JOHN MUIR TRAIL THRU HIKE // Solo Backpacking 50 Miles Across The Big South Fork NRRA
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- Hello everyone!! Hope you are having a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend. One year ago yesterday (May 30th), I set out with my friend Nick on our 350 mile thru hike adventure of the Sheltowee Trace National Recreational Trail. I couldn’t think of a better way to commemorate that hike than by sharing a revisit to one of the most scenic sections of that trail: the first 50miles that runs through the Big South Fork National River & Recreational Area (NRRA). On January 13-15th, 2021, I traveled down south to Pickett State Forest in TN to embark 50 miles on the John Muir Trail towards Burnt Mill Bridge, to follow the footsteps of one of America’s most beloved naturalists. This was one of the most challenging backpacking challenges I’ve had to date.
I hope you enjoy the sights and sounds and words; please don’t forget to subscribe if you enjoyed this content!
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The exact same thing happened to me at Virgin Falls on a solo. The most terrified I have ever been. No words for being in a sound sleep and zero sounds to suddenly hearing coyotes howling and chasing something and catching it. The howls of the coyotes and then the scream of whatever they caught almost caused my heart to stop.
That sounds just as terrifying as my story! I’m sure if coyotes were in a pack together near me in a tent and they knew I was inside, I would definitely be fearful for my safety. It sure makes for a great story and wilderness memory! Thanks for watching!
That JMT also continues south of 154 off the map and keeps going. The 5 miles south to Black House Road is incredible and crazy rugged through beaver washed for miles, once crossing the gravel Black House road I was surprised to see a sign that said something like Wagon wheel trailhead. I continued following the JMT south for a few miles where most bridges were non maintained and broken down, so that compiled with darkness setting in, I turned around and headed back to camp for the night. I've been exploring the BSF backcountry since the last 1980's. Beautiful Rugged!!! Thanks for the vid!
Sorry for my delay in replying, but I wholeheartedly believe you about the existing state of the JMT south of 154! The tiny bit I experienced near Pickett State Park was pretty gnarly. Thank you so much for watching! I cannot wait till my next visit to the BSF :)
Great video. Some gorgeous scenery and views, well edited and your narration is fabulous. A very enjoyable watch.
Hey thanks so much for watching and for the kind words about the video! This was definitely one of my favorite backpacking trips and stories to share on my channel, so it means a lot to get those feelings confirmed by others, as well. Happy hiking!
Great Video! The Big South Fork is an AMAZING PLACE. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching!! I agree, the BSF has a certain magic to it, for sure! It’s been awhile since I’ve been down there, I need to go visit again!
I have followed the turtles many times. Amazing place. Challenging trails.
It really is an amazing place! And I agree with you about the difficulty, the trails down there are underrated in terms of difficulty. Thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe if you haven't already to stay tuned for more!
Enjoyed watching! I've hiked BSF a lot and it's beautiful for sure
Thanks so much for watching! The BSF is an underrated hiking and backpacking spot for Ky, I love that place! Be sure to subscribe to stay tuned for more!
This was awesome!!! We loved it.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for tuning in! More adventures to come- stay tuned!
Such a great area and awesome trail! Awesome video!
Thanks so much man! The JMT is one of the best trails in the BSF for sure. I appreciate you watching!
Beautiful & Wonderfully Narrated. Thank you for sharing! ☆ Jesi🐝Miel
Thanks so much for watching!
13:14 I'd probably go number two in my tent if I heard that sound in the woods during pitch black darkness lol. This was a great documentary your adventure. I'll have to backpack this trail one day when I get more experience.
Believe me, I wasn’t too far from having a reaction like that when it happened, it was one of the scariest moments I’ve ever had backpacking. Thanks so much for your kind words, I hope you are able to get out on that trail soon, let me know if you need any tips or advice on this trail!
I live here, I love it all, you've done a wonderful job young man on this video. So many people here never stop to appreciate it. We love it!
Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words! The Big South Fork and particularly the John Muir Trail are two of my favorite places in TN/KY. I’m so glad I get to share the beauty with others like you! Thanks again, and be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already to stay in touch. God Bless!
Great video!! The cold weather camping is not my cup of tea, but your video is definitely top notch! The coyotes usually will not bother people, however, I always carry my .45 just in case. You never know! Sheltowee is on my list of trails to hit maybe this year. And now the Jon Muir is on that list as well!! Thank you for posting and keep up the great work!! I enjoy your videos!! The bonus footage was great!! Bet that water was cold when you had to get your camera!! LOL....awesome stuff!
Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words, Brian!! Super sorry for my delay in replying- I’ve started a new job which has been keeping me busy. Cold weather camping is my absolute favorite- I much prefer dealing with that compared to the bugs and humidity of summer. I might need to invest in a small firearm after that coyote encounter, it was scary! Both the Sheltowee and JMT are super special! Let me know if you need any info on either, happy to help! Also still would love to do a Mammoth Cave trip sometime too! That water was SO cold getting my camera, can’t believe I dropped it off that bridge haha! Thanks again Brian!
Beautiful job! 👍👍
Thanks so much for watching!!!
Man that first night, by yourself, just wow! I would've needed a change of pants after that lol those are the kind of views you want to see in all four seasons
It was a crazy night indeed!!! Makes me more humbled to see coyotes when I’m on trail. That is such an awesome trail, I highly recommend it. Thanks for watching Travis!
I hiked the Sheltowee portion of this area this past weekend ( Burnt Mill to Charit). Everything that I think that I have found the prettiest section of the Sheltowee, there is another amazing section
I totally agree! This area offers so much to do and so much beauty!! Thanks for watching!!
You could definitely do documentaries. Nice editing work. A relaxing and interesting video.
Hey thanks so much for the kind words!! This was definitely a labor of love, so it means a lot to hear that someone else enjoyed it and it was a relaxing viewing experience! Hope to do more of these! Take care!!
I found you looking for hikes of the Pine mountain trail. I'm glad there's a local doing the same thing I was wanting to do. Glad to see I have another hike planned after I do the PMT and I get to bully California John Muir Trail thru hikers!
Thank you so much for tuning in and for the kind words!! This is a great hike to do, I totally recommend it. If you have any questions regarding the JMT or the PMT, let me know! I’ve hiked the PMT two times across now, so I’m fairly familiar with the area.
great video! perfect timing as we are heading into BSF next week for a 4 day trip with similar routing. not looking forward to that creepy tunnel! i have visited it once before and thought 'yikes! is that the trail!?' apparently so. thanks for sharin!
Thanks so much!! Glad to hear you are heading down there soon, I hope the mountain laurel, rhododendron, and magnolias are still blooming! That tunnel is still one of the wildest parts of a trail I’ve ever gone through, it was scary and exciting at the same time! Thanks again for watching and happy trails!
looks like a good hike
It was a great area to backpack in! Highly recommend it! Thanks for watching!
Those coyotes was loud. I bet that made for a spooky night.
The views out on your journey was incredible Samual.
Those water areas are awesome.
Really enjoyed the video my friend. We need to do another trip together sometime soon.
Bonus footage 👍🏻👍🏻
Yes it was terrifying how close they were to me. I’m glad they weren’t aggressive 😅Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words, Jason! Yes I’d love to get together again for a trip soon! I just realize my phone number has changed since the last time we texted, I’ll send you my new number!
Beautiful!! Hard to imagine the river getting that high
Thanks so much for watching!! Yes I was shocked to hear that the water took the bridge away, still heartbroken that it’s gone.
What a beautiful slice of nature, and a great documentation of it I might add, great job!
Thanks so much, man! It’s a beautiful area, totally worth the visit!! I really appreciate you watching!!
Oh the memories! They come flooding back! I can't wait to get back and do the JMT in late June! I almost started crying when you got to the bridge and thought about how we would never see it again. 😔
I’m excited to see your take on it when you do it! Make sure and talk to me before you start so I can give you a rundown on those first miles near Pickett, they are rough.
I got emotional too! I hope they rebuild it someday, it’s too special of a terminus not to have around! Thanks for watching!!
Your videos just keep getting better! I love how immersive this one is. It made me feel like I was back in the winter woods. Not only that, but it made me want to get out into the woods again myself, which is exactly the sort of inspiration I'm always looking for in my TH-cam adventures. I took notes as I went so here are some of my random thoughts:
The intro is really well-written, and I think it's your best one yet. I bet it will get you some new subs.
I love how you kept the intro music running after the animation.
3:20 Oh nooooo! Shades of Lusk Creek! But this must have been even colder!
4:40 Really cool that the trail goes through the tunnel. The mouth of it looks scary in that great shot of you coming out the other side.
9:25 These overlooks might even be better than the ones near Angel Falls! I like the line about the beauty being silencing. I know that feeling.
12:39 The Little Campsite That Could really delivered! Fancy ramen, Reese's cups, cheese, and Doritos is like the holy quartet of backpacking meals.
13:50 That coyote encounter was crazy! That's the loudest, most distinct recording of coyotes I've ever heard.
21:00 I love the color of the river.
23:00 I know you said later on that you got wet and muddy here, but this campsite looks even better than the one I found behind the Angel Falls overlook. I'll have to consider camping here the next time I'm in the area.
27:50 Wow! The reflection of those white trees is incredible! Probably my favorite shot in the video.
30:20 So much color. There was a lot of color on this whole trip, actually. It reminds me why I love winter backpacking. Sometimes it almost seems more colorful than summer.
34:50 Lots of great macro shots in this video.
35:25 I've been looking for an opportunity to use this music in an ending sequence in one of my videos, haha. I love your use of it here. You really nailed this whole ending sequence. I could feel the relief when you reached that sign. I'm impressed that you managed to pull off the heel click after 50 miles, haha!
38:53 This gave me anxiety even though I knew how everything would turn out. Yikes!
I'm very glad that the footage wasn't ruined in the river. We would have missed out on an awesome adventure. But the video was worth the trouble you had to go through. I've said it before, but I really like the way your camera captures texture, color, and ambient sound. I felt like I was there with you, and you've convinced me that I need to hike the JMT myself! Maybe I'll do that after I finish the PMT. Again, excellent work, and I can't wait for the next video and our next adventure!
Chad thanks so so much for taking the time and effort to send me such detailed thoughts on my recent video. I hope it’s not too much of a burden or hassle or you don’t feel pressured to, but it means more than you will ever know! I thoroughly enjoy looking forward to hearing how my videos inspired you at different points. To be honest, I feel kinda like a plagiarizer, because I’ve learned so much about filming and narrating techniques through watching your videos and getting to know you as a creator and friend. So, thanks so much for helping me improve my content for us all to enjoy!
I’m very thankful this footage got salvaged. It was worth the frigid cold water and anxiety of wading in semi fast current to get it. Even though the process to get the footage back in working order was some of the toughest editing I’ve done to date, I’m really proud of the final product that came from it all. I also love all of those shots that you mentioned, and even some of the shots (like the reflection of those birch trees on the water) I had to revisit because I didn’t realize the particular beauty of the shot until you pointed it out.
I hope you get the chance to do this trail sometime soon, I’ll be super excited to see your take on it, and how the trail challenges and inspires you!!
Thanks again for all the great, encouraging words. Means so much. Hope you’re doing well, and can’t wait for our next Type 2 adventure!
I did not know there was a John Muir Trail in Kentucky. Plus I love your videos on the Sheltowee!!! If your ever planning anything in Western Kentucky I’d love to hop on trail with ya!!!
There is, and it is a great trail! Highly recommend it. Thanks for the love on the Sheltowee videos! That was one of the most impactful trips of my life thus far. Thanks for the invite, I'll definitely keep you in mind the next time I am in that neck of the woods! Thanks again, and be sure to subscribe if you haven't already to stay in touch!
@@BluegrassBackcountry yeah the Sheltowee is a dream hike of mine and Ashley’s
Quality video, very enjoyable to watch. All the best Chris 👍🇬🇧
Thanks so much for watching and your kind words, means so much! Hope you’re doing well and staying safe, happy, and healthy!
In awe once again of all the beautiful scenery !! A little freaked out at the coyote’s howling and screaming 😬 part being out in the great outdoors . I had no idea who John Muir was only that it was a trail part of the Sheltowee 🤷♀️ . So glad you get to explore these wonderful places so I can live vicariously through your videos!! Proud of you ! Love you !!
Thanks so much, Mom!! This was a trip for the books for sure, with all the wildlife and weather challenges. So thankful I can document these places and share them with people I love like you! Love you too! 💙
Nice video👍
Thanks so much!
Great video. I have really enjoyed following your and Nick’s adventures on the trail. We just hiked the section from Burnt Mill to Bandy Creek last week. Going back this weekend to do Bandy Creek to Divide Rd. We will have them completed The Sheltowee from the Southern Terminus to just south of RRG. BSF is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever been. Can’t wait to go back.
Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words! Those first 50 miles from Divide Rd to Burnt Mill Bridge are so beautiful, I could hike it over and over again and never get tired of it. I’m excited for y’all to continue your trek along the sheltowee! Let me know if you have any questions or camping recommendations! Happy trails!
Great video! I'm about 2 hours southwest of BSF and I'm planning on a trek up there in the fall or spring this year. Thank you for the tips!
Thanks so much for watching!! It’s such a terrific area, can’t recommend it enough! Let me know if you have any questions about the trail!
Maybe we’ll pass each other on the trail and we can have a Vols/Wildcats conversion! LOL
Haha yes that’d be awesome! Go Big Blue!! 😂🙈
Hope you've had a good memorial day weekend Mr jaines!
Thanks so much! Hope you are as well, and had a successful school year!!
Great video. New subscriber
Thanks so much for watching and subscribing! Stayed tuned for more to come!
I really enjoyed this video of the JMT. Awesome features and views! Reminded me a little of Savage Gulf only better. We would like to hike there soon. Also liked the Sheltowee video. Where did you find maps and info about the JMT?
Hey thanks for the kind words and for watching!! I’ve heard of the Savage Gulf, but haven’t looked into it, I need to! I hope you can check out the JMT and the Sheltowee sometime soon! I get all my trail info off the REI Hiking Project App, it’s a great free resource that, for the most part, hasn’t let me down!
What a nice video, my friend! Great backpacking! Enjoyed watching, very useful info. Cheers from Russia, mate, and welcome to my channel about bushcraft tips and hacks! Best regards, Yuriy! ☺
Wow thanks so much for the kind and encouraging words! I really appreciate you tuning in to watch, especially from so far away. I will gladly check out your channel, sounds interesting! Thanks again and don’t forget to subscribe! Hope to see your comments on the next video 🙂
@@BluegrassBackcountry You are more than welcome, my friend! greetings!
Beautiful video. Is there a video of your Sheltowee thru hike?
Thanks so much for watching! Yes, I have a 10 episode series of my Sheltowee thru hike. The link to Episode 1 is down below. Enjoy! Be sure to subscribe!
th-cam.com/video/VWc_6ITdoFQ/w-d-xo.html
@@BluegrassBackcountry Already done, and I reached out on other apps as well.
You should totally get a job narrating!
I would love doing that! Maybe my channel can get big enough over time so it can be a good side gig. Thanks for watching man!!
Yeah, take over for Morgan Freeman. Dude narrates EVERYTHING!