re welcome
@@abigailv5347 You're ridiculing, not educating. No need to be a dick.
This is wild to see so many people in the comments also running into this guy and sharing stories despite these trails being massive
After I finished the AT, I sat down and typed out everybody's name that I could remember. It came out to 200 names. I'm sure someone who was moving significantly faster (or slower) than most people or didn't intentionally try to stay in sync with others would have a name list double or triple that length.
I love it when a guy like this shows up. No matter the context or sport or activity.
In this case, he will out-hike and out-camp anyone with $5000 worth of gear.
Reminds me of the story where athletes were running ultramarathons with the best sneakers, health monitors, teams following them, and a Tarahumara indigenous woman outran them all in sandals.
Courier is rad. First met him in NorCal just north of Sierra City, and last saw him in Rainier natl park. Over the course of the trail, his English improved so much and I'm so proud of him, cause I know at the beginning he was very nervous about it, and by the end, it was great, and his infectious personality could really come across.
I agree with you! He’s an impressive person
We met him at an all ages LGBT themed dance in Pembroke.
YOO HES AN ALLY THATS SICK@@dimitar297
What pack is it? 18 Liter? I thought about doing similar ultralight hiking.
Met this delightful dude when he was hiking with Spliff, coming off San Jacinto. I made all my gear, everybody made fun of it, except him. Without question one of the best folks I've met on the road. ~Wasteland
Wasteland - Alex/Neighbor here. I think I met you in Hauser Canyon on 4/15/22. And we crossed paths intermittently until the state park campground in Idyllwild. If you're the same one I met, you were talking about hiking the highways up from SanJac to the Sierras rather than following the PCT over to Agua Dulce? Specifics of our conversations are a little blurry, but hope you're doing well.
Wasteland, sorry, but I didn't grasp what pack he is using. It's an 18 Liter pack he is using, right? or did he cut down another pack? thanks. I know that sounds like a dumb question, but I haven't been hiking for a while. I previously thru-hiked the AT with a frameless go-light gust duffel style pack with a martin backpacker guitar tied to it the whole time; something not many people have done (because it was kinda crazy, but worked well enough).
@@pawpawbandit3871When I met him he had a 40 liter custom pack. Quilt, tent, pack, he made everything from scratch. Looks like he downsized by 50% to a 20 l.
Also, he appears to have become fluent in English in 3 states, our exchange was a few words and a lot of gestures, but goddamn that's impressive
That's the kind of guy I get jealous of. Absolutely got life down to basics and is happy just being there and experiencing things. Fair play.
Nah, so much hassle to do the simplest things. I’d rather take all the gear that would make my hike comfortable. It might weigh a bit more but it’s no big deal
@@ivanschekoldin7315 yh I'm a kit whore too... quite terrible... whatever.
@@ivanschekoldin7315the weight ist s huge deal
@@ivanschekoldin7315 he is completely comfortable the way he lives, he does not need extraluggage that you would take for comfort because he has comfort enough without it, which is exactly what op is talking about, its not extra hassle because he is happiest with simplicity.
@@echo6710He is definitely a bad ass and his kit works on the PCT. On the AT he may have to add a couple of pounds to stay dry. That said it’s clear to me he is tough as nails and would do well anywhere. I am an UL backpacker but certainly nowhere near as close to this man. He is a legend.
Wow did not expect to see courier in my feed, met him in northern Oregon on the PCT, someone gave him a brand new neo air xlite b/c they were leaving trail and didn’t need it. Courier left his old broken neo air in the hiker box and I took it since I was heading into town the next day and I could just send it home for a friend of mine to use it. Now that friend of mind is going to be hiking some of the full pct with me this year with that sleeping pad of couriers. It’s so amazing how things get around.
That is so cool
Hiker boxes aren't for shopping for your friends
Did you see him during your hike with your friend? I'm just imagining how insane it would be if he saw your friend with his old neo air, amazing
The trail provides
@@jeffdur1330Hiker boxes are for hikers who will use them. Preventing waste and keeping people on trail is the end goal. Seems end goal was met here in a unique way. All is well.
I love Courier sooo much! I was so fascinated learning about his gear when I hiked with him briefly. I gave him his trail name before Scissors Crossing when he delivered my mini tripod to me after it slipped out of my pack. So happy he finished his hike alongside John + Alex. Such a great video!
So, he really is/was a courier !! awesome !
@@TwitchTvRmanPC 👎
@@TwitchTvRmanPC 👎🏻
Courier is such a dope trail name
It’s so amazing seeing so many people who have fond memories of this guy. Incredible
It's so crazy how many people know this guy
Gearlist:
* 20L backpack with diy foam padding added and extra paracord to hold things, messages from other people written on the bag.
* Small 500ml water bottle and diy bottle sleeve
* One treking pole (broken but still usable for holding up a tarp)
* DIY tarp copied from 'pocket tarp' - used sketchup to fit the dimensions to his height so the tarp is the smallest practical size.
* Tent stakes but has only a few left because he gave them away to others in need since he wasn't using them often.
* X-lite short sleeping pad from a hiker box. It has a small leak so he has to refill it once or twice while using it.
* Sleeping bag with bivy, bivy is copied from bora gear. Sleeping bag has bug netting on the end. His hat brim keeps the net off his face so the bugs can't bite through it.
* Belt bag carries 1L water bottle
* Handmade wood spoon
* nail clippers
* Platypus water bag cut in half is used as a bowl for cold soaking food.
* permanet marker and paper to leave messages for friends hiking up behind.
* Zip ties to quickly attach stuff to his bag or other things.
Food:
One bag with everything sweet mixed together and one bag with everything salty mixed together. For example dehydrated mashed potato and couscous and cocao powder and oats. Sometimes has chocolate milk in his small bottle. He can carry up to 5 days of food but first 2 days his sleeping bag is tied to the top of his pack on the outside.
Clothes:
Brimed hat, glasses, sandles, trail running shoes, socks, 2 shirts - alpha direct fleece, shorts (underwear too I'm guessing but obviously not shown 😅)
What is pocket tarp? Is it a brand?
Backpack: Modified Black Diamond - Blitz 20 (maybe 28?) Backpack
as a hiker/mountain guide from Taiwan, more and more islanders here are humbly following the path like what courier is doing.
now the video featuring courier officially made those islanders proud.
Hey, I'm from taiwan too. May I ask in which area you do hiking/ mountain guides ? I'm from Kaohsiung but would get to know some light trails for my senior mum who is visiting the next 3 months
I stayed with Courier at a trail angel's house in Skykomish, WA. While we were there he drew an awesome self-portrait of himself at the northern terminus on his tarp. Such a cool guy! So nice.
Courier! One of the favorite people I met on the PCT. Incredible hiker and human. Super glad he made it. He should definitely start designing gear. Would love to know his IG.
Thanks for the video
me too
@@trading4waves what's his social link(s)?
This dude was awesome. Saw him at Kracker Barrel in WA, and saw him descending Mt. Whitney in his yellow flip-flops. Always in a good mood!
I continue to re-watch this video so often for Courier. I never had the pleasure of crossing paths with him on trail, but he is exactly the noble hiker that I am continuously seeking to become myself. He has tapped into a consciousness that is so sincere, bright, and so uniquely alive, that I tear up every time I watch this. Thank you Courier, for showing me that it is possible to fully embody such serene and aspirational ideals! --- Whistles
There are always a few truly free people akin to spirits who seem blissful and unique, they are created and molded by the material conditions of this horrible system we live in and despite adversity they remain free in the way children are.
@@onetrueone That was beautifully said. Thank you.
I also come back and rewatch this video from time to time. I've been nervous to try UL after using a 60L bag for so many years. But this has helped me feel more confident and capable
I saw this pack at Timberline Lodge next to my overly filled Hyperlite and was GOBSMACKED by its size. This landed on my front page and now I get to know the man behind the pack! Great video.
that is a freaking awesome story....its just impossible to find the person behind the pack, and absolutely impossible that John Z came out of retirement to feature him and you see it. I hope you bought a lottery ticket that day.
I love that he has people he befriends write a message on his pack, that's so wholesome and an idea I'm definitely going to adopt
THIS is the dude we all want to be! The goal is to not be distracted by comfort and instead honor each second of the walk! Man…I’d love to get to that place!
Out of all the PCT videos I've watched, none made me want to be out there and part of the PCT community more than this one. What a cool dude.
I thruhiked this year too, and it was always delightful to meet up with Courier as we leapfrogged down (up?) the trail. He was always so cheerful and fun to talk with. Cheers, Courier, from Butterfly!
The question this sparks is: ‘What do I truly need to live,’ And another, ‘What does it mean to be truly alive?’ Thank you for this beautiful video.
This is the first video of yours I've ever seen but holy cow, something about courier and the reverence and respect this video pays him, this was one of the best things I've seen on the internet. Heartwarming, educational, inspiring, bravo
His open heart and interaction, helps to open your heart if one allows it.
Some of my favorite miles of my PCT hike were those shared with Courier. Thanks for the vid, brought back so many memories! Still have the 1 gram tent stake he gave me when I lost one. Such a kind person!
And his joy in his hiking possessions (or lack of them when he gave away his tent stakes :-) is SO BIG! What a wonderful moment to be there as he crosses into Canada, I can feel his joy at reaching it and at the same time sadness at having the journey come to an end. John, thank you for sharing this beautiful moment with us all, my heart is full!
He’s the definition of being happy with what you got in life.
Courier is known in all the PCT for that, if you're lucky you can encounter him during your trail
@@simonkohler2182 How? I thought he was done!
@@yemin88 well it's just a saying back there people use to say that if you hike enough on the pct you'd end up meeting him one day or another, if you look at the comments most people did haha
Since finishing my thru hike I've sometimes wondered if he would have made it to Canada. I met Courier back in the desert at Mary's place and didn't see him after that. Glad to know he made it and thanks for this awesome little portrait of him!
i met Courier this a few weeks ago on my NOBO section hike on the AT. He is still traveling in the same lightweight style. I wanted to see what was in his pack as he only mentioned a few of his tricks. He worked for stay at a hostel we both stays at. I saw him again in Damascus VA then that was the last time. With this light pack and his fitness he hikes pretty fast. He's one of the more memorable people i met on the trail this year. When i saw title of this video i immediately thought of him, video was about same guy, its a small world sometimes.
Met Courier while going SOBO through Goat Rocks right before knife's edge. He told me it was the best view on the entire PCT. Amazing dude! Wish I had got him on camera. I love his resourcefulness and inventiveness, that really impressed me. Really enjoyed this interview!
Courier!! Or Gavi as I know him! I started from the border with Gavi and we hiked the first 80 miles together. Glad to see you made it and Gavi, your english is fantastic!! ;)
/Stumbler, Sweden
No way - that's rad. What's Gavi's ig?
Courier was an inspiration on trail. I hiked with him for a bit outside of Sierra City, and the best way I can describe his optimism is unyielding. Thanks for interviewing this awesome dude and highlighting his resourceful personality and indomitable spirit.
Courier is certainly unconventional and unique, and that's refreshing. Great story. Cool shots.Thanks for sharing John.
Courier is a great dude. Glad to see him getting some love in the comments here. I was impressed by how fast he was and how little gear he had. But mostly he was just super nice and excited to be on the trail.
Dude is a full on videogame character. Bravo to him.
Living out of a 20L pack for up to 5 days. Incredible guy!
That right there is what you call "free-spirited."
That man DGAF
Man this dudes cool!! 2,650 miles on extremely minimal gear and supplies! That's dedication!! He cared more about just hiking the trail and the experience of a life time over high end/ heavy weight gear and comforts! Hiked the sierras with just a sweater, two rain jackets and a homemade dyneema tarp! Damn!!! I learned two things. Firstly you are a very resourceful and resilient human being! Lastly i have wayy too much gear!! Lol... Congrat's on finishing the PCT!! Stay safe all.. Hike on!!
I also like many others hiked with Courier, first met him just before Sierras and then briefly in Bishop during the resupply. He was one of the most humble and keen to learn hikers I've met along the trail. I'm so happy that he finished the trail and got a highlight like this, well deserved! Greetings to all the PCT class 2022 hikers! Cinnamon.
Courier is breathtaking, I met him on my way to the end of the trail and walked a day aside him, very inspiring person and impressive, he is above any other adventurers I met.
Love this kid! Most of my gear is from Goodwill so I respect his ability to do more with less. I'm tired of watching how the backpacking industry is transforming the simple joy of playing in the woods into this hipster endeavor for those who can afford the trendy high dollar gear. Great video!
La même chose en France, nous avons une chaîne de magasins de sport grand public ( Decathlon) et pas mal de gens le denigraient , heureusement les choses changent...
I'm hiking, backpacking and camping with decathlon gear. I've spent roughly 300 euros for my whole setup from backpack to tent and I'm having fun every time. In the end of the day that's what counts, not your budget. Courier is also a great example of what it means to have fun with the bare minimum.
I did a little less than half of the PCT last year (Campo-Truckee) and was completely unprepared. It was my first backpacking trip and I definitely threw myself into the deep end.
On my first day at Cleef, someone asked me what my base weight was and I was like “I don’t know maybe 30lbs” and the guy just looked at me with this expression of pure pity and at that very second I realized what I’d just gotten myself into.
P.S. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever done. I regret nothing and it changed my life forever!
I do have to say the insistence on the baseweight is something I still don't get. Of course it's good to pack light, but at the end of the day your food and water will most likely mess with the weight quite a bit
@@ulhi7564 I agree with you, but I also understand the desire to have ultra light gear. On one hand, you have people who pay thousands of dollars to get their pack 4lbs lighter, which is a little bizarre to me. But if that’s how they want to spend their money, then they should go for it, it’s not up to me. The only issue I have with ultra light culture is that some people get very snobbish about it and look down on other hikers who don’t have ultralight gear. I experienced a fair amount of that on the PCT and it was pretty annoying.
But on the other hand, when you’re hiking 20 miles a day, you do realize that every pound counts. Shaving even a few pounds off of your pack can impact how many miles you’re able to hike each day.
This is a walking zen monk, smilingly stepping more and more consciously on his trail, realizing possessions don't exist and only experience bring freedom.
His biggest treasure is his smile and example, what a gift do many of U out here seem to have enjoyed it.
'Hiked in Europe and S.- A. with 12 to 15 liter backpack + a small plastic carrier bag for food when on transport or evening meal.But that was in warm weather& no tarpsleeping!!!
Tx for sharing this xonderful human being. Hope to get onto ur favourite Washington bit once in my life.
He has completely changed my perspective. From watching TH-cam videos and comparing gear and buying thr best. I have now realized I can make my own stuff and get creative. I have been conditioned to just spend and buy because I can but no more! Brilliant video
Dude’s my hero and the complete definition of what it means to be “ultralight”.
This is the the kind of guy who can't help but put a smile on your face. What an awesome kit and beautiful soul.
Missed you man! Happy I found your channel years later.. hope you are well.
So cool you featured Courier, love that guy. Definately one of those characters I won't forget. Hope to see him on another trail someday.
Brilliant! So it is to ask hikers about their gear nearing the end of the PCT. At that point, moving light is critical.
It would be interesting to set up a booth at the end of the trail where you could interview everyone about the remaining gear and what’s been ditched or traded…
Love how happy he is. The bowl is genius!!
I’m tearing up… this was amazing. Courier is such an incredible and inspirational person. Your video really shows it! So glad that I was able to spend time with you guys! Thank you for this memory memorialized !
He even said that he lets cool persons sign his pack :)
@@mars_hikes967 hey Mars, did you finish the CYTC? Was wondering the other day
@@wio2189 No. But no worries already planing a second campaign 🙂
@@mars_hikes967 Right on! Sorry it didn't work out this year.
@@wio2189 Don't worry, I could do more than 5k miles and I still had a lot of fun.
I think this guy is truly amazing, so simple and effective with little else to worry about. Just enjoying life on the trail and bringing smiles to everyone he meets on his travels, a lot to learn from him. 👏
This is awesome! Thank you for this video! Courier’s joy of hiking is inspiring … he travels in the backcountry like I imagine John Muir did; with pure simplicity.
*This is the most inspirational video ever of all the outdoor community (and more).*
Woaaaa Thank you John for this amazing video. I've been in the outdoors since my birth and met thousands of people from hikers, fishermen, hunters, store staff, distributor staff you name it. I've seen tons of gear and own a lot myself. I've also watched hundreds if not thousands of videos because my philosophy is that you can learn something even from the less experienced ones and of course from experienced ones and mistakes by others. So I've seen a lot. But this video... let's put it this way. It's inspirational, and something else...
You know, most people would walk by this guy without talking to him, maybe even laughing at him and his gear. But you know what? We ALL can learn from him and YOU took the time to make this simple, but yet amazing video.
Thank you a LOT for this John, and I just subscribed.
He's been doing it for years now....always a treat when he comes home and shares with us.
@@nedanother9382 what does he do for work?
This is the most wholesome thing I’ve seen on the internet in years
Just yesterday I had the thought "I wonder how John Z is doing?" I used to follow lots of thru hikers and really enjoyed your commentary and thoughtfulness while you hiked. Thank you for sharing this video... it made me smile in a way I haven't in a while. :thumbsup:
This has nothing to do with this video but John I am so thankful you are putting up new content again as well as reposting some old. Your videos truly inspire and I can’t tell you how great full I am for them. Thank you so much for taking your time and making these.
Such a great message - we're so spoiled!! And it takes a story like this to remind us of that every once in a while
Amazing hiker and person. And John’s video let’s Courier shine. Only a great hiker can really appreciate and interview another great hiker like this. Would love to see a full length documentary on Courier.
What an interesting character, and what an incredible filmmaker you are. Thank you for you work.
I have met some badass and inspirational young hikers recently. No Cameras or blog gear. Not interested in socials at all, Just loving being in the moment, imagine that.
Thank you so much for reuploading all of your old hiking videos. I want you to know how much of an impact they had on my life at that time. It inspired me to hike the Mountains to Sea Trail in North Carolina. I have lived next to a section of it for the majority of my adulthood and hike it regularly. Your videos inspired me to do the whole thing in 2018 after breaking up with my partner of 3 years. Seriously, John. Thank you.
Major props to him. Like he said when you don’t have a lot of money you do with what you got. Sometimes we get wrapped up in all this expensive gear and look at this guy making it work.
I imagine that this kid will, with just nail clippers, figure out how to warp space and time. Great video.
Courier is uniquely himself and I loved his insight. Super inspiring!
That was a truly inspiring, healing video. Thanks for letting us meet Courier. He is the incarnation of a happy, loving guy.
I love this guy's attitude, made me happier just watching his stoke.
One of the things I love about long distance hiking is the people you meet. I hope I run into this man someday. Thanks for sharing.
He might not have life figured out, but he defiantly has the little things figured out, and thats a helluva start.
“Courier” is my new favorite hiker (narrowly taking that title from “Heaps”).
His pure joy at the monument was genuine joy personified.
You can tell his biggest purchase was the borah bivy, his face lights up. Wish we got to see the missing items you can see in the final moments, I think it’s his ditty bag with his sawyer and hygiene stuff. Great video man.
John this was really inspiring, thank you for motivating me!
Lost this video and found it again. Legend!
Adding to favourites so I can always rewatch it and remember what's important
Thank you and Courier for this video. Very refreshing after the tons of HMG backpack, EE quilt, and Zpacks tent gear videos.
What a legend. The world needs more people like him
This is the best video on the entire internet
This kid is an absolute weapon, bless that lad and everything about his soul
What an amazing guy, he's got such a positive vibe, I absolutely love his equipment, smart ideas and skilled modifications.
This was both impressive and beautiful at the same time. You can see his heart of gold in this video. Two rain jackets? Yep...gonna give that a try. Thanks for posting!
What a wholesome hiker! I love the backpack memories
I had a smile on my face for the duration of this video. I love everything about this!
Awesomely great video John..❤.you can’t buy what that young man has in him....live your dreams
walk the walk and keep the faith.....no amount of money can buy that level of happiness...Freedom!
I love that about hiking too. It is so interesting how our gear evolves and the stories that go along with your choices are fun to remember.
great video! inspiring to watch :) would love the full cut...? and im sure others would too! sorting my gear out the pass couple of days and ditching stuff in honour of this guy!
He looks so happy. This is inspirational. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to hiking this trail someday.
Black Diamond better send that kid some glasses.
Watching this three times. And figured what really makes this clip wholesome is the way this guy narrates him.
Amazing interviews! It is so refreshing to be reminded you do not need extra expensive stuff to be light or hike, you just need to adapt
favoutite gear review of 2023 so far!!
Possessions are tools that we use to solve problems. As we go through life, we have to decide which problems we can live with and which ones we need to solve. It's perfectly fine to choose not to fix most problems. However, the problems that we do decide to solve, we have to choose how to solve them. Sometimes we can solve them elegantly, like Courier using creativity and thoughtfulness. Other times, we may try to solve a problem by buying things, but end up buying things that just turn to clutter and are burden themselves. It's impressive to see someone like Courier who is able to be so comfortable going fully raw through life. This reminds me in a positive way of the quote by Viktor E. Frankl: "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way."
John - thank you for this short film, I think it is an amazing representation of your personality please keep on making more videos.
PS: Waiting for the podcast with Courier, he is definitely someone who has ventured off the beaten path.
Borah Bivys are worth every dollar you pay ! this video is amazing I have been able to live homeless out of a 22 liter reHOSE back pack and a dyneema fanny pack a friend made for me this man is very intelligent and definitely understands KISS (keep it simple stupid) and "one man's trash is another man's treasure" my prized possession is an alpaca beanie my aunt made for me 😊
John Z!!! I haven't seen this channel come up in my feed for years. I came across your channel in December 2017 and you inspired me to leave for the PCT the following April. It was absolutely one of the greatest experiences of my life and has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I can't thank you enough for putting out your original videos on the trail, I possibly would have never thru hiked the PCT without finding your videos. Thank you so much dude.
This was fantastic John! Loved Courier's enthusiasm, simplicity and ingenuity. Thank you =)
How cool is he? and so happy and good natured! Thanks for the video john!
He seems to be a genuinely kind person. You get at wonderful vibe from just listening to him and seeing his expressions. It makes me want to hit the trail right now!! Sadly its so goddam wet and cold here in Sweden atm..
this is one of my favorite videos of all time. Thank you for just letting him talk!!
Wow! an asian John Z. Amazing your face watching this guy unfold his treasures. You wouldn't have been more interested if they were thousand dollar bills....so fun to watch.
I wish I could be 1/10th as happy as this guy seems about living life..Truly inspiring, what a amazing person to encounter ❤️
Courier is lighter at 20 L , but apparently "Tank Top" is even lighter at 18 L!! ;) The motto is truly "true" ! Awesome !