I was a hospice nurse for over 7 years. Several old people said something like "you gotta live life." One in particular who used to be a neighbor of the founder of Kelty often wanted me to tell him of my hiking stories every week. He told me of his hiking stories in the sierras during his younger days. They were important to him.
I've always hated the "real world" comment. Because on trail is my real life. So now I just say, my urban life or my trail life. They're both just as real.
@@mountains1233 On trail you are walking around clad in clothing made from petrochemicals and usually manufactured with child labour and shipped ten thousand miles across the planet to you, using ultra modern gear derived from similar shitty sources, eating plastic packaged foods brought in urban areas that is produced from mechanised farms and shipped through distribution hubs. In comparison to this, the average hick farmer/hunter lives a far more "real world" life than any hiker.
@@Shrouded_reaper I agree with your general sentiment. But I wouldn't say that the average hunter/farmer is making their shoes and clothes. Like the thru-hiker they are almost always buying petro-based clothing. Probably feeding their animals foods that are GMO and/or have pesticides. It's hard to be absolutely pre-industrial. My post was meant to be taken from a relative point of view.
I went on my first overnight backpacking trip on a part of the AT last week and because of your budget vids, i was able to get my overall pack weight down to 20.9. Granted, it snowed and the night sucked but i love it and all i can think about is getting back out
I love that even with the freedom that you had every day on trail, you still had some type of structure to your day. Pretty smart to brainstorm first thing because your mind if fresh. Love the Q&A format. Interactive with your followers. Great video Darwin! Enjoyed 🙌🏻
Clothing doesn't steal heat. Any moisture in that clothing will steal heat as it evaporates. I have experienced a warmer feel in my bag by removing a sweated-in shirt, but putting on every dry piece of clothing you have is always the warmest option.
But wearing clothing can prevent your body heat from warming the sleeping bag which is there to trap your body heat and keep you warm. So maybe he meant that?
@@KB-re4ku your body heat is instead trapped by your clothes against your body, and whatever escapes that is then trapped by your sleeping bag. Sleeping in clothes is warmer than without them. Plus, when you have to go pee in the night or early morning, you're better dressed for the excursion.
@ Sam Toshner having experience with both situations, I find I’m warmer with less than more. The downside to sleeping in too much clothing is that if you sweat then your inner layers are wet. We all have different heat output when we sleep so maybe some need it, maybe some don’t. But yes if you have to get up to leave your tent at night it helps to be dressed, but not a big deal to get dressed either.
By the logic that clothes steal heat, sleeping naked without a sleeping bag is much warmer. Just imagine how much heat the sleeping bag steal! 😀 But seriously, putting clothes between the arms and upper body (as in wearing a shirt) or between the legs (as in wearing pants) may stop one body part warm another, so it's better to not put the arms through the sleeves of the shirt and rather spread a jacket over the legs than wearing pants to achive some extra warmth. And of course, dry clothes.
It could be your experience with sleeping in tights "stealing heat" is because the tights are actually damp from the day (even in dry climates like the desert). Having designated sleep clothing prevents this, but of course will add to your bag weight
Darwin your info is helpful . I started hiking in 1974 and saw your video and drugged my old gear out and put it on the scale . Heavy '! I need new gear . keep doing gear reviews your saving me money . thanks . 👍
Hiking, long distance hiking is just effin' awesome. Heck just being outside and taking it all in is effin' awesome. The best form of meditation hands down. Lovely Darwin keep inspiring and keep going!
Planning my tilt at a PCT through hike and have to thank you for the excellent info/guidance the likes of which you and Dixie put out. It has made my job of choosing gear so much easier.
Nah, fresh sweat isn't so bad, & even once it stales, no-one smells as bad after 4 days unwashed as they do after 6. A once a week shower does make a difference.
When it's windy it's your head and neck that you need to make extra effort to keep warm. I froze in 45º wind and was warn in 24º calm in a 32º bag in a single wall Duplex.
Hey Darwin, I was hiking the PCT this year too and wanted to ask about an issue that's unfortunately not talked about on the trail much. So, I'm French and the PCT was my 5th long distance hike and somehow I felt like I didn't really belong in the community. By that I don't mean to start a useless argument about what would "the right way to hike" and truly believe that as long it makes a hiker happy it's pretty much the right way. But. Saying that, if I'm being honest, I felt a lot like when the trail community was absolutely amazing and encountering trail angels was a truly new, meaningful and mind blowing experience(mostly off trail obviously) at the same time for a very long time I felt like I was doing a thing on my own simply because the "hiker trash " culture is pretty much everything I don't want to experience on a trail. I'm not saying it's bad or dissing it. Just really not my thing. I thought for a while its was me being weird but hitting Oregon i started to meet other European hikers that were also struggling and even quit the trail because they felt they did not belong here. So I guess my question is: what is your experience with other foreign hikers and have you noticed that even when you share the same passion, your way of experiencing the same adventure can be very different depending on your cultural background? I trust that if you chose to answer that you'll find a way to keep this long question a bit shorter than I did. Love the channel and hope you'll hike in Europe some day. Gael
Great video. Great questions! Learned allot. Had no clue you were a fulltime vandweller. So many people do it. I live in a 1985 Class C. Hard to imagine living in something so much smaller (mines 25') but people manage somehow. Good for you. Take care and thanks for all your videos.
@Publik Channel Hi. That's a really common question. There are a few mail forwarding places that you can use (not too cheaply) to get mail and to use as your home address, for voting, taxes, registration purposes. Lots of videos on TH-cam pertaining to it. It can be tricky but it's extremely doable. You might want to check out Cheap RV Living on TH-cam. Bob Wells can be a tad annoying but he's a fountain of information. He lives and travels full time in a van and many of his "tours" and interviews of other people who live the lifestyle are in the smaller vehicles. I'm sure you'll find lots of helpful info and plenty of inspiration. Hope you go for it! We aren't getting any younger. Merry Christmas. :)
Sometimes when I'm a bit ansty...this version works better: "Toto - Africa (metal cover by Leo Moracchioli feat. Rabea & Hannah)" on TH-cam th-cam.com/video/MH9FyLsfDzw/w-d-xo.html
Lay in a hammock, chill all day. Middle of nowhere. Basically nothing. Nothing to do besides relax. Van life is calling me. I can hardly wait until spring when I get 4 weeks vacation.
As far as getting clean at the end of the day I heard from someone on TH-cam to get yourself a small section of sponge to get wet and wipe the dirt off of you. That way you don’t get your bag as dirty. Also baby wipes are your friend 😍
Its correct about clothes in your sleeping system. I teatch cold weather survival i the swedish militairy and SERE school. Thats what we teatch, have as little on you in cold weather sleeping and let your sleeping bag or quilt work. If you want something on when you sleep, we normally recomand a technical Marino wool mix bas layer that can transport moisture but are still perforated/thin enough to not hinder the sleeping system when it working but that you feel you have something against your skin an can hold a bit of that warmth at your skin. An importaint detail if you have cold feet and bad circulation (as I have) and use down or synthetic socks, don't have to tight sizing. And dont use normal socks that are tight on your feet, you will freeze more. It constricts your blood flow. If you are to use a sock have a large one that have a lot of room and the same gose for the down/synthetic bootys. I use synthetic bootys from enlightened equipment myself and underpants and a Marino wool t-shirt myself. Have slept in that in temps of -30°C (-37°F) woorkes great went you have as little clothes as possible and let the appropriate sleeping bag work 😊 Edit; one of The biggest misstakes people make in winter/snow sleeping are that they take in wet socks and stuff in to the bag. That will make your sleeping bag work lesseffectively. In really cold weather I always have one set of sleeping clothes that are dry and protected in waterproofing drink the day and only sleep in. I freez dryed my wet clothes if its cold enough drink the night and then in the morning I shake the clothes that freeze dryed and then there good to go. If I make an exception its 1 and only 1 pair of socks. So, in summary... If you want to have clothes on you they should be dry and the right ones. Cheers
The trick with wet feet is taking the shoes and socks off every night and drying them adequately. I’ve seen a lot of people get afraid of wet feet. You should be fine if you got a decent pair of socks and take them off at camp.
Thru hiking will definitely change your life. As it shows it’s completely changed yours. Did it feel like luxury to have your van back after the trail? I know for me after the PCT having my van was nice... Knowing I didn’t have to throw a thumb to get a ride but dang I sure miss it. Solid answers on your Q&A. Hope to see you out there. I just moved to the “Asheville are” in the van so if you’re ever back out here let me know. We still gotta meet up. Andy aka Salty Olive
The Mind Game - I did two sets of mental things: Zombie Apocalypses (hint: actually pretty simple solution) and the other one was "Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny". Started Backpacking for a class with my favorite High School Biology Teacher. Backpacking always makes me think about the Kingdom and Phylums. Hope to think about String Theory and Simulation Theory on my '19 PCT F/F. Salt Lick...
Agreed that clothing steals heat while sleeping. At least from personal experience in the military. Sleeping bag and fully clothed? Kinda chilly all night. Strip to your shorts inside that same sleeping bag? Nice and warm all night.
Clothes can’t steal your heat lol you give heat to your clothes. Now, the problem your experiencing is probably more than likely you losing heat due to not trapping it in properly. For example if your clothes are too tight then they don’t get the chance to trap air in thus allowing your body to naturally heat that air. Besides that I absolutely love the video and vibes keep it up sir!!!!
@@keekers8785 there's natural lotions sold in the stores there that repel and sooth the multitude os bites, wear full body clothing...hope you feel better...
Do you think at the age of 53 is to old for me to start hiking,. Granted I will start with short hikes. Maybe a few days at a time to start. Love all the time you take to share with us. Plus your reviews. As I hunt with a back pack. I just got the vargo bot and love it. Thanks to your review as I have warm meals on a cold hunt. Just kind of addicted to your videos. Thank you and stay safe out there
I have a question for Q/A: How do you return to your point of origin or "home" when you are on something like a long distance bike trek like the one you just took? Did someone take your van up and leave it at the end of the trail? Do you fly home if it's a hike?
Darwin, has anyone ever mentioned Reynaud’s disease? I think repetitive motion can exacerbate it. None of my business, just a thought. Love your life and your videos. Thank you.
Dang, I got messed with and by a "troller". Maybe there's a new PCT tradition, best trail rumors of about TH-cam vlogers. Regardless, great videos Darwin (or whatever your trail name is).
Hike the GR20 in Corsica. It's Awesome and you are hiking in Mediterranean climate similar to California. Plus Corsica has beautiful beaches. Check it out.
Yeah,my son started watching your vids and he has been buying all the cool stuff you have but one thing he did wrong,he bought a 65 backpack,way to big,and his bag is 73 lbs,,,I told him but he dont listen to me, maybe you should tell him,his name is Mason Pettit ...
You go home and end up with a depression. 😅 But it depends, when I end the PCT in a few years and I still have time left, I would roadtrip, go to Canada, ... As a European, I only have 6 months in the US (in a row) so I need to make the most out of it.
Darwin - Not sure if you have ever answered this before but does Snuggles have any interest in doing her own TH-cam channel? I know she writes on the blog but is she more of a behind the scenes person & doesn’t want to be in the spotlight? Also what does she do while you are on your trips? I would love to hear her perspective of the life that you live together. Thanks!
Heyy Darwin On The Trail, I would LOVE to win the back give-a-way! I'm new to hiking/backpacking. I enjoy seeing your posts and notifications that I get! I I'm a part of my local Boy scouts troop 7 and we're on our way to Philmont in New Mexico. My old pack is not big enough and hits from 1976 I got from our local antique show.
Here is a Quick Tour of it right after I built it out. Since then I have installed a Fridge, Lights, & a Vent --> th-cam.com/video/PJlwsBLI5nI/w-d-xo.html Hike On, Darwin
@@DarwinOnthetrail thank you, I was going through your channel to find it. You should do a small update sometime when you need some filler videos or something :)
Darwin, Great Channel. It appears that you don’t use straps on your trekking poles (although in your older videos you did). Any thoughts on why/why not to use straps on your poles?
Darwin, regarding your cold feet, have you ever tried sleeping on an incline, making your upper body slightly higher than your legs, this way allowing warm blood to travel more easily to your feet.
So in regards to you leaving in the van full time how do you afford it, cuz I'm looking to do the same for a little while in 2020 once I have enough money to last me a while, any tips? I'll put this in the community chat to once you need more question as well,
How do you travel with your hiking gear? Say if you were going to thru hike the Appalachian trail that starts in Georgia going northbound How would get there with trekking poles and all your hiking gear I tried to fly recently and saw they don’t allow trekking poles on carry on and a small Swiss Army knife..etc
I guess one could put everything into a suitcase, and check in the bag, and then just ditch the suitcase somewhere or ? I’m just curious about how to start the thru hike and traveling to said location, I would like to attempt a thru hike one day
Darwin, I have seen you wear your EE Torrid Apex jacket frequently but have not seen you use the pants much. Do you still find it worthwhile to carry insulated pants?
This may sound like a normal life question, but I figured I'd ask it anyway - my wife and I are planning to start living full time in a trailer to get out to nature more and see the world and I was wondering what you do about retirement? Do you have a 401k or a RothIRA that you put money into for the years way down the road when you may not be a full time TH-camr? Love the videos! Thanks
@@DarwinOnthetrail Thanks, doesn't quite answer it, but I'm just assuming that your simplified lifestyle allows you to save for the future without the unnecessary expenses of keeping up with the Jones's. I'm also curious, would you ever do the Camino de Santiago and stay in the hostiles and enjoy the more "luxury" experience of eating and drinking at the local places? I think it would make a great series!
What few people realize is that a ROTH IRA has no required minimum annual distributions. With conventional IRAs and retirement savings, when you hit a certain age, you are REQUIRED to disperse a significant percent of that money, as TAXABLE INCOME, every year. Forced to take higher income and pay higher taxes, when a ROTH would let you save the money longer without having to disperse it. Of course every retirement plan requires you to be MAKING INCOME on the books, before you are allowed to put some of it away for your retirement account.
How can it be that total cost is $5K? Seems a lot to me. I sailed Europe including marina fees , restaurants and fuel for that in 100 days. Is the food so expensive? Or does that include the gear?
Hey Darwin are you able to share where you're going overseas now that it's 2019? long-time follower here I'm going to bike-packing in Southeast Asia this summer I would love to see you there
Are you still using alltra shoes. Is there a way to hike the AZT with you? On the tent issue again, zpack is the tent you use, what alternative could you reccomend, my budget will not allow for the zpack. Looking for lightweight and backpacking tent? Thank you.
Check out the GreenBelly website. They make trail food, but if you scroll down to the bottom of the website they have a ultralight gear guide and backpacking 101 section full of awesome gear options and info. I personally went with a granite gear crown 60 pack and a six moon designs solo tent, so far I'm pretty happy with them but i also only do multi day hiking no through hiking yet.
Look at Six Moon Designs. Even their more expensive tents like the 28 - was 27 oz :-( - Skyscape trekker are much cheaper than the zpacks tents. Or you can go cheaper with the 37 oz Skyscape Scout for a little over $100. The skyscape tents are very roomy for one person tents, much more than the other one person tents I've seen on the trail. I just ordered a 10 oz. shaped tarp for $108 for ultralight hiking when bugs aren't an issue, but I want to be prepared for rain/snow. Just something to look into.
This is a question from one of my friends. He is interested in go on PCT (or most part of it) at least once but he has very low stamina, overweight, and in his 50s. Is there any hope for him and what would the preparations be? Will it help to do some same-day hiking or overnight camping as part of the training?
Start walking after work and stuff. Once you can walk 5-7 miles a day every day you’re ready imo. Pack ultralight and only pack the amount of food and water you need. Base weight 10lb or less. Total pack weight around 20lbs.
Hike all day every day for 6 months lol. No for real I enjoy the sounds of nature too when I hike. But I can imagine getting bored with the amount of time it takes to do such a long trail.
May '19... CWT? Please don't, as it might get popular... I thouroughly enjoyed it in '16. Did wash myself every day though, in those clear burns up there. cheers
Hope this isn't too personal or too complicated of a question but what do you do about health insurance? I am planning a long distance hike and I will have to take a leave of absence from my job and will not have insurance through my job, so is there anything you suggest or have any ideas from you or what other hikers have done in this situation? Thanks for taking time to read my question
You should be able to keep your insurance through your job. It's called COBRA or something. YOU will have to just pay their group rate. Look into your states Insurance program. You can get free health insurance if you are not earning an income during the time you hike. Yah, that gonna piss off a lot of people but who cares! Humans were meant to have pleasure too. Not all of life should be work, work, work.
With presumably no fixed residence and no corporate medical coverage, do you find it impossible to get medical insurance? Been ignoring that, or just paying everything as "out of network" ?
The ACA has made insurance "affordable" for independent contractors. I just went with out insurance and crossed my fingers! I now have affordable health insurance and I will not be bankrupt from an illness or accident. Check your state's Insurance options.
You didn't inspire me to cold soak but did motivate me to eat a heck of a lot of Talenti in case I change my mind.
HAHAHA!!! YES!!!
I was a hospice nurse for over 7 years. Several old people said something like "you gotta live life." One in particular who used to be a neighbor of the founder of Kelty often wanted me to tell him of my hiking stories every week. He told me of his hiking stories in the sierras during his younger days. They were important to him.
I've always hated the "real world" comment. Because on trail is my real life. So now I just say, my urban life or my trail life. They're both just as real.
The "real world" is fake. It's only been around for 0.0001 percent of human existence.
Someone once realigned the phrase “get away from it all” to “get back to it all” and that really stuck with me.
@@mountains1233 On trail you are walking around clad in clothing made from petrochemicals and usually manufactured with child labour and shipped ten thousand miles across the planet to you, using ultra modern gear derived from similar shitty sources, eating plastic packaged foods brought in urban areas that is produced from mechanised farms and shipped through distribution hubs. In comparison to this, the average hick farmer/hunter lives a far more "real world" life than any hiker.
@@Shrouded_reaper I agree with your general sentiment. But I wouldn't say that the average hunter/farmer is making their shoes and clothes. Like the thru-hiker they are almost always buying petro-based clothing. Probably feeding their animals foods that are GMO and/or have pesticides. It's hard to be absolutely pre-industrial. My post was meant to be taken from a relative point of view.
My trail name is, "Hey, get the Hell away from me, you little pervert!" It just kinda stuck.
I went on my first overnight backpacking trip on a part of the AT last week and because of your budget vids, i was able to get my overall pack weight down to 20.9. Granted, it snowed and the night sucked but i love it and all i can think about is getting back out
I thought your real name was Darwin...
what is Darwins real name? :OOOO
You're the real Darwin award winner here...🤦♂️
I love that even with the freedom that you had every day on trail, you still had some type of structure to your day. Pretty smart to brainstorm first thing because your mind if fresh. Love the Q&A format. Interactive with your followers. Great video Darwin! Enjoyed 🙌🏻
Man....the moment you said you live fulltime in your van...I rushed to hit the subscribe button. You're living the dream, Darwin, keep it up!!!
Clothing doesn't steal heat. Any moisture in that clothing will steal heat as it evaporates. I have experienced a warmer feel in my bag by removing a sweated-in shirt, but putting on every dry piece of clothing you have is always the warmest option.
But wearing clothing can prevent your body heat from warming the sleeping bag which is there to trap your body heat and keep you warm. So maybe he meant that?
Seriously. Why would he have put all of his clothes on for that 18 degree night if it hadn't made him warmer?
@@KB-re4ku your body heat is instead trapped by your clothes against your body, and whatever escapes that is then trapped by your sleeping bag. Sleeping in clothes is warmer than without them. Plus, when you have to go pee in the night or early morning, you're better dressed for the excursion.
@ Sam Toshner having experience with both situations, I find I’m warmer with less than more. The downside to sleeping in too much clothing is that if you sweat then your inner layers are wet. We all have different heat output when we sleep so maybe some need it, maybe some don’t. But yes if you have to get up to leave your tent at night it helps to be dressed, but not a big deal to get dressed either.
By the logic that clothes steal heat, sleeping naked without a sleeping bag is much warmer.
Just imagine how much heat the sleeping bag steal! 😀
But seriously, putting clothes between the arms and upper body (as in wearing a shirt) or between the legs (as in wearing pants) may stop one body part warm another, so it's better to not put the arms through the sleeves of the shirt and rather spread a jacket over the legs than wearing pants to achive some extra warmth.
And of course, dry clothes.
It could be your experience with sleeping in tights "stealing heat" is because the tights are actually damp from the day (even in dry climates like the desert). Having designated sleep clothing prevents this, but of course will add to your bag weight
Darwin your info is helpful . I started hiking in 1974 and saw your video and drugged my old gear out and put it on the scale . Heavy '! I need new gear . keep doing gear reviews your saving me money . thanks . 👍
Hiking, long distance hiking is just effin' awesome. Heck just being outside and taking it all in is effin' awesome. The best form of meditation hands down. Lovely Darwin keep inspiring and keep going!
Hell ya:)
Planning my tilt at a PCT through hike and have to thank you for the excellent info/guidance the likes of which you and Dixie put out. It has made my job of choosing gear so much easier.
Im in Quebec,Canada, and always sleeps in my IceBreaker Merino Onesie. Winter and summer .. and it doesnt stink !
Darwin try Idaho's centennial trail! You will love it. No crowds! Lots wildlife and some of the best scenery you will find! Keep up the great work!
Taking showers at hostels are mainly ceremonial cuz the first hour back on trail, you're pretty much back to Stinkytown.
FO SHO!
Hike On,
Darwin
But it feels SO good. Sorry...
Gotta give the townies a break.
here in new york you can smell a bum from half a block away. a shower every few days makes a huge difference.
Nah, fresh sweat isn't so bad, & even once it stales, no-one smells as bad after 4 days unwashed as they do after 6.
A once a week shower does make a difference.
When it's windy it's your head and neck that you need to make extra effort to keep warm. I froze in 45º wind and was warn in 24º calm in a 32º bag in a single wall Duplex.
Come to Australia to Hike
It's got mountains, deserts, forests, beaches and anything else you could think of
Hey Darwin,
I was hiking the PCT this year too and wanted to ask about an issue that's unfortunately not talked about on the trail much.
So, I'm French and the PCT was my 5th long distance hike and somehow I felt like I didn't really belong in the community.
By that I don't mean to start a useless argument about what would "the right way to hike" and truly believe that as long it makes a hiker happy it's pretty much the right way.
But.
Saying that, if I'm being honest, I felt a lot like when the trail community was absolutely amazing and encountering trail angels was a truly new, meaningful and mind blowing experience(mostly off trail obviously) at the same time for a very long time I felt like I was doing a thing on my own simply because the "hiker trash " culture is pretty much everything I don't want to experience on a trail.
I'm not saying it's bad or dissing it.
Just really not my thing.
I thought for a while its was me being weird but hitting Oregon i started to meet other European hikers that were also struggling and even quit the trail because they felt they did not belong here.
So I guess my question is: what is your experience with other foreign hikers and have you noticed that even when you share the same passion, your way of experiencing the same adventure can be very different depending on your cultural background?
I trust that if you chose to answer that you'll find a way to keep this long question a bit shorter than I did.
Love the channel and hope you'll hike in Europe some day.
Gael
Great video. Great questions! Learned allot. Had no clue you were a fulltime vandweller. So many people do it. I live in a 1985 Class C. Hard to imagine living in something so much smaller (mines 25') but people manage somehow. Good for you. Take care and thanks for all your videos.
@Publik Channel Hi. That's a really common question. There are a few mail forwarding places that you can use (not too cheaply) to get mail and to use as your home address, for voting, taxes, registration purposes. Lots of videos on TH-cam pertaining to it. It can be tricky but it's extremely doable.
You might want to check out Cheap RV Living on TH-cam. Bob Wells can be a tad annoying but he's a fountain of information. He lives and travels full time in a van and many of his "tours" and interviews of other people who live the lifestyle are in the smaller vehicles. I'm sure you'll find lots of helpful info and plenty of inspiration.
Hope you go for it! We aren't getting any younger. Merry Christmas. :)
Sometimes imagining/singing Toto's Africa gets me through tough times.
Sometimes when I'm a bit ansty...this version works better: "Toto - Africa (metal cover by Leo Moracchioli feat. Rabea & Hannah)" on TH-cam
th-cam.com/video/MH9FyLsfDzw/w-d-xo.html
And here I was, getting all psyched about learning about your "OTHER" trail name... so disappointed right now. >.
Lay in a hammock, chill all day. Middle of nowhere. Basically nothing. Nothing to do besides relax. Van life is calling me. I can hardly wait until spring when I get 4 weeks vacation.
As far as getting clean at the end of the day I heard from someone on TH-cam to get yourself a small section of sponge to get wet and wipe the dirt off of you. That way you don’t get your bag as dirty. Also baby wipes are your friend 😍
We don't really have much long trails here in the Philippines but you inspire me to go thru hiking, darwin.
I heard from the rumor mill that you don't really hike and that snuggles provided a piggyback ride the whole way. Must be nice, Darwin. Must be nice!
WOW, I wish! That would have been much easier than Walking 2,652 Miles from Mexico to Canada... lol
Hike On,
Darwin
Amen to the simple life!! That was a huge takeaway I got as well from hiking the PCT in 2018.
Its correct about clothes in your sleeping system. I teatch cold weather survival i the swedish militairy and SERE school. Thats what we teatch, have as little on you in cold weather sleeping and let your sleeping bag or quilt work. If you want something on when you sleep, we normally recomand a technical Marino wool mix bas layer that can transport moisture but are still perforated/thin enough to not hinder the sleeping system when it working but that you feel you have something against your skin an can hold a bit of that warmth at your skin.
An importaint detail if you have cold feet and bad circulation (as I have) and use down or synthetic socks, don't have to tight sizing. And dont use normal socks that are tight on your feet, you will freeze more. It constricts your blood flow. If you are to use a sock have a large one that have a lot of room and the same gose for the down/synthetic bootys.
I use synthetic bootys from enlightened equipment myself and underpants and a Marino wool t-shirt myself. Have slept in that in temps of -30°C (-37°F) woorkes great went you have as little clothes as possible and let the appropriate sleeping bag work 😊
Edit; one of The biggest misstakes people make in winter/snow sleeping are that they take in wet socks and stuff in to the bag. That will make your sleeping bag work lesseffectively. In really cold weather I always have one set of sleeping clothes that are dry and protected in waterproofing drink the day and only sleep in. I freez dryed my wet clothes if its cold enough drink the night and then in the morning I shake the clothes that freeze dryed and then there good to go.
If I make an exception its 1 and only 1 pair of socks.
So, in summary... If you want to have clothes on you they should be dry and the right ones.
Cheers
The trick with wet feet is taking the shoes and socks off every night and drying them adequately. I’ve seen a lot of people get afraid of wet feet. You should be fine if you got a decent pair of socks and take them off at camp.
Thru hiking will definitely change your life. As it shows it’s completely changed yours. Did it feel like luxury to have your van back after the trail? I know for me after the PCT having my van was nice... Knowing I didn’t have to throw a thumb to get a ride but dang I sure miss it.
Solid answers on your Q&A. Hope to see you out there. I just moved to the “Asheville are” in the van so if you’re ever back out here let me know. We still gotta meet up.
Andy aka Salty Olive
Thanks for the response Darwin! I have the same approach...mix it up with time to think, music, and podcasts.
My birthday is coming up. And all I want is a comment back from Darwin. Love the videos. Keep up the good/hard work!
Happy Birthday Kristian! Hope you are able to spend it on the Trail!
Hike On,
Darwin
Darwin onthetrail my year has been made! Thank you!
You're living my dream
Get Out here With Me Brother!
Hike On,
Darwin
You are very inspiring. Thank you for the hard work. Keep it up man. You are living a dream. I hope you know that.
Darwin you are an amazing inspiration. Thank you for all the information you share.
The Mind Game - I did two sets of mental things: Zombie Apocalypses (hint: actually pretty simple solution) and the other one was "Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny". Started Backpacking for a class with my favorite High School Biology Teacher. Backpacking always makes me think about the Kingdom and Phylums. Hope to think about String Theory and Simulation Theory on my '19 PCT F/F. Salt Lick...
Agreed that clothing steals heat while sleeping. At least from personal experience in the military. Sleeping bag and fully clothed? Kinda chilly all night. Strip to your shorts inside that same sleeping bag? Nice and warm all night.
Clothes can’t steal your heat lol you give heat to your clothes. Now, the problem your experiencing is probably more than likely you losing heat due to not trapping it in properly. For example if your clothes are too tight then they don’t get the chance to trap air in thus allowing your body to naturally heat that air. Besides that I absolutely love the video and vibes keep it up sir!!!!
Doing a thru hike of The Ireland Way and then across and to the tip of Scotland. Check out some of those awesome trails
Nice!
Hike On,
Darwin
The Cape Wrath Trail! I'm doing that in May. 19-22 days, it'll be like my PCT prep. Darwin, your welcome to join!
@@megielutube nice! That's the last leg of my buddy and I's thru hike. It's supposedly challenging both terrain and navigation wise.
The Cape Wrath Trail: th-cam.com/play/PLTqMObKVS3bFearT4x8Vvk7lTu42TvUo3.html
Ooooh say you're going to do the Tour du Mont Blanc in May!!!! Def a hike on my bucket list!! And the timeframe you reference would fit too
As I hiked all over New Zealand wet feet and Sand flies were the norm.....
Trails and routes (no trails, just cairns) were about 40% 60% respectively.
Spurge Cochran how did you deal with the sand flies? I’m currently taking a zero because I’m so covered and swollen with bites!
@@keekers8785 there's natural lotions sold in the stores there that repel and sooth the multitude os bites, wear full body clothing...hope you feel better...
I’m planning on doing the PCT only to Sacramento next year
I'll be stocked too if I run into you in the trail too!!! You're totally trail super star and inspiring!! Hugs!
Always great content Darwin! Appreciate your chill videos and perspective when I'm working late. Looking forward to site!
Great Videos Darwin, I've learned a lot of great tips. Keep them coming!
Thanks Brother Tom! You keep watching them, I'll keep making them!
Hike On,
Darwin
Do you think at the age of 53 is to old for me to start hiking,. Granted I will start with short hikes. Maybe a few days at a time to start. Love all the time you take to share with us. Plus your reviews. As I hunt with a back pack. I just got the vargo bot and love it. Thanks to your review as I have warm meals on a cold hunt. Just kind of addicted to your videos. Thank you and stay safe out there
No. At 53 your too old not to start. Just start gently and build up.
I have a question for Q/A: How do you return to your point of origin or "home" when you are on something like a long distance bike trek like the one you just took? Did someone take your van up and leave it at the end of the trail? Do you fly home if it's a hike?
Skymouth that’s a good question
Here’s hoping I’ll see you in the Route of Parks next year 🍻
Darwin, has anyone ever mentioned Reynaud’s disease? I think repetitive motion can exacerbate it. None of my business, just a thought. Love your life and your videos. Thank you.
Enjoy the camino de santiago next may! Its an amazing journey
NOPE! That's not it, but good guess!
Hike On,
Darwin
Dang, I got messed with and by a "troller". Maybe there's a new PCT tradition, best trail rumors of about TH-cam vlogers. Regardless, great videos Darwin (or whatever your trail name is).
Hike the GR20 in Corsica. It's Awesome and you are hiking in Mediterranean climate similar to California. Plus Corsica has beautiful beaches. Check it out.
Hi Darwin I am going to hike the PCT next year.I was just wondering what you use for health insurance?
Yeah,my son started watching your vids and he has been buying all the cool stuff you have but one thing he did wrong,he bought a 65 backpack,way to big,and his bag is 73 lbs,,,I told him but he dont listen to me, maybe you should tell him,his name is Mason Pettit ...
Does it still count as a thru-hike if you take a week off and fly to Hawaii?
You inspire me and to keep going get in nature explore your world try new things thank you Darwin and btw I have always loved your name
You and homemade are inspiring me to get walking, and hopefully hiking soon:)
Heres a dumb question: What do you do at the end of a super long trail hike? You reach the end and then.... fly home?
Take a shower and wash everything!
You go home and end up with a depression. 😅
But it depends, when I end the PCT in a few years and I still have time left, I would roadtrip, go to Canada, ... As a European, I only have 6 months in the US (in a row) so I need to make the most out of it.
Darwin - Not sure if you have ever answered this before but does Snuggles have any interest in doing her own TH-cam channel? I know she writes on the blog but is she more of a behind the scenes person & doesn’t want to be in the spotlight? Also what does she do while you are on your trips? I would love to hear her perspective of the life that you live together. Thanks!
Come to Taiwan! over 200 3000m up mountains are waiting for you to hike :)
Heyy Darwin On The Trail,
I would LOVE to win the back give-a-way! I'm new to hiking/backpacking. I enjoy seeing your posts and notifications that I get! I I'm a part of my local Boy scouts troop 7 and we're on our way to Philmont in New Mexico. My old pack is not big enough and hits from 1976 I got from our local antique show.
Just got home from a week and a half in Hawaii. Time to get the trail legs back lol.
Damn you live my dream life. The van thing and everything. Would be cool to see a tour of it
Here is a Quick Tour of it right after I built it out.
Since then I have installed a Fridge, Lights, & a Vent --> th-cam.com/video/PJlwsBLI5nI/w-d-xo.html
Hike On,
Darwin
@@DarwinOnthetrail thank you, I was going through your channel to find it. You should do a small update sometime when you need some filler videos or something :)
Missed these Q and A videos! Hope all is well and you had a good thanksgiving!
Everything is great on this end Taylor! Hope you had a good one too!
Hike On,
Darwin
Try backpacking the Philippines. There are some cool trails there.
Do you use a ice axe in the sierras? What kind do you reccommend if yes?
Darwin you ever tried gortex socks for drying out your shoes the next day? They are awesome bits of kit.
Overseas trip in May 2019? are you doing the TGO Challenge?
Darwin, Great Channel. It appears that you don’t use straps on your trekking poles (although in your older videos you did). Any thoughts on why/why not to use straps on your poles?
Te Araroa Trail in NZ. That should be your next thru hike!
Another great Video!! You're such an inspiration to so many people. Keep up the Fantastic work.
Thanks Brother!
Hike On,
Darwin
Ok , now you tell us... do some van life vids!!!
Darwin, regarding your cold feet, have you ever tried sleeping on an incline, making your upper body slightly higher than your legs, this way allowing warm blood to travel more easily to your feet.
Yep, I do that one every once in a while. Sometimes it works, sometimes I slide to the bottom of my pad...lol
Hike On,
Darwin
Hey Darwin haven’t seen u in awhile are u done with hiking?
That's really cool,I learned something today...
Great Q&A video. Looking forward to the magazine.
Ok, let’s go
So in regards to you leaving in the van full time how do you afford it, cuz I'm looking to do the same for a little while in 2020 once I have enough money to last me a while, any tips? I'll put this in the community chat to once you need more question as well,
I believe I've answered that one here --> th-cam.com/video/A6nZniGw-0g/w-d-xo.html
Hope that Helps!
Hike On,
Darwin
@@DarwinOnthetrail thanks alot keep up the work man you've grown fast!
How do you travel with your hiking gear?
Say if you were going to thru hike the Appalachian trail that starts in Georgia going northbound
How would get there with trekking poles and all your hiking gear
I tried to fly recently and saw they don’t allow trekking poles on carry on and a small Swiss Army knife..etc
I guess one could put everything into a suitcase, and check in the bag, and then just ditch the suitcase somewhere or ? I’m just curious about how to start the thru hike and traveling to said location, I would like to attempt a thru hike one day
Darwin, I have seen you wear your EE Torrid Apex jacket frequently but have not seen you use the pants much. Do you still find it worthwhile to carry insulated pants?
I don't have any Insulated Pants. The only EE pants I've ever carried are the Wind Pants that they make.
Hike On,
Darwin
You don't carry any extra clothes. What do you wear when you are doing laundry in towns?
This may sound like a normal life question, but I figured I'd ask it anyway - my wife and I are planning to start living full time in a trailer to get out to nature more and see the world and I was wondering what you do about retirement? Do you have a 401k or a RothIRA that you put money into for the years way down the road when you may not be a full time TH-camr? Love the videos! Thanks
That sounds like an AWESOME PLAN! I have basically answered that here --> th-cam.com/video/A6nZniGw-0g/w-d-xo.html
Hope that Helps!
Hike On,
Darwin
@@DarwinOnthetrail Thanks, doesn't quite answer it, but I'm just assuming that your simplified lifestyle allows you to save for the future without the unnecessary expenses of keeping up with the Jones's. I'm also curious, would you ever do the Camino de Santiago and stay in the hostiles and enjoy the more "luxury" experience of eating and drinking at the local places? I think it would make a great series!
What few people realize is that a ROTH IRA has no required minimum annual distributions. With conventional IRAs and retirement savings, when you hit a certain age, you are REQUIRED to disperse a significant percent of that money, as TAXABLE INCOME, every year. Forced to take higher income and pay higher taxes, when a ROTH would let you save the money longer without having to disperse it.
Of course every retirement plan requires you to be MAKING INCOME on the books, before you are allowed to put some of it away for your retirement account.
Any plans to add more color to your wardrobe?
Have you ever considered doing the Idaho Centennial Trail?
I've slept at 3:55! Love that lake!
How can it be that total cost is $5K? Seems a lot to me. I sailed Europe including marina fees
, restaurants and fuel for that in 100 days. Is the food so expensive? Or does that include the gear?
Hey Darwin are you able to share where you're going overseas now that it's 2019? long-time follower here I'm going to bike-packing in Southeast Asia this summer I would love to see you there
Are you still using alltra shoes.
Is there a way to hike the AZT with you?
On the tent issue again, zpack is the tent you use, what alternative could you reccomend, my budget will not allow for the zpack. Looking for lightweight and backpacking tent?
Thank you.
Check out the GreenBelly website. They make trail food, but if you scroll down to the bottom of the website they have a ultralight gear guide and backpacking 101 section full of awesome gear options and info. I personally went with a granite gear crown 60 pack and a six moon designs solo tent, so far I'm pretty happy with them but i also only do multi day hiking no through hiking yet.
Look at Six Moon Designs. Even their more expensive tents like the 28 - was 27 oz :-( - Skyscape trekker are much cheaper than the zpacks tents. Or you can go cheaper with the 37 oz Skyscape Scout for a little over $100. The skyscape tents are very roomy for one person tents, much more than the other one person tents I've seen on the trail. I just ordered a 10 oz. shaped tarp for $108 for ultralight hiking when bugs aren't an issue, but I want to be prepared for rain/snow. Just something to look into.
Check out the MSR tents!
Tarptent.com
They should make a trail that goes from west coast to east coast
This is a question from one of my friends. He is interested in go on PCT (or most part of it) at least once but he has very low stamina, overweight, and in his 50s. Is there any hope for him and what would the preparations be? Will it help to do some same-day hiking or overnight camping as part of the training?
Start walking after work and stuff. Once you can walk 5-7 miles a day every day you’re ready imo. Pack ultralight and only pack the amount of food and water you need. Base weight 10lb or less. Total pack weight around 20lbs.
How do you keep your electronics charged on the trail? Peace to you and Snuggles ✌️
Your other trail name was "Intelligent Design"?
I actually can’t imagine listening to music or a podcast while hiking.
Hike all day every day for 6 months lol. No for real I enjoy the sounds of nature too when I hike. But I can imagine getting bored with the amount of time it takes to do such a long trail.
Thanks for sharing the info!
No hygiene routine? Now I can understand why his Misses is not coming with him on trail ;-)
I have a question. What do you think using a tactical backpack luke 5.11 rush72 or kelty on the pct ot at??
May '19... CWT?
Please don't, as it might get popular...
I thouroughly enjoyed it in '16.
Did wash myself every day though, in those clear burns up there.
cheers
Hope this isn't too personal or too complicated of a question but what do you do about health insurance? I am planning a long distance hike and I will have to take a leave of absence from my job and will not have insurance through my job, so is there anything you suggest or have any ideas from you or what other hikers have done in this situation? Thanks for taking time to read my question
You should be able to keep your insurance through your job. It's called COBRA or something. YOU will have to just pay their group rate. Look into your states Insurance program. You can get free health insurance if you are not earning an income during the time you hike. Yah, that gonna piss off a lot of people but who cares! Humans were meant to have pleasure too. Not all of life should be work, work, work.
Let me guess: Darwin is doing the TaraArora trail in New Zealand. . .amI close Darwin?
With presumably no fixed residence and no corporate medical coverage, do you find it impossible to get medical insurance? Been ignoring that, or just paying everything as "out of network" ?
The ACA has made insurance "affordable" for independent contractors. I just went with out insurance and crossed my fingers! I now have affordable health insurance and I will not be bankrupt from an illness or accident. Check your state's Insurance options.
Interesting how people are different...my upper body freezes and my legs and feet are like heat radiators...never get cold...just one pair of socks.
Just wait and see how cold your feet get sleeping in zero degrees