Thanks for sharing the lows and the feeling of being lost in your head on the trail. The reality is that its not all sunshine and rainbows out there mentally.
Damn, bro. That was raw, brutal honesty. Thanks for posting such a "low point". I think it will be comforting to others to know that seasoned hikers like you have rough days on the trail. Glad to see your mood improve by the end!
I started watching your videos a couple months ago and have become so inspired to leave the desk job behind in pursuit of my real dreams. You are an inspiration, John, and I want to actively express my sincerest thanks to you. Keep up the awesome work in whatever way fills you with joy. PCT HERE I COME!!
John, Don't you know??? You ARE doing something great! Gaining valuable experience on trail while teaching sooo much to the rest of us. "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life"....so many millions will NEVER have that opportunity. You're a blessed man!!
My take away is that the first time you did the PCT it had a huge impact on your life because you were leaving a cubicle job and basically living on trails. When you returned to the PCT you realized you had forgotten a lot of it, and maybe it didn't matter as much as you thought. I think this all the time when I return to amazing places. They blow my mind and I wonder how I had forgotten how incredible they are.
Don't spend your life rushing from point A to point B John. It's what you do between point A and point B that should be meaningful. You make some great videos and I find them inspiring.
Thanks for being real dude. Not a lot of people show low points on the trail. I'm planning a thru hike of the AT and I need to see stuff so that i realize at a deeper level why I am hiking. Also that some days will suck and i will get lonely. Keep it raw brother.
John - Your realest video yet. Happy you show your lowest lows not just your highest highs. Also really cool to see you decided to do the CT FKT right then. That IG photo FKT on r/ultralight is what piqued my interest and lead me to your youtube/website, and eventually to becoming a huge fan! So super cool. Thanks for everything.
This is the most interesting upload from anyone regarding a PCT update. Raw, real, and honest. I'm really glad you didn't cut anything out of this (or so it seems). I feel it though, I get the same way somedays. I think the same thing. I just want to do something great as well.
John Zahorian I remember being upset, as a stock boy who turned 20 years old, and thinking, "I'm 20 and I haven't even climbed a mountain..." I didn't even aspire to summit mountains at that point in time, but I was just bummed out. I just wanted to do something great, and I think that's why I ended up backpacking and chasing summits... anyways... I subb'd to you. I dig your channel!
Been watching your videos for a few months when I have time. You do an awesome job filming and editing all of them. Thanks for everything you've shared with us
I totally know that lost feeling. Thanks for posting your videos, they are inspiring. I'm doing the JMT this July with aspirations of one day doing the PCT
Very cool man. I was with you at the Sonora Pass Trail Magic. PCT class 2016 finisher. Watching your latest videos, and trying to figure out how I can do the same thing. Not as fast.Be safe out there.
Found out from one of your other vids that you are a fellow Mech E! I always worried about ending up in a CAD-jockey type position so now I fix machines and do stat-analysis for optimization which seems to keep me happy working half time with the hands and half time with the mind. I've only done the JMT and the LT, but I definitely come back from them with the "what am I doing?" Mindset. Hoping to find that perfect job that I'll enjoy enough to stay at or maybe find one that gives me an absurd amount of time off so my summers can focus on hiking. Love your channel- it's what I watch in the winter.
i was that CAD jockey for a couple years. sacrificed my life then for my life now. "only" done the JMT and LT? that's legit, man. go for the CT and complete that triple gem!
buddy I love you - please don't quit. What you're describing is real depression. Im dealing with the same now. Seek help....see any therapist and show them this video. The rest will take care of itself. There is very simple and effective help available. Just slow down and readjust - home is a great place to start. I look forward to whats next for you....and me
I keep telling myself the battle is getting out there. Once you're there you are living the dream. It every day is going to be great, but it's the dream to be away from a corporate society and free living. That's at least what I'm telling myself in my preparation to do the PCT 2018.
Nick Robertson I tried removing it from a playlist in mobile and inadvertently deleted it. sent RUclips a message but will re-up if they won't restore it.
hey bro, you're the most beast hiker i've seen. been following you for a couple months now don't know if you know Jesus, but he loves you and is proud of you. he's your #1 fan. don't want to preach, but all people, including myself as a Christian, long to accomplish great things but its not our accomplishing great things that will leave us ultimately fulfilled. you have achieved some incredible feats man. and i'm genuinely excited to see the other great things you will do. keep doing what you're doing. if you want know more about Jesus let me know :)
Do what you think in you're heart you need to do man deal with it process it and move forward its not always right or wrong but life does that to us especially the searchers you could call it,we can keep getting knocked down emotionally and physically but you need to keep getting up and living life ;)
You will always have an engineering degree!! It’s not like you have no job qualifications or skipped college for this. You have the unique opportunity to hike whenever you want or work as an engineer.
Yeah man if you haven't had the chance to listen to Alan Watts and are open to a new way of looking at things then I suggest it for anyone. He really has hit on something.
![pct ep.15 [2016]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PT0mVljmHOU/mqdefault.jpg)
![pct ep.15 [2016]](/img/tr.png)
![pct ep.8 [2016]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CJN_sSCAPWQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for sharing the lows and the feeling of being lost in your head on the trail. The reality is that its not all sunshine and rainbows out there mentally.
Damn, bro. That was raw, brutal honesty. Thanks for posting such a "low point". I think it will be comforting to others to know that seasoned hikers like you have rough days on the trail.
Glad to see your mood improve by the end!
The most monumental thing you do is make and share these films. Means a lot. Thanks.
I started watching your videos a couple months ago and have become so inspired to leave the desk job behind in pursuit of my real dreams. You are an inspiration, John, and I want to actively express my sincerest thanks to you. Keep up the awesome work in whatever way fills you with joy. PCT HERE I COME!!
John, Don't you know??? You ARE doing something great! Gaining valuable experience on trail while teaching sooo much to the rest of us. "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life"....so many millions will NEVER have that opportunity. You're a blessed man!!
My take away is that the first time you did the PCT it had a huge impact on your life because you were leaving a cubicle job and basically living on trails. When you returned to the PCT you realized you had forgotten a lot of it, and maybe it didn't matter as much as you thought. I think this all the time when I return to amazing places. They blow my mind and I wonder how I had forgotten how incredible they are.
Thru-hiked 2015-16, remember the view of your first clip so well, thanks for bringing back the memory.
Don't spend your life rushing from point A to point B John. It's what you do between point A and point B that should be meaningful. You make some great videos and I find them inspiring.
Thanks for being real dude. Not a lot of people show low points on the trail. I'm planning a thru hike of the AT and I need to see stuff so that i realize at a deeper level why I am hiking. Also that some days will suck and i will get lonely. Keep it raw brother.
John - Your realest video yet. Happy you show your lowest lows not just your highest highs. Also really cool to see you decided to do the CT FKT right then. That IG photo FKT on r/ultralight is what piqued my interest and lead me to your youtube/website, and eventually to becoming a huge fan! So super cool. Thanks for everything.
52 miles in a day, let alone in the mountains! Outrageous!
thats crazy you would have to be hiking non stop atlest 3mph
to do it during daylight hours i had to average 3.5mph over the course of the day
3.5 ? that is booking it for sure.
This is the most interesting upload from anyone regarding a PCT update. Raw, real, and honest. I'm really glad you didn't cut anything out of this (or so it seems). I feel it though, I get the same way somedays. I think the same thing. I just want to do something great as well.
thanks. some things are cut out of this.
John Zahorian I remember being upset, as a stock boy who turned 20 years old, and thinking, "I'm 20 and I haven't even climbed a mountain..." I didn't even aspire to summit mountains at that point in time, but I was just bummed out. I just wanted to do something great, and I think that's why I ended up backpacking and chasing summits... anyways... I subb'd to you. I dig your channel!
Been watching your videos for a few months when I have time. You do an awesome job filming and editing all of them. Thanks for everything you've shared with us
thanks for sharing. Love your videos and I look forward to your content in 2017.
Thank you for being so open and vulnerable. This is an amazing video. Keep up the amazing work.
"The one where I quit" - Proceeds to do multiple 50 mile days. Haha oh John...
miles for smiles
I totally know that lost feeling. Thanks for posting your videos, they are inspiring. I'm doing the JMT this July with aspirations of one day doing the PCT
I was laughing durning the whole emotional tent scene. Not at you, but at myself, because I have been there before, too. And more than once at that.
Get some home time in. Come back strong. Your videos are a welcome breath of fresh air and everyone will wait to see what's coming.
Very cool man. I was with you at the Sonora Pass Trail Magic. PCT class 2016 finisher. Watching your latest videos, and trying to figure out how I can do the same thing. Not as fast.Be safe out there.
Appreciate your honesty.
Found out from one of your other vids that you are a fellow Mech E! I always worried about ending up in a CAD-jockey type position so now I fix machines and do stat-analysis for optimization which seems to keep me happy working half time with the hands and half time with the mind. I've only done the JMT and the LT, but I definitely come back from them with the "what am I doing?" Mindset. Hoping to find that perfect job that I'll enjoy enough to stay at or maybe find one that gives me an absurd amount of time off so my summers can focus on hiking. Love your channel- it's what I watch in the winter.
i was that CAD jockey for a couple years. sacrificed my life then for my life now. "only" done the JMT and LT? that's legit, man. go for the CT and complete that triple gem!
love your work dude! were you able to record your Colorado trail fkt or were you just focused on hiking? it would be cool to see the adventure
january 20. CT FKT video. it's an epic (20+ minutes)
buddy I love you - please don't quit. What you're describing is real depression. Im dealing with the same now. Seek help....see any therapist and show them this video. The rest will take care of itself. There is very simple and effective help available. Just slow down and readjust - home is a great place to start. I look forward to whats next for you....and me
onward to the next...
I keep telling myself the battle is getting out there. Once you're there you are living the dream. It every day is going to be great, but it's the dream to be away from a corporate society and free living. That's at least what I'm telling myself in my preparation to do the PCT 2018.
What happened to the 2016 recap video? Loved getting to see your year and it was an awesome inspiration.
Nick Robertson I tried removing it from a playlist in mobile and inadvertently deleted it. sent RUclips a message but will re-up if they won't restore it.
hey bro, you're the most beast hiker i've seen. been following you for a couple months now
don't know if you know Jesus, but he loves you and is proud of you. he's your #1 fan.
don't want to preach, but all people, including myself as a Christian, long to accomplish great things but its not our accomplishing great things that will leave us ultimately fulfilled. you have achieved some incredible feats man. and i'm genuinely excited to see the other great things you will do.
keep doing what you're doing. if you want know more about Jesus let me know :)
Donito's right! Thanks for sharing the real moment! People need to know it's not always , "candy and nuts" even if it is a Merry Christmas.
Hell yeah brotha!!!
that's is a super smart Idea going for an FKT with solid trail legs, no break in needed.
that's what andrew bentz did for his JMT FKT. did it like a week after he finished his PCT thru and crushed.
Do what you think in you're heart you need to do man deal with it process it and move forward its not always right or wrong but life does that to us especially the searchers you could call it,we can keep getting knocked down emotionally and physically but you need to keep getting up and living life ;)
Holy Switchback Hikeman! Do I see John Z with a trekking pole!!!?!?!?!?
Mike Sides hehe he doesn't use it almost ever needs it to set up the tent
Was it the trail itself or a social situation that had you so down? John Z, you are a legend sir.
lots of factors involved that all just beat me down. had to find a new goal to get my mind right again.
What is the song played in the end of this video called? I would love to have it on my hike playlist.
hang in there buddy
You will always have an engineering degree!! It’s not like you have no job qualifications or skipped college for this. You have the unique opportunity to hike whenever you want or work as an engineer.
Sounds like you need to introduce Alan Watts into your life bud.
Ben G I was just thinking that. Weird.
Yeah man if you haven't had the chance to listen to Alan Watts and are open to a new way of looking at things then I suggest it for anyone. He really has hit on something.
John Zahorian could without a doubt FKT any trail he set foot on.
Link to twinkle’s channel?
I spy "sweet pea"
i just wanna do someting great
John your an animal
:(
If you are looking for something to do you could start by combing your hair =D