I haven't backpacked in almost 3 years, because I was tired of it. I'm OK with that. Life changes, and I joke that I'm now in my "all-inclusive resort" phase. I love that as a major figure in backpacking, you give voice to stepping back. I love that you don't commit to never backpacking, or to taking it up in the future. Life is an unknown adventure and we don't have to continue on a path if it no longer serves us. Thank you for letting us into your thought process.
For me it's the opposite, now that I hike and backpack regularly, any vacation that doesn't involve that is disappointing. Last year we went to Mexico at a fancy all inclusive and I regret how much $$ I spent on it. I keep thinking on where I could have gone instead. But perhaps I'll change my mind in 10 years when my knees are even more busted.
Love your sincerity, like those short video format! You’re one the reason why I started to hike couple of years ago, thank you again! You ruined my life for the better 🤠
Nick, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am so thankful to Darwin. He encouraged my passion to get outdoors again. I am excited to see what you decide to share. Thank you for your body of work and I look forward to experience the new levels of creativity that you have in you.
boy does this make sense. I always wondered how content creators deal with the constant "chore" of producing videos and what it feels like to them to go camping or hiking vs us who do it at our leisure. good call taking that break and changing how you do it.
The evolution continues. Looking forward to seeing the new adventures. So pumped you are finishing up the CDT videos. I had hoped there was going to be a time when you were ready to tell the rest of that story.
Thank you so much. For being so consistently and rigorously honest with us all. Yours is a beautiful journey to witness. We are all now looking forward to the remaining CDT footage, that is going to be a gift!appreciate you taking the time xxx
Thank goodness!! I am so glad you are finally going to finish the CDT video series! I was so looking forward to seeing your amazing videos and was so disappointed when you bailed. I subscribed to your channel, I purchased your Arizona Trail documentary, I reshaped my hiking gear based on your advise... and I felt abandoned and betrayed a little bit. Your videos kept me sane in this tiny office I practically live in and I'm so glad to see you again...like a long lost friend. I am happy that you have found some peace again and new things to be excited about. And happy that you have found joy in bringing your fans some more great stuff to watch! CHEERS!
Darwin, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your videos over the years. Thank you for being THE guy that really inspired me. Your channel blew up because of your infectious energy, and it’s great to see you back. My biggest thank you to you.. introducing me to Altra! ✌️
Nick, I so appreciate and admire the vulnerability of your offering here. This is rare on backpacking RUclipss! The subject of who we are as rising out of what we do, and also what we do rising out of who we are is of great interest to me. When I was in my late 20s, I made an enormous change in my life and hiked the Appalachian Trail as a way of leaving one thing behind and arriving in another whole season of my life. That was about 45 years ago and now I am preparing to hike the CDT in 2025 through New Mexico for my 70th birthday. Between those two hikes, I married, raised a family, gave my life away through volunteerism, and finally developed a professional life. Now I have retired from that and am so excited to get back to thru-hiking. But I have a very different body at age 70 than I did at age 28. And gear has changed a great deal. So I am determined not to hike the CDT the way I hiked the AT. It’s no longer about making miles. Now I hike as a pilgrim. Thank you again for the vulnerability of your story. All the best to you, as you continue to become who you are at core. Canyon Elder
Thanks so much for your recent videos sharing both struggles and the excitement of what's ahead. I have really appreciated your story of the past few years.
Thank you for sharing your adventures through the years. Glad to hear you are taking time for your family, friends and yourself. The best of luck on the new journey.
Your honesty is what has kept me coming back to your channel. I’ve always struggled with trying to out do what I’ve already done. Lately it’s the question I’ve been asking myself the most while on trail. Why do I do this. Why is pushing further and bigger important to me. The answered I’ve recently reflected on is it’s not. It was about feeding my insecurity. What keeps me coming back are the people I’m with and the experiences I get to share with my wife and kids. Appreciate your vulnerability. Hope to see you on trail one day
Incredibly heartfelt and introspective description of what you have been going through on your personal journey. A journey that continues as you see yourself and who you are in the world in a new way. Look forward to seeing you experience this new life after the CDT.
Very happy you are going to finish the CDT videos. Understand you needing to take time to do you. Your videos have inspired and educated me on the world of thru hiking from your very first video you posted to RUclips. Thanks.
I've been a long time watcher of your channel and your channel is why I have a closet full of hiking gear, why my roommate and I hike in the CO mountains every weekend, why we go out and create our own adventures. I've always been the adventurous type, but my roommate sometimes needs a bit of convincing, and that's where you come in. I'll show her one of your videos and that's enough to convince her to go on some silly adventure with me. I'm glad you were able to take some time off and reset. Thanks for what you do and your awesome content. Always put your family, friends, and self first. We'll always be here and won't fault you for being human.
You’re one of my first You Tube people and I’m glad you’re back. You’re channel and conduct is so genuine and more about the activity and not the commercial video algorithm side. I’ve been burnt out or lost in my activities and have re-centered myself and revitalized my enthusiasm. Most understandable and congratulations
Perspective... what a great gift the CDT has given you. Something we often lack. I'm glad you got to reconnect with your wife, your friends, and yourself. All the best to you!
After recovering from two neck surgeries back in 2017, I came across your hiking videos. It inspired me to start hiking to push myself a little more. Thank you for all your content.
Darwin watching this video out a smile on my face. So happy to see you've found a balance in your life 👍👍👍👍 I am looking forward to your upcoming videos.
Hey Darwin, like many others here I’ve followed you from the start and I love watching your physical journeys, but it’s your spiritual journey that has been the most inspiring. I made a comment a few years back on one of your responses to another comment and I called you “arrogant”. We all travel through times when we are not our best, but not all of us have thousands of people witnessing it like you do. The humility you express now is so admirable and because you’ve allowed your audience to see your growth and ups and downs, you are so relatable, just as a fellow human. Looking forward to seeing more of your awesome content!
I used to hike when I joined the Boy Scouts and stopped when I left. You reignited my taste for wilderness. I can’t go often but I hike a few times a year after seeing you. Thanks for all of it!😊
Really enjoyed this open honest format, and yes one can get burnout from anything great if you have it long enough. I always say at some point everyone will get sick or eating steak ( if their a meat eater lol ). Enjoyed seeing you again at PCT trail days and excited for you in terms of your new gear company and your current and future products. I’m also looking forward to watching the rest of your CDT hike. Cheers Marmalade
Man DARWIN … you have always been a down to earth person… I’ve always liked your hiking views and your message of the outdoors… your vibes make people do some SOUL searching…. Always with your VIBES
A long time ago I first heard you say "Embrace the suck"... that has stuck with me and I thank you for it. It seems you have taken it to the next level. Best of luck!
Followed you since the beginning, from France. I love what you have done, even surprising me when I was not expecting it. I discovered you in my worst moment in life and you are part of the beautiful things that allowed me to bounce back. You were therapeutical to me.
Hello Darwin , from Switzerland, I follow you since 2019 . Thank you for sharing this experience. Sometime pictures are like a coin there is always to faces on it. A bright one that most of the time is published on RUclips and a darker one that people keep more secret. I am happy that you are going to share the last videos about the CDT. The content that you publish is very good and probably one of the best on this channel . Anyway most important I can see that you are still full of energy and projects. Wish you the best
❤ Thank you for your always authentic vlogs. You owe your fans nothing, you have given and shared so much. Your photography and content is of such high quality, it’s been outstanding. I knew that you struggled during your time on the CDT. I felt that our watching you and the process of creating for us was distracting from your experience in a negative way. The CDT is closer to me (Colorado) and I’m thrilled to have the rest of the hike to anticipate watching.
20 years in the military. Iraq. My late wife was healthy 8 years...then lupus, brutal car accident, & cancer that took her 8 years after that. Single parenting a daughter. Being an unemployed bread winner during the Great Recession. My own health challenges. & on & on. Life is often brutal. I'm glad you're emerging from your encounter with darkness. :-) I'm glad your marriage is still intact & you still have friends. Keep laughing at yourself. Have thick skin when reading the comment sections some days. Be good to yourself - mind, body, & soul. Smile. :-) Thank you for being an escape when I can't be out on a trail or in the outdoors myself...you've got a lot of artistic talent. Thanks, Darwin/Nick! :-)
This is so cool. It transcends hiking and is relevant to the whole “ego” / liberation paradox. And for the record I met you on the CT and didn’t know who you were until someone explained it to me later that day. And for your information, you were a really great, warm, and special human as “not Darwin”. One love 🙏
I’m glad you’re back doing videos. I enjoy them. I humbled myself on Tuesday doing a hike. I fell and cracked 2 ribs. I don’t know when I’m going to be able to hike. I guess I need to stop admiring the trees in the forest and start paying attention to where I’m walking and bring my trekking poles.
thanks for sharing your process! It hurt watching your attitude change as you burnt out. Your love of the outdoors was shining in the earlier ones.. glad it’s back. You honesty really touched us. ❤
Thank you so much for this recap - I hope you, your wife and your friends are in a good place now. You are missed on RUclips but friends and family always come FIRST!!
Every man goes through at least one desert experience in their life. It's a season when they try to gain perspective, and many times, try to find oneself. I am glad to hear that you found perspective and what you find valuable in life. I too went through a period where I wasn't sure I wanted to pursue my life passion after some difficult experiences. I came around to it because I was finding that it was a benefit to others. Through that I rediscovered my passion in a new way. I have always appreciated your videos and am glad to hear you are finishing strong on the CDT videos.
It's great to hear of your new life balance. Being one of those who absolutely loves your hiking videos (which are some of the very best there are) I'm pleased to hear you will be finishing the CDT videos. Looking forward to them and whatever is next in your adventures.
I really appreciate your openness and sincerity. I have gotten so wrapped up in creating content that I too have neglected my own personal life and had to take a step back for a few months. It becomes very consuming and it's kind of like an addiction really. But I try to keep a good balance, and remember that creating adventures is just a hobby, and my faith, family and friends are more important than making RUclips videos. Thanks for the video, it reminded me again to focus on keeping things in proper perspective. God bless!
I remember watching you on the pct. You were a big inspiration for me to start overnight hiking short lived because i lost control of a drug habit. Im now here trying to see if its something i may want to get back into. My mom saved my trekking poles while i was in the streets in case one day i got better and got back to hiking. Alot has changed in my life now but im also now clean for almost a year now. I miss being in nature and ive gained so much weight im kinda worried i dont have the energy for it all anymore but idk. Anyways just stopping by and subscribing since im back myself lol. Take care ✌️
Love to hear the passion is back for you, your the reason I decided to hike the AT when I turn 50! Love your advice and perspective please keep up the hard work.
drove back to oklahoma recently to see some family. listened to your podcasts along the ride, I had no idea all the history behind this story and found it super fascinating as a small creator. You really made me think about a lot of things and it was really insightful. Thanks for everything from the content creation here to the podcast and sharing some really detailed things about your life and journey. wishing you the best brotha!
First of all thank you for sharing all your videos. Been following you for awhile. You, August ( his short content), and many others. It inspired me, and I'm going to attempt my own thru hike this next coming year. So thank you, Larry👍
Very cool. Can't wait to see new Darwin content! You were a huge inspiration to me when I was getting ready for my first bikepacking trip. Here's to the future!
Thanks for sharing. Finding myself in a similar situation. Learning to balance my hobbies with time for my loved ones. Excited to see those CDT videos.
That old ruined AT video is what intro’s me to long distance hiking! It changed my life to the point of doing the west coast trail by myself in 2019, only a 7 day hike but it was awesome and lead to me prepping for more..than Covid hit and life got in the way, BUT I’m still planning another hike next summer following a fur trader trail here in Canada 🇨🇦 Life is busy now, but I just wanna thank you 🙏🏻 for sparking my interest and I will hike a longer hike one day ❤ just know your steps on these trails have let some of us see and experience that community while living the 9-5 still. Thankyou! ❤
Love hearing these reflections from you. A lot of content creators stay on the rollercoaster of chasing engagement and likes for far too long in my opinion, and I admire your ability to step away when you needed to. Making videos can be great when it's coming from an authentic place, but when you're burnt out and/or searching for something to share just to keep the algorithm going, I can imagine it feels hollow. On my own thru hikes I often thought of how tedious and tough it must be to feel like you have to document every little moment perfectly! I hope you find lots of fulfillment in whatever adventures lay ahead for you - as Nick and Darwin.
it is so good to see you happy and i unsub to some old channels and stop to say hay ! i have put the bell on to here more from you ! stay safe darwin !
Great video. We’re all human, and we need to respect what you need to do to live your best life. That being said…I’m thrilled you’re back with whatever content you offer. Props to you for honoring your wife 😊
Wow! You pretty much summed up my current mindset. Early 2015, we were RWRing 50 miles a week and I was preparing for the World Handball Championships in Canada when I contracted a systemic MRSA infection that paralyzed my legs. After nearly death, and being told I might never fully recover I began counting aided steps, then miles, then completed the Triple Crown of thru-hikes and as of today have logged 19,350 miles. I was hellbent on showing anyone and everyone that I could overcome the MRSA paralysis and the following year, esophageal cancer. This year (age 76) I’ve slacked, lacking the enthusiasm of the past 8 years logging only 760 hiking/backpacking miles and 800 cycling miles. I’ve tried and succeeded at times this year to get back at it, but life seems to have gotten in the way.
I watched some of your videos before my AT 2017 thru. And I followed you post holing on the PCT. I haved listened to both of your podcasts on Backpacker Radio about who you are and how you feel. Between the biking and hiking I have grown to respect you and the things you guys do! I think some of the things you say and do really make sense. About gear and hiking and things you learned. Keep growing and sharing. I appreciate your honesty and evolution. Life is long!
My man, that was awesome. More than anything in life, I love when people just give it you you straight. And, you are a great "story-teller" which is so important. Thank you.
Hey buddy, I knew you would be back and so glad you are. You are one of the inspirations for my own channel. Just finished listening to the podcast about RUclips. Agree with the algorithm frustration. I put my heart into my wee channel and no one watches it. My first videos weren’t great but the new ones are really getting there….still barely any views. Still plugging along. Hopefully RUclips will find me someday 😂
Dude!!! This is great news I've been a huge fan of yours since I watched your PCT through hike. I guess I was always hoping you'd release the rest of your CDT through hike videos, glad you're back 👊
I started watching you back in 2017 when I lived near the Smokey’s and was hiking all the time with our new baby and dreaming of a way to be able to go on grand adventure and do a long distance hike of my own. Now I have moved back to Indiana and am currently up in the middle of the night with our 4th baby still watching your videos. These kids have definitely ruined my life for the better. Most of things I would have said were my “identity” 6 years are important to me at all now. I really appreciate your honesty about that and not trying to hold on to the identity that got you fame. The beauty of life is that it is just one adventure after another and the best ones are the ones you never expected.
Thank you for sharing all of this. I think this is a very important thing for people to think about, how diving into any activity contributes to your identity. I myself have always wanted to backpack, and like a lot of people who have gotten into recently, it started during the pandemic. I wanted to be conscious of the idea that it was adding to my identity and not necessarily becoming my new identity. But making it one's own identity is so easy to do because of how passionate we are about the activity. With that being said, thank you for all you have given us as Darwin! You were a lot of people's teacher and motivator as well as sense of reason. I attempted the CO Trail in 2021, three months after breaking my ankle while preparing for the hike. It was my 4th night and 5th day when I began to feel some weird pain on the same leg as the broken ankle and I was worried about secondary injury. I decided to push on and hopefully it would subside, but it continued. I was hiking to your podcast and the episode about failing forward. It gave me a sound mind to make the decision to get off the trail for my own health without feeling guilty about the failure. Thanks for all you have given to the community, your passion for the outdoors and public lands, and we cannot wait to see the rest of your CDT thru hike!
lol, you just stole my thunder! We retired early, sold it all, went on the road full-time in 2020 thinking we might never settle down again. But, although our hiking, backpacking, fishing, traveling and experiencing have been completely worth it, life has changed and we are ready for a new chapter that starts this very next week. Rolling with it has led to so many opportunities that I would never have dreamed up in a million years, but here we are. Our next chapter starts! So, my hat off to you and your wife, we may not know all the curves in our path, so being open to change can bring joy.
thank you for being so open on that. it can apply to a lot of things in life. mono-focus is rarely healthy. and something like frequent long distance hikes could be a strain on relationships just because you're GONE. checked out. even if you do a phone call on a resupply it's still an absent house for a partner and not really the same for seeing a friend or fam in person. i think it's fantastic you've branched out, and that let you recapture excitement. it's okay to love things and dump a ton of time in. but variety is rarely a bad thing, too. : ) thanks nick. (literally the first time i heard your given name.) rock on, brother. mountaineering sounds scary to me but i hope you're as stoked while doing it as you are while talking about it. :) i'd totally still watch.
Enjoyed the video and the perspective. Looking forward to continuing to see what the future holds for you. Hope to share another adventure with you in the future.
I remember the time you were getting burnt out. I saw it in your live video’s so I wasn’t surprised when you stopped for awhile You taught me a lot about long distance hiking and gear but I’m more thankful that you stopped to take care of yourself and your wife❤ Nice to see you back
Nick!? Never would have guessed that. Youth is for figuring out life. Kudos for being brave, taking chances and enjoying life to the fullest. In the end family, friends and experiences are what it is all about.
Reinvigorated! Its always good to have a new perspective on the things we love to do. Speaking of taking care of each other. Take care of that gash on the left mitt.
I haven't backpacked in almost 3 years, because I was tired of it. I'm OK with that. Life changes, and I joke that I'm now in my "all-inclusive resort" phase. I love that as a major figure in backpacking, you give voice to stepping back. I love that you don't commit to never backpacking, or to taking it up in the future. Life is an unknown adventure and we don't have to continue on a path if it no longer serves us. Thank you for letting us into your thought process.
For me it's the opposite, now that I hike and backpack regularly, any vacation that doesn't involve that is disappointing. Last year we went to Mexico at a fancy all inclusive and I regret how much $$ I spent on it. I keep thinking on where I could have gone instead. But perhaps I'll change my mind in 10 years when my knees are even more busted.
Love your sincerity, like those short video format! You’re one the reason why I started to hike couple of years ago, thank you again! You ruined my life for the better 🤠
Glad to hear it!!! 😂
Glad to see you again.We have missed you.I am happy things are better with your friends and wife.
Nick, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am so thankful to Darwin. He encouraged my passion to get outdoors again. I am excited to see what you decide to share. Thank you for your body of work and I look forward to experience the new levels of creativity that you have in you.
boy does this make sense. I always wondered how content creators deal with the constant "chore" of producing videos and what it feels like to them to go camping or hiking vs us who do it at our leisure. good call taking that break and changing how you do it.
The evolution continues. Looking forward to seeing the new adventures. So pumped you are finishing up the CDT videos. I had hoped there was going to be a time when you were ready to tell the rest of that story.
Can't wait to see all the new, and different content. Watching you "evolve" has been an inspiring journey!
I appreciate that!
Thank you so much. For being so consistently and rigorously honest with us all. Yours is a beautiful journey to witness.
We are all now looking forward to the remaining CDT footage, that is going to be a gift!appreciate you taking the time xxx
Can't wait to finally share the rest of the CDT with you guys! ❤️
Thank goodness!! I am so glad you are finally going to finish the CDT video series! I was so looking forward to seeing your amazing videos and was so disappointed when you bailed. I subscribed to your channel, I purchased your Arizona Trail documentary, I reshaped my hiking gear based on your advise... and I felt abandoned and betrayed a little bit. Your videos kept me sane in this tiny office I practically live in and I'm so glad to see you again...like a long lost friend. I am happy that you have found some peace again and new things to be excited about. And happy that you have found joy in bringing your fans some more great stuff to watch! CHEERS!
Darwin, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your videos over the years.
Thank you for being THE guy that really inspired me.
Your channel blew up because of your infectious energy, and it’s great to see you back. My biggest thank you to you.. introducing me to Altra! ✌️
I love how you "keep it real". Your sincerity and vulnerability are inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing.
Nick, I so appreciate and admire the vulnerability of your offering here. This is rare on backpacking RUclipss! The subject of who we are as rising out of what we do, and also what we do rising out of who we are is of great interest to me. When I was in my late 20s, I made an enormous change in my life and hiked the Appalachian Trail as a way of leaving one thing behind and arriving in another whole season of my life. That was about 45 years ago and now I am preparing to hike the CDT in 2025 through New Mexico for my 70th birthday. Between those two hikes, I married, raised a family, gave my life away through volunteerism, and finally developed a professional life. Now I have retired from that and am so excited to get back to thru-hiking. But I have a very different body at age 70 than I did at age 28. And gear has changed a great deal. So I am determined not to hike the CDT the way I hiked the AT. It’s no longer about making miles. Now I hike as a pilgrim.
Thank you again for the vulnerability of your story. All the best to you, as you continue to become who you are at core. Canyon Elder
Thanks so much for your recent videos sharing both struggles and the excitement of what's ahead. I have really appreciated your story of the past few years.
You are so welcome! Thank You!
Thank you for sharing your adventures through the years. Glad to hear you are taking time for your family, friends and yourself. The best of luck on the new journey.
Your honesty is what has kept me coming back to your channel. I’ve always struggled with trying to out do what I’ve already done. Lately it’s the question I’ve been asking myself the most while on trail. Why do I do this. Why is pushing further and bigger important to me. The answered I’ve recently reflected on is it’s not. It was about feeding my insecurity. What keeps me coming back are the people I’m with and the experiences I get to share with my wife and kids. Appreciate your vulnerability. Hope to see you on trail one day
Incredibly heartfelt and introspective description of what you have been going through on your personal journey. A journey that continues as you see yourself and who you are in the world in a new way. Look forward to seeing you experience this new life after the CDT.
Very happy you are going to finish the CDT videos. Understand you needing to take time to do you. Your videos have inspired and educated me on the world of thru hiking from your very first video you posted to RUclips. Thanks.
Thank you so much!
Staying true to yourself is one of the most difficult things to do. So glad you are doing what is best for *you* and your family! ❤
It really is! Learning balance is a tough thing sometimes, but much needed
I've been a long time watcher of your channel and your channel is why I have a closet full of hiking gear, why my roommate and I hike in the CO mountains every weekend, why we go out and create our own adventures. I've always been the adventurous type, but my roommate sometimes needs a bit of convincing, and that's where you come in. I'll show her one of your videos and that's enough to convince her to go on some silly adventure with me. I'm glad you were able to take some time off and reset. Thanks for what you do and your awesome content. Always put your family, friends, and self first. We'll always be here and won't fault you for being human.
glad you're back happy and motivated again, I loved your PCT videos so much, hope the content here returns, I will watch the lot.
Yay! Welcome back Darwin… Much appreciate your honesty and transparency.
I have to say that in all the years of watching your videos, this is my favorite…..great reflection. Thank you for your openness and your sincerity.
You’re one of my first You Tube people and I’m glad you’re back. You’re channel and conduct is so genuine and more about the activity and not the commercial video algorithm side. I’ve been burnt out or lost in my activities and have re-centered myself and revitalized my enthusiasm. Most understandable and congratulations
Thank you for continuing to share your personal journey. Hearing how you found your way out of and back in love with your passions is so enjoyable.
Thank you so much! I appreciate the Kind Words!
Perspective... what a great gift the CDT has given you. Something we often lack. I'm glad you got to reconnect with your wife, your friends, and yourself. All the best to you!
The Trail is always good for it! ❤️
Love to see you no matter what Darwin! I'm excited to watch the rest of your CDT videos.
After recovering from two neck surgeries back in 2017, I came across your hiking videos. It inspired me to start hiking to push myself a little more. Thank you for all your content.
Darwin watching this video out a smile on my face. So happy to see you've found a balance in your life 👍👍👍👍 I am looking forward to your upcoming videos.
Glad your back on You Tube. Safe travels and a happy life. I'll be listening and watching your life adventure. 😊
Hey Darwin, like many others here I’ve followed you from the start and I love watching your physical journeys, but it’s your spiritual journey that has been the most inspiring. I made a comment a few years back on one of your responses to another comment and I called you “arrogant”. We all travel through times when we are not our best, but not all of us have thousands of people witnessing it like you do. The humility you express now is so admirable and because you’ve allowed your audience to see your growth and ups and downs, you are so relatable, just as a fellow human. Looking forward to seeing more of your awesome content!
Good for you brother. Do what's right for you and your family. Love all your videos.
I used to hike when I joined the Boy Scouts and stopped when I left. You reignited my taste for wilderness. I can’t go often but I hike a few times a year after seeing you. Thanks for all of it!😊
Right on! Keep getting out there! ❤️
As a former Scout I feel the same way you do. Thanks for the insperation!
Really enjoyed this open honest format, and yes one can get burnout from anything great if you have it long enough. I always say at some point everyone will get sick or eating steak ( if their a meat eater lol ). Enjoyed seeing you again at PCT trail days and excited for you in terms of your new gear company and your current and future products. I’m also looking forward to watching the rest of your CDT hike. Cheers Marmalade
Man DARWIN … you have always been a down to earth person… I’ve always liked your hiking views and your message of the outdoors… your vibes make people do some SOUL searching…. Always with your VIBES
A long time ago I first heard you say "Embrace the suck"... that has stuck with me and I thank you for it.
It seems you have taken it to the next level. Best of luck!
I've definitely embraced the suck as best I can over the last few years. Thanks for the support!
Followed you since the beginning, from France. I love what you have done, even surprising me when I was not expecting it. I discovered you in my worst moment in life and you are part of the beautiful things that allowed me to bounce back. You were therapeutical to me.
Thanks for sharing your journey, it’s a true pleasure to share in your journeys.
Love this, Darwin. Thank you for being open! YAY, CDT videos 😊
Hello Darwin , from Switzerland, I follow you since 2019 . Thank you for sharing this experience. Sometime pictures are like a coin there is always to faces on it. A bright one that most of the time is published on RUclips and a darker one that people keep more secret. I am happy that you are going to share the last videos about the CDT. The content that you publish is very good and probably one of the best on this channel . Anyway most important I can see that you are still full of energy and projects. Wish you the best
Everyone definitely curates their life to a point... It's good to share the other side every once in a while. ❤️
❤ Thank you for your always authentic vlogs. You owe your fans nothing, you have given and shared so much. Your photography and content is of such high quality, it’s been outstanding. I knew that you struggled during your time on the CDT. I felt that our watching you and the process of creating for us was distracting from your experience in a negative way. The CDT is closer to me (Colorado) and I’m thrilled to have the rest of the hike to anticipate watching.
20 years in the military. Iraq. My late wife was healthy 8 years...then lupus, brutal car accident, & cancer that took her 8 years after that. Single parenting a daughter. Being an unemployed bread winner during the Great Recession. My own health challenges. & on & on. Life is often brutal.
I'm glad you're emerging from your encounter with darkness. :-) I'm glad your marriage is still intact & you still have friends. Keep laughing at yourself. Have thick skin when reading the comment sections some days. Be good to yourself - mind, body, & soul. Smile. :-)
Thank you for being an escape when I can't be out on a trail or in the outdoors myself...you've got a lot of artistic talent. Thanks, Darwin/Nick! :-)
What a beautiful post sorry for your loss.❤
This is so cool. It transcends hiking and is relevant to the whole “ego” / liberation paradox. And for the record I met you on the CT and didn’t know who you were until someone explained it to me later that day. And for your information, you were a really great, warm, and special human as “not Darwin”. One love 🙏
I’m glad you’re back doing videos. I enjoy them. I humbled myself on Tuesday doing a hike. I fell and cracked 2 ribs. I don’t know when I’m going to be able to hike. I guess I need to stop admiring the trees in the forest and start paying attention to where I’m walking and bring my trekking poles.
thanks for sharing your process! It hurt watching your attitude change as you burnt out.
Your love of the outdoors was shining in the earlier ones.. glad it’s back. You honesty really touched us. ❤
Was so hoping you’d finish those someday, and glad that day is here! Thanks, Darwin. You do inspire. 🥾
Thank you so much for this recap - I hope you, your wife and your friends are in a good place now. You are missed on RUclips but friends and family always come FIRST!!
Wow. I thought you were gone. Good to hear your thoughts. Glad you got your balance back. ❤
Good job with the introspection. We all need to do that from time to time! Love your videos!
Every man goes through at least one desert experience in their life. It's a season when they try to gain perspective, and many times, try to find oneself. I am glad to hear that you found perspective and what you find valuable in life. I too went through a period where I wasn't sure I wanted to pursue my life passion after some difficult experiences. I came around to it because I was finding that it was a benefit to others. Through that I rediscovered my passion in a new way. I have always appreciated your videos and am glad to hear you are finishing strong on the CDT videos.
It's great to hear of your new life balance. Being one of those who absolutely loves your hiking videos (which are some of the very best there are) I'm pleased to hear you will be finishing the CDT videos. Looking forward to them and whatever is next in your adventures.
I really appreciate your openness and sincerity. I have gotten so wrapped up in creating content that I too have neglected my own personal life and had to take a step back for a few months. It becomes very consuming and it's kind of like an addiction really. But I try to keep a good balance, and remember that creating adventures is just a hobby, and my faith, family and friends are more important than making RUclips videos. Thanks for the video, it reminded me again to focus on keeping things in proper perspective. God bless!
I remember watching you on the pct. You were a big inspiration for me to start overnight hiking short lived because i lost control of a drug habit. Im now here trying to see if its something i may want to get back into. My mom saved my trekking poles while i was in the streets in case one day i got better and got back to hiking. Alot has changed in my life now but im also now clean for almost a year now. I miss being in nature and ive gained so much weight im kinda worried i dont have the energy for it all anymore but idk. Anyways just stopping by and subscribing since im back myself lol. Take care ✌️
Hiking and Jiu Jitsu.. js
Congratulations so much on your recovery! One day and one mile at a time.
@@rebeccawest8973 thank you 🙏🥲
This was a great video! I’m happy to see this new type of Darwin content. Also psyched to see the finished CDT videos!
Glad you're digging it! More to come! ❤️
Love to hear the passion is back for you, your the reason I decided to hike the AT when I turn 50! Love your advice and perspective please keep up the hard work.
That was great. Appreciate your insights and perspective.
drove back to oklahoma recently to see some family. listened to your podcasts along the ride, I had no idea all the history behind this story and found it super fascinating as a small creator. You really made me think about a lot of things and it was really insightful. Thanks for everything from the content creation here to the podcast and sharing some really detailed things about your life and journey. wishing you the best brotha!
Thanks for putting this out there. Glad to see you're in a better place. 👍👍
So glad to have you back Darwin.
Thank You! ❤️
First of all thank you for sharing all your videos. Been following you for awhile. You, August ( his short content), and many others.
It inspired me, and I'm going to attempt my own thru hike this next coming year.
So thank you,
Larry👍
Very cool. Can't wait to see new Darwin content! You were a huge inspiration to me when I was getting ready for my first bikepacking trip. Here's to the future!
Take your time on the videos and thanks for the update.🙂
Thanks for sharing your journey, your videos are always entertaining and inspiring.
My pleasure!
Love it! Glad to have you back. Love your content and much of it inspired my channel!
Thanks for sharing. Finding myself in a similar situation. Learning to balance my hobbies with time for my loved ones. Excited to see those CDT videos.
That old ruined AT video is what intro’s me to long distance hiking! It changed my life to the point of doing the west coast trail by myself in 2019, only a 7 day hike but it was awesome and lead to me prepping for more..than Covid hit and life got in the way, BUT I’m still planning another hike next summer following a fur trader trail here in Canada 🇨🇦 Life is busy now, but I just wanna thank you 🙏🏻 for sparking my interest and I will hike a longer hike one day ❤ just know your steps on these trails have let some of us see and experience that community while living the 9-5 still. Thankyou! ❤
I'm glad you were able to find yourself again and reconnect with those important people in your direct life. I'm excited to see what comes next.
Good to have you back looking forward to new content
Love hearing these reflections from you. A lot of content creators stay on the rollercoaster of chasing engagement and likes for far too long in my opinion, and I admire your ability to step away when you needed to. Making videos can be great when it's coming from an authentic place, but when you're burnt out and/or searching for something to share just to keep the algorithm going, I can imagine it feels hollow. On my own thru hikes I often thought of how tedious and tough it must be to feel like you have to document every little moment perfectly! I hope you find lots of fulfillment in whatever adventures lay ahead for you - as Nick and Darwin.
You are an inspiration. There are many kinds of journeys. Thanks for sharing.
it is so good to see you happy and i unsub to some old channels and stop to say hay !
i have put the bell on to here more from you !
stay safe darwin !
Thanks for being real and sharing your experiences/ struggles.
No problem! There is a TON of fake in this current world. All I can be is myself to help balance the scales a little bit.
Live your bliss my man, we'll be watching your new films or re-watching the old ones
Great video. We’re all human, and we need to respect what you need to do to live your best life. That being said…I’m thrilled you’re back with whatever content you offer.
Props to you for honoring your wife 😊
❤️❤️❤️
Love your videos no matter the format. Thank you Nick (and Darwin) for being an inspiration to so many people.
Thanks for being real! You don’t see that often these days. I loved this ❤
I appreciate that.
Wow! You pretty much summed up my current mindset.
Early 2015, we were RWRing 50 miles a week and I was preparing for the World Handball Championships in Canada when I contracted a systemic MRSA infection that paralyzed my legs. After nearly death, and being told I might never fully recover I began counting aided steps, then miles, then completed the Triple Crown of thru-hikes and as of today have logged 19,350 miles.
I was hellbent on showing anyone and everyone that I could overcome the MRSA paralysis and the following year, esophageal cancer.
This year (age 76) I’ve slacked, lacking the enthusiasm of the past 8 years logging only 760 hiking/backpacking miles and 800 cycling miles. I’ve tried and succeeded at times this year to get back at it, but life seems to have gotten in the way.
Great backstory, buddy! Looking forward to the next 4 videos!
I watched some of your videos before my AT 2017 thru. And I followed you post holing on the PCT. I haved listened to both of your podcasts on Backpacker Radio about who you are and how you feel. Between the biking and hiking I have grown to respect you and the things you guys do! I think some of the things you say and do really make sense. About gear and hiking and things you learned. Keep growing and sharing. I appreciate your honesty and evolution. Life is long!
My man, that was awesome. More than anything in life, I love when people just give it you you straight. And, you are a great "story-teller" which is so important. Thank you.
Love you brother. I’m really loving these videos. Very inspirational ❤️
❤️🔥
Hey buddy, I knew you would be back and so glad you are. You are one of the inspirations for my own channel. Just finished listening to the podcast about RUclips. Agree with the algorithm frustration. I put my heart into my wee channel and no one watches it. My first videos weren’t great but the new ones are really getting there….still barely any views. Still plugging along. Hopefully RUclips will find me someday 😂
Been missing your hiking videos, excited to see the next trail episodes!
Coming soon!
A great time to reminisce. Look forward to the videos.
Dude!!! This is great news I've been a huge fan of yours since I watched your PCT through hike. I guess I was always hoping you'd release the rest of your CDT through hike videos, glad you're back 👊
I appreciate that! CDT Videos coming very soon!
I started watching you back in 2017 when I lived near the Smokey’s and was hiking all the time with our new baby and dreaming of a way to be able to go on grand adventure and do a long distance hike of my own. Now I have moved back to Indiana and am currently up in the middle of the night with our 4th baby still watching your videos. These kids have definitely ruined my life for the better. Most of things I would have said were my “identity” 6 years are important to me at all now. I really appreciate your honesty about that and not trying to hold on to the identity that got you fame. The beauty of life is that it is just one adventure after another and the best ones are the ones you never expected.
Solid vid, my guy. Thanks for opening up and sharing
Because of You I started to do ultra backpacking which help me a lot. Thanks Darwin !
That's awesome!
Thank you for sharing all of this. I think this is a very important thing for people to think about, how diving into any activity contributes to your identity. I myself have always wanted to backpack, and like a lot of people who have gotten into recently, it started during the pandemic. I wanted to be conscious of the idea that it was adding to my identity and not necessarily becoming my new identity. But making it one's own identity is so easy to do because of how passionate we are about the activity.
With that being said, thank you for all you have given us as Darwin! You were a lot of people's teacher and motivator as well as sense of reason. I attempted the CO Trail in 2021, three months after breaking my ankle while preparing for the hike. It was my 4th night and 5th day when I began to feel some weird pain on the same leg as the broken ankle and I was worried about secondary injury. I decided to push on and hopefully it would subside, but it continued. I was hiking to your podcast and the episode about failing forward. It gave me a sound mind to make the decision to get off the trail for my own health without feeling guilty about the failure.
Thanks for all you have given to the community, your passion for the outdoors and public lands, and we cannot wait to see the rest of your CDT thru hike!
lol, you just stole my thunder! We retired early, sold it all, went on the road full-time in 2020 thinking we might never settle down again. But, although our hiking, backpacking, fishing, traveling and experiencing have been completely worth it, life has changed and we are ready for a new chapter that starts this very next week. Rolling with it has led to so many opportunities that I would never have dreamed up in a million years, but here we are. Our next chapter starts! So, my hat off to you and your wife, we may not know all the curves in our path, so being open to change can bring joy.
thank you for being so open on that. it can apply to a lot of things in life. mono-focus is rarely healthy. and something like frequent long distance hikes could be a strain on relationships just because you're GONE. checked out. even if you do a phone call on a resupply it's still an absent house for a partner and not really the same for seeing a friend or fam in person. i think it's fantastic you've branched out, and that let you recapture excitement. it's okay to love things and dump a ton of time in. but variety is rarely a bad thing, too. : )
thanks nick.
(literally the first time i heard your given name.)
rock on, brother. mountaineering sounds scary to me but i hope you're as stoked while doing it as you are while talking about it. :) i'd totally still watch.
Enjoyed the video and the perspective. Looking forward to continuing to see what the future holds for you. Hope to share another adventure with you in the future.
I like the „New Darwin“! Thx for sharing this personal staff! Best Regards from Europe 🤗
Do what you wanna do man, I'm here for it!
Thank you for your Honesty. Darwin, I have learned so much from you. ❤ Being outdoor also became my Desire. So i can deeply feel what you said.
Darwin
Very eloquently expressed. Appreciate your heart and sharing it with us.
Thanks for listening! ❤️
I'm going to watch your old videos - thanks for them all.
My first Hiking video was one of yours. It's awesome to see how you've developed over the years. Best to you and your wife!
I remember the time you were getting burnt out. I saw it in your live video’s so I wasn’t surprised when you stopped for awhile
You taught me a lot about long distance hiking and gear but I’m more thankful that you stopped to take care of yourself and your wife❤
Nice to see you back
Nick!? Never would have guessed that. Youth is for figuring out life. Kudos for being brave, taking chances and enjoying life to the fullest. In the end family, friends and experiences are what it is all about.
Reinvigorated! Its always good to have a new perspective on the things we love to do. Speaking of taking care of each other. Take care of that gash on the left mitt.
Awesome, and welcome back.