You obviously survived, which is awesome, and I look forward to watching your series. However, wow. The GDT or any other rugged, remote, trail is not a place to go out without well dialed/tested gear, experience and preparation, especially solo. Dealing with adversity wrongly can also lead to real, life or death, trouble. I look forward to the next episode! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks for watching! Thanks for the feedback! Believe it or not, I am/was well experienced solo backpacking. AND well experienced with the GDT.... buuuuuut man I made some beginner level blunders! The nerves of hiking 2 months straight through some of the most remote/rugged wildnerness really shook me to my core! I'm excited to share the experience with you and look forward to your thoughts on how I handle some of the even more wild challenges that later sections offer me! Keep Moving Forward! ~Jesse
Ok - I started watching based on your gear loadout video - and got curious about your journey. But day 3, you're defining the Greek hypomone - and I am here for that. Etymology, history, hiking, and emotional truth - great work! Also, your experience forgetting your fuel - and being able to barter for it - what a great opening experience, as tough as it was in the moment. Finding trustworthy folks, and sharing in the adventure - that's absolutely fantastic.
I'm so glad you stumbled into the GDT series and are enjoying it! Thank you so much for the feedback. I wanted to ensure that my genuine experience was shared so people could relate and not just see the "highlights" but also witness some of the "low points" Keep Moving Forward! ~ Jesse
I love how open and honest you are! Something that can help with the "I dont know what I am doing" feeling is to learn some basic bushcraft and survival skills. They go a long way in helping you to feel more confident and prepared. Get a book on wild edibles too. Also learn to cold soak food. Definitely practice for a long hike, on a day hike first. Pack up a complete full pack and do a day hike, set up shelter, make a meal. Pack up and go home. This will help you get more comfortable with gear. Then do a one nighter. Then a three nighter. Then a long haul. Personally I would just have done without the frame.
Hey Jill, great suggestions here! I've actually been a backpacker for some time now. And I actually started backpacking solo ON the GDT in day hikes, overnights, and multi-day hikes. Just like you suggested! I'm really well familiar with the trail. Before taking on the full Thru-Hike I had actually already hiked a fair amount of it. I think saying goodbye to the creature comforts and stepping into the remote wilds of the Canadian Rockies for months on end, is daunting whether your experienced or not (for reference I know a thru-hiker who has done the triple crown twice and 4 other thru-hikes and she said the GDT was harder than them all!). It certainly doesn't help when I kept making so many stupid little mistakes! haha 🤦♂️ But at least I get to share my little "blunders" with others for their learning and enjoyment. lol Thanks for watching and for the feedback! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on how I handle some of the harder sections later on in the hike! Keep Moving Forward! ~Jesse
"Hupomone" - I've never heard anyone use this Greek word in their everyday life. As a Youth Pastor I've studied it because of its ties to being steadfast etc. Love it! What a great surprise to hear that word come up in your video lol. What a great theme to keep in mind on a trail like this
I love it too! It was a God-thought for a significant season of life before the GDT, and truth is, I need to remember it in the season I find myself now. God is good. Are you still in ministry? Hupomone! (Ps. me too! lol) ~ Jesse
@@BackcountryForward I am and after the last few years we've had - am so grateful to be! Looking forward to seeing you finish this journey you started. Cheers! Tiffany
I greatly appreciate your willingness to show the mistakes you made in your initial trip preparation and the difficulties on the trail. When people watch this video, and carefully observe what happened, then can reflect on how you could have done things differently, and how they themselves can avoid such mistakes. It's a much more effective teaching tool than just posting advice on the 10 things everyone should do to prepare for such a trip and having everything go exactly as planned - those types of videos are a dime a dozen. Most people don't want to reveal uncertainty or show blunders as they think people will see them as incapable Making mistakes and learning from them makes someone wise, strong and resilient over time. Having said all that 🙂 I think it would be greatly beneficial to eventually post a video summarizing some of the issues you had during the trip and what you will do in the future to prevent them, or even including this at the end of future videos as a reflection of events. Look forward to seeing more videos - I know they are a lot of work to put together. 👍
Max, I really appreciate comments like these! This kind of encouragement is so rewarding! I definitely plan on doing a few videos on the lessons I learned along the way of the GDT and what I would do differently next time/how I would prepare myself better. Great suggestion! And thanks for watching! Keep Moving Forward ~Jesse
I heard your interview on the Backpacking Podcast with JK and Jeremiah. Great interview, your passion for the trip came through, loud and clear. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
I know the feeling of “do I really belong out here” that you were having all too well. Just remember that none of us are qualified for this, and none of us really know what we’re doing. There’s no course for this, you don’t become a certified thru hiker. You just start walking with a bag and suddenly you’re hundreds of miles from where you started, still feeling like you don’t know what you’re doing
This is epic to watch and going to be cool to see the rest of the trail. Living this trail through you. Wish I could attempt this one day (or at least a section) but it's such a tough trail. Also, it's not easy filming alone. Esp the walk away from camera shots bc you always have to go back for the camera. I've cried too many times to count on solo backpacking trips in the Rockies so it's nice to see the raw emotion that a really long trail like this will bring out. Looking "forward" to the rest of your GDT series.
Hey @Cherbear Outdoors! Glad you enjoyed it! It definitely was an emotional rollercoaster at times, but such a wild and rewarding journey! Looking "forward" to hearing your thoughts on the rest of the series! 😜
Hey man, I really appreciate this. It's true, attitude is so much! I said on the trail "you can walk a lot further on a broken foot than you can with a broken spirit." Cheers man! Keep Moving Forward ~ Jesse
@@BackcountryForward I am! Backpacking is an important part of my faith. My closest encounters with God have been while alone on trail. What grander cathedral to worship and talk with God than that?
@@ironhorsealpha yes! The mountains have been my sanctuary on many an occasion. It was on mountaintops that He whispered His love to me when I was yet too broken to feel it. It was those mountain moments and sacred getaways with my savior that kept me through the storm. This whole trip was a beautiful love-gift from Him as a capstone to a whole season in my life of healing and learning His Love.
great question! Dustin Lynx's guide is considered the premiere hiking guide for the GDT by pretty much every hiker! Check it out here! : geni.us/qGeS2E
Hey Tayson, this means a lot! I really appreciate it. Thanks for all you and the team have done to make this wild dream a reality! Keep Moving Forward!
I bring myself a teeny little light weight lock for the bear lockers. Weighs almost nothing. Sorry about your pack. I watched the other vid about it. Hard to think about stuff like that when already exhausted. Glad OV made it right. I think the same thing may have happened to Whalley walks.
I had to look up Whalley Walks, but I couldn't find where he talks about this. But he definitely did start out with the shadowlight. I'm curious what his issue was! Thanks for the comment, and GREAT idea on the bear locker lock! I just jammed my carbiner in there because I figured it'd be harder to unhook than a basic latch. Keep Moving Forward! ~ Jesse
@@BackcountryForward He may not have talked about it. I met his hiking partner Chris (spartacus) on trail and he may have told me about it. He has a channel as well. Looking forward to the rest of your videos. This youtube thing is SO MUCH WORK!
@@BackcountryForward I am just starting to get better with the editing :) would love feed back, big learning curve. Hopefully you like the content. So fun backpacking with my kiddos.
If your food barely fit - thats perfect! I was supposed to hike Lineham but a couple of young guys convinced me to head up Rowe. That’s another story! Ha ha
I think I remember hearing about your Rowe adventures (or misadventures)... was that Scott that was a part of that group? I wanted to do Rowe SOO bad... but as I walked along side it in the valley, I looked up and knew I made the right choice. I wasn't ready for it. But I'll definitely get it next time!
I absolutely love the transparency in emotion. I could completely feel the anxiety of starting a huge hike and leaving love ones behinds, and the immediate challenges. I’m hooked and can’t wait for the rest of episodes.
Thanks Tonya! And thanks for joining the Premiere so I wasn't all alone in the chat (My wife was beside me and she says too! ) Keep Moving Forward! And thanks again for the pulled pork and chicken! They were delicious on the trail!
Take some deep breaths. Control your emotions or they'll control you. Believe in yourself. Embrace some stoicism. Consider what people have accomplished with less and believe in yourself. The only way through it is to do it.
Thanks so much for watching! I'm glad people are appreciating the raw authenticity of the series. It was such a challenge, but such a reward! Keep Moving Forward!
Why not both, in one extended hike?! You'd have to be good at snow travel to make it, or else be truly UL and consistently hit 30 mile days for most of the trail(s).
This hike was the GDT. I haven't done the CDT, but I've followed those who have online. The GDT is much shorter (can be completed comfortably in under 2 months) which is a big reason many choose it over one of the big three.... but it's not for the faint of heart... but it is rewarding!
From what I have seen so far, you and I are polar opposites. But I am watching...I think we would be horrible trail companions. But who knows, maybe the complete opposite approach and responses to life would make an interesting time.
I’m definitely not like this on every trip. But these first two days were pretty big emotional triumphs for me. Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part. Being daunted by the idea of whether or not I’d even be able to finish, made the first few challenges seem even more heart wrenching. I just didn’t want to quit so soon. Glad I pushed myself till the end.
@@davidlarson1399 I had done portions prior to. But not solo. And definitely not with a backpack breaking. And everything I hiked was brand new for the first 3 weeks. So it definitely took some time to get into stride.
I don't understand what all the drama was about. You could cold soak your food, you can run a frameless pack, etc. Do you need to get some bushcraft skills to make you more confident and less gear dependent? Is it lack of physical preparedness? Maybe not enough experience? Try hiking with people before a solo, hook up with others. I really hope you make it!
plus you say you are experienced. so why all the emotions. seems like it would be hard to enjoy if all you are doing is telling us how nervous you are etc. nice trip either way. ok so after making this comment i watched your live stream episode regarding being gone for a year. seems like you were super stressed out with many things going on in your life. seems to have showed in your gdt video. Seems like you have a lot to offer the backpacking community. keep it up.
Episode TWO is Out NOW! Check it out here: ruclips.net/video/7EPat1Yj9U4/видео.html!
You obviously survived, which is awesome, and I look forward to watching your series. However, wow. The GDT or any other rugged, remote, trail is not a place to go out without well dialed/tested gear, experience and preparation, especially solo. Dealing with adversity wrongly can also lead to real, life or death, trouble.
I look forward to the next episode! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks for watching! Thanks for the feedback!
Believe it or not, I am/was well experienced solo backpacking. AND well experienced with the GDT.... buuuuuut man I made some beginner level blunders! The nerves of hiking 2 months straight through some of the most remote/rugged wildnerness really shook me to my core!
I'm excited to share the experience with you and look forward to your thoughts on how I handle some of the even more wild challenges that later sections offer me!
Keep Moving Forward!
~Jesse
Ok - I started watching based on your gear loadout video - and got curious about your journey. But day 3, you're defining the Greek hypomone - and I am here for that. Etymology, history, hiking, and emotional truth - great work!
Also, your experience forgetting your fuel - and being able to barter for it - what a great opening experience, as tough as it was in the moment. Finding trustworthy folks, and sharing in the adventure - that's absolutely fantastic.
I'm so glad you stumbled into the GDT series and are enjoying it! Thank you so much for the feedback.
I wanted to ensure that my genuine experience was shared so people could relate and not just see the "highlights" but also witness some of the "low points"
Keep Moving Forward!
~ Jesse
Awesome! Welcome back Jessie! This was a fantastic video. Looking forward to whatever else you end up posting!
Gear load outs and reviews coming soon! (Oh and of course more episodes!)
I love how open and honest you are!
Something that can help with the "I dont know what I am doing" feeling is to learn some basic bushcraft and survival skills. They go a long way in helping you to feel more confident and prepared. Get a book on wild edibles too. Also learn to cold soak food. Definitely practice for a long hike, on a day hike first. Pack up a complete full pack and do a day hike, set up shelter, make a meal. Pack up and go home. This will help you get more comfortable with gear. Then do a one nighter. Then a three nighter. Then a long haul.
Personally I would just have done without the frame.
Hey Jill, great suggestions here!
I've actually been a backpacker for some time now. And I actually started backpacking solo ON the GDT in day hikes, overnights, and multi-day hikes. Just like you suggested! I'm really well familiar with the trail. Before taking on the full Thru-Hike I had actually already hiked a fair amount of it.
I think saying goodbye to the creature comforts and stepping into the remote wilds of the Canadian Rockies for months on end, is daunting whether your experienced or not (for reference I know a thru-hiker who has done the triple crown twice and 4 other thru-hikes and she said the GDT was harder than them all!). It certainly doesn't help when I kept making so many stupid little mistakes! haha 🤦♂️
But at least I get to share my little "blunders" with others for their learning and enjoyment. lol
Thanks for watching and for the feedback!
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on how I handle some of the harder sections later on in the hike!
Keep Moving Forward!
~Jesse
Great stuffed. We enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next episode.
Thanks for watching you guys! Glad you enjoyed it!
And thanks for inspiring me to do it!
"Hupomone" - I've never heard anyone use this Greek word in their everyday life. As a Youth Pastor I've studied it because of its ties to being steadfast etc. Love it! What a great surprise to hear that word come up in your video lol. What a great theme to keep in mind on a trail like this
I love it too! It was a God-thought for a significant season of life before the GDT, and truth is, I need to remember it in the season I find myself now.
God is good.
Are you still in ministry?
Hupomone!
(Ps. me too! lol)
~ Jesse
@@BackcountryForward I am and after the last few years we've had - am so grateful to be!
Looking forward to seeing you finish this journey you started.
Cheers!
Tiffany
@@truthntrails amen! God is good, even when struggles and trials about.
He is faithful.
See you in the next one!
I greatly appreciate your willingness to show the mistakes you made in your initial trip preparation and the difficulties on the trail. When people watch this video, and carefully observe what happened, then can reflect on how you could have done things differently, and how they themselves can avoid such mistakes. It's a much more effective teaching tool than just posting advice on the 10 things everyone should do to prepare for such a trip and having everything go exactly as planned - those types of videos are a dime a dozen. Most people don't want to reveal uncertainty or show blunders as they think people will see them as incapable Making mistakes and learning from them makes someone wise, strong and resilient over time. Having said all that 🙂 I think it would be greatly beneficial to eventually post a video summarizing some of the issues you had during the trip and what you will do in the future to prevent them, or even including this at the end of future videos as a reflection of events. Look forward to seeing more videos - I know they are a lot of work to put together. 👍
Max, I really appreciate comments like these! This kind of encouragement is so rewarding!
I definitely plan on doing a few videos on the lessons I learned along the way of the GDT and what I would do differently next time/how I would prepare myself better.
Great suggestion! And thanks for watching!
Keep Moving Forward
~Jesse
I heard your interview on the Backpacking Podcast with JK and Jeremiah. Great interview, your passion for the trip came through, loud and clear. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Awesome! Loved chatting with those two! Always a great time, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for watching!
Awesome first episode! I would have totally taken the tent pad! 😅 I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
Oh it was tempting.... fortunately that Ramen Bomb I ate gave me all the energy I needed!
So exciting dude!!!
Dude! So wild that it's finally here and coming out! Glad you're stoked too!
Nice to see you back on RUclips!
It's good to be back! More coming soon!
I know the feeling of “do I really belong out here” that you were having all too well. Just remember that none of us are qualified for this, and none of us really know what we’re doing. There’s no course for this, you don’t become a certified thru hiker. You just start walking with a bag and suddenly you’re hundreds of miles from where you started, still feeling like you don’t know what you’re doing
This is epic to watch and going to be cool to see the rest of the trail. Living this trail through you. Wish I could attempt this one day (or at least a section) but it's such a tough trail. Also, it's not easy filming alone. Esp the walk away from camera shots bc you always have to go back for the camera. I've cried too many times to count on solo backpacking trips in the Rockies so it's nice to see the raw emotion that a really long trail like this will bring out. Looking "forward" to the rest of your GDT series.
Hey @Cherbear Outdoors! Glad you enjoyed it! It definitely was an emotional rollercoaster at times, but such a wild and rewarding journey!
Looking "forward" to hearing your thoughts on the rest of the series! 😜
Great job!!!
Thanks for the encouragement Jackie!
Some beautiful shots
Stunning right?! There's plenty more where those came from!
U r young and strong stay strong u will do well keep the faith brother
Thank you! There’s more episodes where this came from. Maybe one day I’ll finish this series.
You know what dude, you got an awesome attitude. With an attitude like that, there is little you can’t do.
Hey man, I really appreciate this. It's true, attitude is so much!
I said on the trail "you can walk a lot further on a broken foot than you can with a broken spirit."
Cheers man!
Keep Moving Forward
~ Jesse
@@BackcountryForward iron sharpens iron. I appreciate your reciprocity. Question: are you a Christian?
@@ironhorsealpha I am indeed! A born again Christ follower.
And you?
@@BackcountryForward I am! Backpacking is an important part of my faith. My closest encounters with God have been while alone on trail. What grander cathedral to worship and talk with God than that?
@@ironhorsealpha yes! The mountains have been my sanctuary on many an occasion. It was on mountaintops that He whispered His love to me when I was yet too broken to feel it. It was those mountain moments and sacred getaways with my savior that kept me through the storm.
This whole trip was a beautiful love-gift from Him as a capstone to a whole season in my life of healing and learning His Love.
@3:37 what guidebook would you recommend for the Great Divide Trail?
great question! Dustin Lynx's guide is considered the premiere hiking guide for the GDT by pretty much every hiker!
Check it out here! : geni.us/qGeS2E
@@BackcountryForward thank you very much for replying!!
Loved how raw your being with the series so far! It takes a big man to truly share and I personally appreciate it!
Hey Tayson, this means a lot! I really appreciate it.
Thanks for all you and the team have done to make this wild dream a reality!
Keep Moving Forward!
I bring myself a teeny little light weight lock for the bear lockers. Weighs almost nothing. Sorry about your pack. I watched the other vid about it. Hard to think about stuff like that when already exhausted. Glad OV made it right. I think the same thing may have happened to Whalley walks.
I had to look up Whalley Walks, but I couldn't find where he talks about this. But he definitely did start out with the shadowlight. I'm curious what his issue was!
Thanks for the comment, and GREAT idea on the bear locker lock! I just jammed my carbiner in there because I figured it'd be harder to unhook than a basic latch.
Keep Moving Forward!
~ Jesse
@@BackcountryForward He may not have talked about it. I met his hiking partner Chris (spartacus) on trail and he may have told me about it. He has a channel as well. Looking forward to the rest of your videos. This youtube thing is SO MUCH WORK!
@@alpineearth That it is! I’ll have to check out your channel! I’m looking forward to getting out on trips with my kids one day!
@@BackcountryForward I am just starting to get better with the editing :) would love feed back, big learning curve. Hopefully you like the content. So fun backpacking with my kiddos.
If your food barely fit - thats perfect!
I was supposed to hike Lineham but a couple of young guys convinced me to head up Rowe. That’s another story! Ha ha
I think I remember hearing about your Rowe adventures (or misadventures)... was that Scott that was a part of that group?
I wanted to do Rowe SOO bad... but as I walked along side it in the valley, I looked up and knew I made the right choice. I wasn't ready for it. But I'll definitely get it next time!
I absolutely love the transparency in emotion. I could completely feel the anxiety of starting a huge hike and leaving love ones behinds, and the immediate challenges. I’m hooked and can’t wait for the rest of episodes.
Thanks so much for the encouragement! Can't wait to share more of the adventure!
Keep Moving Forward!
~Jesse
Ps. Chapter 2 is out today!
You did a great job capturing all the emotions and trails you faced early on. Epic views to...wow! Great video Jesse! Can't wait to see more!
Thanks Tonya! And thanks for joining the Premiere so I wasn't all alone in the chat (My wife was beside me and she says too! )
Keep Moving Forward! And thanks again for the pulled pork and chicken! They were delicious on the trail!
@Backcountry Forward your welcome. I'm glad I was off today so I could be there to join you both. Glad you loved the food!
Hang on there
Hanging in!
Take some deep breaths. Control your emotions or they'll control you. Believe in yourself. Embrace some stoicism.
Consider what people have accomplished with less and believe in yourself. The only way through it is to do it.
Some solid advice here! Definitely needed to slow down some times and take a breath!
Thanks for watching!
Keep Moving Forward!
~Jesse
Made me cry 3 times! Glad you were able to make it through the initial challenges you faced. Looking forward to watching the rest of your hike!
Thanks so much for watching! I'm glad people are appreciating the raw authenticity of the series. It was such a challenge, but such a reward!
Keep Moving Forward!
CDT or GDT?
Why not both, in one extended hike?! You'd have to be good at snow travel to make it, or else be truly UL and consistently hit 30 mile days for most of the trail(s).
This hike was the GDT. I haven't done the CDT, but I've followed those who have online. The GDT is much shorter (can be completed comfortably in under 2 months) which is a big reason many choose it over one of the big three.... but it's not for the faint of heart... but it is rewarding!
@dcaudwell I actually followed a guy back in 2019 who did the CDT and GDT back to back: Andrew Glen (Peanut) Look him up for some wild content!
@@dcaudwell it would be completely possible if you went SOBO, I don’t think NOBO would be safe
From what I have seen so far, you and I are polar opposites. But I am watching...I think we would be horrible trail companions. But who knows, maybe the complete opposite approach and responses to life would make an interesting time.
I’m definitely not like this on every trip. But these first two days were pretty big emotional triumphs for me.
Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part. Being daunted by the idea of whether or not I’d even be able to finish, made the first few challenges seem even more heart wrenching. I just didn’t want to quit so soon.
Glad I pushed myself till the end.
@@BackcountryForward understand. It's legit trail. Especially solo if you haven't done any sections prior to full
@@davidlarson1399 I had done portions prior to. But not solo. And definitely not with a backpack breaking. And everything I hiked was brand new for the first 3 weeks. So it definitely took some time to get into stride.
Such a great video. Bravo! 😊
You captured ALL the feels so well. I must have cried 100 times on section A. ☺️
I don't understand what all the drama was about.
You could cold soak your food, you can run a frameless pack, etc.
Do you need to get some bushcraft skills to make you more confident and less gear dependent? Is it lack of physical preparedness? Maybe not enough experience? Try hiking with people before a solo, hook up with others. I really hope you make it!
I think more bushcraft is the answer.
plus you say you are experienced. so why all the emotions. seems like it would be hard to enjoy if all you are doing is telling us how nervous you are etc. nice trip either way. ok so after making this comment i watched your live stream episode regarding being gone for a year. seems like you were super stressed out with many things going on in your life. seems to have showed in your gdt video. Seems like you have a lot to offer the backpacking community. keep it up.
@@JustinOutdoors never thought I’d see Justin here!
💘 🅿🆁🅾🅼🅾🆂🅼