Every year I pick out one TH-cam channel that is doing a thru hike and commit to watching every video they do. You two are the chosen ones this year lol. Looking forward to following your journey!
Thank you so much for showing us the actual trail. A lot of youtubers just show their heads talking as they walk and we don't see the trail. Awesome job guys
We're following you from the UK. Its good to see an "ordinary couple" taking the AT on rather than more of those young, fit ultralighters doing 30 miles a day. Not that what you are doing is ordinary at all! Enjoy your journey. All the best, Roger
Same here.... For my entire life, I planned to thru-hike the AT when I retired..... Now that I'm retired and have the time and money to go, a lifetime of foot and ankle injuries have made the trip no longer possible.... I should have gone when I was young!!
@@couchtotrail2023 Thank your better half for me for relenting to the side trip. I suspect other hikers have videotaped the site but yours is the first that I have seen.
I too follow one TH-camr on their hike and found you and love the fact that I am not hearing you did 25 miles on your first day out😅. I will follow you and wish you both success
In Vermont back in the 1970's we woke up in the middle of the night with a porcupine chewing a hole through my friends salty sweaty socks - with him in still wearing the socks! After it ran away we shined a light out into the darkness from the edge of the shelter, and there were about a dozen glowing porcupine eyes shining back at us. In the morning when we woke up the porky's had chewed everything metal we had left around the firepit. They chewed the grommets off my spoon from my utensil kit, along with my metal drinking cup, and the speed-grommets on my buddy's one boot. The utensils were both cleaned in the stream and had no food residue on them, but a ranger later told us the porky's love chewing on metal, something about grinding their teeth down a bit. They had actually chewed thru the brake lines of a ranger's jeep earlier that summer and it ended up at the bottom of a ravine! I wish my knees were better so I could hike the AT again when in retire in a couple years. Great memories! Even when my climbing rope snapped while I repelling down Bake Oven Knob in PA, it turned into an adventure and funny memories! Enjoy EVERYTHING!
I camped at the place by the river that you said was nice. It was absolutely a wonderful place to sleep with the water sounds. Too bad they stopped campers from staying there.
Another great video. I’m so happy you are taking your time to enjoy the start of your hike. Lots of sights to see along this journey all while giving your body time to rest and recovery! Thank you again for taking the time and effort to put your videos together! - Jiffy Pop
Eat, eat, and eat more. Do it early in the hike whether you are hungry or not. If you don't you will loose a lot of weight. I lost 20 lbs in the 1st few weeks before I started eating all the time and slowed it down. I was bones by the times I reached Maine but only had lost 23 lbs total.
Great video. Love to see how much your filming. Hopefully you will do the same in towns, because I would also love to see more of that part of trail life and unfortunately not a lot of people film that.
I couldn't imagine being able to sleep with mice running around. I would definitely have to stick with the tent but I can see how it would be a chore setting up & taking down in the rain. Onward we go ! 👍👍💪💪😎🥾🥾🥾🥾⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️🏕🙏🙏
No camping signs up high because of flash floods or creek comes over banks .. you have to be careful when its raining not to camp by the creeks . If it says no camping it's definitely for your safety I follow a few people every year to join the journey.. I subbed you guys ..love it ! Hike your hike and keep those hiking poles
4:15 I admire you guys for carrying that dead weight you know you've got to pack out. I think that is one of the hardest things for new hikers to do and you can see it hurts Georgia. I found whole abandoned camps on my hike. I also have to admit itd be hard for me not to try to find some squirrels for those expired almonds, so yall are much more exemplary than me! Kudos Keep pushing on, it's worth it
Came across Russell Field Shelter in the Smokies during a snowstorm once and according to the journal, the hikers the night before went to war and killed 28 mice leaving them all in the firepit. Stay in your tent even in the rain.
It's unlikely that a tent will stop mice if they smell attractants inside. Keep the food odors away and set up your tent site a good distance from their restaurant (shelter)
I like the implication that a mouse stole a roll of toilet paper :) It reminds me of my teacher on a school hike here in NZ that told us the sandflies would hit us over the head and drag us into the bush
So happy to follow you both. So smart to just enjoy and do what you can do and see all the blue blazes and adventures along the way. Thanks for sharing
I think you both are doing great. Making a great team. Don’t doubt yourself. Keep going forward! The lumber for the shelters is either air dropped by helicopter or hauled in with mules
Looking forward to watching your adventure. We hiked in 2019 and used the same intro music for many of our videos. The only time we stayed in shelters is when the weather was raining. Tent is much warmer than the shelter.
You can camp on the other side of the bridge at Three Forks, and up and down the forest service road. In a few months the Three Forks area will be packed. A lot of people day hike to Long Creek Falls, so a lot of non hiker "walkers" during the Spring and Summer. Im really glad to see you guys stop and see the views. We've had a lot of rain this winter, so water flow is really great. I know the uploads are a few days behind, so hopefully you've been enjoying the last few gorgeous days.
Once again a great video or your day. I actually helped bring the bear boxes to several shelters along the AT in GA. Everyone needs to remember to keep the lids closed. Enjoy some rest at Neels Gap. Happy Trails...Winkle
Thanks! Haven’t made it Neel’s Gap yet but we’re getting there. Lightened our packs today while staying at Above the Clouds Hostel. Watching the Super Bowl now!
Just a little advice, when crossing a log go sideways and don’t cross your feet, just slide them along, it’s more stable. 😊 Also if you can’t upload every day, see if you can schedule the backlog videos to post 1 per day. I live near about 10 miles from the southern terminus of the trail.
I’ll be out there with you in a couple weeks! Doing the 2023 thru… I’m probably too slow to catch up to you rabbits but tell the nature Jewel is coming! 😂
I hiked the Georgia section 8 times. Then I hiked Yosemite, Three Sisters Wilderness, and the Olympic Nat' Park, 8 times, for 5 months out. Also hiked Shasta, Rainier, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons while I was at it. Then I started on the AT again, 4 years sometimes only a 100 miles. Then I adopted a colony of cats and have not been able to hike, canoe, or go anywhere for 20 years, and I'm 61 now. If someone would feed my pets I would be out there. Just enjoy yourself and be safe out there.
I uploaded once a week during a NERO at a hostel. That let me edit at leisure during the hiking days (and nights). I was a week behind but folks didn’t seem to mind. Next time I think I will do one video a week. We’ll see. Mice are a pain. Folks will figure that out too. The trail is a wonderful teacher. Happy Trails!
I love how y'all share the recording times and enjoying the trail! I am the photographer of our team and there are very few pictures of me hiking (besides selfies 🤳 😜 😄) maybe we will run into y'all when you come through our neck of the woods! (Great Smoky Mountains) I am also curious if y'all use Gaia GPS ( offline map) or just Farout?
At the beginning of my AT thru hike, I always carried too much food and water. You'll learn along the way, to how to deal with food and water carry. It's a great day.
. . . Hawk Mt. Shelter . . . mouse city, best tent out as far from these early shelters, as possible, or avoid altogether, unless you want to be bothered by mice all night, later it gets somewhat better, but critters are everywhere, we are just visiting.
Put your food in Odor Proof Bags to start with. As for your weight issue, you will get used to the load. I used to teach wilderness survival, and backpacking way back in the early 80's. Things where a lot different back then. Just keep on keeping on.
The toes point outward. When making a step with the right foot point the toes outward to the right of the footlog. Then with the left foot making a step pointing the toes outward to the left. Hope this makes sense. Favor follows you!
love your vids sorry you had to leave the trail get well soon and with any hope (and there always hope !) you can get back on this year ,or maybe next!@@couchtotrail2023
I don't remember the camping restriction at Three Forks when we came thru there in 2015 but I suspect the no camping now may be due the the proximity to the road. Those spots tend to bring in a partying crowd that has little respect for nature and leaves trash everywhere. Could be wrong, but that's my guess.
That’s what I was thinking. Some people probably left trash or was polluting the water so they stopped camping there. Too bad because it’s a great spot.
@@couchtotrail2023 We spent a rainy, foggy night on the concrete floor of the cemetery pavilion. About midnight we were awakened by the Army Ranger's very loud and close gunfire. They train in the area.
Now that I've complimented you....its ok to pick on you too, right? "I wonder how they got all this lumber here " Pans around forest It's kinda like finding a bale of hay in a pasture
I don’t know if your tent is free-standing or not, but I’m wondering if you could pitch it inside the shelter and then carry it to the tent site? I’m planning to hike the GA section in April and that is my plan for a rainy camp site.
Do not click on anything asking you for a DM, that is not from me or Renee. I will never ask for a DM, that's not what I'm here for. I've reported this through TH-cam so hopefully they will take the required action to remove it.
Oh you guys are funny! When else am I going to see a waterfall that’s .2 off the trail? Where’s your sense of adventure? 😂 We’re just starting, we’ll probably say the same thing a few hundred miles down the trail. 😂
@Couch to Trail you go see what feels right. Some days you feel like expending the energy, others you won't. It becomes an energy management game in the end. 2200 miles forces that reality. 🤘🕓
We’re also not doing 20 mile days like you did. Not sure we’ll ever get that high but for now we have the energy for little side trips. We skipped the shelter that was 1.2 miles off trail!!!
Every year I pick out one TH-cam channel that is doing a thru hike and commit to watching every video they do. You two are the chosen ones this year lol. Looking forward to following your journey!
I’m honored. 🙏
pretty much the same here. you said exactly what I do as well, and im also choosing couch to trail
@@randalkeener1 me too!
Thanks y’all
Me too. It was @JayWandersOut last year. You guys this year.
Thank you so much for showing us the actual trail. A lot of youtubers just show their heads talking as they walk and we don't see the trail. Awesome job guys
We're following you from the UK. Its good to see an "ordinary couple" taking the AT on rather than more of those young, fit ultralighters doing 30 miles a day. Not that what you are doing is ordinary at all! Enjoy your journey. All the best, Roger
Love ur vids and the way that you allow times where you are quiet and letting us soak up the trail as u walk.
Awesome
I would love to do a thru hike.Im too old now. Wish I had done it when I was younger. So beautiful. I love mountains.
Same here.... For my entire life, I planned to thru-hike the AT when I retired..... Now that I'm retired and have the time and money to go, a lifetime of foot and ankle injuries have made the trip no longer possible.... I should have gone when I was young!!
I get to live vicariously through you while stuck at work. Thank you thank you
Loved the capture at the 16 minute mark of one of you walking through the fog. So beautiful. Enjoying your journey. Thanks for sharing.
You show a lot of stuff I’ve never seen on other thru-hike videos! Very cool!
Oh great! I was hoping I was doing a good job. Thank you for letting me know.
@@couchtotrail2023 That was the first video I have seen of the Hickory Flatts Cemetery site. Thanks for videotaping it.
@@mysterymotor and I had to convince Renée to walk the .2 of a mile to see it! She didn’t want to go that far off trail. Glad you enjoyed.
@@couchtotrail2023 Thank your better half for me for relenting to the side trip. I suspect other hikers have videotaped the site but yours is the first that I have seen.
My husband and I have been watching your channel. We love the videos! My dream is to hike the AT! Thanks for capturing your hike!
Very calming, been watching these while I work. Excited to be with you on your journey!
Thanks!
The two of you remind me of my wife and I. We are following you this year.
🥾🥾🥾
Living vicariously through you guys. Great footage.
Green rhododendron and red dirt on the trail, a beautiful day of hiking the AT.
I too follow one TH-camr on their hike and found you and love the fact that I am not hearing you did 25 miles on your first day out😅. I will follow you and wish you both success
Great video. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Thanks!
Awesome video!!! Thanks for sharing!!!🥾🥾❤️
In Vermont back in the 1970's we woke up in the middle of the night with a porcupine chewing a hole through my friends salty sweaty socks - with him in still wearing the socks! After it ran away we shined a light out into the darkness from the edge of the shelter, and there were about a dozen glowing porcupine eyes shining back at us. In the morning when we woke up the porky's had chewed everything metal we had left around the firepit. They chewed the grommets off my spoon from my utensil kit, along with my metal drinking cup, and the speed-grommets on my buddy's one boot. The utensils were both cleaned in the stream and had no food residue on them, but a ranger later told us the porky's love chewing on metal, something about grinding their teeth down a bit. They had actually chewed thru the brake lines of a ranger's jeep earlier that summer and it ended up at the bottom of a ravine! I wish my knees were better so I could hike the AT again when in retire in a couple years. Great memories! Even when my climbing rope snapped while I repelling down Bake Oven Knob in PA, it turned into an adventure and funny memories! Enjoy EVERYTHING!
Oh wow, that’s crazy!
Looking forward to following your adventure.
I camped at the place by the river that you said was nice. It was absolutely a wonderful place to sleep with the water sounds. Too bad they stopped campers from staying there.
Another great video. I’m so happy you are taking your time to enjoy the start of your hike. Lots of sights to see along this journey all while giving your body time to rest and recovery! Thank you again for taking the time and effort to put your videos together! - Jiffy Pop
Thank you so much!
You two are making me smile… so envious that you two are out there😊
Eat, eat, and eat more. Do it early in the hike whether you are hungry or not. If you don't you will loose a lot of weight. I lost 20 lbs in the 1st few weeks before I started eating all the time and slowed it down. I was bones by the times I reached Maine but only had lost 23 lbs total.
Great video. Love to see how much your filming. Hopefully you will do the same in towns, because I would also love to see more of that part of trail life and unfortunately not a lot of people film that.
Love your videos
Thank you for sharing your journey. I like seeing the trail from different views each year.Enjoy your hike.
Thanks!
Awesome log cross...you two are 100 badass
Great video! Cheering for you here in Michigan!
Thank you for your TH-cam videos! I look forward to following you two (via your videos) to Katahdan!
Another great video. Bringing back memories of our overnight stay at Hawk mtn shelter. Love crossing the small creeks. So pretty😊
Thank you!
When you get rid of the excess gear I hope you show that, I will be attempting it myself and will be starting March 25.
Keep up the good work. Loving the videos. I will be with you in spirit all the way to MT Katahdin cheering and rooting you on. 🎉❤
Thank you!!
Brings back great memories of my 2022 Thru Hike. I spent my first night at Long Creek Falls…just beautiful and it’s all there in front of you!! Enjoy!
Lots of hikers just walk by because it’s a little off trail. They miss a great view, and that’s why we’re here. At least that’s one of the reasons.
I couldn't imagine being able to sleep with mice running around. I would definitely have to stick with the tent but I can see how it would be a chore setting up & taking down in the rain.
Onward we go ! 👍👍💪💪😎🥾🥾🥾🥾⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️🏕🙏🙏
So far good video coverage. You are capturing the essence!
Thanks!
loved that waterfall! You guys are doing great!
No camping signs up high because of flash floods or creek comes over banks .. you have to be careful when its raining not to camp by the creeks . If it says no camping it's definitely for your safety
I follow a few people every year to join the journey.. I subbed you guys ..love it !
Hike your hike and keep those hiking poles
Keep up the great work. You'll figure out pack weight as you go. The shelters are what they are. Just enjoy the journey of a lifetime.
4:15 I admire you guys for carrying that dead weight you know you've got to pack out. I think that is one of the hardest things for new hikers to do and you can see it hurts Georgia. I found whole abandoned camps on my hike.
I also have to admit itd be hard for me not to try to find some squirrels for those expired almonds, so yall are much more exemplary than me! Kudos
Keep pushing on, it's worth it
Got rid of the nuts, and a bunch more, at Above the Clouds hostel in Suches.
You’re doing great. Love the greenery and the falls. ❤
Awesome! Thank you!
Came across Russell Field Shelter in the Smokies during a snowstorm once and according to the journal, the hikers the night before went to war and killed 28 mice leaving them all in the firepit. Stay in your tent even in the rain.
It's unlikely that a tent will stop mice if they smell attractants inside. Keep the food odors away and set up your tent site a good distance from their restaurant (shelter)
I like the implication that a mouse stole a roll of toilet paper :) It reminds me of my teacher on a school hike here in NZ that told us the sandflies would hit us over the head and drag us into the bush
So happy to follow you both. So smart to just enjoy and do what you can do and see all the blue blazes and adventures along the way. Thanks for sharing
Thanks!
Love those falls!
Yes!
You're doing great!!
Another great day on the AT!😎 You are doing awesome!
Thanks!
Good that you guys have those food containers. I would like to think they help keeping the rodents away from your food.
They do but they are heavy. We’re downsizing to one.
I think you both are doing great. Making a great team. Don’t doubt yourself. Keep going forward! The lumber for the shelters is either air dropped by helicopter or hauled in with mules
Thank you! And thanks for the lumber info.
Love the water features all around
Us too!
Looking forward to watching your adventure. We hiked in 2019 and used the same intro music for many of our videos. The only time we stayed in shelters is when the weather was raining. Tent is much warmer than the shelter.
Yes, I like the tent better as long as it’s not raining.
Did you see the trees with a ton of striped off wood shreds in the area of the creek? Bears.
You can camp on the other side of the bridge at Three Forks, and up and down the forest service road. In a few months the Three Forks area will be packed. A lot of people day hike to Long Creek Falls, so a lot of non hiker "walkers" during the Spring and Summer. Im really glad to see you guys stop and see the views. We've had a lot of rain this winter, so water flow is really great. I know the uploads are a few days behind, so hopefully you've been enjoying the last few gorgeous days.
Once again a great video or your day. I actually helped bring the bear boxes to several shelters along the AT in GA. Everyone needs to remember to keep the lids closed. Enjoy some rest at Neels Gap. Happy Trails...Winkle
Thanks! Haven’t made it Neel’s Gap yet but we’re getting there. Lightened our packs today while staying at Above the Clouds Hostel. Watching the Super Bowl now!
Just a little advice, when crossing a log go sideways and don’t cross your feet, just slide them along, it’s more stable. 😊 Also if you can’t upload every day, see if you can schedule the backlog videos to post 1 per day. I live near about 10 miles from the southern terminus of the trail.
I’ll be out there with you in a couple weeks! Doing the 2023 thru… I’m probably too slow to catch up to you rabbits but tell the nature Jewel is coming! 😂
We’re pretty slow so you might catch us!
Y'all are doing great. Nice pace.
A little slow but that’s okay. We’ll get there. Shooting for 13 miles a day average.
I hiked the Georgia section 8 times. Then I hiked Yosemite, Three Sisters Wilderness, and the Olympic Nat' Park, 8 times, for 5 months out. Also hiked Shasta, Rainier, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons while I was at it. Then I started on the AT again, 4 years sometimes only a 100 miles. Then I adopted a colony of cats and have not been able to hike, canoe, or go anywhere for 20 years, and I'm 61 now. If someone would feed my pets I would be out there. Just enjoy yourself and be safe out there.
Wow!
I uploaded once a week during a NERO at a hostel. That let me edit at leisure during the hiking days (and nights). I was a week behind but folks didn’t seem to mind. Next time I think I will do one video a week. We’ll see. Mice are a pain. Folks will figure that out too. The trail is a wonderful teacher. Happy Trails!
I love how y'all share the recording times and enjoying the trail! I am the photographer of our team and there are very few pictures of me hiking (besides selfies 🤳 😜 😄) maybe we will run into y'all when you come through our neck of the woods! (Great Smoky Mountains) I am also curious if y'all use Gaia GPS ( offline map) or just Farout?
FarOut and the AT Guide
They used huge draft horses or mules to haul lumber on and off the mountainsides using caets on sled runners.
It doesn't matter how long you take to get there, just go at your own pace
Well yes and no, we do have a time limit.
Helicopter in Wood; I’ve seen it twice
At the beginning of my AT thru hike, I always carried too much food and water. You'll learn along the way, to how to deal with food and water carry. It's a great day.
Yes, we are learning and loving it!
. . . Hawk Mt. Shelter . . . mouse city, best tent out as far from these early shelters, as possible, or avoid altogether, unless you want to be bothered by mice all night, later it gets somewhat better, but critters are everywhere, we are just visiting.
I prefer the tent unless it's raining also.
Put your food in Odor Proof Bags to start with. As for your weight issue, you will get used to the load. I used to teach wilderness survival, and backpacking way back in the early 80's. Things where a lot different back then. Just keep on keeping on.
Thanks!
It would have to be serious rainfall to keep me outta my tent and into a hellter. Crackerjack.
Hellter is not a misspell, they are hell.
Keep your pack zipper, open when sleeping or when unattended if not critters will chew a hole to get in it.
Don't worry about uploading daily. When you get to the 100 mile wilderness you won't have service either🙂. We'll wait patiently.
Thank you for understanding.
When crossing a foot log walk crow footed which creates better core balance. Your doing great. Favor follows you!
Thanks for the tip. Now I have to look up crow footed 😂
The toes point outward. When making a step with the right foot point the toes outward to the right of the footlog. Then with the left foot making a step pointing the toes outward to the left. Hope this makes sense. Favor follows you!
Don't take unnecessary risk please do it for John Muir
you may not need those bear cans for a while. Can you send them ahead?
They’re gone now
Your videos are so clean, what camera/phone are you using? Thanks.
iPhones 12 and 14 Pro
Best of luck to both of you. What are you using to film?
Started with iPhone 12 Pro up to day 14, then using iPhone 14 Pro
what are you using to film your videos?
We used our iPhones. Eddie had the 12 pro and I had the 14 pro
love your vids sorry you had to leave the trail get well soon and with any hope (and there always hope !) you can get back on this year ,or maybe next!@@couchtotrail2023
The Owls would be after the mice....
One rule of thumb. If you leave a shelter and don’t start climbing odds are you’re going the wrong way. LOL
Have you considered a ursack for your food bag? Might save some weight? Of course your bear cans can double for a chair. Have fun!
Thanks! We’re downsizing to one bear can.
I will follow you, if you need anything on the trail that I can mail to you please reach out anytime.
I hope you have a compass
FarOut app uses GPS
I don't remember the camping restriction at Three Forks when we came thru there in 2015 but I suspect the no camping now may be due the the proximity to the road. Those spots tend to bring in a partying crowd that has little respect for nature and leaves trash everywhere. Could be wrong, but that's my guess.
That’s what I was thinking. Some people probably left trash or was polluting the water so they stopped camping there. Too bad because it’s a great spot.
@@couchtotrail2023 We spent a rainy, foggy night on the concrete floor of the cemetery pavilion. About midnight we were awakened by the Army Ranger's very loud and close gunfire. They train in the area.
Now that I've complimented you....its ok to pick on you too, right?
"I wonder how they got all this lumber here "
Pans around forest
It's kinda like finding a bale of hay in a pasture
😂
Are you sure that’s the trail ??
I don’t know if your tent is free-standing or not, but I’m wondering if you could pitch it inside the shelter and then carry it to the tent site? I’m planning to hike the GA section in April and that is my plan for a rainy camp site.
It is free standing.
In general though you should be 200 feet from trail and water to camp on the AT. That spot must've been too tempting so they put up signs.
The Shelter lumber was flown in and dropped by helicopter. Enjoy your hike Waterbuffalo c/o 2000
Oh wow! Thanks for sharing that.
Do not click on anything asking you for a DM, that is not from me or Renee. I will never ask for a DM, that's not what I'm here for. I've reported this through TH-cam so hopefully they will take the required action to remove it.
They surely used horses to carry the lumber for the shelters…?
Thanks for the views, guys!😊
Another viewer commented mules or helicopters.
0.1 off trail, better be good...... 0.2 off trail, forget it!
🤣That's why they call it the Appalachian Trail, not the Appalachian Side Trail!!!😂😂😂🕓
Oh you guys are funny! When else am I going to see a waterfall that’s .2 off the trail? Where’s your sense of adventure? 😂 We’re just starting, we’ll probably say the same thing a few hundred miles down the trail. 😂
@Couch to Trail you go see what feels right. Some days you feel like expending the energy, others you won't. It becomes an energy management game in the end. 2200 miles forces that reality. 🤘🕓
We’re also not doing 20 mile days like you did. Not sure we’ll ever get that high but for now we have the energy for little side trips. We skipped the shelter that was 1.2 miles off trail!!!
Loved the capture at the 16 minute mark of one of you walking through the fog. So beautiful. Enjoying your journey. Thanks for sharing.