Thank you John for bringing back these videos - they are so special. They introduced me to so much in 2017 and they're really the reason I started thru/hiking. I would still think about them often and It's great to see them again.
My most favorite thing in life is to get "lost" in the Sierra.. you get to see and experience so many different things that many people rarely get the opportunity to do.. and maybe in some cases see things that no one has ever seen before.. I live for it.. in the past 5 years the only trail miles I have are from the trailheads to where I make a turn and head off into the unknown.. I have found that I enjoy my trips so much more since I have started doing this.. great vid, good tunes, keep em comin!!
one of the most beatiful videos ive seen, like a dream almost. Must feel amazing to move so freely around non-trail areas with no one else around. Love the vids man, keep it up :)
yeah i got started with this long distance travel stuff for the feeling of freedom and these sort of experiences really feel like the natural progression
Seriously, this is one of your best videos. Stunning views and difficult decisions. Not just slogging along the trail (though I enjoy your accounts and vids immensely). You have to be amazed at how few people have probably tread on the area you are walking. Maybe even none?
5 months til my Sierra Nevada backpacking season starts and loving this. that micro macro reference is huge. I love it the micro macro of each moment gets so focused doing cross country passes. zen.
Wow! I am very inspired by all your hikes. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us. Be kind on yourself John. You're doing amazing things. Time is the great myth. Nature conspires with our desires. Don't worry, you'll be able to see all you want. Just allow yourself and it will all come to be. It's all inside you.
Damn, dude! How lucky are we that someone as adventurous and intrepid and skilled as you is also so damn good at making videos. I gotta get myself to the Sierras.
That was awesome! I love how you're just carefree with no timeline just staying happy and laughing at the set backs. Just out there enjoying the mountains. Great show buddy!
Outstanding video John... Off trail exploration is my life... I pack quite a lot of food just for these times.... Being able to take my time and park it a couple days as an off trail base camp ...its how I do my zeros. while on trail. ✌ 👣 👑
I love your drive And your macro micro observasions your working on the big picture but just don't know the details, the Sierras are my backyard Fresno area glad you keep returning and awareness not to push it to far be safe hermano
John that would be really cool if you had a gps watch or some kind of gps recorder on your phone so we could see a top down view of your swiggly lines going around the Sierras for example! Just a thought
As someone who hadn't even thought about long trails and thru-hiking when these videos came out, I'm so happy they're (apparently) back. Learned about you from Jupiter's interview. First thru on the TRT next month including a chunk of off-trail traversing in Desolation. Aspiring to SHR by next year, and then who knows. Thanks and maybe I'll see you out there some day.
It's so beautiful, extraordinary, grandiose, is almost surreal! One can only feel tiny in all this immensity of splendor of raw nature. It's almost intimidating. It is in these circumstances that we realize that there are still many very large expanses of pure nature that very few humans have crossed.
Wow.. the High Sierras are really beautiful. I got to go there sometime. The JMT is among the top three hikes I want to do. Great video, and it really makes my hiking-feet itch.
I loved 3:59.... Epic view behind you... "I'm just kind of wandering around". It's amazing what an ultralight kit, a honed skill set, and a desire to explore enables one to partake in. My hat off to you :)
Awesome. That's the way to do it if you have the skills and the time. Just go exploring and enjoy your surroundings. I'm betting you would have appreciated some decent maps of the area though. Might have saved you from backtracking at the cliffy area by sending you in another direction from the beginning.
What would you recommend for a vegan thru hiker, as far as restocking on food. Gears not an issue, but I fear having to send packages through out the trails. 2+ months of cliff bars and peanut butter sounds dreadful. But not sure what else could be found that are vegan at convenience stores.
Solo off trail in the granite forest of the Sierra opens up a whole new world , but getting cliffed out has a way of setting the limits, Unless you want the added weight of climbing gear. Great vid John with some great decisions. Just Bruce
...That feeling when you know you can get up, but you're not sure you can get back down safely... I tried something similar off trail in the Swiss Alps last year. This makes me wish I was taking video because the stills just didn't capture it, nor did they capture my mental state at the time.
Yep, I got the feeling off trail in the Trinity Alps this past September. When your climbing up something wondering if you'll be able to get back down if need be. Not a good feeling at all.
Being that far "out there", doing solo off trail sound extremely intimidating. I'm sure the ridiculous views and challenges made it well worth it. Good stuff!
I've heard you mention how you put a lot of attention to your posture while hiking. I'd like to hear what you know and how minimalist footwear has helped, and even tips on anything related!
I'm really impressed by this. At times I was a bit scared, because I know that sometimes people dont get out of a situation similar to that... You seem almost careless but I think thats just how you come across on the video, as you aren't probably a natural born screen actor :)... I trust that you have the skills and knowledge to handle yourself out there and I really admire your courage. Maybe the next step would be learning how to forage some edibles out there (for fun and survival). cheers!
Hey John, how do you find hiking on scree, snow and wet stuff with the new balance 10v4's/minimal shoes? You mentioned in one of your vids with andy during the SHR that he had some grippy shoes, while you didn't. If you were to do it again, would you consider swapping to a more robust shoe for more technical trails?
Great video as always John. You said you hate rattlesnakes (and rightfully so), so I'm curious how you manage to cowboy camp so often. Aren't you worried about snakes/scorpions/critters/lions/bears being able to come right up to you while you sleep?
Hey John, Love the videos. It looks like the sketchy pass was near the Palisades? Trying not to be too specific, given you weren't. Just curious. Hate when that happens!
i figured out it's southfork pass. dreadfully rotten rock with everything i touched plummeting down the chute to the glacier below and with no info or visual on what was below me. felt like things might exceed my risk threshold so i had to turn around
Best views I've seen from your vlogs. How do you not get lost going off trail like that? Maybe hiking the JMT previous times helped you? You seemed to spot the trail from a good distance. Majestic mate. Keep it up. 👍🏻
Plotting your rough path out on a topo as you go would also afford you more plausible choices of passes in front of you. It’s still pretty ultra light. It’s still going to be all new to you as you go.
Off-trailing in the mountains is so tempting but damn every time I´ve done it its gone sketchy fast.. Deciding to turn back when its still possible is always a good move. Usually by the first "Im an idiot and Im going to get myself killed." feeling is a good time.
So glad I found your channel John, inspiring stuff. Any chance you could do a short video on your food and eating habits one day, this is one area I can see huge weight savings for me.
yea it was actually kinda ironic you posted that on this video :) i don't really show my camp set up because i don't "camp", i just sleep. and on top that it's usually getting dark when i stop and just getting light when i leave. (a habit from my bike tour stealth camping days)
John, absolutely love your perspective- It surprises me that someone with so much backcountry/hiking experience you don't take a more precautions when hiking alone off of the beaten path-- would it have killed your ego that much to carry another pound of food and getting GUTHOOKS when going off into the unknown...? I understand getting lost is something purposeful so why not throw a couple extra snickers in your bag..?
60westpro Nobody ever starved to death in a day. Uncomfortable, yes; life threatening, no. I never pack extra food and I've survived so far. Plus he didn't go out there planning this hike. It looks like he was attempting to get back to a trailhead when he he headed up the cliffy pass. just trying to look at the overall circumstances.
100% agree- I have run out of food a couple different times thru-hiking and it sucks arse but you'll live-- The risk goes way up when you go off trail and start bushwhacking and things like getting cliffed out happen or you fall down that super lose rock and get hurt -- It's a dangerous playground out there-- people die on trails on the PCT every year for various reasons-- John has a ton of experience and with that pedigree comes a bigger ego and a bigger need to challenge yourself-- he got scared shitless for a reason he got in over his head and it only takes one slip and all of sudden you can't walk out- I respect JZ and his awesome ability I just can't stress enough how serious things can get out there when you're hiking by yourself because NO ONE IS COMING TO GET YOU- thats the double edge -- BTW I love JZ and was sad I missed him last year on the PCT - I slept in one day and saw in the next trail log he had passed-- Keep pushing but remember 3-4 extra snickers will go a long way when shit hits the fan-
So where exactly do you begin? Do you start on some BLM land or in a park then step off a trail at some point or what? I'm very fascinated by this kind of thing.
![white mountains [2016]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/UJYGw4RgeII/mqdefault.jpg)
![white mountains [2016]](/img/tr.png)
![gdt ep.0 - 80 mi glacier national park approach [2017]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/GO3qrSI1IdA/mqdefault.jpg)
![death valley loop [2022]](/img/1.gif)
Thank you John for bringing back these videos - they are so special. They introduced me to so much in 2017 and they're really the reason I started thru/hiking.
I would still think about them often and It's great to see them again.
So glad you brought this back, John! In my humble opinion this remains the best hiking / backpacking video ever published on RUclips.
"Oh yea I ran outta food" love it. So damn chill about everything. Beautiful video though. Keep them coming
John Muir would be proud of your aimless wandering. But holy fuck this video gave me anxiety, haha. Great stuff as always!
The quality of your videos is amazing. The footage you have compiled and the editing that you do brings me a lot of happiness and inspiration.
My most favorite thing in life is to get "lost" in the Sierra.. you get to see and experience so many different things that many people rarely get the opportunity to do.. and maybe in some cases see things that no one has ever seen before.. I live for it.. in the past 5 years the only trail miles I have are from the trailheads to where I make a turn and head off into the unknown.. I have found that I enjoy my trips so much more since I have started doing this.. great vid, good tunes, keep em comin!!
Cool! I love that incredible view from Windy Ridge. . . and Southfork Pass looked sketchy. Thanks for the video👍
You Are The Man, John!!!! You are a Great inspiration to all of us!!!!! Cheers....
one of the most beatiful videos ive seen, like a dream almost. Must feel amazing to move so freely around non-trail areas with no one else around.
Love the vids man, keep it up :)
yeah i got started with this long distance travel stuff for the feeling of freedom and these sort of experiences really feel like the natural progression
I like this style of hiking. Many people would freak out if they didn't have their map in front of them. The "winging it" part.
Such a harmonious environment that you were able to be a part of and we were lucky enough to watch your journey through it.
Beautiful video! It feels like discovering new uncharted areas when hiking like this. Awesome video man!
Most visually stimulating hiking videos on RUclips. Thanks
Seriously, this is one of your best videos. Stunning views and difficult decisions. Not just slogging along the trail (though I enjoy your accounts and vids immensely). You have to be amazed at how few people have probably tread on the area you are walking. Maybe even none?
5 months til my Sierra Nevada backpacking season starts and loving this. that micro macro reference is huge. I love it the micro macro of each moment gets so focused doing cross country passes. zen.
What a wonderful video but also your audio puts me in dreamland thank you bring back the podcast 😭
It's like being on top of the world! Incredibly beautiful! Those mountain lakes are so pretty. Your videos are the best! Thanks!!
Wow! I am very inspired by all your hikes. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us. Be kind on yourself John. You're doing amazing things. Time is the great myth. Nature conspires with our desires. Don't worry, you'll be able to see all you want. Just allow yourself and it will all come to be. It's all inside you.
Damn, dude! How lucky are we that someone as adventurous and intrepid and skilled as you is also so damn good at making videos. I gotta get myself to the Sierras.
That was awesome! I love how you're just carefree with no timeline just staying happy and laughing at the set backs. Just out there enjoying the mountains. Great show buddy!
John, this footage is unreal. I need to make my back to the Sierra.
i do not understand that last sentence but yes, sierra blew my mind this year
John Zahorian yeah, neither do I. Need to make my way back to the Sierra soon.
By far my favorite video. So inspirational John. Thank you.
What setting do you record on with the RX100?
Every still could be an old postcard. killer as always! 🙌🏼
That video is outstanding - such a joy to watch. I'm glad you're safe and really want to thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
Amazing scenery. It must be a nice change not having to rush along a well-worn trail.
i probably go harder off trail than on, ha (never rushing, just excited 🙂)
This is still up there in my top 3 favorites for video in the Sierra on RUclips! Keep it up John! Good luck on the pct.
A real level of consistency with the good music. Well done
Another hit. Bravo m’Dude.
Much gratitude for these vids. Your adventures are a sincere inspiration. Cheers!
Duuuude... Like... Totally awesome! Incredible scenery! What a cool trek! Wish I could do that!
Keep on rockin'! Thanks for sharing this SUPERB video!
I didn't know that Mordor could be that beautiful, thank you for sharing.
Holy crap! that scenery is amazing . Excellent video
Outstanding video John... Off trail exploration is my life... I pack quite a lot of food just for these times.... Being able to take my time and park it a couple days as an off trail base camp ...its how I do my zeros. while on trail.
✌ 👣 👑
Do you carry a Spot or some other communication in case of injury when you are off trail.
My thought exactly. And even then, there's no guarantees of being easily found.
I love your drive And your macro micro observasions your working on the big picture but just don't know the details, the Sierras are my backyard Fresno area glad you keep returning and awareness not to push it to far be safe hermano
John that would be really cool if you had a gps watch or some kind of gps recorder on your phone so we could see a top down view of your swiggly lines going around the Sierras for example! Just a thought
As someone who hadn't even thought about long trails and thru-hiking when these videos came out, I'm so happy they're (apparently) back. Learned about you from Jupiter's interview. First thru on the TRT next month including a chunk of off-trail traversing in Desolation. Aspiring to SHR by next year, and then who knows. Thanks and maybe I'll see you out there some day.
It's so beautiful, extraordinary, grandiose, is almost surreal!
One can only feel tiny in all this immensity of splendor of raw nature. It's almost intimidating.
It is in these circumstances that we realize that there are still many very large expanses of pure nature that very few humans have crossed.
I'm sorry, but I may be a Low Sierra type of guy. Just incredible sir.
Love the edit on this video! Can't believe how close you got to falling off a mountain. This is getting me hyped for my thru hike next spring.
a piece of art.
Your adventures are legendary,and very inspiring.
Safe travels to you my friend.
Wow.. the High Sierras are really beautiful. I got to go there sometime. The JMT is among the top three hikes I want to do. Great video, and it really makes my hiking-feet itch.
I loved 3:59.... Epic view behind you... "I'm just kind of wandering around". It's amazing what an ultralight kit, a honed skill set, and a desire to explore enables one to partake in. My hat off to you :)
Nice music! Great video Amazing camera and quality, like at 4.18an 4.48...the mountains in the distance look like chiaroscuro painting!
Awesome. That's the way to do it if you have the skills and the time. Just go exploring and enjoy your surroundings. I'm betting you would have appreciated some decent maps of the area though. Might have saved you from backtracking at the cliffy area by sending you in another direction from the beginning.
adequate maps would have been nice, but even with what i had i knew there was a good chance that pass wasn't going to happen
What would you recommend for a vegan thru hiker, as far as restocking on food. Gears not an issue, but I fear having to send packages through out the trails. 2+ months of cliff bars and peanut butter sounds dreadful. But not sure what else could be found that are vegan at convenience stores.
Solo off trail in the granite forest of the Sierra opens up a whole new world , but getting cliffed out has a way of setting the limits, Unless you want the added weight of climbing gear. Great vid John with some great decisions.
Just Bruce
...That feeling when you know you can get up, but you're not sure you can get back down safely... I tried something similar off trail in the Swiss Alps last year. This makes me wish I was taking video because the stills just didn't capture it, nor did they capture my mental state at the time.
Yep, I got the feeling off trail in the Trinity Alps this past September. When your climbing up something wondering if you'll be able to get back down if need be. Not a good feeling at all.
Being that far "out there", doing solo off trail sound extremely intimidating. I'm sure the ridiculous views and challenges made it well worth it. Good stuff!
I've heard you mention how you put a lot of attention to your posture while hiking. I'd like to hear what you know and how minimalist footwear has helped, and even tips on anything related!
This is one of the most interesting hiking videos I have watched. I'll be in the Whites next month....hmmm, micro vs. macro, hmmm.
I'm really impressed by this. At times I was a bit scared, because I know that sometimes people dont get out of a situation similar to that... You seem almost careless but I think thats just how you come across on the video, as you aren't probably a natural born screen actor :)... I trust that you have the skills and knowledge to handle yourself out there and I really admire your courage.
Maybe the next step would be learning how to forage some edibles out there (for fun and survival).
cheers!
Incredible views!!!
The view from 5:40 is one of my absolute favorite spots along the sierra high route.
Hey John, how do you find hiking on scree, snow and wet stuff with the new balance 10v4's/minimal shoes? You mentioned in one of your vids with andy during the SHR that he had some grippy shoes, while you didn't. If you were to do it again, would you consider swapping to a more robust shoe for more technical trails?
i found them to be fine except for in the hard morning snow
Great video as always John. You said you hate rattlesnakes (and rightfully so), so I'm curious how you manage to cowboy camp so often. Aren't you worried about snakes/scorpions/critters/lions/bears being able to come right up to you while you sleep?
Hey John, Love the videos. It looks like the sketchy pass was near the Palisades? Trying not to be too specific, given you weren't. Just curious. Hate when that happens!
i figured out it's southfork pass. dreadfully rotten rock with everything i touched plummeting down the chute to the glacier below and with no info or visual on what was below me. felt like things might exceed my risk threshold so i had to turn around
Best views I've seen from your vlogs. How do you not get lost going off trail like that? Maybe hiking the JMT previous times helped you? You seemed to spot the trail from a good distance. Majestic mate. Keep it up. 👍🏻
pretty easy to stay found with so many landmarks
some good looking country up there; glad you didn't die
That ending though 👌🏼
Good job on not dying. You were running full John Muir styley. Next time more biscuits your pockets.
Awesome, man! Talk about the road less traveled! Really enjoy the vids.
Wow. Ambitious route, kudos!
Thank you.
spectacular footage!!
Wow ... looks like you went over Frozen Lake Pass and into Upper Basin to meet the JMT ! 5:54
stunning videos man! just subscribed.
Plotting your rough path out on a topo as you go would also afford you more plausible choices of passes in front of you. It’s still pretty ultra light. It’s still going to be all new to you as you go.
Do you color grade your videos or do anything else in post?
Off-trailing in the mountains is so tempting but damn every time I´ve done it its gone sketchy fast.. Deciding to turn back when its still possible is always a good move. Usually by the first "Im an idiot and Im going to get myself killed." feeling is a good time.
Awesome mate!
Anyone know the song at 4:56? Looked at the clyp.it link and listened to dozens but couldn't find it.
Actually, I found it: soundcloud.com/dmpftw/home-away-reworkt6ae
Your video has this crisp vsco feel to it. What do you use to edit you're videos?
Are you using a special camera profile with the sony or any luts? i`ve been loving the coloring of your videos lately!
thanks! started messing around with color grading for 2016 overview, CT, and this video
Dope video John!
Tell us about that town meal
I don't think I'm down for this off-trail stuff in the sierra lol But I enjoyed your video either way!
What do you film with, and how do you keep it charged?
most beautiful
There seems to be a lot of Steve Roper’s High Route in your videos. Brings back memories as I’ve done a lot of cross country in the Sierra in my 50’s.
how do you eat or resupply?
This is gold!
So glad I found your channel John, inspiring stuff. Any chance you could do a short video on your food and eating habits one day, this is one area I can see huge weight savings for me.
i actually have a food video up that coincidentally shows my food for this particular stretch
Found it, missed that one somehow, thanks John
I don't know if I'm blind or what but I honestly can't find any food video
nvm, it wasn't showing in your channel for some reason but neemor had a link in one of his vids. :)
John why never any footage of you camp set up
jason 10:30
John Zahorian I've literally watched 98% of your videos idk how I missed that thank you
yea it was actually kinda ironic you posted that on this video :) i don't really show my camp set up because i don't "camp", i just sleep. and on top that it's usually getting dark when i stop and just getting light when i leave. (a habit from my bike tour stealth camping days)
Speaking of bike touring I live in Texas currently planning on biking to Michigan to see my family any advice would be amazing
Yolo.
Glad I didn't have to read about you in the headlines.
Talk about vast! Whoa!
What hat did you wear?
John, love the videos but can't keep track of the chronology.
good video
Absolutely legit…
If you didn't have no financial income.you think you'll be able to live on the trails, living of the land and trekking?
you like to push it good luck
John, absolutely love your perspective- It surprises me that someone with so much backcountry/hiking experience you don't take a more precautions when hiking alone off of the beaten path-- would it have killed your ego that much to carry another pound of food and getting GUTHOOKS when going off into the unknown...? I understand getting lost is something purposeful so why not throw a couple extra snickers in your bag..?
it's not about ego. my plan changed. i went with it.
it's always about our ego- thats why you/we push so hard
60westpro Nobody ever starved to death in a day. Uncomfortable, yes; life threatening, no. I never pack extra food and I've survived so far. Plus he didn't go out there planning this hike. It looks like he was attempting to get back to a trailhead when he he headed up the cliffy pass. just trying to look at the overall circumstances.
100% agree- I have run out of food a couple different times thru-hiking and it sucks arse but you'll live-- The risk goes way up when you go off trail and start bushwhacking and things like getting cliffed out happen or you fall down that super lose rock and get hurt -- It's a dangerous playground out there-- people die on trails on the PCT every year for various reasons-- John has a ton of experience and with that pedigree comes a bigger ego and a bigger need to challenge yourself-- he got scared shitless for a reason he got in over his head and it only takes one slip and all of sudden you can't walk out- I respect JZ and his awesome ability I just can't stress enough how serious things can get out there when you're hiking by yourself because NO ONE IS COMING TO GET YOU- thats the double edge -- BTW I love JZ and was sad I missed him last year on the PCT - I slept in one day and saw in the next trail log he had passed-- Keep pushing but remember 3-4 extra snickers will go a long way when shit hits the fan-
Didn't you also fail on the PCT?
So where exactly do you begin? Do you start on some BLM land or in a park then step off a trail at some point or what? I'm very fascinated by this kind of thing.
Lol, time mark 7:38... I know that feeling perfectly