I met Cheryl Strayed on the PCT in 1995 at Spanish Needle Creek. In fact, I am the guy in the book and the movie named Greg (she changed my name for the book, and the actor Kevin Rankin plays me) who has the conversation with her about miles per day and, later, greeting her at Kennedy Meadows. Dixie, I really liked your assessment of Cheryl's gear and techniques on the trail. In my journal I wrote that "she doesn't know what she is in for..." Despite the trials she faced, she did very well considering her lack of experience. At the time Cheryl struck me as smart, ambitious (she told me she wanted to be a writer, but I never would have guessed a best seller!), personable, and even generous. I was with Charlie Thorpe and "Meadow Ed" at Kennedy Meadows when the gear culling happened. It is very true that Charlie (Matt in the book, Ed in the movie) found all that stuff, and the real Meadow Ed still has Cheryl's old saw to this day! Meeting Charlie, Meadow Ed, me and several others at Kennedy Meadows gave Cheryl a gentle boost of confidence which helped her carry out her plan to hike to the Bridge of the Gods. It is very good to have this video and many other sources of tips, tricks, and fundamentals for long distance hiking. In the mid-90's we relied on retail stores, books such as the PCT Hiker's Handbook by Ray Jardine, or through people we met in organizations like ALDHA-West to learn about long distance hiking gear. Cheryl had REI's help, and we all saw the result in "Monster". I am surprised to see, even in Dixie's recent video of her AT hike, that some long distance hikers carry so much heavy gear even in an era of easy-to-find resources about long distance hiking and advanced, ultra-light gear. My recent observations on the trails (I thru-hiked the CDT in 2016) is that Cheryl Strayed's book Wild continues to inspire many long distance hikers. One of the most positive things to learn about the post-Wild era is that women are on equal footing with men when it comes to hiking. In fact, some of the fastest known times (FKTs) on the long trails were achieved by women. On the CDT in 2016 women and men were almost equal in numbers, and they journeyed the trail as well as any men I knew on that trail. It may have been true in the mid-90's, too, but it is great to see more and more women who are confident to do what was once less common just 25 years ago. The same is true with members of minorities, such as the two African-American hikers who recently achieved their Triple Crowns. So, everyone, keep learning from each other and be safe out there! If you want to read more, please Google "Greg In Wild" and look for the the article I wrote for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. - Greg In Wild (PCT So Cal 95, PCT 96, CDT 16, hopeful for AT 21).
Thanks for sharing. Her book has definitely inspired me to begin backpacking and having Dixie to learn from has boosted my confidence. I did my first overnight camping trip last summer, which is a huge deal for me. I suffer from my own demons so being able to prove to myself I’m strong means a lot.
What's cool about her pack "Monster" in the movie is that they fully recreated her original pack. She still had it in her basement after all those years!
"Now that I've hiked over 8000 miles I have a pretty good grasp of what a long distance backpacking trip actually looks like."...Dixie's understatement of the day!
I never knew about the PCT. I was hunting in the area and came across these people with bells on. I stopped to talk to them and they seemed like they had some miles on them. I asked one lady, "where did you start?" She said "Mexico." I was blown away. Could not believe people did that. Was very impressed. Later ran into an old guy that looked like gandolph the wizard. He asked me if this was the PCT as he was a little lost and his son was a couple days ahead. I helped him get oriented via map and we found a note scribbled to him in the middle of a fork written by his son. Left a few granola bars for him and kept on hunting. Later I found your channel. Kudos to you all.
God, I watched Wild and also Into The Wild some years ago. And I greatly enjoyed them and deeply appreciated them. But only with my soul. Back then I was a couch potato who never did any sports activities. Back then I never knew that just in a few years I could be walking thousands of kilometers alone and surviving in the wild and all that. Life is so surreal and so precious. I feel incredibly humbled and grateful. Wishing the best to all out there who might be starting their journey now.
Remember my first backpacking trip. Up the mist trails in Yosemite with a “monster” on my back. It was hell. But dinner was amazing (steak and beer). 40 years later, the pack is 1/2 as heavy and the gear is better.
I started backpacking in the 90's and Cheryl's set up is very typical of the time period. Heck, I and my friends climbed many of the 14ers in the Sierra with a set up very similar to hers! My pack often weighed 50ish lbs - and I'm a 5'6" female! And there's no way that you could get those old bulky sleeping bags inside an external frame pack! I am thru hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail this summer and am very glad for modern improvements in backpacking gear!
@Jonathan Smuck Still have my copies of both those on my shelf! My initial trips were in the 80s with heavy leather boots slathered with Snow Seal, and a 4+ pound sleeping bag strapped on wherever it would fit, and a push broom handle for a walking stick. I once weighed my pack on a desert trip at 75 pounds. Ray sure changed things, or at least made us aware that there was a better way to be found. Now I'm a hammocker with a down quilt and carbon fiber trekking poles and can cover more miles with more smiles than when I was half my current age. I still have those old boots - I pick 'em up now and then and just laugh - and put them back down.
Back in the 60's the Boy Scout weekend hikes I went on we carried very heavy packs of about 70 pounds. The older boys carried even heavier ones. This was due to the heavy canvas (army surplus) tents with heavy wooden poles, heavy canvas packs, heavy canned food (no freeze dried) and Army issue sleeping bags. We hiked on the AT up to Sunfish Pond, camped for 2 days and hiked back. The distance was totally nothing compared to what the thru hikers have done but it sure wore all of us out. 15 boys out there in the woods and after dinner, it was totally silent as everyone was exhausted. I remember thinking, Holy Crap, I have to walk back in 2 days. At least the food cans we hauled out were empty and that made it a little lighter, ha ha.
The water buffalo scene reminded me of when we lost a guy during land nav training in texas. He made it to within a hundred yards of the water tank, which was on the top of a small hill at the end of the course. Unfortunately he passed out from heat exhaustion and rolled downed the hill into a thicket of scrubs. We searched for 4 days but was unable to find him until his body started to decompose and the dogs found him. Apparently he died the first night from exposure after falling out from exhaustion. Everybody was in good shape and started the course with 4 litters of water, two canteens and a camel pak and no pack. The course was only 4 hours long. Don't fool around in the heat of the dessert, not even a little.
Your cadre failed him. To think that he made it so close to the water tank and he still wasn't found? It should have been hands across the course all damn night until he was found. That's borderline criminal at worst, and negligent at best.
first of all I'm not from Texas, was just training there, second I don't think anyone who still uses stones as a measurement of weight has much room to talk about americans and there funny units of measurement... but yes the military tends to use metric more than the average american. Lastly the only thing I know about Furlongs is that they were 1 of the 4 great races😂so...@bitemyshite
I read Wild when it first came out and wrote up a positive review of the book. After posting the review to the backpacking forum I'm a part of, I got slammed from many members for the same reasons you mentioned about how it's really not a trail guide or a story about backpacking. Everyone focused on how the author went on and on about the issues in her life and what led up to wanting to do a first ever long hike. I explained to those who were criticizing my review that backpacking, and the time alone that comes with it, is one of the most therapeutic activities a person can do. Overcoming difficult physical challenges shows us that the mental ones can also be tackled. I thought it was a well written book with enough examples about trail life to acquaint the reader to what backpacking is about.
I'm with you. People in hobby groups can be such gatekeepers. The book was awesome and was absolutely about hiking and backpacking, if you want to see it from a true beginner's standpoint.
My biggest complaint about the book/movie is not about how Nyland spends so much time describing how bad she is at family relations, birth control, romance, recreational drugs, horse care, or backpacking. Rather, it is that she almost certainly didn't actual hike most of the trail. No one from that year can remember seeing her on the trail and much of her reported timing doesn't jive with the mileage she claims. Lying about her inner joinery? I'm cooler with that than her lying about what she did on the trail.
The book is more about her mental journey than the physical one. After reading bliss(ters), and racing the winter I thought it was a nice change. I started trail to work thru some demons too. The 'rona basically killed that but there's next year. Still need to watch the movie though.
I totally agree brother. I saw the movie when it was first released, and it's rare that a film will inspire me to read the book it was based on. But I did, and I thought Strayed put together a well-written, compelling story. And with very few hints of amateurish writing mistakes so common to a first book. Whether she's a charlatan or not, the book did what it set out to do -- be a grounded, motivational voice (and I HATE self-help shit). I was just starting to push myself on distance-hiking at the time and it arrived in the world at a good time for me.
David Thomas Her name is Strayed, officially changed in May 1995 so that is the name you should use, not her birth name. 1100 miles in 96 days is under 12 miles a day which seems believable since she skipped the Sierras. Today's reported average mileage for people that complete the trail according to the halfwayanywhere combined annual surveys 2013-2019 is around 21 miles a day. As to no one having seen her well the guy called Greg in the book (actually Roger) begs to differ... wild.pcta.org/2015/01/28/greg-first-person-story-wild/
I cannot understand not testing out the stove before a trip because like many others, I'm sorta a stove geek and just love playing around with them. I had a Coleman that wasn't light by any definition in boy scouts, and that thing was the coolest thing to me, holding it and knowing that device is just as capable of cooking a meal on the trail as you would use your stove at home.
I had 35lbs on my back for my section of the AT last year. On day 1, the very first day, I stopped at a small stream for a picture. I kneeled down and uh oh... 35 lbs tipped me over and I was laying on my back in the stream like a turtle and couldn't get up. Rolling side to side to no avail. I finally unbuckled the pack and stood up. Looked around to see if anyone was laughing and then picked up my now wet pack and strapped it back on. LOL Picture turned out nice though.
First day centre-of-gravity realisation. It’s not really surprising when you think how long you’ve been walking this planet in a normal human weight distribution.
Like others, that gave me a good laugh. I'm not a backpacker and probably won't be. But I wear a daypack almost every walk out by the river. I keep a few necessaries in the pack along with some water for me and a little spare water just in case. So I know that feeling of change in one's center of mass. :o
As long as the pic turned out good lmao glad you're ok! Thats going to happen to me i feel lol. Cant wait to go on my first hike! Wish me luck bc im nervous
My favorite scene in the movie is when Reese tries to stand up with the pack on in her motel. They loaded the pack and her struggles were real. I LMAO!
I kinda wish they kept it up, because as soon as she starts the trail anyone who ever wore a pack sees that its is nowere near that heavy. She is walking way to casual.
Thanks. That was fun. I saw that movie a long time ago and I remember thinking that it was pretty authentic. I appreciate your running commentary; it was interesting. Thanks a million.
For my first big hike in 1991, I borrowed my uncle's pack which was an external frame beast. Like most first-time hikers, I took so much "just in case" gear. I even took my full length oilskin coat, which weighs a ton, as my waterproof. In hindsight the gear was crazy, but my memories of that trip are so precious. I loved reading Wild when it was first published and thought that Reese Witherspoon did a wonderful job with the movie. Like The Way, it is hard to get a true sense of the scale of such a long journey within the constraints of Hollwood norms, but Wild (and The Way) both do a great job. Great video Dixie! Take care out there in the wild world folks.
I started backpacking in ‘96. My backpack for years was a REI knock-off of a Kelty external frame bag. Even in the mid-90s the transition to internal frame bags was in progress, but I sweat like no one’s business and went external frame. With an external frame pack you typically didn’t pack your sleeping bag in the pack proper, but there was often a portion of the frame below the pack that you used straps to lash it onto. My sleeping bag (which I’m still using today, but probably should get a new one soon) was a synthetic fill (Holofil, I believe is what it was) that would maintain insulative value even if wet; thankfully, I never fully dunked my sleeping bag. Tent, ground cloth, and pad were often put on top of the body of the pack, under the flap with a pocket that would strap down over the top of the pack (a proto-brain?). I was an assistant scoutmaster for about 6 years, and that’s how things were commonly done.
I read the book "Wild" and it was what got me into wanting to hike in the first place. I was glad to see you do this comparison. I appreciate you. Love from Arkansas
I am so glad you are still creating great content! I am 62 years old, and I plan on hiking the PCT when I retire at 65. I rewatch many of your videos to keep me inspired. Thank you.
Hey Dixie so happy you can keep posting in quarentine. Thanks for the review. I have dreamed of hiking the A.T. for 20 years since I read a walk in the woods. Great book horrible movie. I am a postman in Phoenix and will be retiring at the end of this year. I discovered your chanel in 2017. I was badly injured in a vehicle accident in june, 2018. Broke my left ankle and right elbow. Spent 24 days in the hospital and 10 weeks of physical therapy. Saturday I went on an 8 mile hike with lots of elevation gain and switcbacks. You have been such an inspiration to me! :) I am seriously thinking of joining the A.T. class of 2021 or a least a good section hike. If I do, I have you and my wonderful physical therapists to thank. Thank You Dixie! :)
"Wild" is what led me to watch You do the PCT & CDT. You have given me hours of hiking pleasure, Thank You! "Wild" the book is also a good read...wayne
Wild is the movie that inspired me to go travelling solo for a year around the world. I was going through menopause and needed some introspection. Now, 3 years later, I am heading to the Rota Vicentina in Portugal for my first hiking trip. For some reason, I thought you would destroy my favourite movie, but you didn't! Thank you for always sharing your experiences with us and happy trails to you :)))
I've had a rough few years. Broke my leg and now the proud owner of a rod "Yeah it hurts" and a survivor of Ovarian Cancer. Chemo has changed me. I get mad, because I wasn't done yet. And I am not. I am still hanging on- my subscriptions here on you tube revolve around nature - scenery- the out of doors- places you don't see from the road. I am hiking and traveling that way, and when I do actually go, I car camp and experience what I can. ------------- Also passing the torch to the younger generation, helping them to catch the itch.... :)
Joker’sMom1 - drive the Lewis & Clark Trail. Preferably in a flat-fender Willy’s Jeep. You might like it! Also read David McCullogh’s book on same subject.
M best friend was diagnosed with the most aggressive type of ovarian cancer and at stage 4. In her 40s, married with 3 adult kids…given 6 months to live. Underwent chemo, major surgery & is now having more infusions. They now say she has 2-5 years. Instead of being mad, be grateful. There always somebody out these who has it worse than you…
90s mountaineer, was actually kinda nice seeing the old heavy gear. We can romanticize anything apparently. It sucked. So nice having the inexpensive and expensive lightweight options now. Going to have to check out this movie now.
Greetings from Afghanistan! Nice breakdown of the movie. As an accomplished hiker, you could really pick it apart, but your review was fair. The point of the movie wasn't to create a backpacking documentary. As you suggest, it was more about a personal journey. I enjoyed the book more so than the movie. Still good entertainment.
I'm born and raised in the area of Kennedy Meadows...things like this are great reminder of the beauty and rural culture that I'm privileged to be part of...I don't ever take it for granted, esp. during these times...having property in the Sierras is a blessing. I was feeling super cranky earlier and this reminded me to just look outside at my gorgeous view...and now I have a smile
I’m so glad you did a review of this movie! This is the movie that actually got me interested in hiking, and what lead me to your channel! I remember searching specifically for women hikers and stumbled across your first AT video. Love your videos!
Being a city folk this movie made me aware of the PCT. I remember being inspired that I went to local library to read all I can about the gear I needed. Sure enough the so call experts say external framed backpack and full leather ankle boots. I recalled the advice that you strap the tent and sleeping bag on the outside. Now it’s amazing how much lighter, cheaper and more practical all the gear is this making such thru hike more accessible. I think the movie did a great job of raising awareness of just not PCT but also how much unnecessary junk we carry in our lives. There is symbolism of the loneliness in that we all try to distract the empty feeling by buying/researching superficial things instead of just spending time becoming comfortable being by ourselves. To no longer seek external confirmation of value about ourselves. So for some experienced thru hikers this movie may have been seen too Hollywood, all o ask is just remember that the movie inspired people like me to start going back into nature. It also led me to this channel where I got to meet and learn much more.
I can tell you when I first started in Scouts (back in the 70's) my external frame pack was built to have the pack on top and space underneath for my, yes you guessed it, my sleeping bag.
Mine too, but in the 80's. I was just a young kid and carried about 20 pounds max, with food and water. A sleeping bag at lumbar area and foam-roll up top. My poncho could make a small tent if needed but we always used the AT's shelters instead of carrying tents. In this video she was carrying way too much from below the waist to overhead.
@@michaelfarmer9901 I bought a new Kelty external frame pack last spring. I've carried it on a few trips now in Colorado and in Kansas. I actually had a couple of girls in Colorado think that it was an interesting pack! But yes, I'm well aware that lots of people probably think that I'm nuts. It's a great pack, although it is a little bit heavier, and it makes some noise as you hike along.
@@cainerose7841 That makes me feel old! lol. Ah, the days of external frame packs, flannel shirts, and down vests. Well, at least the down vests/jackets came back in style!
I hiked for most of a thru hike with two hikers who had recently gone through a death in their families. One young woman's sister had passed. Her sister was a traveler and worked in tourism. My friend had only camped once pre thru hike and hated it. She is now some years later adventuring in nature often. She had a lovely ritual regarding her sister. When we got to beautiful views she would leave a tiny thumbnail photo of her sister placed so the photo of her sister could see the view. I know it's about leave no trace but I do make an exception for this. It was a beautiful sentiment and she was clearly grieving. Another hiker had lost his mom. We got into an involved conversation about it and got lost! So we bond about real things on the trail.
One of my favorite videos. I laughed so hard I cried at the turtleing! It was not uncommon with the older external frame packs to put the bag on top, although, inside a waterproof bag. Great advice on night hiking in the desert with an uncertain water supply.
You do have to admit there is a huge difference between the modern ultralight hiker, and the hiker from 30 years ago taking everything with them. I camped in the 80s and our sleeping bags strapped to the bottom of a frame pack. Made it real difficult to stay upright. Our packs weighed over 50 pounds.
Yeah I remember doing 50 miles with a 50-60 lb pack. No people seem to balk at taking anything over 20. You took a lot of that stuff not because you were going to use it, but because you wanted it if you needed it. There was no cell coverage, no gps, maybe no other people on a trail for days. You had to be self reliant
I just retired my Kelty external frame pack 3 weeks ago and got my first internal frame, an Osprey Atmos AG 50. Got my first down bag. Realized my limelight tent was heavy and got a Dragonfly 2 (which others would still find heavy, but i'm 6'7"). I put on my fully loaded pack and just went "oh yeah..." it felt amazing. Gear has really come a long way. My old packs were regularly 40-50lb, now it's under 30. ^__^
The thing I noticed in the movie Wild is that she never wears sunglasses. A person would go snow-blind quickly in the exposed mountain areas with snow. But even in the desert areas you need to protect your eyes from UV.
I'm a squinter, skier and lifetime backpacker in California. I've always hated sunglasses and never wear them. Perhaps that explains having cataracts removed from both eyes but it could also be I'm 60.
I am not a long distance hiker. But, I have traveled the southwest camping out of a SUV and a tent. for many months just being self reliant on my own in the outdoors was the best experience in my whole life. I came to this stop much more confident. Loved your take on the movie's authenticity.
Loved this video! I love watching movies like this because I would never have the guts to do something like this! I loved watching all of your videos and have binged watched them many times! Thanks!
i gotta watch this movie!! in reference to external frame backpacks, i was a BSA from '69-'74. i carried a canvas external frame pack and my sleeping bag was always tied to the bottom of the pack inside a canvas sack. when it rained we wore ponchos so it kept your bag dry. yes, i'd like to see you do other videos like this one. and i'd like to say thank-you for not wavering during your popularity growth, thanks for keeping it real!
I'm glad to know that this movie is pretty darn realistic especially for her era with a couple of rookie mistakes that are still believable. It's still one of my favorite movies and has motivated me in other ways. I wish I could do a through hike, but my feet would not get the job done.
Dixie, your comments on introspection were spot on. Some people bring demons onto the trail but most don't. But everyone, in my opinion, begins to look deeply at nature and deeply at oneself when hiking. Whether it is a long weekend or a through-hike, inevitably the mind begins to wander and think about the past--past mistakes, past triumphs, past embarrassments--and the future--what am I doing with my life? how will this work out? etc. Sort of a "life, the universe, and everything" shtick. If we don't have demons, we sometimes create them. You have said several times that hiking long-distance is often a mind thing. Keep the mind focused and keep telling yourself that you CAN do this and you probably will. The mind is key, but a side effect is that the mind brings up all sorts of things, many thoughts that are unbiden, that you don't want to dwell on and yet they come up when everyday is the same thing: up, breakfast, pack up, hike, find water, eat, set up camp, sleep, repeat. Cheryl's struggles were extreme, but we all have lesser demons and fears of our own creation. Keep hiking Dixie, and keep coming to us with your humor, your thoughtfulness, and your wisdom. Next year, back on the trail! Cheers, Tortoise
Perhaps. We had external fame packs in the 70's, and the sleeping bag rolled up underneath the fabric part. Not all the sleeping bags were that big. My first down REI bag is smaller than the one in the video, and is even smaller with a compression sack, which weren't used back then 'cause .... reasons.
@@jbirgen Depends on how the frame was set up. I had one that did bottom, and another that I packed it up top with the pack flap over it. Top can be nice for shifting your center of gravity a little lower
Granted I am very old school. I'm 60+ and started backpacking in my teens in the 70s. External frame was the way to go and I still prefer them. Both types have advantages and disadvantages. You pick which set want. In those days sleeping bags were so large that if you put them inside you couldn't fit anything else. Everyone put them outside. The choice was on top or on bottom. Again, both had advantages and disadvantages. I learned very quickly to wrap or line everything with a plastic trash bag. And a properly tied diamond hitch would hold just about anything.
I'm 54 and my first pack was also external. They're nice in that they sit away from your back so you get some air circulation, but now that I'm older, I like how internals sit closer to my body and don't throw my balance off as much. But yeah, I strapped my sleeping bag and pad (closed cell foam!) underneath the pack. I used a couple of cotton belts to hold them on. They worked really well.
That was fun ! I hope you do more content like this . The blue ray has some really good extra’s about her pack , how much it weighed and how much weight she reduced it down .
I did not see her wearing any head gear to protect from the sun or rain, nor any sunglasses. In my limited experience, I think those are crucial. It is hard for me to believe any adult would attempt such without at least a one day trip with someone that has some outdoor experience.
Loved this!!!! I've been watching your videos for years now, and never get bored with the content. Love your calm persona. Do a walk in the woods!!! It's hilarious.
I read the book and then began watching you a few years ago. I hate camping, am too fat and have a bunch of little kids right now, but because of the book and your channel, I want to - one day - hike the PCT. I loved watching your take on the movie. Thanks for always taking us on your journey.
While the external frame and sleeping bag on top is spot on for the era, I never met anyone hauling that much crap with them, or that had never used their stove (at that time most used a Primus stove that ran on alcohol, which was a bit fiddly). The feet damage and strap irritations was pretty much assured with the gear of that era hauling as much weight as she tried to (which again, I never saw that much weight on the trail even from newbies). Long distance hikers usually were in sandals or tennis shoes. The misguided push for "special" hiking boots really wasn't a thing until the 90s...and even then didn't really catch on with the long distance folks. Having lived along the AT, I saw, helped and listened to the complaints from 100s of hikers a year and have a fair feel for life on the trail through the 1980s. Having that exposure, my gear was often old fashion, but always light and flexible. Honestly the gear of today really isn't all that much lighter than 50 years ago, but is much more functional and ergonomic....and of course grossly more expensive. My magnesium external frame nylon pack of 1970 is just as light (and for me as comfortable) as any internal frame I've come across.....but just isn't even sort of water resistant or as roomy....but again, you don't need that much stuff so you don't need that much pack unless you are really going into the wilderness, which hiking established trails really doesn't qualify as. On durability, that pack has been all over the US and Canada and except for a hole chewed by a pesky mouse, hasn't required repairs. As a side note on a totally different era, hardly anyone then did much to purify water along the AT. At least through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, bending down and taking a drink from any spring was the norm and diarrhea wasn't the result. I don't know if the water was cleaner then or our guts more resistant, but I never saw a filter until the 90s, and rare was the water source where folks would think to boil it first.
I've been enjoying your vlogs for a while now and as I re watch this I'm liking it all the more now , and chuckling. So here's a good reason we all can benefit from learning the basics when young. Life skills. Rangers, Guides, Scouts, or something. Dixie, I'm 68 and you are genuine and encouraging me to keep hiking, enjoy the smallest blessings and be prepared.
I was a scout throughout the 90s. We all had external frame backpacks and big, fat Walmart sleeping bags. To save weight we slept on blue tarps under the stars. Most of the food we brought was canned. Nowadays my packed weight is probably half of what it was then, and that is including a tent and an inflatable sleeping pad.
Amen about it all! I was a scout in the 70s. External frame backpacks or Army Surplus rucksacks (which are really heavy and badly balanced). We all used a lot of Army Surplus stuff which was rugged and worked well but tended to be large and heavy. A lot of canned foods. Luckily the Army Surplus was a lot of stuff from Viet Nam which at least was lighter and cooler than the stuff from WW II. I did have a metal canteen and cup stamped 1945 on the bottom.
This was great! Watching it again after doing much more hiking and real backpacking is quite a thing. Luckily I did not have to experience most of those trials and tribulations when I transitioned from hiker to backpacker, because I had learned from you, Dixie, about proper footwear sizing, how to pack your pack, etc. :-) But I also did not test out my stove, although I knew I had the correct fuel, and was almost stuck with the trail name “High Flame”, and that’s all I’m going to say about that. :-)
I had an external frame back back in the 70's-80's. We used the lumbar area for the sleeping bag because they couldn't fit inside because of their bulk back then. Now I shove all of my gear into a 3.5 pound pack. Times have changed but those scenes were accurate for the gear at the time.
I did 12 miles in Ireland on my first hike. I am laughing now thinking about the amount of gear I was carrying. Now when I hike, it's literally a tiny backpack. Your first hike should always be very short, in an area that is safe, desert or artic like conditions are for pros only. An interesting trick I learnt from an ultra long distance runner was to drive the route first and bury food/water caches along the way.
I will likely never get to do anything more than a family-friendly foot trail but these are my daydreams so I'm grateful for your channel! I can at least live vicariously. 💛
To be fair, it's not always about whether the actual guy was a creep or trying to harm you. I've had guy friends who are awesome not realize that as a woman who has received unwanted attention and threats before, things that would be totally normal and friendly to a man, are to be received with caution by a woman. We're more likely to perceive generosity negatively cause we have our guard up, so you can read that scene as her perspective, because in the moment she was scared, regardless of his intentions. Also plenty of rapists and murderers are married and considered to be stand up guys and charming by their communities, so that doesn't necessarily say much.
@@contrajoints Yes, that was very fair... not. Let's not forget how many horrible men who have done horrible things did so because of their "mommy issues" gained from abusive mothers. Rather than trying to make this a feminist issue, can't we just acknowledge that there are many good people and many bad people out there? Some are men, and some are women. All, however, are individuals who should be judged as such. Not by their gender.
Michal Mateusz Halski If a man had made a movie expressing fear for his safety because of the way he perceived a woman’s or man’s actions I would be fine with that, because it is his perspective. I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here.
Whassname Whassname She didn’t seem to be making these assumptions solely based on gender. She wasn’t afraid of every man she met. It was how she interpreted his behavior. You’re being deliberately obtuse.
@not tryna argue but trying to argue by putting down women for being naive. Maybe women don't learn fighting because their culture doesn't encourage them and maybe men are more likely to be victims because they've raised with a fighting ego that makes them overestimate their abilities and less cautious in the first place. It's called sociology. There are downsides and upsides to it all but truthfully we are largely who we were taught to be. Women have been taught to be wary. Not to gouge out someone's eyes. Because of a number of sociological reasons but the upside is it's best to not be in a position where you have to gouge someone's eyes out. Cheers
Dixie you brought in a great commentary of what hikers see when they watch this movie, all though the movie does have some really good reality in it and was fun to watch. Thanks again for a great video.
26:10 another big limitation of tablets... when you have water that bad, tablets may make it technically safe to drink, but dinking it without filtering it might actually make you vomit (I saw it happen to a friend once), and that only dehydrates you worse.
Wild was first movie I saw on thru hiking, followed later by A Walk in the Woods, which was a fun and beautiful movie to watch on thru hiking some of the Appalachian trail. Thanks for your comments on the movie Wild. I think her pack was claimed to weigh 75 pounds when she started the actual 1000 mile hike in Wild.
I started backpacking in 1981 to climb Mt Whitney Haha. What a way to start. 2of is had no tent and the first night had us and our sleeping pads slide quite a distance down slope without us realizing it. We had a permit to go up the mountaineers route. We missed the turnoff expecting some kind of a sign. Was stopped up the normal trail by USFS and told to go back. Found the path, and got lost in a boulder field, and had to double back to go around a cliff. When it was over, one sprained ankle. One bad back. -and one spirit broken. I returned to day hike the whole thing and got my picture on top with an American flag on the summit. My doctor who treated me for asthma advised I never exert myself at high altitude🙀. Pretty powerful moment in my life. That along with conquering the fear of speech class and getting an A, I feel these moments can be turning moments in your life. As for the gear Jansport and Kelty were popular external packs. I opted for an internal Lowe pack and used it for 14 years before getting another pack. But I continue to see young people out for a graduation backpack with an external packed up completely wrong. People did use pills for water right up to the point for water filters started coming down to 10 Oz . I had the First Need for 26oz that took care of viruses. Watching the movie I was put off by the stupidity of everything she did and did not find it inspiring to go backpacking. I teach the following 1) Take care of your feet with sock liners, wool socks, and ALL leather boots. Take a break at a stream crossing and get your feet into the cold water. It stops blisters from forming. 2) Know your limitations and plan where to camp and get water. 3) Understand and plan for weather conditions and wildlife threats. 4) Have a map and compass and know how to use them. 4) Go with someone very experienced your first time out, and watch the little things they do. Do not listen to some RUclipsr. Sorry Dixie, not a knock on you personally. But I have met famous people who were crossing dangerous terrain at night in grizzly country without bear spray, ice axe or boots. At night🙀. My partner went home and bought all the ultralight gear he had. He since has stopped backpacking, and has a lot of expensive gear.That should tell you. 5) Get in shape by day hiking and track your progress with miles per hour and elevation per hour. Return to the same trail to see your progress. This is more true if you are older than 35. Once you can climb a certain distance and elevation you can imagine doing it with more weight and figure it take twice as long. Go on a short (5-7 mile) overnight trip first. Then make it a 3 day trip. Only then go 4-7 day trips. It is physically and mentally exhausting to hike many days without rest. I tend to go my limit for 2 days and take a day off for day hiking or fishing, then another 2 days of hard hiking. Seems to work for my wife who is not into hiking like me. Allows the body to recover. Thru hiking should not be attempted with heavy packs or inexperienced hikers. It is supposed to be fun and there is no reason to have bleeding blisters, lost toe nails or any other ailments if you know what you are getting into. And please understand gear choices are very subjective. Listening to one person is not advised. I am a Fish and Wildlife Biologist. What I use may not be the most comfortable or inexpensive in the store, but I have never needed help in 40 years of backpacking. Make your own choice after CAREFUL review. Buy gear that will work in all conditions and seasons you expect to encounter. Ask the sales person at the store what kind of experience they have. I tend to not even bother with someone under the age of 30. Some stores has people such as seasonal or retired Park service rangers who have experienced the gear innovations
As a hiker in New Zealand (my homeland) I completely agree with your preparation tips. Our back country has claimed the lives of many inadequately prepared individuals, sadly.
Dixie, those external frame packs were popular well into the early 2000s. I used one on a 3 day hike/canoe trip in the Boy Scouts, called the Chief Pontiac trail in Michigan. Had my regular sleepin bag, closed cell pad, part of my eureka 2 person tent (buddy carried the rest), etc... Pack weighed well over 30 pounds. Was a memorable and painful experience. I recently saw a Scout troop hiking Grand Island in the Upper Peninsula using external frame packs similar to my old one. Took me right back to that cold rainy weekend.
Loved the breakdown you did of the movie! I’ve never watched it before. I’ve thruhiked the Long Trail and never ran into any hitching experiences like that for sure
Great video Dixie. I think for the most part the movie was pretty spot on. However i wish that it showed more of the beauty and how that effects a person mentally. For me many times it has been the views and the beauty of the unknown that drove me on. What's around the next corner that takes your breath away.
Old 60's hitch hiking put-off: "Thanks for the ride, I've got to get to the clinic. Pretty sure it's vd but penicillin can cure that right? Itches like mad though."
It was this exact movie that got me into backpacking...I found your channel and learned a ton...next thing I found myself on my very first solo backpacking trip...and it changed my life!
RE: licking dew. A US pilot, Capt. Scott O'Grady, shot down over Bosnia, used a sponge to collect dew and store it in plastic bags. As I understand it, there is now a much better sponge carried in USAF survival kits. O'Grady landed among a Bosnian-Serb population he was briefed would be unfriendly. He quickly secured a 29-pound (13 kg) survival bag, ran, and hid. Rubbing dirt on his face, he hid face-down as Bosnian-Serb forces came upon his parachute, half a dozen times shooting their rifles only feet from where he was hidden in an effort to flush him out or kill him.[5] F-16C of the 555th Fighter Squadron based at Aviano Air Base, Italy. During the next six days, he put to use the lessons learned during a 17-day Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training session he had undertaken near his hometown of Spokane, Washington. He ate leaves, grass, and bugs, and stored the little rainwater he could collect with a sponge in plastic bags.[6]
Been there. Bandanna tied around my ankle walking the fields to soak up water enough to wet your whistle on a soon to be blistering hot day. I was very thankful for the dew that morning i will tell you.
I was backpacking quite a bit during the late 80s and early 90s. I still have my old Kelty Tioga pack. I can tell you that they nailed the vintage gear. The boots, the tent, the sleeping bag. I can relate to it all.
For anyone who enjoyed the moving in would strongly recommend the book. It was so much better in my opinion. Such an emotional journey. I listened on audiobook 👍👍
The book was beautiful...I had purchased it at Costco and set it aside as I was busy working and my mothers declining health and eventual death. When I read it I was casting the movie in my head....didn’t know at the time the movie was being made ....I tell friends to read this book ...it is a tribute to Cheryl Strayeds mother....I loved every word written in the book and every frame filmed of the movie. I literally collapse into tears when ever inhear Simon and Garfunkel’s El Condor Pasa.....like Cheryl Strayed I loved my mother....more than I can explain....I thank the higher powers for giving me to her because she got me and let me be me....I have in no way turned out to be a great person but my mother was and I am her child and that’s enough for me. She turned 20 and had me two weeks later....I miss her so much.
So love this movie, thank you for doing this. I was so excited when I saw you had reviewed it. Ex and I hiked in 1992 and our packs were pretty much just like hers, enormous sleeping bag on top.
The free-box scene is great. Dont need this, dont need that. Lol. Wish i would have known that decades ago. when my pack would be around 60 lbs. Now it is about 30-35 lbs with lighter gear. Keep in mind the majority of my weight will be bushcraft tools. Saw, Survival knife, Sometimes an ax. Then again i am not taking all of that thru hiking either. Cool take on the movie. Good as always...
Could you please do one of these reviews for the movie “the way” starring Martin sheen. I personally feel like this movie has captured the complex nature of what it’s like creating a trail family better then other movies.
I liked it. I think this was more valuable than just gear reviews. I'm glad you did the PCT and make these videos. I'm a year late but hope you make many more. Somebody mentioned down below that they love your accent..it is damn cute. Love the braces. You are so talented! Brave! Accomplished!
Great commentary Dixie! I would very much like to hear your commentary on The Way. I hiked sections of the PCT over the years and seeing her pack caused me great distress. God, I'm glad she lightened it up. I used to live in Lone Pine CA and running out of water has always been my greatest call it fear of all long distance hiking. I'm glad she made it, having not seen the movie. I will be starting the Camino de Santiago when quarantine winds down and nowadays, it is more my speed for long distance hiking, walking, sauntering, etc.
I was never really a fan of that movie, but inspiring in its own right. hope your staying sane in this crazy time from your friends here in New Zealand
That gear looked pretty spot on for the time. I used to do alot of trail backpacking in the late 80's early 90's and my pack was a large Coleman Peak 1 with bulky sleeping bag and pad. I want to say it was around 30 - 35 lbs or so. We certainly didn't have all that ultra light stuff and titanium was really expensive as well as internal frame packs. Some freeze dried meals, but no where near what is around now. Thank you for all your videos, I'm just getting back into backpacking and am out of touch on all the new tech out there. Here's to seeing you on the trails.
Fantastic. Would love to see more reviews. Stay safe. Hope you and your loved ones are doing well . So glad you and your sister got to experience the Camino de Santiago when you did. I think it will be some time before I hike in Europe again.
I second a Walk in the Woods review. I loved how Bryson and Katz would pick their packs up off the ground using the thumb and index finger of one hand. Something fishy going on there...
Thanks again Dixie - great idea during such difficult times. If you do Bryson, please do the book vs the movie, although it does have some humorous scenes. The book actually “convinced” me I didn’t really want to thru-hike the AT, even after living in NC and being around these beautiful mountains my entire life. Frozen brought me back to at least be a section hiker in my old age. Still, your “wonder” and ability to capture the amazing PCT (from bugs to panoramics) has me looking that direction, or at least the John Muir section if not the entire trail.
Great video Dixie! The first time, from hefting the pack to actually doing it, reminded me of my first long distance solo bicycle trip back in 1986. I left zero degree weather at home and flew to FL to start the trip... I had brand new and never tested everything. I never had it all on the bike and certainly never road a loaded bicycle before. I remember getting on the loaded bike, my first ride in about 18 months, riding a short distance and saying to myself "What the hell am I doing?!" Decades later with six major trips under my belt I can laugh about it. I can also empathize with first time thru-hikers and bicycle tourists. That first trip was a life changing experience in many ways... people I met and places I visited on that trip are still part of my life. Put yourself out there and see what happens has become my suggestion to many!
Great review Dixie. I've always enjoyed this film because it seemed authentic (or at least the hiking bits) we all make mistakes from time to time hiking. Back in the 90's the Internet wasn't so prevalent so you just got on with things because 'they seemed a good idea at the time'. You just didn't do the web research back then. I would advise against reviewing 'A walk in the woods'. The book is fantastic. You get a personal point of view and all of Bill Brysons sarcasm and query observations which makes it a joy to read. I'll leave it up to you to make that choice of that. Maybe go for either The Way (released 2010), Into the Wild or South bounders (released 2005). Stay safe👍
Great analysis but, speaking as someone who has been swept off his feet in NZ, a heavy pack is more buoyant than a human. With 5 days of food in, mine pushed my face down into the water. Ray Mears recommends getting on top of your pack but that takes planning. Fabrics in the 80s were thicker, heavier and more bulky than fabrics now. When I got modern waterproofs, I was able to change to a smaller pack. A light tent in the 80s weighed 5lbs but were tough. Much thicker poles than modern tents. My Phoenix Phantom stood up to insane winds. Standard one man tents could stand up to storms pretty much as well as a Trailstar. As I say, your analysis is excellent. I enjoyed this video.
This movie drew me to hiking, and your channel. Within a year I was on the AT. After a heart attack and hip replacement, I'll be back on the AT again this year (when they let us). Happy trails!
I haven't see this movie yet but now planning on it. This movie seems to be one those teaching ones. No such thing as a perfect trip. I tend to learn more, off of my mistakes rather than ppl warning me about it. I enjoy your channel and thanks for your review.
I met Cheryl Strayed on the PCT in 1995 at Spanish Needle Creek. In fact, I am the guy in the book and the movie named Greg (she changed my name for the book, and the actor Kevin Rankin plays me) who has the conversation with her about miles per day and, later, greeting her at Kennedy Meadows. Dixie, I really liked your assessment of Cheryl's gear and techniques on the trail. In my journal I wrote that "she doesn't know what she is in for..." Despite the trials she faced, she did very well considering her lack of experience. At the time Cheryl struck me as smart, ambitious (she told me she wanted to be a writer, but I never would have guessed a best seller!), personable, and even generous. I was with Charlie Thorpe and "Meadow Ed" at Kennedy Meadows when the gear culling happened. It is very true that Charlie (Matt in the book, Ed in the movie) found all that stuff, and the real Meadow Ed still has Cheryl's old saw to this day! Meeting Charlie, Meadow Ed, me and several others at Kennedy Meadows gave Cheryl a gentle boost of confidence which helped her carry out her plan to hike to the Bridge of the Gods. It is very good to have this video and many other sources of tips, tricks, and fundamentals for long distance hiking. In the mid-90's we relied on retail stores, books such as the PCT Hiker's Handbook by Ray Jardine, or through people we met in organizations like ALDHA-West to learn about long distance hiking gear. Cheryl had REI's help, and we all saw the result in "Monster". I am surprised to see, even in Dixie's recent video of her AT hike, that some long distance hikers carry so much heavy gear even in an era of easy-to-find resources about long distance hiking and advanced, ultra-light gear. My recent observations on the trails (I thru-hiked the CDT in 2016) is that Cheryl Strayed's book Wild continues to inspire many long distance hikers. One of the most positive things to learn about the post-Wild era is that women are on equal footing with men when it comes to hiking. In fact, some of the fastest known times (FKTs) on the long trails were achieved by women. On the CDT in 2016 women and men were almost equal in numbers, and they journeyed the trail as well as any men I knew on that trail. It may have been true in the mid-90's, too, but it is great to see more and more women who are confident to do what was once less common just 25 years ago. The same is true with members of minorities, such as the two African-American hikers who recently achieved their Triple Crowns. So, everyone, keep learning from each other and be safe out there! If you want to read more, please Google "Greg In Wild" and look for the the article I wrote for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. - Greg In Wild (PCT So Cal 95, PCT 96, CDT 16, hopeful for AT 21).
Thank you so much for your insight! I appreciate you watching and sharing. Good luck on the AT in 2021! ♥️
Thanks for sharing your insight.
Thanks for sharing. Her book has definitely inspired me to begin backpacking and having Dixie to learn from has boosted my confidence. I did my first overnight camping trip last summer, which is a huge deal for me. I suffer from my own demons so being able to prove to myself I’m strong means a lot.
ray jardine helped changed the way i pack, i still feel like more people should read his book "beyond backpacking"
This is helpful information since I'm thinking of doing this myself. Specifically, going to my sister's house in Kentucky from my house in Nevada.
What's cool about her pack "Monster" in the movie is that they fully recreated her original pack. She still had it in her basement after all those years!
"Now that I've hiked over 8000 miles I have a pretty good grasp of what a long distance backpacking trip actually looks like."...Dixie's understatement of the day!
I never knew about the PCT. I was hunting in the area and came across these people with bells on. I stopped to talk to them and they seemed like they had some miles on them. I asked one lady, "where did you start?" She said "Mexico." I was blown away. Could not believe people did that. Was very impressed. Later ran into an old guy that looked like gandolph the wizard. He asked me if this was the PCT as he was a little lost and his son was a couple days ahead. I helped him get oriented via map and we found a note scribbled to him in the middle of a fork written by his son. Left a few granola bars for him and kept on hunting. Later I found your channel. Kudos to you all.
Why were they hiking with bells on?
@@CapnCody1622 Probably to scare away any predators.
@@CapnCody1622 and to alert the hunters or if they get separated.
@@CapnCody1622 In bear country it helps keep you from surprising a bear.
God, I watched Wild and also Into The Wild some years ago. And I greatly enjoyed them and deeply appreciated them. But only with my soul. Back then I was a couch potato who never did any sports activities. Back then I never knew that just in a few years I could be walking thousands of kilometers alone and surviving in the wild and all that. Life is so surreal and so precious. I feel incredibly humbled and grateful. Wishing the best to all out there who might be starting their journey now.
Favourite lines from Wild:
Her: (lost) -"WHERE AM I?"
Skier: -"CALIFORNIA!"
Us CA guys (especially snowboarders and skiers) can be A holes LOL.
Remember my first backpacking trip. Up the mist trails in Yosemite with a “monster” on my back. It was hell. But dinner was amazing (steak and beer).
40 years later, the pack is 1/2 as heavy and the gear is better.
Ha me too, I had one of those old 6 volt lanterns. It probably weighed 4 lbs!
The beer is better now too!
I honestly thought you meant big foot for a minute 😂
I started backpacking in the 90's and Cheryl's set up is very typical of the time period. Heck, I and my friends climbed many of the 14ers in the Sierra with a set up very similar to hers! My pack often weighed 50ish lbs - and I'm a 5'6" female! And there's no way that you could get those old bulky sleeping bags inside an external frame pack! I am thru hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail this summer and am very glad for modern improvements in backpacking gear!
@Jonathan Smuck Still have my copies of both those on my shelf! My initial trips were in the 80s with heavy leather boots slathered with Snow Seal, and a 4+ pound sleeping bag strapped on wherever it would fit, and a push broom handle for a walking stick. I once weighed my pack on a desert trip at 75 pounds. Ray sure changed things, or at least made us aware that there was a better way to be found. Now I'm a hammocker with a down quilt and carbon fiber trekking poles and can cover more miles with more smiles than when I was half my current age. I still have those old boots - I pick 'em up now and then and just laugh - and put them back down.
Back in the 60's the Boy Scout weekend hikes I went on we carried very heavy packs of about 70 pounds. The older boys carried even heavier ones. This was due to the heavy canvas (army surplus) tents with heavy wooden poles, heavy canvas packs, heavy canned food (no freeze dried) and Army issue sleeping bags. We hiked on the AT up to Sunfish Pond, camped for 2 days and hiked back. The distance was totally nothing compared to what the thru hikers have done but it sure wore all of us out. 15 boys out there in the woods and after dinner, it was totally silent as everyone was exhausted. I remember thinking, Holy Crap, I have to walk back in 2 days. At least the food cans we hauled out were empty and that made it a little lighter, ha ha.
Dixie is so beautiful!! I love the way she says "thru haaak"
I always chuckle at that. Turn on cc. They type it as through "hacks" most of the time.
I like how she has to make a farr to bole water.
EpicBladeTime My favourite still is having a ladder to light her farr. Love you, Dixie! 💕
@@muskadobbit Dixie is so lovely
@@misscandy84 we can all act like snobs sometimes. I appreciate all the work she puts into the videos and life!
The water buffalo scene reminded me of when we lost a guy during land nav training in texas. He made it to within a hundred yards of the water tank, which was on the top of a small hill at the end of the course. Unfortunately he passed out from heat exhaustion and rolled downed the hill into a thicket of scrubs. We searched for 4 days but was unable to find him until his body started to decompose and the dogs found him. Apparently he died the first night from exposure after falling out from exhaustion. Everybody was in good shape and started the course with 4 litters of water, two canteens and a camel pak and no pack. The course was only 4 hours long. Don't fool around in the heat of the dessert, not even a little.
Your cadre failed him. To think that he made it so close to the water tank and he still wasn't found? It should have been hands across the course all damn night until he was found. That's borderline criminal at worst, and negligent at best.
@@derek96720 As a retired grunt I couldn't agree more with your assessment.
@@derek96720 I agree - the most basic rule in the wilderness is "everyone comes out together".
Always bring salt with you, a lot of people bring lots of water, their electrolytes get imbalanced and they fall down.
first of all I'm not from Texas, was just training there, second I don't think anyone who still uses stones as a measurement of weight has much room to talk about americans and there funny units of measurement... but yes the military tends to use metric more than the average american. Lastly the only thing I know about Furlongs is that they were 1 of the 4 great races😂so...@bitemyshite
I read Wild when it first came out and wrote up a positive review of the book. After posting the review to the backpacking forum I'm a part of, I got slammed from many members for the same reasons you mentioned about how it's really not a trail guide or a story about backpacking. Everyone focused on how the author went on and on about the issues in her life and what led up to wanting to do a first ever long hike. I explained to those who were criticizing my review that backpacking, and the time alone that comes with it, is one of the most therapeutic activities a person can do. Overcoming difficult physical challenges shows us that the mental ones can also be tackled. I thought it was a well written book with enough examples about trail life to acquaint the reader to what backpacking is about.
I'm with you. People in hobby groups can be such gatekeepers. The book was awesome and was absolutely about hiking and backpacking, if you want to see it from a true beginner's standpoint.
My biggest complaint about the book/movie is not about how Nyland spends so much time describing how bad she is at family relations, birth control, romance, recreational drugs, horse care, or backpacking. Rather, it is that she almost certainly didn't actual hike most of the trail. No one from that year can remember seeing her on the trail and much of her reported timing doesn't jive with the mileage she claims.
Lying about her inner joinery? I'm cooler with that than her lying about what she did on the trail.
The book is more about her mental journey than the physical one. After reading bliss(ters), and racing the winter I thought it was a nice change. I started trail to work thru some demons too. The 'rona basically killed that but there's next year. Still need to watch the movie though.
I totally agree brother. I saw the movie when it was first released, and it's rare that a film will inspire me to read the book it was based on. But I did, and I thought Strayed put together a well-written, compelling story. And with very few hints of amateurish writing mistakes so common to a first book. Whether she's a charlatan or not, the book did what it set out to do -- be a grounded, motivational voice (and I HATE self-help shit). I was just starting to push myself on distance-hiking at the time and it arrived in the world at a good time for me.
David Thomas Her name is Strayed, officially changed in May 1995 so that is the name you should use, not her birth name. 1100 miles in 96 days is under 12 miles a day which seems believable since she skipped the Sierras. Today's reported average mileage for people that complete the trail according to the halfwayanywhere combined annual surveys 2013-2019 is around 21 miles a day.
As to no one having seen her well the guy called Greg in the book (actually Roger) begs to differ...
wild.pcta.org/2015/01/28/greg-first-person-story-wild/
I cannot understand not testing out the stove before a trip because like many others, I'm sorta a stove geek and just love playing around with them. I had a Coleman that wasn't light by any definition in boy scouts, and that thing was the coolest thing to me, holding it and knowing that device is just as capable of cooking a meal on the trail as you would use your stove at home.
The way your face lit up when you said "Is this a trail angel?!" 😃
I noticed that too, it was a delightful moment. 😊
I had 35lbs on my back for my section of the AT last year. On day 1, the very first day, I stopped at a small stream for a picture. I kneeled down and uh oh... 35 lbs tipped me over and I was laying on my back in the stream like a turtle and couldn't get up. Rolling side to side to no avail. I finally unbuckled the pack and stood up. Looked around to see if anyone was laughing and then picked up my now wet pack and strapped it back on. LOL Picture turned out nice though.
That is hilarious and something I would do! Thanks for sharing the great story and making me laugh
First day centre-of-gravity realisation. It’s not really surprising when you think how long you’ve been walking this planet in a normal human weight distribution.
Like others, that gave me a good laugh. I'm not a backpacker and probably won't be. But I wear a daypack almost every walk out by the river. I keep a few necessaries in the pack along with some water for me and a little spare water just in case. So I know that feeling of change in one's center of mass. :o
That’s what my pack weighed this spring. Lol.
As long as the pic turned out good lmao glad you're ok! Thats going to happen to me i feel lol. Cant wait to go on my first hike! Wish me luck bc im nervous
My favorite scene in the movie is when Reese tries to stand up with the pack on in her motel. They loaded the pack and her struggles were real. I LMAO!
I kinda wish they kept it up, because as soon as she starts the trail anyone who ever wore a pack sees that its is nowere near that heavy. She is walking way to casual.
And she was shown running with that backpack very casually lol, it would ruin her knees and feet.
The scene in the book is hilarious, as well. Howlingly funny.
Thanks. That was fun. I saw that movie a long time ago and I remember thinking that it was pretty authentic. I appreciate your running commentary; it was interesting. Thanks a million.
For my first big hike in 1991, I borrowed my uncle's pack which was an external frame beast. Like most first-time hikers, I took so much "just in case" gear. I even took my full length oilskin coat, which weighs a ton, as my waterproof. In hindsight the gear was crazy, but my memories of that trip are so precious. I loved reading Wild when it was first published and thought that Reese Witherspoon did a wonderful job with the movie. Like The Way, it is hard to get a true sense of the scale of such a long journey within the constraints of Hollwood norms, but Wild (and The Way) both do a great job. Great video Dixie! Take care out there in the wild world folks.
I just completed my first overnight camping/backing trip because of you, Dixie. You inspire me, and I love your inclusive attitude.
I started backpacking in ‘96. My backpack for years was a REI knock-off of a Kelty external frame bag. Even in the mid-90s the transition to internal frame bags was in progress, but I sweat like no one’s business and went external frame. With an external frame pack you typically didn’t pack your sleeping bag in the pack proper, but there was often a portion of the frame below the pack that you used straps to lash it onto. My sleeping bag (which I’m still using today, but probably should get a new one soon) was a synthetic fill (Holofil, I believe is what it was) that would maintain insulative value even if wet; thankfully, I never fully dunked my sleeping bag. Tent, ground cloth, and pad were often put on top of the body of the pack, under the flap with a pocket that would strap down over the top of the pack (a proto-brain?). I was an assistant scoutmaster for about 6 years, and that’s how things were commonly done.
I read the book "Wild" and it was what got me into wanting to hike in the first place. I was glad to see you do this comparison. I appreciate you. Love from Arkansas
I was an extra in this movie! I played a background hippie in the bar scene. You can't really see my face though cuz of aesthetic blur, oh well!
I am so glad you are still creating great content! I am 62 years old, and I plan on hiking the PCT when I retire at 65. I rewatch many of your videos to keep me inspired. Thank you.
Hey Dixie so happy you can keep posting in quarentine. Thanks for the review. I have dreamed of hiking the A.T. for 20 years since I read a walk in the woods. Great book horrible movie. I am a postman in Phoenix and will be retiring at the end of this year. I discovered your chanel in 2017. I was badly injured in a vehicle accident in june, 2018. Broke my left ankle and right elbow. Spent 24 days in the hospital and 10 weeks of physical therapy. Saturday I went on an 8 mile hike with lots of elevation gain and switcbacks. You have been such an inspiration to me! :) I am seriously thinking of joining the A.T. class of 2021 or a least a good section hike. If I do, I have
you and my wonderful physical therapists to thank. Thank You Dixie! :)
I just cant believe that you come up with such great content with every VLOG
Exactly what is one of many reasons she’s far better than most if not all the others.
"Wild" is what led me to watch You do the PCT & CDT. You have given me hours of hiking pleasure, Thank You! "Wild" the book is also a good read...wayne
Wild is the movie that inspired me to go travelling solo for a year around the world. I was going through menopause and needed some introspection. Now, 3 years later, I am heading to the Rota Vicentina in Portugal for my first hiking trip. For some reason, I thought you would destroy my favourite movie, but you didn't! Thank you for always sharing your experiences with us and happy trails to you :)))
This is great Dixie! It was a cool idea. You are definitely one of those experts who can do these breakdown videos.
I've had a rough few years. Broke my leg and now the proud owner of a rod "Yeah it hurts" and a survivor of Ovarian Cancer. Chemo has changed me. I get mad, because I wasn't done yet. And I am not. I am still hanging on- my subscriptions here on you tube revolve around nature - scenery- the out of doors- places you don't see from the road. I am hiking and traveling that way, and when I do actually go, I car camp and experience what I can. ------------- Also passing the torch to the younger generation, helping them to catch the itch.... :)
Joker’sMom1 - drive the Lewis & Clark Trail. Preferably in a flat-fender Willy’s Jeep. You might like it! Also read David McCullogh’s book on same subject.
Cancer survivor warrior also. Pray you are still doing well & have continued health!!! 🙏
When did you break your leg and get rod put in? Got mine in Mar 2016,can't tell at all.
M best friend was diagnosed with the most aggressive type of ovarian cancer and at stage 4. In her 40s, married with 3 adult kids…given 6 months to live. Underwent chemo, major surgery & is now having more infusions. They now say she has 2-5 years.
Instead of being mad, be grateful. There always somebody out these who has it worse than you…
90s mountaineer, was actually kinda nice seeing the old heavy gear. We can romanticize anything apparently. It sucked. So nice having the inexpensive and expensive lightweight options now. Going to have to check out this movie now.
Greetings from Afghanistan! Nice breakdown of the movie. As an accomplished hiker, you could really pick it apart, but your review was fair. The point of the movie wasn't to create a backpacking documentary. As you suggest, it was more about a personal journey. I enjoyed the book more so than the movie. Still good entertainment.
Exactly what I was thinking- wondering if you’d do more of this type video. Love seeing your reactions and hearing your comments!
I'm born and raised in the area of Kennedy Meadows...things like this are great reminder of the beauty and rural culture that I'm privileged to be part of...I don't ever take it for granted, esp. during these times...having property in the Sierras is a blessing. I was feeling super cranky earlier and this reminded me to just look outside at my gorgeous view...and now I have a smile
I’m so glad you did a review of this movie! This is the movie that actually got me interested in hiking, and what lead me to your channel! I remember searching specifically for women hikers and stumbled across your first AT video. Love your videos!
Being a city folk this movie made me aware of the PCT. I remember being inspired that I went to local library to read all I can about the gear I needed. Sure enough the so call experts say external framed backpack and full leather ankle boots. I recalled the advice that you strap the tent and sleeping bag on the outside. Now it’s amazing how much lighter, cheaper and more practical all the gear is this making such thru hike more accessible. I think the movie did a great job of raising awareness of just not PCT but also how much unnecessary junk we carry in our lives. There is symbolism of the loneliness in that we all try to distract the empty feeling by buying/researching superficial things instead of just spending time becoming comfortable being by ourselves. To no longer seek external confirmation of value about ourselves. So for some experienced thru hikers this movie may have been seen too Hollywood, all o ask is just remember that the movie inspired people like me to start going back into nature. It also led me to this channel where I got to meet and learn much more.
I can tell you when I first started in Scouts (back in the 70's) my external frame pack was built to have the pack on top and space underneath for my, yes you guessed it, my sleeping bag.
I still have one of those packs in storage! I think if I took it out now I would be gear shamed lol
Mine too, but in the 80's. I was just a young kid and carried about 20 pounds max, with food and water. A sleeping bag at lumbar area and foam-roll up top. My poncho could make a small tent if needed but we always used the AT's shelters instead of carrying tents. In this video she was carrying way too much from below the waist to overhead.
SA 1 she’s just not old enough to know how we rolled back in the old days.
@@michaelfarmer9901 I bought a new Kelty external frame pack last spring. I've carried it on a few trips now in Colorado and in Kansas. I actually had a couple of girls in Colorado think that it was an interesting pack! But yes, I'm well aware that lots of people probably think that I'm nuts. It's a great pack, although it is a little bit heavier, and it makes some noise as you hike along.
@@cainerose7841 That makes me feel old! lol. Ah, the days of external frame packs, flannel shirts, and down vests. Well, at least the down vests/jackets came back in style!
I hiked for most of a thru hike with two hikers who had recently gone through a death in their families. One young woman's sister had passed. Her sister was a traveler and worked in tourism. My friend had only camped once pre thru hike and hated it. She is now some years later adventuring in nature often. She had a lovely ritual regarding her sister. When we got to beautiful views she would leave a tiny thumbnail photo of her sister placed so the photo of her sister could see the view. I know it's about leave no trace but I do make an exception for this. It was a beautiful sentiment and she was clearly grieving. Another hiker had lost his mom. We got into an involved conversation about it and got lost! So we bond about real things on the trail.
One of my favorite videos. I laughed so hard I cried at the turtleing!
It was not uncommon with the older external frame packs to put the bag on top, although, inside a waterproof bag.
Great advice on night hiking in the desert with an uncertain water supply.
You do have to admit there is a huge difference between the modern ultralight hiker, and the hiker from 30 years ago taking everything with them. I camped in the 80s and our sleeping bags strapped to the bottom of a frame pack. Made it real difficult to stay upright. Our packs weighed over 50 pounds.
Depends where you're going. If you're going into winter wilderness for 3+ days a pack weight of 20-25kg/45-55lbs is pretty realistic.
Yeah I remember doing 50 miles with a 50-60 lb pack. No people seem to balk at taking anything over 20. You took a lot of that stuff not because you were going to use it, but because you wanted it if you needed it. There was no cell coverage, no gps, maybe no other people on a trail for days. You had to be self reliant
My pack weight a little less than me. I fell over and it took two friends to get me up with the shifting weight. I love the new stuff.
Even today’s gear weight vs less than 10 years ago is a big leap. A high end bivy from 2013 weights what you can get a 2p tent for these days
I just retired my Kelty external frame pack 3 weeks ago and got my first internal frame, an Osprey Atmos AG 50. Got my first down bag. Realized my limelight tent was heavy and got a Dragonfly 2 (which others would still find heavy, but i'm 6'7"). I put on my fully loaded pack and just went "oh yeah..." it felt amazing. Gear has really come a long way. My old packs were regularly 40-50lb, now it's under 30. ^__^
The thing I noticed in the movie Wild is that she never wears sunglasses.
A person would go snow-blind quickly in the exposed mountain areas with snow. But even in the desert areas you need to protect your eyes from UV.
I'm a squinter, skier and lifetime backpacker in California. I've always hated sunglasses and never wear them. Perhaps that explains having cataracts removed from both eyes but it could also be I'm 60.
Flash burns.
@@ApeMan I'm 65 spent a lot of time outdoors in snow and the desert. Worn sunglasses my whole life. No cataracts.
Burnt corneas are zero fun.
while I really enjoyed the movie whenever she was hiking in the sun I'm like why no hat or cap lol
I am not a long distance hiker. But, I have traveled the southwest camping out of a SUV and a tent. for many months just being self reliant on my own in the outdoors was the best experience in my whole life. I came to this stop much more confident. Loved your take on the movie's authenticity.
Loved this video! I love watching movies like this because I would never have the guts to do something like this! I loved watching all of your videos and have binged watched them many times! Thanks!
i gotta watch this movie!! in reference to external frame backpacks, i was a BSA from '69-'74. i carried a canvas external frame pack and my sleeping bag was always tied to the bottom of the pack inside a canvas sack. when it rained we wore ponchos so it kept your bag dry.
yes, i'd like to see you do other videos like this one. and i'd like to say thank-you for not wavering during your popularity growth, thanks for keeping it real!
I have read her book. Yes her pack was that huge and it really was named monster by the other hikers.
I'm glad to know that this movie is pretty darn realistic especially for her era with a couple of rookie mistakes that are still believable. It's still one of my favorite movies and has motivated me in other ways. I wish I could do a through hike, but my feet would not get the job done.
Dixie, your comments on introspection were spot on. Some people bring demons onto the trail but most don't. But everyone, in my opinion, begins to look deeply at nature and deeply at oneself when hiking. Whether it is a long weekend or a through-hike, inevitably the mind begins to wander and think about the past--past mistakes, past triumphs, past embarrassments--and the future--what am I doing with my life? how will this work out? etc. Sort of a "life, the universe, and everything" shtick. If we don't have demons, we sometimes create them. You have said several times that hiking long-distance is often a mind thing. Keep the mind focused and keep telling yourself that you CAN do this and you probably will. The mind is key, but a side effect is that the mind brings up all sorts of things, many thoughts that are unbiden, that you don't want to dwell on and yet they come up when everyday is the same thing: up, breakfast, pack up, hike, find water, eat, set up camp, sleep, repeat. Cheryl's struggles were extreme, but we all have lesser demons and fears of our own creation. Keep hiking Dixie, and keep coming to us with your humor, your thoughtfulness, and your wisdom. Next year, back on the trail! Cheers, Tortoise
I’m so early!! Hey Dixie!! Your videos make me smile and I took my first backpacking trip because of you :)
Yes. She is💪🏽❤👍🏽
That is AWESOME!! I hope you had an amazing time ♥️♥️
Hiking in the '70s. The sleeping bag would never ever fit inside my pack.
Perhaps. We had external fame packs in the 70's, and the sleeping bag rolled up underneath the fabric part. Not all the sleeping bags were that big. My first down REI bag is smaller than the one in the video, and is even smaller with a compression sack, which weren't used back then 'cause .... reasons.
I always just used to put them in garbage bags on shelf
Yes! My first backpacking trip was in spring 1973 and my Boy Scout sleeping bag rolled super tight was still about the size of a tractor tire!
True, but I always carried my sleeping bag on the bottom of my pack.
@@jbirgen Depends on how the frame was set up. I had one that did bottom, and another that I packed it up top with the pack flap over it. Top can be nice for shifting your center of gravity a little lower
Such an incredible woman. Thanks for putting up with us viewers. 😄
Granted I am very old school. I'm 60+ and started backpacking in my teens in the 70s. External frame was the way to go and I still prefer them. Both types have advantages and disadvantages. You pick which set want. In those days sleeping bags were so large that if you put them inside you couldn't fit anything else. Everyone put them outside. The choice was on top or on bottom. Again, both had advantages and disadvantages. I learned very quickly to wrap or line everything with a plastic trash bag. And a properly tied diamond hitch would hold just about anything.
I'm 54 and my first pack was also external. They're nice in that they sit away from your back so you get some air circulation, but now that I'm older, I like how internals sit closer to my body and don't throw my balance off as much. But yeah, I strapped my sleeping bag and pad (closed cell foam!) underneath the pack. I used a couple of cotton belts to hold them on. They worked really well.
That was fun ! I hope you do more content like this . The blue ray has some really good extra’s about her pack , how much it weighed and how much weight she reduced it down .
Your summarization is pretty spot on, I truly enjoyed it and learned from it. Thru hike pct is dream of my life.
I did not see her wearing any head gear to protect from the sun or rain, nor any sunglasses. In my limited experience, I think those are crucial. It is hard for me to believe any adult would attempt such without at least a one day trip with someone that has some outdoor experience.
Loved this!!!! I've been watching your videos for years now, and never get bored with the content. Love your calm persona. Do a walk in the woods!!! It's hilarious.
I just watched this a week ago with my best friend (on a cast) and we started planning our first thru hike together!
I read the book and then began watching you a few years ago. I hate camping, am too fat and have a bunch of little kids right now, but because of the book and your channel, I want to - one day - hike the PCT. I loved watching your take on the movie. Thanks for always taking us on your journey.
While the external frame and sleeping bag on top is spot on for the era, I never met anyone hauling that much crap with them, or that had never used their stove (at that time most used a Primus stove that ran on alcohol, which was a bit fiddly). The feet damage and strap irritations was pretty much assured with the gear of that era hauling as much weight as she tried to (which again, I never saw that much weight on the trail even from newbies). Long distance hikers usually were in sandals or tennis shoes. The misguided push for "special" hiking boots really wasn't a thing until the 90s...and even then didn't really catch on with the long distance folks. Having lived along the AT, I saw, helped and listened to the complaints from 100s of hikers a year and have a fair feel for life on the trail through the 1980s. Having that exposure, my gear was often old fashion, but always light and flexible. Honestly the gear of today really isn't all that much lighter than 50 years ago, but is much more functional and ergonomic....and of course grossly more expensive. My magnesium external frame nylon pack of 1970 is just as light (and for me as comfortable) as any internal frame I've come across.....but just isn't even sort of water resistant or as roomy....but again, you don't need that much stuff so you don't need that much pack unless you are really going into the wilderness, which hiking established trails really doesn't qualify as. On durability, that pack has been all over the US and Canada and except for a hole chewed by a pesky mouse, hasn't required repairs. As a side note on a totally different era, hardly anyone then did much to purify water along the AT. At least through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, bending down and taking a drink from any spring was the norm and diarrhea wasn't the result. I don't know if the water was cleaner then or our guts more resistant, but I never saw a filter until the 90s, and rare was the water source where folks would think to boil it first.
I've been enjoying your vlogs for a while now and as I re watch this I'm liking it all the more now , and chuckling. So here's a good reason we all can benefit from learning the basics when young. Life skills. Rangers, Guides, Scouts, or something. Dixie, I'm 68 and you are genuine and encouraging me to keep hiking, enjoy the smallest blessings and be prepared.
I was a scout throughout the 90s. We all had external frame backpacks and big, fat Walmart sleeping bags. To save weight we slept on blue tarps under the stars. Most of the food we brought was canned. Nowadays my packed weight is probably half of what it was then, and that is including a tent and an inflatable sleeping pad.
Amen about it all! I was a scout in the 70s. External frame backpacks or Army Surplus rucksacks (which are really heavy and badly balanced). We all used a lot of Army Surplus stuff which was rugged and worked well but tended to be large and heavy. A lot of canned foods. Luckily the Army Surplus was a lot of stuff from Viet Nam which at least was lighter and cooler than the stuff from WW II. I did have a metal canteen and cup stamped 1945 on the bottom.
Dixie another great video post. As a hiker and not a backpacker, I saw this movie when it first came out and I liked it. Thank you for your insights.
This was great! Watching it again after doing much more hiking and real backpacking is quite a thing. Luckily I did not have to experience most of those trials and tribulations when I transitioned from hiker to backpacker, because I had learned from you, Dixie, about proper footwear sizing, how to pack your pack, etc. :-) But I also did not test out my stove, although I knew I had the correct fuel, and was almost stuck with the trail name “High Flame”, and that’s all I’m going to say about that. :-)
I built 23 miles of the PCT by hand while employed with USFS
çool! Thanks!
''And then after that, every sticks is a snek''
ahahahahah wooow this is my brain in a nutshell
I had an external frame back back in the 70's-80's. We used the lumbar area for the sleeping bag because they couldn't fit inside because of their bulk back then. Now I shove all of my gear into a 3.5 pound pack. Times have changed but those scenes were accurate for the gear at the time.
Hey girl!, great idea for this vid! I always luuuvd this movie😉thanks for sharing & take care wherever you are✌️&♥️from🇨🇦
...a little binge watching.....interesting to see/hear references ......Fun to see your recalls....
I did 12 miles in Ireland on my first hike. I am laughing now thinking about the amount of gear I was carrying. Now when I hike, it's literally a tiny backpack. Your first hike should always be very short, in an area that is safe, desert or artic like conditions are for pros only. An interesting trick I learnt from an ultra long distance runner was to drive the route first and bury food/water caches along the way.
I will likely never get to do anything more than a family-friendly foot trail but these are my daydreams so I'm grateful for your channel! I can at least live vicariously. 💛
She forgot to say that creepy county guy ended up having a wife and he had a heart of solid gold. He was a good man.
To be fair, it's not always about whether the actual guy was a creep or trying to harm you. I've had guy friends who are awesome not realize that as a woman who has received unwanted attention and threats before, things that would be totally normal and friendly to a man, are to be received with caution by a woman. We're more likely to perceive generosity negatively cause we have our guard up, so you can read that scene as her perspective, because in the moment she was scared, regardless of his intentions.
Also plenty of rapists and murderers are married and considered to be stand up guys and charming by their communities, so that doesn't necessarily say much.
@@contrajoints Yes, that was very fair... not.
Let's not forget how many horrible men who have done horrible things did so because of their "mommy issues" gained from abusive mothers.
Rather than trying to make this a feminist issue, can't we just acknowledge that there are many good people and many bad people out there? Some are men, and some are women. All, however, are individuals who should be judged as such. Not by their gender.
Michal Mateusz Halski If a man had made a movie expressing fear for his safety because of the way he perceived a woman’s or man’s actions I would be fine with that, because it is his perspective. I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here.
Whassname Whassname She didn’t seem to be making these assumptions solely based on gender. She wasn’t afraid of every man she met. It was how she interpreted his behavior. You’re being deliberately obtuse.
@not tryna argue but trying to argue by putting down women for being naive.
Maybe women don't learn fighting because their culture doesn't encourage them and maybe men are more likely to be victims because they've raised with a fighting ego that makes them overestimate their abilities and less cautious in the first place.
It's called sociology. There are downsides and upsides to it all but truthfully we are largely who we were taught to be.
Women have been taught to be wary. Not to gouge out someone's eyes. Because of a number of sociological reasons but the upside is it's best to not be in a position where you have to gouge someone's eyes out.
Cheers
Dixie you brought in a great commentary of what hikers see when they watch this movie, all though the movie does have some really good reality in it and was fun to watch. Thanks again for a great video.
26:10 another big limitation of tablets... when you have water that bad, tablets may make it technically safe to drink, but dinking it without filtering it might actually make you vomit (I saw it happen to a friend once), and that only dehydrates you worse.
Wild was first movie I saw on thru hiking, followed later by A Walk in the Woods, which was a fun and beautiful movie to watch on thru hiking some of the Appalachian trail. Thanks for your comments on the movie Wild. I think her pack was claimed to weigh 75 pounds when she started the actual 1000 mile hike in Wild.
I started backpacking in 1981 to climb Mt Whitney Haha. What a way to start. 2of is had no tent and the first night had us and our sleeping pads slide quite a distance down slope without us realizing it. We had a permit to go up the mountaineers route. We missed the turnoff expecting some kind of a sign. Was stopped up the normal trail by USFS and told to go back. Found the path, and got lost in a boulder field, and had to double back to go around a cliff. When it was over, one sprained ankle. One bad back. -and one spirit broken. I returned to day hike the whole thing and got my picture on top with an American flag on the summit. My doctor who treated me for asthma advised I never exert myself at high altitude🙀.
Pretty powerful moment in my life. That along with conquering the fear of speech class and getting an A, I feel these moments can be turning moments in your life.
As for the gear Jansport and Kelty were popular external packs. I opted for an internal Lowe pack and used it for 14 years before getting another pack. But I continue to see young people out for a graduation backpack with an external packed up completely wrong. People did use pills for water right up to the point for water filters started coming down to 10 Oz . I had the First Need for 26oz that took care of viruses.
Watching the movie I was put off by the stupidity of everything she did and did not find it inspiring to go backpacking. I teach the following 1) Take care of your feet with sock liners, wool socks, and ALL leather boots. Take a break at a stream crossing and get your feet into the cold water. It stops blisters from forming. 2) Know your limitations and plan where to camp and get water. 3) Understand and plan for weather conditions and wildlife threats. 4) Have a map and compass and know how to use them. 4) Go with someone very experienced your first time out, and watch the little things they do. Do not listen to some RUclipsr. Sorry Dixie, not a knock on you personally. But I have met famous people who were crossing dangerous terrain at night in grizzly country without bear spray, ice axe or boots. At night🙀. My partner went home and bought all the ultralight gear he had. He since has stopped backpacking, and has a lot of expensive gear.That should tell you. 5) Get in shape by day hiking and track your progress with miles per hour and elevation per hour. Return to the same trail to see your progress. This is more true if you are older than 35. Once you can climb a certain distance and elevation you can imagine doing it with more weight and figure it take twice as long. Go on a short (5-7 mile) overnight trip first. Then make it a 3 day trip. Only then go 4-7 day trips. It is physically and mentally exhausting to hike many days without rest. I tend to go my limit for 2 days and take a day off for day hiking or fishing, then another 2 days of hard hiking. Seems to work for my wife who is not into hiking like me. Allows the body to recover. Thru hiking should not be attempted with heavy packs or inexperienced hikers. It is supposed to be fun and there is no reason to have bleeding blisters, lost toe nails or any other ailments if you know what you are getting into. And please understand gear choices are very subjective. Listening to one person is not advised. I am a Fish and Wildlife Biologist. What I use may not be the most comfortable or inexpensive in the store, but I have never needed help in 40 years of backpacking. Make your own choice after CAREFUL review. Buy gear that will work in all conditions and seasons you expect to encounter. Ask the sales person at the store what kind of experience they have. I tend to not even bother with someone under the age of 30. Some stores has people such as seasonal or retired Park service rangers who have experienced the gear innovations
As a hiker in New Zealand (my homeland) I completely agree with your preparation tips.
Our back country has claimed the lives of many inadequately prepared individuals, sadly.
Dixie, those external frame packs were popular well into the early 2000s. I used one on a 3 day hike/canoe trip in the Boy Scouts, called the Chief Pontiac trail in Michigan.
Had my regular sleepin bag, closed cell pad, part of my eureka 2 person tent (buddy carried the rest), etc...
Pack weighed well over 30 pounds.
Was a memorable and painful experience.
I recently saw a Scout troop hiking Grand Island in the Upper Peninsula using external frame packs similar to my old one. Took me right back to that cold rainy weekend.
Loved the breakdown you did of the movie! I’ve never watched it before. I’ve thruhiked the Long Trail and never ran into any hitching experiences like that for sure
Great video Dixie. I think for the most part the movie was pretty spot on. However i wish that it showed more of the beauty and how that effects a person mentally. For me many times it has been the views and the beauty of the unknown that drove me on. What's around the next corner that takes your breath away.
Old 60's hitch hiking put-off: "Thanks for the ride, I've got to get to the clinic. Pretty sure it's vd but penicillin can cure that right? Itches like mad though."
May keep a sexual assault at bay, but a physical assault....probably
"Is it suppose to burn when I pee?"
It was this exact movie that got me into backpacking...I found your channel and learned a ton...next thing I found myself on my very first solo backpacking trip...and it changed my life!
RE: licking dew. A US pilot, Capt. Scott O'Grady, shot down over Bosnia, used a sponge to collect dew and store it in plastic bags. As I understand it, there is now a much better sponge carried in USAF survival kits.
O'Grady landed among a Bosnian-Serb population he was briefed would be unfriendly. He quickly secured a 29-pound (13 kg) survival bag, ran, and hid. Rubbing dirt on his face, he hid face-down as Bosnian-Serb forces came upon his parachute, half a dozen times shooting their rifles only feet from where he was hidden in an effort to flush him out or kill him.[5]
F-16C of the 555th Fighter Squadron based at Aviano Air Base, Italy.
During the next six days, he put to use the lessons learned during a 17-day Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training session he had undertaken near his hometown of Spokane, Washington. He ate leaves, grass, and bugs, and stored the little rainwater he could collect with a sponge in plastic bags.[6]
Johann W. Coltrane And due to his ordeal the DOD initiated development of a much better radio with secure communications and gps locator.
I was at Aviano Air force Base in Italy for over 10yrs as a married civilian. Anyway AFN had SERE spots all the time.
Been there. Bandanna tied around my ankle walking the fields to soak up water enough to wet your whistle on a soon to be blistering hot day. I was very thankful for the dew that morning i will tell you.
@@lifesabeach5405 C students are used to coping with disaster and know not to quit!
I was backpacking quite a bit during the late 80s and early 90s. I still have my old Kelty Tioga pack. I can tell you that they nailed the vintage gear. The boots, the tent, the sleeping bag. I can relate to it all.
For anyone who enjoyed the moving in would strongly recommend the book. It was so much better in my opinion. Such an emotional journey. I listened on audiobook 👍👍
Agreed. The book was much better.
Yep, book was way better and had a lot more about hiking in it. But it's still a powerful movie about going through stuff mentally and physically.
The audio book was great was your narrator Bernadette Dune
The books are always better.
The book was beautiful...I had purchased it at Costco and set it aside as I was busy working and my mothers declining health and eventual death. When I read it I was casting the movie in my head....didn’t know at the time the movie was being made ....I tell friends to read this book ...it is a tribute to Cheryl Strayeds mother....I loved every word written in the book and every frame filmed of the movie. I literally collapse into tears when ever inhear Simon and Garfunkel’s El Condor Pasa.....like Cheryl Strayed I loved my mother....more than I can explain....I thank the higher powers for giving me to her because she got me and let me be me....I have in no way turned out to be a great person but my mother was and I am her child and that’s enough for me. She turned 20 and had me two weeks later....I miss her so much.
So love this movie, thank you for doing this. I was so excited when I saw you had reviewed it. Ex and I hiked in 1992 and our packs were pretty much just like hers, enormous sleeping bag on top.
Well that was a heck of an intro!
The free-box scene is great. Dont need this, dont need that. Lol. Wish i would have known that decades ago. when my pack would be around 60 lbs. Now it is about 30-35 lbs with lighter gear. Keep in mind the majority of my weight will be bushcraft tools. Saw, Survival knife, Sometimes an ax. Then again i am not taking all of that thru hiking either. Cool take on the movie. Good as always...
Could you please do one of these reviews for the movie “the way” starring Martin sheen. I personally feel like this movie has captured the complex nature of what it’s like creating a trail family better then other movies.
Yes 👍!. . Has she done that in Europe?
I liked it. I think this was more valuable than just gear reviews. I'm glad you did the PCT and make these videos. I'm a year late but hope you make many more.
Somebody mentioned down below that they love your accent..it is damn cute. Love the braces. You are so talented! Brave! Accomplished!
This is so fun watching you (Jess) watch her, lol- yeah fun stuff. Well your the real deal Dixie.
Great commentary Dixie! I would very much like to hear your commentary on The Way. I hiked sections of the PCT over the years and seeing her pack caused me great distress. God, I'm glad she lightened it up. I used to live in Lone Pine CA and running out of water has always been my greatest call it fear of all long distance hiking. I'm glad she made it, having not seen the movie. I will be starting the Camino de Santiago when quarantine winds down and nowadays, it is more my speed for long distance hiking, walking, sauntering, etc.
I was never really a fan of that movie, but inspiring in its own right. hope your staying sane in this crazy time from your friends here in New Zealand
That gear looked pretty spot on for the time. I used to do alot of trail backpacking in the late 80's early 90's and my pack was a large Coleman Peak 1 with bulky sleeping bag and pad. I want to say it was around 30 - 35 lbs or so. We certainly didn't have all that ultra light stuff and titanium was really expensive as well as internal frame packs. Some freeze dried meals, but no where near what is around now.
Thank you for all your videos, I'm just getting back into backpacking and am out of touch on all the new tech out there. Here's to seeing you on the trails.
“Those Trees!” Living in the Mojave desert, it’s funny to remember that Joshua trees aren’t normal for other people...
I live in Europe and I really miss hiking and taking a break in the little bit of shade these trees provide
Fantastic. Would love to see more reviews. Stay safe. Hope you and your loved ones are doing well . So glad you and your sister got to experience the Camino de Santiago when you did. I think it will be some time before I hike in Europe again.
I'd love to see you do this with A Walk in the Woods. :D
I second a Walk in the Woods review. I loved how Bryson and Katz would pick their packs up off the ground using the thumb and index finger of one hand. Something fishy going on there...
Thanks again Dixie - great idea during such difficult times. If you do Bryson, please do the book vs the movie, although it does have some humorous scenes. The book actually “convinced” me I didn’t really want to thru-hike the AT, even after living in NC and being around these beautiful mountains my entire life. Frozen brought me back to at least be a section hiker in my old age. Still, your “wonder” and ability to capture the amazing PCT (from bugs to panoramics) has me looking that direction, or at least the John Muir section if not the entire trail.
Great video Dixie! The first time, from hefting the pack to actually doing it, reminded me of my first long distance solo bicycle trip back in 1986. I left zero degree weather at home and flew to FL to start the trip... I had brand new and never tested everything. I never had it all on the bike and certainly never road a loaded bicycle before. I remember getting on the loaded bike, my first ride in about 18 months, riding a short distance and saying to myself "What the hell am I doing?!" Decades later with six major trips under my belt I can laugh about it. I can also empathize with first time thru-hikers and bicycle tourists. That first trip was a life changing experience in many ways... people I met and places I visited on that trip are still part of my life. Put yourself out there and see what happens has become my suggestion to many!
Great review Dixie. I've always enjoyed this film because it seemed authentic (or at least the hiking bits) we all make mistakes from time to time hiking. Back in the 90's the Internet wasn't so prevalent so you just got on with things because 'they seemed a good idea at the time'. You just didn't do the web research back then.
I would advise against reviewing 'A walk in the woods'. The book is fantastic. You get a personal point of view and all of Bill Brysons sarcasm and query observations which makes it a joy to read. I'll leave it up to you to make that choice of that.
Maybe go for either The Way (released 2010), Into the Wild or South bounders (released 2005). Stay safe👍
Great analysis but, speaking as someone who has been swept off his feet in NZ, a heavy pack is more buoyant than a human. With 5 days of food in, mine pushed my face down into the water. Ray Mears recommends getting on top of your pack but that takes planning.
Fabrics in the 80s were thicker, heavier and more bulky than fabrics now. When I got modern waterproofs, I was able to change to a smaller pack. A light tent in the 80s weighed 5lbs but were tough. Much thicker poles than modern tents. My Phoenix Phantom stood up to insane winds. Standard one man tents could stand up to storms pretty much as well as a Trailstar.
As I say, your analysis is excellent. I enjoyed this video.
4:25 yeah, water is heavy, 1 liter=1 kilogram it is that simple
This movie drew me to hiking, and your channel. Within a year I was on the AT. After a heart attack and hip replacement, I'll be back on the AT again this year (when they let us). Happy trails!
The thing that struck me most about the book, was Cheryl's description of the heat out in the Mojave. That it was so hot, she could HEAR it.
I haven't see this movie yet but now planning on it. This movie seems to be one those teaching ones. No such thing as a perfect trip. I tend to learn more, off of my mistakes rather than ppl warning me about it. I enjoy your channel and thanks for your review.
This was such and awesome take on Wild! Can you do A Walk in The Woods next!