IMPORTANT UPDATE: Sundance, TinMan, and Magic Hobbit, who appear in this video, have now completed the Sierra- they made it to Sonora Pass (Kennedy Meadows North) and are currently headed to South Lake Tahoe. Congratulations!!! They join Abraham Espinoza, Shopper, Starfish, and a handful of others who have completed this amazing task! Well done, friends!
Wow, that was your best video yet! MUCH respect. With such a heavy snow year, crossing a week of mountains in the Sierras is not the PCT, it's the PCMT (Pacific Crest Mountaineering Traverse!) A 13,200 foot pass?! Are you kidding me? Wow. I'm impressed you could maintain 1MPH in snowy mountainous terrain- that's my personal rule of thumb for "good speed" when approaching a winter climb. To do it with full packs is seriously impressive.
Loved your video so much! Good job on the snow bridges. On this planet, I have found that pushing yourself to your limits is life changing and the best experiences in life. You are true mountaineers and should be so proud of yourselves. The Sierra is my favorite place, and you lucked out with such a challenging snowpack, and so gorgeous! You will remember it all for a lifetime. Wish I had been there🏜Thanks for the wonderful footage💕
That was exactly what I was hoping to see of the Sierras 2023. Great job and great scenery. Would still like to see some of the major river crossings. For those who have made it through, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!. For those who are skipping, CONGRATULATIONS also!!!!!
I love your attitude and how positive you are. Funny thing is those times are not that far off from hiking in the White Mountains of NH. Only super elites ever hit 30 mile days in the Whites. What would have killed me was your pack weight. I have not carried a pack that heavy in a long time. I am far too old for that now. What makes for a great ski year makes a though hike hard. Thanks recording, editing and sharing your beautiful experience. You guys are pretty bad ass. Take care
I like your collage style! Very entertaining. Have watched several channels coming through Forrester the last couple weeks but looks like your group was one of the earliest. Impressive on all points. There must be some bleak moments when you wonder what in the world were you thinking, taking on this heavy snow year... but at the same time, unique opportunities whisper in your ear... are you up for it? Why yes!
I've been following you since seeing your gear list and had a sense if anyone could give the Sierra a great "college try" it would be you! You're 3 member tramily went in with eyes wide open and rational decision making. Thank you for your beautiful video/images and frank talk of how physical and mental the challenge is!! So glad you are all safe. onward!
You have the best videos about which ever section you are on and don’t sugar coat it. It’s not social media bullshit! With detailed info everyone needs. Wish there were more like you! Respect!
I think it might be time to rent some back pack sleds. It's amazing to see the low tree tops. Keep powering through. Everyone is watching and rooting for you'all.
The barefoot river crossing, absolutely thrilling! When do we get a Q&A video with Just15? I would love to learn more about him, he seems to be a big part of the trip 🙂
Yeah, a belay would be possible, but I doubt ice screws would have held, and we’d have to carry the equipment about 80 miles. A rope team wouldn’t work in this situation.
Maybe a couple weeks earlier, when the snow was less slushy. The trouble also was that they had to carry the skis and avalanche gear for two days just to get to the snow (our packs were lighter so we could do that in one day). They also said that the PCT traverses weren’t the best on skis. But they had a lot of fun at times AND they SKIED the Sierra, which I think is pretty awesome!
@@quakingleaf Understood. Any suggestions on what you think would have been the best footwear? You showed snow shoes weren't the solution either. Skiing on slush can be downright dangerous when it grabs your skis...I suppose waiting for it to melt as you're doing is one solution.
Thanks! With only 4.5 months, I had to leave some parts unfinished. I'll be completing 2/3 of Oregon and a small bit of Washington in the summer of '24 with my daughter, DigDug. Then I'll be back to finish about 500 miles of the Sierra in 2025. Thanks for watching!
@@quakingleaf Awesome, thanks. I’ve been looking at their Wolverine pack. Are those the tall side pockets you have on your pack? Been going back and forth between ordering the tall side pockets or sticking with the standard.
hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence, arrogance. Nope, I don’t agree. I have a fear of heights and it took all I had to complete this. Pride? I broke down crying at the top. I look back at this with humility. Perhaps others had this- not me.
For a guide, you sure didn’t look very carefully. An ice axe was used the entire time, as well as proper boots and full crampons. Solid self-belays weee used the whole time. You may be confused because I also had a trekking in my left hand for balance with no strap used. You are correct that no ropes were used.
Are you really a guide? He clearly has an ice axe as can be seen in multiple shots. And no one ropes up for this. Plenty of people do Mt. Whitney via Mountaineer's Route without a rope too. Maybe you need to find another profession if such things scare you so much. Shame on you.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Sundance, TinMan, and Magic Hobbit, who appear in this video, have now completed the Sierra- they made it to Sonora Pass (Kennedy Meadows North) and are currently headed to South Lake Tahoe. Congratulations!!! They join Abraham Espinoza, Shopper, Starfish, and a handful of others who have completed this amazing task! Well done, friends!
Came for the Forester Pass ascent.. stayed for the snow bridges. #pucker congrats, how spectacular that must have been, to see all that snow. Bravo
Absolutely!
DANG! Love this scenery!
Wow, that was your best video yet! MUCH respect. With such a heavy snow year, crossing a week of mountains in the Sierras is not the PCT, it's the PCMT (Pacific Crest Mountaineering Traverse!) A 13,200 foot pass?! Are you kidding me? Wow. I'm impressed you could maintain 1MPH in snowy mountainous terrain- that's my personal rule of thumb for "good speed" when approaching a winter climb. To do it with full packs is seriously impressive.
Thanks Eric!!!
Wow I would have loved to have done that trip in my younger days, my feet are too old now. What a great video guys. Thx
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video, thanks for sharing. Glad you made it through safe and sound and had fun.
Thank you!
Loved your video so much! Good job on the snow bridges. On this planet, I have found that pushing yourself to your limits is life changing and the best experiences in life. You are true mountaineers and should be so proud of yourselves. The Sierra is my favorite place, and you lucked out with such a challenging snowpack, and so gorgeous! You will remember it all for a lifetime. Wish I had been there🏜Thanks for the wonderful footage💕
Thank you- I really appreciate it! Yes, I will never forget it.
Such beauty. Great video!
Thank you so much!
That was exactly what I was hoping to see of the Sierras 2023. Great job and great scenery. Would still like to see some of the major river crossings. For those who have made it through, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!. For those who are skipping, CONGRATULATIONS also!!!!!
Thank you! And agreed- congratulations to EVERY PCT hiker who is on trail. Much respect.
Wahoo Wahoo...you all kicked butt. Awesome footage!
Thank you!
Awesome! So many faces. Cool to see Chopper at the end there 😊
And you mentioned me and my group at the end!
//Worth it
Thanks WorthIt! It was great hiking with you. Check my top 10 trail names video too- you’re in there!
I love your attitude and how positive you are. Funny thing is those times are not that far off from hiking in the White Mountains of NH. Only super elites ever hit 30 mile days in the Whites. What would have killed me was your pack weight. I have not carried a pack that heavy in a long time. I am far too old for that now. What makes for a great ski year makes a though hike hard. Thanks recording, editing and sharing your beautiful experience. You guys are pretty bad ass. Take care
Thank you- I appreciate it!
I like your collage style! Very entertaining. Have watched several channels coming through Forrester the last couple weeks but looks like your group was one of the earliest. Impressive on all points. There must be some bleak moments when you wonder what in the world were you thinking, taking on this heavy snow year... but at the same time, unique opportunities whisper in your ear... are you up for it? Why yes!
Awesome! Thank you!
Awesome videos!! So nice to see the Sierras covered in snow:)
Glad you liked it!
I've been following you since seeing your gear list and had a sense if anyone could give the Sierra a great "college try" it would be you! You're 3 member tramily went in with eyes wide open and rational decision making. Thank you for your beautiful video/images and frank talk of how physical and mental the challenge is!! So glad you are all safe. onward!
Thank you Sally- I appreciate it!
Ah this was great. I’ve seen that section from Cottonwood Pass to Kearsarge a few times, but never with that much snow…. 🤯
Thank you. I’m so glad to have had the experience.
You have the best videos about which ever section you are on and don’t sugar coat it. It’s not social media bullshit! With detailed info everyone needs. Wish there were more like you! Respect!
Thank you- that’s such nice feedback!
Best video of the conditions!
Thank you!
I think it might be time to rent some back pack sleds. It's amazing to see the low tree tops. Keep powering through. Everyone is watching and rooting for you'all.
Thank you!
The barefoot river crossing, absolutely thrilling! When do we get a Q&A video with Just15? I would love to learn more about him, he seems to be a big part of the trip 🙂
That is a perfect idea! I was thinking about that today and then I read your comment. He just agreed to it!!!
Great video. Helps to see what the other guys are packing and how. Maybe do a gear video of your friends’ packs, esp for the Sierra.
Great idea!
Ley mealea love video you
Thank you!
Abraham Espinoza must be already arriving to Oregon without skipping anything.. Amazing feat !!
Yes- he is AMAZING!!! www.uniondemocrat.com/news/article_d345b558-03d1-11ee-9f96-8b60a59a10d0.html
1849er Family here...
THIS DECEMBER WINTER FILLED ALL THE RESEVOIRS, DAMS, AND IT WAS A FREAKING MIRACLE. WE DIDNT GET MUCH, HERE.....
Yes! SO good for California!!!
Epic!
just wild!
The snow bridges really scare me.
Me too. Absolutely.
Totally insane you guys were not roped up
Yeah, a belay would be possible, but I doubt ice screws would have held, and we’d have to carry the equipment about 80 miles. A rope team wouldn’t work in this situation.
Wow! Would skis have been the better choice instead of snowshoes? Heavier I know, but those French guys made it look good.
Maybe a couple weeks earlier, when the snow was less slushy. The trouble also was that they had to carry the skis and avalanche gear for two days just to get to the snow (our packs were lighter so we could do that in one day). They also said that the PCT traverses weren’t the best on skis. But they had a lot of fun at times AND they SKIED the Sierra, which I think is pretty awesome!
@@quakingleaf Understood. Any suggestions on what you think would have been the best footwear? You showed snow shoes weren't the solution either. Skiing on slush can be downright dangerous when it grabs your skis...I suppose waiting for it to melt as you're doing is one solution.
Much respect for the challenge and your efforts. Did you go back and complete that section later? Make it Canada?
Thanks! With only 4.5 months, I had to leave some parts unfinished. I'll be completing 2/3 of Oregon and a small bit of Washington in the summer of '24 with my daughter, DigDug. Then I'll be back to finish about 500 miles of the Sierra in 2025. Thanks for watching!
What did you do when you skipped? South or North from Ashland?
We went to Ashland and went South. Funny, we didn’t avoid any snow at all with that choice! We’re currently between Castella and Old Station.
What pack did you switch to for this section?
I used a Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 60. LOVE that pack.
@@quakingleaf Awesome, thanks.
I’ve been looking at their Wolverine pack.
Are those the tall side pockets you have on your pack?
Been going back and forth between ordering the tall side pockets or sticking with the standard.
Lots of hubris here...
hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence, arrogance. Nope, I don’t agree. I have a fear of heights and it took all I had to complete this. Pride? I broke down crying at the top. I look back at this with humility. Perhaps others had this- not me.
@@quakingleaf I'm glad you all got out safely, well done.
I'm first like🎉
Thanks Malakhi! Mr. QL
Horrid judgment shame on you all. As a Mountain guide your not having safety ropes and an ice axe to stop a fatal fall is just inexcusable.
For a guide, you sure didn’t look very carefully. An ice axe was used the entire time, as well as proper boots and full crampons. Solid self-belays weee used the whole time. You may be confused because I also had a trekking in my left hand for balance with no strap used. You are correct that no ropes were used.
Are you really a guide? He clearly has an ice axe as can be seen in multiple shots. And no one ropes up for this. Plenty of people do Mt. Whitney via Mountaineer's Route without a rope too. Maybe you need to find another profession if such things scare you so much. Shame on you.
Of course he has an axe. What are you babbling about?