1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:05,913 - I just climbed Whitney, had a hot bowl of ramen. 3 00:00:06,780 --> 00:00:08,703 Was all cozy in my tent. 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 5 00:00:10,266 --> 00:00:12,558 It was in my sleeping bag even. 6 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,530 But I'll tell you, this fresh snowfall... 7 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,688 Has done something that I never even considered. 8 00:00:20,730 --> 00:00:25,730 It has covered up all the smells on the forest floor. 9 00:00:26,010 --> 00:00:30,018 So all I'm smelling right now is this crisp, 10 00:00:30,060 --> 00:00:32,298 sweet aroma (soft music) 11 00:00:32,340 --> 00:00:33,723 of pine trees. 12 00:00:35,664 --> 00:00:39,067 It smells good. It smells really, really good. 13 00:00:39,109 --> 00:00:40,188 (soft music) 14 00:00:40,230 --> 00:00:43,430 And I would not have experienced that had I not gotten... 15 00:00:44,340 --> 00:00:46,338 Pushed out of my comfort zone. 16 00:00:46,380 --> 00:00:49,537 Out of my big Agnes Copper Spur UL2. 17 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,718 It's the best forest smell I've ever smelled 18 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:56,748 and that says a lot 'cause I'm from the northwest. 19 00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:58,140 But it is fresh 20 00:00:59,430 --> 00:01:00,723 and it is fragrant. 21 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:06,408 And I'm gonna enjoy it all the way to the ranger station 22 00:01:06,450 --> 00:01:07,683 here on day 58. 23 00:01:09,860 --> 00:01:12,678 At Mount Whitney, just off the Pacific Crest Trail 24 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:13,780 in California. 25 00:01:13,822 --> 00:01:16,239 (soft music) 26 00:01:24,250 --> 00:01:27,000 (dramatic music) 27 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,790 (dramatic music) 28 00:01:46,873 --> 00:01:49,623 (dramatic music) 29 00:01:57,900 --> 00:02:00,650 (dramatic music) 30 00:02:07,795 --> 00:02:10,545 (dramatic music) 31 00:02:16,973 --> 00:02:19,723 (dramatic music) 32 00:02:26,795 --> 00:02:29,545 (dramatic music) 33 00:02:37,614 --> 00:02:40,364 (dramatic music) 34 00:02:48,774 --> 00:02:51,524 (dramatic music) 35 00:02:58,796 --> 00:03:01,546 (dramatic music) 36 00:03:09,113 --> 00:03:11,863 (dramatic music) 37 00:03:20,610 --> 00:03:21,453 Good morning. 38 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,098 I'm at the Mexico border. 39 00:03:25,140 --> 00:03:26,883 I spent the night here last night. 40 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:29,793 You can see the wall behind me. 41 00:03:32,426 --> 00:03:34,488 And just where that truck is, I think they just dropped off 42 00:03:34,530 --> 00:03:36,813 somebody who's gonna through hike to PCT. 43 00:03:39,635 --> 00:03:41,928 The monument is back there. I came in the night. 44 00:03:41,970 --> 00:03:44,581 I was the only one here, so I spent the night. 45 00:03:44,623 --> 00:03:47,308 A few people have been dropped off, but this is it. 46 00:03:47,350 --> 00:03:48,993 Gonna pack up my tent. 47 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:51,960 Maybe shoot a photo of the monument. 48 00:03:53,430 --> 00:03:54,723 And start walking north. 49 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:57,333 To Canada. 50 00:04:04,230 --> 00:04:06,258 Feels weird to be the only one out here. 51 00:04:06,300 --> 00:04:08,493 All right, here's the monument right here. 52 00:04:09,540 --> 00:04:13,113 Trail is behind me. That little tiny sign back there. 53 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:18,138 I don't know how far we'll get today. Maybe 10 miles. 54 00:04:18,180 --> 00:04:20,230 Not make it too extreme on the first day. 55 00:04:21,300 --> 00:04:23,208 But because of the water situation, 56 00:04:23,250 --> 00:04:26,808 it looks like I'm gonna be doing a 20 mile day. 57 00:04:26,850 --> 00:04:29,763 Place where I was planning on stopping is apparently, 58 00:04:30,630 --> 00:04:31,533 seasonal, 59 00:04:32,460 --> 00:04:33,560 which means... 60 00:04:34,590 --> 00:04:35,793 This is not the season. 61 00:04:37,740 --> 00:04:38,883 I found a cactus. 62 00:04:40,620 --> 00:04:41,453 Hm. 63 00:04:43,170 --> 00:04:44,003 It's not bad. 64 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:46,391 I think I'll have some more 65 00:04:46,433 --> 00:04:49,848 and hopefully make it to the lake. 66 00:04:49,890 --> 00:04:50,890 And refill my water. 67 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,224 Don't hike without water, people. 68 00:04:54,266 --> 00:04:56,178 - [Andrew Voiceover] Eventually, I made it to Lake Marina 69 00:04:56,220 --> 00:04:57,708 and collapsed. 70 00:04:57,750 --> 00:05:00,648 I barely had the strength to fill my water bottle, 71 00:05:00,690 --> 00:05:03,528 but when I did, I drank deeply. 72 00:05:03,570 --> 00:05:06,138 Then vomited shortly later. 73 00:05:06,180 --> 00:05:07,938 Apparently, drinking too much water 74 00:05:07,980 --> 00:05:11,238 in a dehydrated state is bad. 75 00:05:11,280 --> 00:05:14,778 Trail angels, Robert and Elizabeth, saved me. 76 00:05:14,820 --> 00:05:18,648 I drank four 7-Ups and two Coca-Cola Classics 77 00:05:18,690 --> 00:05:20,688 and then ate a hot dog. 78 00:05:20,730 --> 00:05:23,748 After chatting with Elizabeth, I discovered she lost her 79 00:05:23,790 --> 00:05:27,213 mother and grandmother in a house fire the week prior. 80 00:05:28,087 --> 00:05:31,698 "My mom would've wanted me to do this," she said. 81 00:05:31,740 --> 00:05:33,318 Angel, indeed. 82 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,060 - Well, if this is not stunning, I don't know what is. 83 00:05:37,500 --> 00:05:40,608 Maybe it's because I'm from the Pacific Northwest 84 00:05:40,650 --> 00:05:43,100 and we don't get a whole lot of vistas like this. 85 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,518 Of course, I'll be singing a different song 86 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:48,078 when it comes to switch backing up that 87 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,028 little hill over there. 88 00:05:50,070 --> 00:05:52,518 Right now we're at 2,300 feet. 89 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:54,468 I'm not sure what that's at. 90 00:05:54,510 --> 00:05:55,788 I guess we'll find out. 91 00:05:55,830 --> 00:05:57,558 There's no sense in worrying about it. 92 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,898 Here's Mike and Connor waiting for me as usual. 93 00:05:59,940 --> 00:06:02,328 - Just took a baby wipe shower, it was divine. 94 00:06:02,370 --> 00:06:03,558 - [Andrew] What is a baby wipe shower? 95 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,088 - They got baby wipes right there. 96 00:06:05,130 --> 00:06:05,988 - [Andrew] Baby wipes there. 97 00:06:06,030 --> 00:06:06,841 - I just wipe up. 98 00:06:06,883 --> 00:06:10,848 - So this is what is known as trail magic, 99 00:06:10,890 --> 00:06:11,718 I guess, right? 100 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:12,948 - Yup, this is trail magic. - Yeah, I guess it does. 101 00:06:12,990 --> 00:06:14,718 - [Andrew] And we've got water here. 102 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:16,444 What else do we have? Baby powder. 103 00:06:16,486 --> 00:06:19,068 - [Mike] Baby powder. The cooler's pretty dirty. 104 00:06:19,110 --> 00:06:20,208 - [Andrew] What's in the cooler? 105 00:06:20,250 --> 00:06:22,698 - Some pistachios and a little (indistinct). 106 00:06:22,740 --> 00:06:24,007 - [Andrew] Cool. 107 00:06:24,049 --> 00:06:24,840 - It's awesome. 108 00:06:24,882 --> 00:06:26,242 - [Andrew] And a place to dump our trash. 109 00:06:26,284 --> 00:06:27,610 - Oh, yeah. 110 00:06:27,652 --> 00:06:29,218 - [Andrew] Dude, this place is amazing. 111 00:06:29,260 --> 00:06:30,909 - Yeah, the desert's insane. 112 00:06:30,951 --> 00:06:32,808 - [Andrew] This is so much cooler than I ever 113 00:06:32,850 --> 00:06:33,648 thought it was gonna be. 114 00:06:33,690 --> 00:06:36,408 - Yeah, it's right out of a John Wayne film. 115 00:06:36,450 --> 00:06:39,203 Beautiful. (soft music) 116 00:06:49,220 --> 00:06:51,637 (soft music) 117 00:07:00,150 --> 00:07:02,808 - [Andrew] How many miles did we hike today? 118 00:07:02,850 --> 00:07:03,723 - 16, I think. 119 00:07:05,420 --> 00:07:06,368 16, 17, around that. 120 00:07:06,410 --> 00:07:07,243 - 16, 17. 121 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,458 I'm gettin' kinda used to it. It was a better day today. 122 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:12,618 - [Mike] Yeah, I felt fine. 123 00:07:12,660 --> 00:07:13,788 - [Andrew] Yeah, you felt fine. 124 00:07:13,830 --> 00:07:15,318 - Yeah. 125 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:16,728 - Here's our campsite. 126 00:07:16,770 --> 00:07:19,428 Camping in the desert next to cacti. 127 00:07:19,470 --> 00:07:20,448 - It's makeshift. 128 00:07:20,490 --> 00:07:22,068 - [Andrew] How much water do we have here? 129 00:07:22,110 --> 00:07:25,128 - We got a couple liters, enough to make dinner. 130 00:07:25,170 --> 00:07:26,178 - [Andrew] Yeah. 131 00:07:26,220 --> 00:07:28,533 - Dinner and drink water. 132 00:07:30,214 --> 00:07:31,293 - Right. 133 00:07:32,580 --> 00:07:34,818 We are not nearby any sort of spring or lake 134 00:07:34,860 --> 00:07:35,988 or river or anything. 135 00:07:36,030 --> 00:07:37,718 - [Mike] There's real remote camping. 136 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,012 - This is it. - Yeah, this is it. 137 00:07:40,054 --> 00:07:41,298 - Nice. - This is off the beaten path. 138 00:07:41,340 --> 00:07:43,548 The beaten path was just... 139 00:07:43,590 --> 00:07:45,198 Right behind Mike. 140 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:46,668 In fact, people will probably walk by 141 00:07:46,710 --> 00:07:48,273 and not even see us tomorrow. 142 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,218 I'll tell you somethin', there is a case to be made 143 00:07:52,260 --> 00:07:55,668 for not starting in April and starting in March. 144 00:07:55,710 --> 00:07:58,878 The desert is actually quite pleasant and mild 145 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,368 but last night was the most pleasant night. 146 00:08:01,410 --> 00:08:04,308 All three of us had a great night's sleep. 147 00:08:04,350 --> 00:08:07,638 Moon was out, stars were out. 148 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:10,008 It was warm, no wind. 149 00:08:10,050 --> 00:08:13,050 Didn't wake up with ice on our sleeping bags or on our tent. 150 00:08:14,107 --> 00:08:14,940 It was great. 151 00:08:16,050 --> 00:08:17,238 Mike and Connor are ahead of me. 152 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:20,508 There's a guy from Texas who goes by Chaucer, 153 00:08:20,550 --> 00:08:21,498 who is hiking with them. 154 00:08:21,540 --> 00:08:23,943 They have a much quicker pace than I do. 155 00:08:25,530 --> 00:08:27,498 Whenever they stop, I'll catch up with them. 156 00:08:27,540 --> 00:08:30,390 I'm probably five or 10 minutes behind 'em at this point. 157 00:08:32,340 --> 00:08:34,578 Somewhere down in that valley below is the town 158 00:08:34,620 --> 00:08:36,618 of Warner Springs. 159 00:08:36,660 --> 00:08:38,778 That is the goal for tomorrow. 160 00:08:38,820 --> 00:08:43,008 If we reach it tomorrow, that will be 110 miles 161 00:08:43,050 --> 00:08:45,363 since Campo, since the Mexican border. 162 00:08:46,530 --> 00:08:50,043 And tomorrow there's a restaurant waiting for us. 163 00:08:52,470 --> 00:08:54,708 It's amazing what motivates a person out here. 164 00:08:54,750 --> 00:08:56,628 Day number eight, Section A. 165 00:08:56,670 --> 00:08:58,863 Our last day in Section A. 166 00:08:59,730 --> 00:09:02,718 In California on the Pacific Crest Trail. 167 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:04,818 Warner Springs is over there. 168 00:09:04,860 --> 00:09:07,668 And that is where pizza and beer, 169 00:09:07,710 --> 00:09:12,273 and Wi-Fi and hopefully, some way to get clean awaits us. 170 00:09:13,350 --> 00:09:14,650 We really wanna get clean. 171 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:17,568 In a big way. - Much needed. 172 00:09:17,610 --> 00:09:18,738 - Much needed. 173 00:09:18,780 --> 00:09:19,743 We stink. 174 00:09:21,630 --> 00:09:26,148 PCT, Section B, Southern California. 175 00:09:26,190 --> 00:09:28,308 Day ocho? 176 00:09:28,350 --> 00:09:29,183 I'm pretty sure. 177 00:09:30,510 --> 00:09:33,138 Left the town of Warner Springs 178 00:09:33,180 --> 00:09:35,208 several hours ago. 179 00:09:35,250 --> 00:09:37,488 And it's a great little hiker town, by the way. 180 00:09:37,530 --> 00:09:39,588 There is a hot spring there, which has kinda been 181 00:09:39,630 --> 00:09:42,453 closed down but I'm told is reopening this summer. 182 00:09:44,820 --> 00:09:48,438 The best thing, in my opinion, was the bucket shower 183 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:49,938 at the community center. 184 00:09:49,980 --> 00:09:53,598 Thanks to all the folks there who provide all of that. 185 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:56,478 And also had a delicious dinner and breakfast 186 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,363 at the bar and grill at the golf club at the 19th Hole. 187 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,888 And maybe we'll report back from our campsite. 188 00:10:03,930 --> 00:10:05,380 See what the boys have found. 189 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:08,808 They're very restless. 190 00:10:08,850 --> 00:10:10,638 Mike's in time out. 191 00:10:10,680 --> 00:10:12,408 I don't know what he did. What'd you do, Mike? 192 00:10:12,450 --> 00:10:13,600 - You don't wanna know. 193 00:10:14,700 --> 00:10:16,488 - [Andrew] Connor's decided to do some cowboy campin'. 194 00:10:16,530 --> 00:10:18,777 Let's check out his setup here. 195 00:10:18,819 --> 00:10:20,928 (indistinct) 196 00:10:20,970 --> 00:10:23,238 Yeah, there's been a couple of mozzies out, 197 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:24,288 but only a couple. 198 00:10:24,330 --> 00:10:26,635 - Just a couple there. - It hasn't been too bad. 199 00:10:26,677 --> 00:10:28,998 - Gonna be a gorgeous night, get some stars in. 200 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:30,378 - Yeah. - It feels good to be 201 00:10:30,420 --> 00:10:32,088 on the trail again. 202 00:10:32,130 --> 00:10:35,178 A lot of folks seek the trail to prove their independence 203 00:10:35,220 --> 00:10:38,208 but I found the exact opposite to be true. 204 00:10:38,250 --> 00:10:41,688 I think the trail proves just how much we need each other. 205 00:10:41,730 --> 00:10:44,598 From water caches to trail beta, 206 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:46,488 to just human interaction, 207 00:10:46,530 --> 00:10:49,788 to pooling resources, we need each other 208 00:10:49,830 --> 00:10:52,593 and it is a huge benefit to be a team player. 209 00:10:53,970 --> 00:10:56,628 - The great city of Idyllwild, CA. 210 00:10:56,670 --> 00:10:58,338 I think we're two weeks in at this point. 211 00:10:58,380 --> 00:11:01,968 We're staying at this place called the Silver Pine Lodge. 212 00:11:02,010 --> 00:11:04,308 Just right in town, actually, everything is in town here 213 00:11:04,350 --> 00:11:07,113 in Idyllwild, where the dog is a mayor. 214 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,668 Anyway, this is our room right here, number nine. 215 00:11:10,710 --> 00:11:13,668 Let's go in and see what's happenin' on the inside. 216 00:11:13,710 --> 00:11:15,590 This is what you get when you have... 217 00:11:17,340 --> 00:11:19,713 Five dudes splitting a hotel room. 218 00:11:22,110 --> 00:11:24,258 Five Pacific Crest Trail hikers. Let's see. 219 00:11:24,300 --> 00:11:26,150 It looks like it's food planning day. 220 00:11:27,150 --> 00:11:28,248 - Oh, yeah! - Let's take a look 221 00:11:28,290 --> 00:11:29,790 what we have here on the menu. 222 00:11:31,260 --> 00:11:33,050 Chaucer's got a custom made... 223 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:34,831 (indistinct) 224 00:11:34,873 --> 00:11:37,008 - We have food for next five days 225 00:11:37,050 --> 00:11:40,518 and we have resupplied a week ahead. 226 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:41,538 So pretty good. 227 00:11:41,580 --> 00:11:43,458 - [Andrew] And how many days is in that bag right there? 228 00:11:43,500 --> 00:11:45,588 - This is five days. 229 00:11:45,630 --> 00:11:47,866 - Yeah. - Probably about 12 pounds. 230 00:11:47,908 --> 00:11:48,978 - [Andrew] 12 pounds. 231 00:11:49,020 --> 00:11:50,898 - A little bit extra and two pounds of food a day. 232 00:11:50,940 --> 00:11:51,773 - [Andrew] Nice. 233 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:54,258 Any favorite item that you're looking forward to? 234 00:11:54,300 --> 00:11:56,568 - More and more Duke's Original Recipe. 235 00:11:56,610 --> 00:11:57,468 - [Andrew] Nice! 236 00:11:57,510 --> 00:11:59,178 - Delicious. - Excellent. 237 00:11:59,220 --> 00:12:01,788 - It's a little overwhelming right now. A bit too much. 238 00:12:01,830 --> 00:12:04,638 - [Andrew] Let's take a look at Mike. 239 00:12:04,680 --> 00:12:06,888 Mike is eating super healthy. 240 00:12:06,930 --> 00:12:07,848 - Candy. - This is five days 241 00:12:07,890 --> 00:12:08,848 worth of food? 242 00:12:08,890 --> 00:12:09,688 - Five days worth. - Mike, that's literally 243 00:12:09,730 --> 00:12:11,028 88% candy. - Five days 244 00:12:11,070 --> 00:12:13,648 worth of food. - You need calories, right? 245 00:12:13,690 --> 00:12:15,138 - Eight different types of candy. 246 00:12:15,180 --> 00:12:17,118 - [Andrew] I like Mike's style. 247 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:18,138 - Four cheese. 248 00:12:18,180 --> 00:12:19,013 - [Andrew] Wow. 249 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:22,488 - I fully require four cheese daily. 250 00:12:22,530 --> 00:12:23,958 - That's basically the four food groups 251 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,578 right there, the way I'm lookin' at it. 252 00:12:25,620 --> 00:12:28,038 We have coffee, Crystal Light, 253 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,608 lots of different stuff, salami and cheese. 254 00:12:31,650 --> 00:12:33,828 Baby food. Renee taught me this trick. 255 00:12:33,870 --> 00:12:36,595 She said, "For your fruits and vegetables", 256 00:12:36,637 --> 00:12:38,478 "go for some baby food." 257 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:40,938 This is what hikers eat for five days. 258 00:12:40,980 --> 00:12:44,478 Next stop is Big Bear, CA and we will repeat this process 259 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:48,270 again and again and again all the way down the trail. 260 00:12:48,312 --> 00:12:49,408 (soft music) 261 00:12:49,450 --> 00:12:51,678 - [Andrew Voiceover] April 4th, day 15. 262 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,588 I'm so excited to be back in my tent. 263 00:12:54,630 --> 00:12:57,528 Town is nice. Showers, food, et cetera. 264 00:12:57,570 --> 00:13:00,078 But there's a definite pull that is felt. 265 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,498 The pull of the wilderness, the pull of the trail. 266 00:13:03,540 --> 00:13:06,108 I hiked with Shenanigans for a few hours today. 267 00:13:06,150 --> 00:13:09,708 He's got dreads, beard, red hair, in his mid 40s, 268 00:13:09,750 --> 00:13:13,638 total hippie and he and I had a great conversation. 269 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:16,398 He hadn't talked to his dad in 14 years 270 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,858 but reached out before his hike. 271 00:13:18,900 --> 00:13:22,443 Now there is reconciliation and hope where there was none. 272 00:13:23,730 --> 00:13:26,748 Camp tonight consisted of Connor, Mike, Chaucer, 273 00:13:26,790 --> 00:13:29,298 James and Kaylee from England, Lucas, 274 00:13:29,340 --> 00:13:32,328 Switzerland, and Rick from Coleville. 275 00:13:32,370 --> 00:13:35,808 Rick made a fire ring and a great evening fire. 276 00:13:35,850 --> 00:13:38,628 All of us had a great dinner around the fire. 277 00:13:38,670 --> 00:13:40,998 Life is so simple and so amazing. 278 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,368 I feel like the trail is its own country 279 00:13:43,410 --> 00:13:45,948 and only we are its citizens. 280 00:13:45,990 --> 00:13:48,108 We are becoming a tight-knit community 281 00:13:48,150 --> 00:13:50,763 and the community is an adventurous kind. 282 00:13:51,810 --> 00:13:54,618 Nobody else is going through this but us. 283 00:13:54,660 --> 00:13:57,648 Our worlds have become very simple and very small 284 00:13:57,690 --> 00:13:59,133 and we share it together. 285 00:14:04,050 --> 00:14:08,718 - Day 16, Pacific Crest Trail, California, Section B. 286 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:10,353 Last day for Section B. 287 00:14:14,460 --> 00:14:18,978 We started the day close to 9,000 feet 288 00:14:19,020 --> 00:14:21,948 and we have got a bone jarring descent today. 289 00:14:21,990 --> 00:14:24,033 All the way down to Interstate 10. 290 00:14:27,180 --> 00:14:28,833 And it's gonna be a 20 mile day. 291 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:32,178 Mostly downhill, which is not my favorite. 292 00:14:32,220 --> 00:14:33,770 Definitely prefer going uphill. 293 00:14:34,890 --> 00:14:36,318 But the good news is the wind stopped. 294 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:37,638 We had a very windy night last night. 295 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:39,918 It looks like we're gonna have some... 296 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:41,103 Some great vistas. 297 00:14:42,180 --> 00:14:43,013 As you can see. 298 00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:46,150 I feel like we're already in the Sierras. 299 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:48,708 I know we're a long ways from them. 300 00:14:48,750 --> 00:14:50,268 We're not even to the Mojave yet 301 00:14:50,310 --> 00:14:53,418 but sure feels like it with all these big granite boulders 302 00:14:53,460 --> 00:14:57,933 everywhere and large pine trees everywhere. 303 00:14:59,370 --> 00:15:04,141 So this is a 20 mile hike with no water. 304 00:15:04,183 --> 00:15:05,238 (soft music) 305 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:06,468 Right now I've got three liters. 306 00:15:06,510 --> 00:15:08,898 It'd be probably better to have four. 307 00:15:08,940 --> 00:15:12,483 But since it is downhill and it's not that hot, 308 00:15:13,740 --> 00:15:16,458 three should suffice and can usually 309 00:15:16,500 --> 00:15:19,248 find some sort of water that's not on the map 310 00:15:19,290 --> 00:15:20,583 or not on the app. 311 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:23,688 And plus, the boys... 312 00:15:23,730 --> 00:15:26,208 I think they each have five liters. 313 00:15:26,250 --> 00:15:29,883 I will continue this bone jarring descent. 314 00:15:30,990 --> 00:15:33,693 And hopefully, report back, if not sooner, 315 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,015 down at the bottom at Interstate 10 316 00:15:36,057 --> 00:15:39,528 and the beginning of Section C. 317 00:15:39,570 --> 00:15:41,329 Hey, Connor, what day is it? 318 00:15:41,371 --> 00:15:42,387 - Day 18 or 19? 319 00:15:42,429 --> 00:15:43,807 - 19, I think. 320 00:15:43,849 --> 00:15:44,813 - 19? - I think it's 19. 321 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:47,145 - I guess we're going with day 19. 322 00:15:47,187 --> 00:15:48,948 - [Andrew] 19. What's our plan today, fellas? 323 00:15:48,990 --> 00:15:50,018 - 20 mile day. - 20. 324 00:15:50,060 --> 00:15:51,708 - Go past Onyx Peak. 325 00:15:51,750 --> 00:15:53,688 - Onyx Peak. - Yup. 326 00:15:53,730 --> 00:15:55,788 - [Andrew] It's closed. So we're goin' through it. 327 00:15:55,830 --> 00:15:58,038 - Fire closure. Gotta push 20 miles. 328 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,378 - [Andrew] Yup, it is 8:30. 329 00:16:00,420 --> 00:16:02,268 - That's early. That's a early start for us. 330 00:16:02,310 --> 00:16:03,558 - [Andrew] We're the last ones to leave. 331 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:04,668 - Killin' it. - Again. 332 00:16:04,710 --> 00:16:06,378 - Killin' it. - 12 tents in here. 333 00:16:06,420 --> 00:16:07,211 - Yeah. 334 00:16:07,253 --> 00:16:08,388 - Yeah. - 12 tents in this little- 335 00:16:08,430 --> 00:16:09,498 - Yeah, we had a ton. 336 00:16:09,540 --> 00:16:10,908 Was there 12 tents? 337 00:16:10,950 --> 00:16:12,138 - Yeah, you were the 12th, yeah. 338 00:16:12,180 --> 00:16:14,838 - There was 12 tents in here? Oh, my goodness. 339 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,453 And you can see yet another forest fire. 340 00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:22,698 How long ago was this fire, do you think? 341 00:16:22,740 --> 00:16:24,048 Two years ago, maybe? - Think it was three. 342 00:16:24,090 --> 00:16:25,638 - [Andrew] Three years ago? 343 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:27,888 I'm gettin' better at identifying 'em. 344 00:16:27,930 --> 00:16:29,878 The bark is still on the trees. 345 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:31,608 - [Connor] Apparently, three years after a burn 346 00:16:31,650 --> 00:16:33,438 is when the trees start to fall. 347 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:34,578 - [Andrew] Oh, three years after the burn, 348 00:16:34,620 --> 00:16:35,945 the trees start to fall and I thought, yeah, 349 00:16:35,987 --> 00:16:38,253 'cause there's still bark on this. 350 00:16:38,295 --> 00:16:39,348 - Yeah. - I noticed that on the older 351 00:16:39,390 --> 00:16:40,953 fires, the bark falls off. 352 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,308 So it's kinda nice hiking through a forest fire, actually. 353 00:16:46,350 --> 00:16:48,468 Still can see the sky. 354 00:16:48,510 --> 00:16:49,803 Opened, blue. 355 00:16:51,300 --> 00:16:52,578 Today it is, at least. 356 00:16:52,620 --> 00:16:54,648 It has been almost every day for us, actually. 357 00:16:54,690 --> 00:16:55,578 - [Connor] Yeah. 358 00:16:55,620 --> 00:16:56,853 - It's been pretty nice. 359 00:16:58,980 --> 00:16:59,771 How you feeling, Mike? 360 00:16:59,813 --> 00:17:02,058 - Feeling great. Feeling grand. 361 00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:03,678 - [Andrew] Any particular reason for that? 362 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:05,568 - You know, nature. 363 00:17:05,610 --> 00:17:07,803 - It's nature! - Isn't it neat? 364 00:17:08,730 --> 00:17:10,128 - Nature. 365 00:17:10,170 --> 00:17:11,388 Nature, people. 366 00:17:11,430 --> 00:17:13,910 What do you do when you're in the wilderness... 367 00:17:15,210 --> 00:17:17,028 And you're at your last water stop 368 00:17:17,070 --> 00:17:19,638 and it's 20 miles to the next water stop? 369 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:23,748 The first thing you do, is you camel up. 370 00:17:23,790 --> 00:17:26,598 That means you pound a liter of water. 371 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:29,343 So here's the remaining part of my liter. 372 00:17:36,030 --> 00:17:38,148 Oh, boy, that's good. 373 00:17:38,190 --> 00:17:39,590 And the next thing you do... 374 00:17:40,530 --> 00:17:43,308 Is you bring three or four liters of water with you. 375 00:17:43,350 --> 00:17:45,393 And look at this lovely water supply. 376 00:17:47,070 --> 00:17:47,973 Ew. 377 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,543 But this is all we have out here. 378 00:17:53,370 --> 00:17:56,973 This is why we bring a water filtration system. 379 00:17:57,900 --> 00:17:59,480 So, yes, people... 380 00:18:00,780 --> 00:18:02,358 I am gonna drink this stuff. 381 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:06,408 This fancy attachment on the top of this bottle, it's just 382 00:18:06,450 --> 00:18:09,198 a screen, it's just a pre-filter to get all the sediment. 383 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,148 You could do the same thing with a handkerchief 384 00:18:11,190 --> 00:18:13,413 or a bandana or a piece of cheesecloth. 385 00:18:14,250 --> 00:18:16,773 So I'll put my water bottle in here. 386 00:18:17,940 --> 00:18:22,578 And now I've got a full liter of unpurified, 387 00:18:22,620 --> 00:18:24,408 really unfiltered water. 388 00:18:24,450 --> 00:18:26,688 I've had this for over 10 years. 389 00:18:26,730 --> 00:18:28,878 So I know it works. I trust it. 390 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:30,561 It's called a Steripen. 391 00:18:30,603 --> 00:18:33,303 It's battery operated. You push a button. 392 00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:38,598 And then you stick it in the water and essentially, 393 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:42,258 it's an ultraviolet light that kills everything. 394 00:18:42,300 --> 00:18:44,838 It kills viruses, it kills bacteria, 395 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,028 it kills organisms, it kills amoebas. 396 00:18:47,070 --> 00:18:49,668 It'll kill AIDS. It'll kill Ebola. 397 00:18:49,710 --> 00:18:52,068 It's a nuclear option. 398 00:18:52,110 --> 00:18:53,748 It is... 399 00:18:53,790 --> 00:18:55,608 It just kills everything. 400 00:18:55,650 --> 00:18:57,558 The little dead... 401 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,408 You know, pieces of whatever 402 00:19:00,450 --> 00:19:02,658 are still in there, so you're still drinking 403 00:19:02,700 --> 00:19:06,558 a dead amoeba but it's dead, it's inert, it's inactive 404 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,438 and it's okay to drink and I'm here to testify that 405 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:11,868 'cause I've been using it for a long time. 406 00:19:11,910 --> 00:19:13,848 And believe it or not, I've consumed water 407 00:19:13,890 --> 00:19:16,728 outta stuff that's even worse than this. 408 00:19:16,770 --> 00:19:19,713 And I've never gotten giardia. I've never gotten sick. 409 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:23,988 Anyway, this is the process. 410 00:19:24,030 --> 00:19:25,548 I've already cameled up with one liter, 411 00:19:25,590 --> 00:19:27,678 I've got 20 more miles to go. 412 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:31,008 So I'll probably bring three liters, maybe four. 413 00:19:31,050 --> 00:19:32,628 Depends on how heavy my pack feels 414 00:19:32,670 --> 00:19:35,043 and how patient I am in filtering. 415 00:19:37,590 --> 00:19:40,128 Yeah, that's the procedure out here in the wilderness. 416 00:19:40,170 --> 00:19:42,588 You gotta take what you can get when you get it 417 00:19:42,630 --> 00:19:45,648 because if you don't, then you're gonna be very thirsty 418 00:19:45,690 --> 00:19:48,261 with nothin' to drink. (soft music) 419 00:19:48,303 --> 00:19:50,448 - [Andrew Voiceover] Over 200 miles hiked. 420 00:19:50,490 --> 00:19:52,668 I don't know if I can do long days. 421 00:19:52,710 --> 00:19:55,128 Today was 18 plus miles. 422 00:19:55,170 --> 00:19:58,728 I felt great for the first 10 but the rest hurt. 423 00:19:58,770 --> 00:20:03,018 It's not muscle fatigue, it's joints, hips, knees, 424 00:20:03,060 --> 00:20:04,548 bottom of the feet. 425 00:20:04,590 --> 00:20:06,978 It's like every injury I've had in the past 426 00:20:07,020 --> 00:20:09,228 comes roaring back to life. 427 00:20:09,270 --> 00:20:11,538 I keep telling myself if I push on and press through 428 00:20:11,580 --> 00:20:14,283 the pain, it will get better, right? 429 00:20:19,410 --> 00:20:21,438 - A little insight as to how I try to keep myself 430 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,388 clean out here in the wilderness. 431 00:20:23,430 --> 00:20:26,568 I like to try to stay as clean as possible. 432 00:20:26,610 --> 00:20:29,568 Hygiene is always a challenge out here. 433 00:20:29,610 --> 00:20:32,178 But it is doable if you have a few simple things 434 00:20:32,220 --> 00:20:35,148 and you're an opportunist. 435 00:20:35,190 --> 00:20:37,548 And this morning the opportunity has presented itself 436 00:20:37,590 --> 00:20:39,498 with a beautiful little creek here. 437 00:20:39,540 --> 00:20:42,438 This is Holcomb Creek, I camp nearby. 438 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,693 I have a few things that I always carry with me. 439 00:20:47,220 --> 00:20:49,668 Some sort of soap. Typically, it's camp soap. 440 00:20:49,710 --> 00:20:53,568 In this case it's castile hemp peppermint soap. 441 00:20:53,610 --> 00:20:55,128 Smells great. 442 00:20:55,170 --> 00:20:56,763 I always have a bandana. 443 00:20:57,870 --> 00:21:00,798 I have my handy dandy razor here. 444 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:02,808 This is the same blade. This is a tough razor. 445 00:21:02,850 --> 00:21:06,348 I've been using it for three weeks with no shaving cream. 446 00:21:06,390 --> 00:21:07,473 Still works great. 447 00:21:08,340 --> 00:21:09,843 And then I'll also have this. 448 00:21:11,010 --> 00:21:12,918 This is an emergency signaling mirror, 449 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,678 but it also doubles as a shaving mirror. 450 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:20,238 So, typically what I'll do is, I'll take my bandana 451 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:21,140 and my soap... 452 00:21:22,830 --> 00:21:23,943 And soap it up. 453 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:26,898 Get it wet and sorta rub it together. 454 00:21:26,940 --> 00:21:28,308 It does a couple different things. 455 00:21:28,350 --> 00:21:31,173 Number one, it cleans my bandana. 456 00:21:32,744 --> 00:21:35,898 And number two, it cleans my face. 457 00:21:35,940 --> 00:21:37,968 And oftentimes I'll try to do this at night 458 00:21:38,010 --> 00:21:39,558 whenever possible 'cause I like to get 459 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,393 into the sleeping bag nice and clean. 460 00:21:43,860 --> 00:21:46,458 But I'll get my face nice and wet. 461 00:21:46,500 --> 00:21:47,718 You can do this without soap. 462 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,760 I've done it without soap many times, it works just as good. 463 00:21:51,750 --> 00:21:55,023 You get a nice, kind of a lather going. 464 00:21:56,940 --> 00:21:58,240 Then I'll take my razor 465 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:01,008 and just shave. 466 00:22:01,050 --> 00:22:03,288 Just using this, in this case, this crick water. 467 00:22:03,330 --> 00:22:04,780 Just to kind of rinse it off. 468 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,833 And you know, I like to stay clean, 469 00:22:11,820 --> 00:22:12,978 clean shaven. 470 00:22:13,020 --> 00:22:16,848 I'm not a hiker that likes to have a big Forrest Gump beard 471 00:22:16,890 --> 00:22:19,278 and be stinky, nothing against the gals 472 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,368 and the guys who prefer that method. 473 00:22:22,410 --> 00:22:25,308 But just for me, I like to try to stay as clean as possible. 474 00:22:25,350 --> 00:22:27,318 It makes me feel good. It makes me feel a little bit more 475 00:22:27,360 --> 00:22:32,360 like a human, not a barbarian or a neanderthal. 476 00:22:32,460 --> 00:22:35,178 But again, you know, nothing against the people 477 00:22:35,220 --> 00:22:37,683 who don't choose to do this stuff. 478 00:22:38,790 --> 00:22:41,298 But I'll go ahead and shave and then I'll use 479 00:22:41,340 --> 00:22:43,340 my little mirror just to touch up the... 480 00:22:44,190 --> 00:22:46,460 The sideburns because... 481 00:22:47,460 --> 00:22:49,413 It's all about looking good out here. 482 00:22:51,810 --> 00:22:53,583 And that's pretty much it. 483 00:22:54,540 --> 00:22:56,328 Then I'll go ahead and brush my teeth. 484 00:22:56,370 --> 00:23:00,678 And the rest of my bathing program, 485 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:02,598 I'm not gonna show you. 486 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:04,998 'Cause it involves taking off articles of clothing. 487 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:09,318 But you get the same idea. A bandana, some soap. 488 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:12,528 Do that once a day and boy, I'm smilin', I'm feelin' good. 489 00:23:12,570 --> 00:23:14,520 I'm feelin' like I'm ahead of the game. 490 00:23:16,110 --> 00:23:19,698 And then of course, you know, swimming whenever possible 491 00:23:19,740 --> 00:23:21,858 is a great way to clean off, too. 492 00:23:21,900 --> 00:23:23,778 But yes, it is possible to stay clean 493 00:23:23,820 --> 00:23:25,158 out here in the wilderness. 494 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,438 I know that's why a lot of people don't go backpacking 495 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:28,368 'cause they're afraid that they're 496 00:23:28,410 --> 00:23:30,348 not gonna be able to stay clean. 497 00:23:30,390 --> 00:23:33,468 If you are a little prepared 498 00:23:33,510 --> 00:23:35,688 and you're an opportunist 499 00:23:35,730 --> 00:23:37,638 and you gotta be a little bit tough, 500 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:40,068 sometimes the water's really cold, 501 00:23:40,110 --> 00:23:43,518 but it can be done, people, it's possible. 502 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,638 You can stay squeaky, freshly clean out here 503 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:49,188 in the wilds of the wilderness. 504 00:23:49,230 --> 00:23:51,708 Anyway, just thought I'd kinda share that with ya 505 00:23:51,750 --> 00:23:52,998 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 506 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:56,238 At the I-18 Interchange on the Pacific Crest Trail 507 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:58,263 just outside of Big Bear, California. 508 00:23:59,250 --> 00:24:01,458 A super nice person named, Amy, who works 509 00:24:01,500 --> 00:24:04,233 at the Frontier Lodge, gave us a ride here. 510 00:24:06,722 --> 00:24:07,513 - Thank you, Amy. - Thank you, Amy. 511 00:24:07,555 --> 00:24:09,258 - Saved us so much time. 512 00:24:09,300 --> 00:24:11,943 - Thank you so much, life saver. 513 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:14,418 - Thanks, Amy. All good. 514 00:24:14,460 --> 00:24:16,968 - Amy, you already know how I feel about you. 515 00:24:17,010 --> 00:24:18,828 So thank you very much. 516 00:24:18,870 --> 00:24:20,058 - [Mike] How is that? How do you feel? 517 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:21,868 - Oh, nothing but love, Amy. 518 00:24:21,910 --> 00:24:23,360 - There you go. - Pure love. 519 00:24:24,540 --> 00:24:26,478 So hopefully, we'll see you again sometime. Thank you. 520 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,683 You can see behind me. 521 00:24:29,697 --> 00:24:31,578 Ta-da. That would be Big Bear Lake. 522 00:24:31,620 --> 00:24:33,663 In the town of Big Bear Lake. 523 00:24:34,722 --> 00:24:39,258 - [Andrew Voiceover] April 11th, day 22, 294 miles in. 524 00:24:39,300 --> 00:24:41,838 I'm camping alone tonight and I love it! 525 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:43,818 Not a soul anywhere around. 526 00:24:43,860 --> 00:24:46,758 I have a terrific spot on the flat sandy ground. 527 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,128 There's a creek just a few feet away. 528 00:24:49,170 --> 00:24:52,278 My tent is protected behind a large granite boulder. 529 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:55,158 The best part, an awesome fire. 530 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,248 It's built like an oven with small rocks 531 00:24:58,290 --> 00:25:00,018 creating three walls. 532 00:25:00,060 --> 00:25:01,968 I felt like a cowboy on the frontier, 533 00:25:02,010 --> 00:25:04,488 camping with a fire under the stars. 534 00:25:04,530 --> 00:25:07,233 It is a feeling of simple peace and freedom. 535 00:25:13,290 --> 00:25:14,123 - Morning. 536 00:25:15,450 --> 00:25:18,873 It's day 23 on Section C of this Pacific Crest Trail. 537 00:25:21,660 --> 00:25:24,378 I woke up in an absolute panic this morning because 538 00:25:24,420 --> 00:25:27,168 a few raindrops had hit the tent and let me tell you, 539 00:25:27,210 --> 00:25:31,188 nothing motivates a backpacker to get packed up like rain. 540 00:25:31,230 --> 00:25:34,068 So I'm wearing all this rain gear and as you can see, 541 00:25:34,110 --> 00:25:35,658 it's all of a sudden nice out. 542 00:25:35,700 --> 00:25:37,263 So the skies are clearing. 543 00:25:39,450 --> 00:25:40,848 Looks like a good morning. I got a fire going. 544 00:25:40,890 --> 00:25:43,480 I've got some delicious Starbucks VIA 545 00:25:44,340 --> 00:25:46,383 and the breakfast of champions. 546 00:25:47,730 --> 00:25:48,603 The honey bun. 547 00:25:50,220 --> 00:25:52,070 Can't recommend the honey bun enough. 548 00:25:54,150 --> 00:25:57,633 Today, hopefully, I'll meet up with the fellas again. 549 00:25:58,740 --> 00:26:00,348 But there's a hot spring in order today. 550 00:26:00,390 --> 00:26:02,538 Somewhere down the trail, a natural hot spring 551 00:26:02,580 --> 00:26:05,253 with many different pools of temperatures of water. 552 00:26:06,450 --> 00:26:08,238 And even a swimming hole. 553 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:10,158 So really looking forward to that. 554 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,528 These are the little treats on the trail 555 00:26:12,570 --> 00:26:14,470 that are gems that you look forward to 556 00:26:15,450 --> 00:26:16,953 for days in advance. 557 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,063 - It's really nice. - Oh, man, how nice is this? 558 00:26:22,350 --> 00:26:23,988 This is absolutely incredible. 559 00:26:24,030 --> 00:26:25,400 This is so much... 560 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:28,068 Beyond what I had imagined when somebody 561 00:26:28,110 --> 00:26:29,118 said that there was a hot spring. 562 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,728 I was picturing like a muddy hole in the ground 563 00:26:31,770 --> 00:26:34,728 with some stinky smelling water bubbling out of it. 564 00:26:34,770 --> 00:26:37,683 The water doesn't smell at all. There's no hint of sulfur. 565 00:26:38,820 --> 00:26:41,718 There's no road that goes here. Only hiking trails. 566 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:44,178 The box was saying there's no cell service. 567 00:26:44,220 --> 00:26:46,938 This place is absolutely unbelievable. 568 00:26:46,980 --> 00:26:49,338 Definitely spending the night here tonight. 569 00:26:49,380 --> 00:26:51,468 I might even fall asleep in this pool. 570 00:26:51,510 --> 00:26:53,973 If I don't come back, I'm probably here. 571 00:26:55,721 --> 00:26:59,568 - Yeah, okay. - I.C.B., Four Shoes. 572 00:26:59,610 --> 00:27:02,268 This may seem like an insignificant spot on the trail, 573 00:27:02,310 --> 00:27:04,458 but it's very significant. 574 00:27:04,500 --> 00:27:05,778 Why is it significant? 575 00:27:05,820 --> 00:27:07,270 - Because we're eating lunch. 576 00:27:08,910 --> 00:27:10,848 - [Andrew] It's true, let's go ahead and show everybody 577 00:27:10,890 --> 00:27:12,123 our lunch, first of all. 578 00:27:15,630 --> 00:27:16,463 Start with... 579 00:27:17,820 --> 00:27:20,553 Yeah, we'll start with J. Boogie over there. 580 00:27:22,290 --> 00:27:25,188 He eats dried ramen 581 00:27:25,230 --> 00:27:26,974 for lunch. - For flavor. 582 00:27:27,016 --> 00:27:30,288 - [Andrew] And that's all just straight into the ramen hole. 583 00:27:30,330 --> 00:27:31,938 - Yup. 584 00:27:31,980 --> 00:27:33,138 - [Andrew] What are you eating? 585 00:27:33,180 --> 00:27:34,578 - I had pepperoni pizza. 586 00:27:34,620 --> 00:27:35,928 - [Andrew] You had a calzone, didn't you? 587 00:27:35,970 --> 00:27:36,761 - On a tortilla. 588 00:27:36,803 --> 00:27:39,688 - [Andrew] And wait, how do you make one of those? 589 00:27:39,730 --> 00:27:41,600 - You take a tortilla... 590 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:46,698 And you take a string cheese. 591 00:27:46,740 --> 00:27:47,690 What are you doing? 592 00:27:48,870 --> 00:27:50,058 - [Andrew] Are you making one? 593 00:27:50,100 --> 00:27:52,128 - No, 'cause I already ate two. 594 00:27:52,170 --> 00:27:53,448 - [Andrew] Okay, wait, so you've taken 595 00:27:53,490 --> 00:27:54,301 your tortilla... String cheese. 596 00:27:54,343 --> 00:27:55,305 - Yeah, just like that. - There's the string cheese. 597 00:27:55,347 --> 00:27:57,825 - Minus the pepperoni, then you just go... 598 00:27:57,867 --> 00:27:58,658 Wrap it up. - Roll it up. 599 00:27:58,700 --> 00:28:00,138 - Yeah and you go right into it. 600 00:28:00,180 --> 00:28:01,998 Plastic and all. - You're touching my food 601 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:03,435 with your nasty hands. 602 00:28:03,477 --> 00:28:04,818 - [Andrew] Are you having the same thing, 603 00:28:04,860 --> 00:28:06,288 a calzone? - No, salami. 604 00:28:06,330 --> 00:28:08,568 With actual, a block of cheddar. 605 00:28:08,610 --> 00:28:10,098 - Nice. 606 00:28:10,140 --> 00:28:12,261 And I am having a delicious meal here. 607 00:28:12,303 --> 00:28:14,538 I'll see if I can show it here. 608 00:28:14,580 --> 00:28:17,598 It's a half a bagel with cream cheese 609 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:20,058 and then string cheese on the cream cheese 610 00:28:20,100 --> 00:28:22,728 and then a sausage that looks like a hot dog. 611 00:28:22,770 --> 00:28:24,858 And the reason we're eating so well today is because... 612 00:28:24,900 --> 00:28:26,824 What mile number are we at? 613 00:28:26,866 --> 00:28:27,882 - [Hiker] 500! 614 00:28:27,924 --> 00:28:28,757 - 500. 615 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:31,998 There's no marker out here commemorating it. 616 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,758 We're just guessing that maybe this is 500-ish. 617 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:36,450 There was a few rocks back there. 618 00:28:37,530 --> 00:28:40,908 But 500 miles. We're not even 20% done yet. 619 00:28:40,950 --> 00:28:43,319 - [J. Boogie] Nope, we gotta do this another four times 620 00:28:43,361 --> 00:28:44,429 and then some. 621 00:28:44,471 --> 00:28:46,338 - Just think of how much dry ramen that is. 622 00:28:46,380 --> 00:28:47,538 - [J. Boogie] It's a lot. 623 00:28:47,580 --> 00:28:49,968 - Day number 30. 624 00:28:50,010 --> 00:28:52,128 Section Delta, Pacific Crest Trail here in California. 625 00:28:52,170 --> 00:28:54,078 I'm here with Special K. 626 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:55,488 - Hello, how are you? - From? 627 00:28:55,530 --> 00:28:56,478 - Colorado. 628 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:58,008 - From the great state of Colorado. 629 00:28:58,050 --> 00:28:59,208 The Rocky Mountain State, people. 630 00:28:59,250 --> 00:29:02,748 And she has made a discovery, which, yeah, 631 00:29:02,790 --> 00:29:04,698 if you follow her trekking pole, what's out there? 632 00:29:04,740 --> 00:29:06,848 What did you find? What do you see? Tell us all about it. 633 00:29:06,890 --> 00:29:11,360 - It would be Mount Whitney as the flow cries? 634 00:29:11,402 --> 00:29:12,438 (Andrew laughing) 635 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:16,128 As the crow flies, 150 miles north. 636 00:29:16,170 --> 00:29:17,868 It is our first 14-er. 637 00:29:17,910 --> 00:29:19,338 - It's our first 14-er. (Special K laughing) 638 00:29:19,380 --> 00:29:22,038 It's the highest point in the lower 48. 639 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:23,268 - Oh, yes, we did make that- 640 00:29:23,310 --> 00:29:24,288 - Yeah. - Decision, even though 641 00:29:24,330 --> 00:29:25,121 he's angry about it. 642 00:29:25,163 --> 00:29:26,598 - I am bitter about it. 643 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:28,788 Anybody from the northwest knows that Mount Rainier 644 00:29:28,830 --> 00:29:30,558 is the proper, it should hold the title, 645 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,228 but unfortunately, Mount Whitney does. 646 00:29:33,270 --> 00:29:36,048 Hiking with Bible. Bible's up there. 647 00:29:36,090 --> 00:29:39,183 This is a little taste of what the terrain looks like. 648 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:42,288 It is snowing. 649 00:29:42,330 --> 00:29:44,583 Just a little bit but look around. 650 00:29:45,780 --> 00:29:48,558 I think we're at 9,600 feet right now. 651 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:50,868 Bible and I have hiked up to our campsite, 652 00:29:50,910 --> 00:29:54,183 which is gonna be somewhere in these boulders. 653 00:29:55,020 --> 00:29:56,898 Speak of the devil. 654 00:29:56,940 --> 00:29:58,338 He's right here. 655 00:29:58,380 --> 00:29:59,418 He's scoping out a sight 656 00:29:59,460 --> 00:30:00,492 for his tent. - No, no, no, no, no. 657 00:30:00,534 --> 00:30:03,664 You don't wanna go back there and look. 658 00:30:03,706 --> 00:30:05,658 - [Andrew] Oh, oh. 659 00:30:05,700 --> 00:30:07,400 Well, look at this beautiful view. 660 00:30:08,850 --> 00:30:10,662 Gorgeous sunset. 661 00:30:10,704 --> 00:30:13,119 (soft music) 662 00:30:13,161 --> 00:30:13,952 - [Bible] Oh, my word. 663 00:30:13,994 --> 00:30:15,048 And it's snowing. - Spectacular. 664 00:30:15,090 --> 00:30:16,547 And it's snowing. 665 00:30:16,589 --> 00:30:19,006 (soft music) 666 00:30:26,986 --> 00:30:29,736 (dramatic music) 667 00:30:37,225 --> 00:30:39,975 (dramatic music) 668 00:30:47,647 --> 00:30:50,397 (dramatic music) 669 00:30:58,354 --> 00:31:01,104 (dramatic music) 670 00:31:02,303 --> 00:31:05,720 Day 56 here in California in the Sierras. 671 00:31:06,780 --> 00:31:09,543 Sierras are working me over. 672 00:31:11,070 --> 00:31:13,353 I think right now we're at 12,000 feet. 673 00:31:14,768 --> 00:31:17,328 And man, am I feeling this altitude. 674 00:31:17,370 --> 00:31:19,570 Feels like you're breathing through a straw. 675 00:31:20,910 --> 00:31:22,893 You can never get enough oxygen. 676 00:31:24,390 --> 00:31:26,778 It was a cold night last night on the lake. 677 00:31:26,820 --> 00:31:29,193 But what a beautiful sight to wake up to. 678 00:31:32,414 --> 00:31:34,903 It's our first real alpine lake. 679 00:31:36,510 --> 00:31:39,768 After 760 miles, 680 00:31:39,810 --> 00:31:41,928 finally hit a real 681 00:31:41,970 --> 00:31:44,943 actual natural lake. 682 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:47,033 Here it is. 683 00:31:48,870 --> 00:31:50,193 Chicken Spring Lake. 684 00:31:53,070 --> 00:31:55,698 So I'm marching onward, there's actually a ranger station 685 00:31:55,740 --> 00:31:58,938 about a mile and a half up, sort of at the base of Whitney. 686 00:31:58,980 --> 00:32:02,418 Hopefully, it'll be open. Hopefully, I can get some info. 687 00:32:02,460 --> 00:32:04,668 Plan is to get some info and then camp 688 00:32:04,710 --> 00:32:07,308 at a place called, Guitar Lake. 689 00:32:07,350 --> 00:32:09,468 And then get up early in the morning, summit Whitney, 690 00:32:09,510 --> 00:32:13,038 come back down and come back down on the JMT, 691 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:15,708 the John Muir Trail and basically, 692 00:32:15,750 --> 00:32:17,463 be on that until Yosemite. 693 00:32:18,390 --> 00:32:19,840 That is the grand plan 694 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:22,938 here on the Pacific Coast Trail. 695 00:32:22,980 --> 00:32:26,208 Day number 57 in California. 696 00:32:26,250 --> 00:32:29,943 Day 57, California Pacific Crest Trail. 697 00:32:30,780 --> 00:32:33,888 I don't know what lake it is because... 698 00:32:33,930 --> 00:32:36,303 I'm too cold to pull out my map and look. 699 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:43,338 That's one thing that this lake and I have in common. 700 00:32:43,380 --> 00:32:44,763 We're both very cold. 701 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,253 Welcome to the High Sierras, people. 702 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:56,598 This is what I had in my mind when I pictured 703 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:58,023 the High Sierras. 704 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:02,520 Oh, wait, there's a tent down there. 705 00:33:03,420 --> 00:33:04,893 Maybe this is Guitar Lake. 706 00:33:06,300 --> 00:33:07,133 Hallelujah. 707 00:33:08,010 --> 00:33:09,288 Well, whatever it is, I think I'm gonna 708 00:33:09,330 --> 00:33:11,348 camp here for the night. 709 00:33:11,390 --> 00:33:12,843 Crest Trail, day 58. 710 00:33:14,280 --> 00:33:16,038 Heading up towards the summit of Mount Whitney. 711 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:20,343 Right now I'm at 12,300 feet or somethin' like that. 712 00:33:22,350 --> 00:33:25,938 Way down there, right there 713 00:33:25,980 --> 00:33:29,808 you can see the icy edge of Guitar Lake, 714 00:33:29,850 --> 00:33:31,713 which is where I camped. 715 00:33:33,900 --> 00:33:35,958 Tried to get an early start this morning. 716 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:39,153 Got a little bit later than I anticipated but that's okay. 717 00:33:40,470 --> 00:33:43,293 I like this daylight and the sunrise. 718 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:47,058 I'm just resting right now. 719 00:33:47,100 --> 00:33:49,428 The route is not technical. 720 00:33:49,470 --> 00:33:50,853 It's just the altitude. 721 00:33:52,350 --> 00:33:53,517 Slow goin'. 722 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:58,173 And 2,000 more feet of elevation gain. 723 00:33:59,010 --> 00:34:00,483 Get up that guy right there. 724 00:34:01,590 --> 00:34:04,109 This appears to be the most technical... 725 00:34:04,151 --> 00:34:05,898 (singer vocalizing) 726 00:34:05,940 --> 00:34:07,893 Part so far. 727 00:34:09,060 --> 00:34:11,733 So I've put away the trekking poles. 728 00:34:15,180 --> 00:34:18,678 Gotten out the ice ax just in case. 729 00:34:18,720 --> 00:34:23,553 It's probably fine. Snow's still really solid and frozen. 730 00:34:26,753 --> 00:34:28,308 But I didn't bring this thing all the way up here 731 00:34:28,350 --> 00:34:29,183 not to use it. 732 00:34:31,050 --> 00:34:33,105 So the ascent continues. 733 00:34:33,147 --> 00:34:38,147 (dramatic music) (singer vocalizing) 734 00:34:47,286 --> 00:34:49,010 Here's the summit right here. 735 00:34:50,676 --> 00:34:51,676 This is a... 736 00:34:52,950 --> 00:34:55,050 I think it's known as the Whitney Shelter. 737 00:34:56,781 --> 00:34:58,098 (singer vocalizing) 738 00:34:58,140 --> 00:34:59,688 Oh, yeah. 739 00:34:59,730 --> 00:35:00,693 Trail register. 740 00:35:03,330 --> 00:35:04,163 Wait. 741 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:08,717 - [Man] It was easy. 742 00:35:08,759 --> 00:35:10,578 (Andrew chuckling) 743 00:35:10,620 --> 00:35:11,673 - It wasn't easy. 744 00:35:13,260 --> 00:35:14,223 It was difficult. 745 00:35:16,770 --> 00:35:19,128 I'm out of breath right now. I'm gonna sit down and relax. 746 00:35:19,170 --> 00:35:21,768 And take in these beautiful views. 747 00:35:21,810 --> 00:35:24,108 Absolutely perfect day. 748 00:35:24,150 --> 00:35:26,073 So this is the highest I've ever been. 749 00:35:27,240 --> 00:35:29,268 This is also the biggest 750 00:35:29,310 --> 00:35:31,713 solo climb I've ever done. 751 00:35:33,690 --> 00:35:37,443 And now the fun part is getting down. 752 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:43,045 As the great northwest mountaineer, Ed Viesturs says, 753 00:35:43,087 --> 00:35:45,805 "Getting to the summit is optional." 754 00:35:45,847 --> 00:35:48,147 "But getting down is mandatory." 755 00:35:50,490 --> 00:35:55,005 So the quest to get down begins right here. 756 00:35:55,047 --> 00:35:58,548 Day 58, Mount Whitney, California. 757 00:35:58,590 --> 00:36:00,903 Right off of the Pacific Crest Trail. 758 00:36:00,945 --> 00:36:03,362 (soft music) 759 00:36:11,707 --> 00:36:14,124 (soft music) 760 00:36:17,370 --> 00:36:19,368 Well, this is what it looks like after 761 00:36:19,410 --> 00:36:21,348 summiting Mount Whitney. 762 00:36:21,390 --> 00:36:24,858 I had all this ambition of moving base camp out four miles. 763 00:36:24,900 --> 00:36:26,058 No. 764 00:36:26,100 --> 00:36:27,108 Nope. 765 00:36:27,150 --> 00:36:30,483 It's hunker down in the tent. So it is ramen time. 766 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:33,258 Right here in the vestibule. 767 00:36:33,300 --> 00:36:36,123 I had a marmot try to get into my bear can. 768 00:36:37,860 --> 00:36:41,133 It's also marmot proof, people. It's well worth the money. 769 00:36:42,180 --> 00:36:44,268 I'm just very fortunate that I had a really nice window 770 00:36:44,310 --> 00:36:46,428 of weather at the top of the mountain. 771 00:36:46,470 --> 00:36:49,308 So tomorrow, base camp is movin' out 772 00:36:49,350 --> 00:36:52,188 and hopefully, I'll get to the bottom of Forester Pass, 773 00:36:52,230 --> 00:36:57,230 where there's another huge 13,000 foot climb 774 00:36:57,540 --> 00:36:58,653 to get to that spot. 775 00:37:00,810 --> 00:37:03,288 That's life on the trail. 776 00:37:03,330 --> 00:37:04,653 Day number 50. 777 00:37:09,692 --> 00:37:10,713 Day number 58. 778 00:37:11,635 --> 00:37:13,128 (Andrew chuckling) 779 00:37:13,170 --> 00:37:16,023 On the Pacific Crest Trail, Mount Whitney. 780 00:37:17,790 --> 00:37:19,340 Here's what we're dealing with. 781 00:37:20,520 --> 00:37:21,873 It's a full on blizzard. 782 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:26,058 And I really don't know what to do right now. 783 00:37:26,100 --> 00:37:27,813 I'm in a three season tent. 784 00:37:29,070 --> 00:37:30,740 And the tent is... 785 00:37:31,860 --> 00:37:33,633 Not rated for a snow load. 786 00:37:36,720 --> 00:37:38,463 So I was faced with a choice. 787 00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:44,300 Either stay up all night, knocking snow off the tent, 788 00:37:44,370 --> 00:37:48,153 worrying about it collapsing, worrying about wind and snow. 789 00:37:49,410 --> 00:37:54,378 Or I've made a decision that I'm gonna pack it up 790 00:37:54,420 --> 00:37:56,598 and I looked at the map and I remember hiking 791 00:37:56,640 --> 00:38:00,198 by this little ranger station, it's about two miles away. 792 00:38:00,240 --> 00:38:02,238 I don't know if I made the right call or not. 793 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:05,283 I suppose I did. Better safe than sorry. 794 00:38:06,630 --> 00:38:09,530 But I'll tell you, this fresh snowfall... 795 00:38:11,050 --> 00:38:14,073 Has done something that I never even considered. 796 00:38:15,180 --> 00:38:16,430 The smell is... 797 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:19,518 It's the best forest smell I've ever smelled 798 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:22,060 and that says a lot 'cause I'm from the northwest. 799 00:38:23,340 --> 00:38:25,698 And I'm gonna enjoy it (soft music) 800 00:38:25,740 --> 00:38:28,218 all the way to the ranger station. 801 00:38:28,260 --> 00:38:30,798 You will note that I am not at the ranger station. 802 00:38:30,840 --> 00:38:33,258 Actually, I am, I'm way out in the front yard 803 00:38:33,300 --> 00:38:36,468 by the weather station. 804 00:38:36,510 --> 00:38:39,438 As I was hiking through the woods in the pitch black, 805 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:41,320 after crossing several streams 806 00:38:42,270 --> 00:38:44,710 around nine o'clock at night, I could see 807 00:38:45,900 --> 00:38:49,308 three red lights, so there was people there. 808 00:38:49,350 --> 00:38:51,835 I walked up to the ranger station, I said, 809 00:38:51,877 --> 00:38:53,097 "What's goin' on?" 810 00:38:54,150 --> 00:38:57,528 No response from anybody. Nothing. 811 00:38:57,570 --> 00:38:59,361 I could even see somebody rustling around their tent, 812 00:38:59,403 --> 00:39:00,813 with the red light on. 813 00:39:04,770 --> 00:39:06,153 Hikers are weird people. 814 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:10,938 By the way, if somebody comes out of the pitch black woods 815 00:39:10,980 --> 00:39:13,548 in the middle of nowhere with a headlamp in the middle of 816 00:39:13,590 --> 00:39:18,168 the night, you might wanna check and see everything's okay. 817 00:39:18,210 --> 00:39:19,077 Just sayin'. 818 00:39:19,980 --> 00:39:22,548 Anyway, I set up my wet tent. 819 00:39:22,590 --> 00:39:25,668 Actually, I did a pretty good job of keepin' it dry. 820 00:39:25,710 --> 00:39:28,128 At least the inside part, the fly is soaked 821 00:39:28,170 --> 00:39:30,648 but everything else isn't too bad. 822 00:39:30,690 --> 00:39:34,788 So I'm pitched out here, 1,500 feet lower, there's no snow. 823 00:39:34,830 --> 00:39:36,678 Worst case scenario, it's gonna rain. 824 00:39:36,720 --> 00:39:37,770 Could deal with rain. 825 00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:42,790 Yeah, it was a big adventure today. 826 00:39:46,110 --> 00:39:50,058 Now it's time to get back in the sleeping bag 827 00:39:50,100 --> 00:39:53,478 and hopefully, have a really good night's sleep tonight 828 00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:55,128 and get ready for another day tomorrow 829 00:39:55,170 --> 00:39:58,696 on the Pacific Crest Trail, day number 58, California. 830 00:39:58,738 --> 00:40:01,155 (soft music) 831 00:40:03,138 --> 00:40:05,808 - [Andrew Voiceover] May 19th, day 59. 832 00:40:05,850 --> 00:40:07,938 I saw one of the most beautiful vistas 833 00:40:07,980 --> 00:40:09,738 I've ever seen today. 834 00:40:09,780 --> 00:40:12,858 It was a flat place called Big Horn Flats. 835 00:40:12,900 --> 00:40:15,528 It's a huge open area with no trees, 836 00:40:15,570 --> 00:40:17,988 no boulders, no hills. 837 00:40:18,030 --> 00:40:22,128 Just a vast, flat expanse of sand and grass. 838 00:40:22,170 --> 00:40:26,628 It's situated on top of a mountain over 10,000 feet tall. 839 00:40:26,670 --> 00:40:29,088 In every direction, all around are the rugged 840 00:40:29,130 --> 00:40:31,548 towering Sierra peaks with Mount Whitney 841 00:40:31,590 --> 00:40:33,558 presiding over it all. 842 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:35,328 If it weren't for the snow and lightning, 843 00:40:35,370 --> 00:40:37,008 I would've camped there. 844 00:40:37,050 --> 00:40:39,798 I was all alone and was suddenly overcome 845 00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:43,578 with a feeling of humility and gratitude towards God. 846 00:40:43,620 --> 00:40:46,758 I reached my hands to the sky and gave thanks. 847 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:50,373 Then knelt on a small stone to express my thankfulness. 848 00:40:53,730 --> 00:40:56,898 - I'm sure that this is a geologist's dream out here. 849 00:40:56,940 --> 00:40:58,608 There's just so many interesting things, 850 00:40:58,650 --> 00:41:01,038 different kinds of stones and rocks, 851 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:04,698 granite, quartz, basalt, 852 00:41:04,740 --> 00:41:07,248 Micah, to name a few. 853 00:41:07,290 --> 00:41:09,543 And a whole lot more. I'm no expert. 854 00:41:10,740 --> 00:41:15,693 But really enjoying this portion of the High Sierras. 855 00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:19,938 Here you go, the High Sierras. 856 00:41:19,980 --> 00:41:21,590 And back here behind me... 857 00:41:22,530 --> 00:41:24,378 Junction Peak. 858 00:41:24,420 --> 00:41:26,043 When you're at 10,000 feet, 859 00:41:26,984 --> 00:41:29,988 you pretty much have to be prepared for anything. 860 00:41:30,030 --> 00:41:32,703 I mean, it could be super sunny and hot. 861 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:37,788 Or it could be hailing like it is right now. 862 00:41:37,830 --> 00:41:40,353 It's actually more of a frozen rain type thing. 863 00:41:42,150 --> 00:41:45,528 But whatever it is, it can change 864 00:41:45,570 --> 00:41:48,858 in a moment's notice at these high altitudes. 865 00:41:48,900 --> 00:41:52,143 The weather, it's its own animal. 866 00:41:54,330 --> 00:41:57,874 You just have to be prepared for anything and everything. 867 00:41:57,916 --> 00:42:00,468 That's why these high altitude mountaineering experiences, 868 00:42:00,510 --> 00:42:02,960 you have to carry so much gear 'cause you just... 869 00:42:04,080 --> 00:42:06,498 You just don't know what's gonna happen. 870 00:42:06,540 --> 00:42:10,323 You hope for the best but prepare for the worst. 871 00:42:11,190 --> 00:42:14,485 Said, "I'd rather deal with the snow in the mountains" 872 00:42:14,527 --> 00:42:18,078 "than the heat in the desert," at one point on this trip. 873 00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:19,563 At day 61. 874 00:42:20,850 --> 00:42:21,950 And I'll tell ya... 875 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:25,188 Right now, I'm rethinking that statement. 876 00:42:25,230 --> 00:42:28,293 It's hard to see the trail. 877 00:42:29,460 --> 00:42:31,863 Gonna have to use some nav skills out here. 878 00:42:32,910 --> 00:42:35,093 Because the trail has disappeared. 879 00:42:35,135 --> 00:42:37,552 (soft music) 880 00:42:39,690 --> 00:42:41,808 Well, one way or the other, I hope to get to some 881 00:42:41,850 --> 00:42:45,693 civilization today 'cause I'm about out of food. 882 00:42:47,730 --> 00:42:49,930 And all my stuff is wet 883 00:42:50,790 --> 00:42:51,623 and dirty. 884 00:42:52,650 --> 00:42:54,108 This is proving to be one of the most 885 00:42:54,150 --> 00:42:56,808 difficult days on trail so far. 886 00:42:56,850 --> 00:43:01,428 I did manage to make it to the top of Kearsarge Pass. 887 00:43:01,470 --> 00:43:04,008 I have no idea how much altitude I climbed today 888 00:43:04,050 --> 00:43:06,333 but well over 2,000 feet. 889 00:43:07,410 --> 00:43:09,273 So I came up from this direction. 890 00:43:10,140 --> 00:43:12,740 And we're approaching whiteout conditions right now. 891 00:43:13,710 --> 00:43:18,693 But with waking up with wet tent, wet gear, limited food, 892 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:23,538 a relentless snowfall, white out conditions, 893 00:43:23,580 --> 00:43:26,838 poor navigation, breaking trail 894 00:43:26,880 --> 00:43:29,928 and it's 3:30 and there's still... 895 00:43:29,970 --> 00:43:33,318 I'm not even halfway done yet to get into town. 896 00:43:33,360 --> 00:43:37,038 I mean, there's still at least six miles of hiking 897 00:43:37,080 --> 00:43:39,618 to a campground where maybe I can get a ride. 898 00:43:39,660 --> 00:43:44,058 So this is a long day out here 899 00:43:44,100 --> 00:43:45,363 in the wilderness. 900 00:43:46,920 --> 00:43:48,513 One little caveat though. 901 00:43:49,470 --> 00:43:51,018 I'll be following tracks down. 902 00:43:51,060 --> 00:43:52,773 There were some people coming up. 903 00:43:54,750 --> 00:43:57,168 From this side, so I won't have to do so much 904 00:43:57,210 --> 00:43:59,358 route finding and trailblazing. 905 00:43:59,400 --> 00:44:00,858 I'll, hopefully, be able to just walk 906 00:44:00,900 --> 00:44:04,698 in their boot tracks all the way down. 907 00:44:04,740 --> 00:44:07,898 But as a general rule, don't find yourself 908 00:44:07,940 --> 00:44:09,520 at the top of a mountain pass 909 00:44:10,830 --> 00:44:13,744 during inclement weather, that's my advice to you. 910 00:44:13,786 --> 00:44:16,203 (soft music) 911 00:44:24,373 --> 00:44:26,790 (soft music) 912 00:44:36,154 --> 00:44:38,571 (soft music) 913 00:44:40,646 --> 00:44:42,228 - [Andrew Voiceover] Day 65. 914 00:44:42,270 --> 00:44:45,738 After the storm passed, I took a bus to Independence. 915 00:44:45,780 --> 00:44:49,818 It was full of PCT hikers who were skipping the Sierras. 916 00:44:49,860 --> 00:44:51,498 J.J. was going to Hawaii. 917 00:44:51,540 --> 00:44:53,118 Ferrari and Street Fighter were going 918 00:44:53,160 --> 00:44:56,808 to Arizona's Grand Canyon and so on. 919 00:44:56,850 --> 00:45:00,318 I made a decision that if I could get a pair of snowshoes, 920 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:02,388 I would continue hiking. 921 00:45:02,430 --> 00:45:04,488 I sat outside the Independence Post Office 922 00:45:04,530 --> 00:45:07,638 with a cardboard sign that said, "Snowshoes Wanted." 923 00:45:07,680 --> 00:45:11,598 After a few hours, a guy named Dan said he had some. 924 00:45:11,640 --> 00:45:14,868 I bartered my compass and an REI gift card for them. 925 00:45:14,910 --> 00:45:17,988 There were no banks to be found in this small town. 926 00:45:18,030 --> 00:45:20,478 Dan gave me a ride up to Onion Valley 927 00:45:20,520 --> 00:45:23,448 where I hiked my heavy 70 pound pack 928 00:45:23,490 --> 00:45:26,478 up to beautiful Lake Gilbert for the night. 929 00:45:26,520 --> 00:45:28,068 Now it is a beautiful morning 930 00:45:28,110 --> 00:45:31,083 and Kearsarge Pass awaits again. 931 00:45:32,610 --> 00:45:35,208 - Day number 66 out here on the Pacific Crest, 932 00:45:35,250 --> 00:45:36,453 John Muir Trail. 933 00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:42,033 Soaking in some much needed vitamin D right now. 934 00:45:42,930 --> 00:45:44,600 Also, I have... 935 00:45:46,020 --> 00:45:48,483 The most beautiful campsite of the trip so far. 936 00:45:51,870 --> 00:45:53,508 This is gonna be a short day for me. 937 00:45:53,550 --> 00:45:56,358 It's gonna be hard to go away from this spot. 938 00:45:56,400 --> 00:46:00,528 I may end up just recouping, fixing some gear. 939 00:46:00,570 --> 00:46:01,810 Soaking in some of this 940 00:46:02,940 --> 00:46:05,553 much needed sunshine as long as it lasts. 941 00:46:08,059 --> 00:46:10,476 (soft music) 942 00:46:16,007 --> 00:46:18,424 (soft music) 943 00:46:24,896 --> 00:46:27,558 - [Andrew Voiceover] May 27th, day 67. 944 00:46:27,600 --> 00:46:29,568 I just got the awful news tonight 945 00:46:29,610 --> 00:46:32,118 that Bible has been reported missing. 946 00:46:32,160 --> 00:46:36,198 He was last seen near Kearsarge on the 18th, low on food. 947 00:46:36,240 --> 00:46:39,438 He never picked up his resupply box in Independence. 948 00:46:39,480 --> 00:46:41,088 This is very bad. 949 00:46:41,130 --> 00:46:44,028 He's very methodical. Almost OCD. 950 00:46:44,070 --> 00:46:46,038 There is no way he would miss that 951 00:46:46,080 --> 00:46:48,738 unless something went very wrong. 952 00:46:48,780 --> 00:46:52,518 My prayers are with that kind man. Wherever he may be. 953 00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:55,203 Please, Jesus, bring him home safe. 954 00:46:58,440 --> 00:47:02,868 - This is called, the mountain beat me up today 955 00:47:02,910 --> 00:47:04,878 and this is the best I can do. 956 00:47:04,920 --> 00:47:05,897 I just don't have it- 957 00:47:05,939 --> 00:47:08,778 - [Andrew Voiceover] May 29, day 69. 958 00:47:08,820 --> 00:47:11,868 Today, I'm going to try and climb Mather Pass. 959 00:47:11,910 --> 00:47:14,628 Summiting these mountain passes are exhausting 960 00:47:14,670 --> 00:47:18,498 and I'm making much slower progress than anticipated. 961 00:47:18,540 --> 00:47:20,298 I'm worried that I won't have enough food 962 00:47:20,340 --> 00:47:21,633 to make it to Mammoth. 963 00:47:22,500 --> 00:47:24,768 Today was a hard day in the mountains. 964 00:47:24,810 --> 00:47:27,138 I had low energy from the start. 965 00:47:27,180 --> 00:47:31,278 On top of that, I was post-holing all day in the soft snow. 966 00:47:31,320 --> 00:47:34,398 And there were more river crossings than I could count. 967 00:47:34,440 --> 00:47:38,088 I camped on slush, trying to warm my icicle feet. 968 00:47:38,130 --> 00:47:40,848 I'm missing civilization and right now, 969 00:47:40,890 --> 00:47:42,663 it's tough doing this alone. 970 00:47:43,620 --> 00:47:47,530 But tomorrow is a new day. This too shall pass. 971 00:47:47,572 --> 00:47:49,989 (soft music) 972 00:47:58,355 --> 00:48:00,772 (soft music) 973 00:48:07,110 --> 00:48:09,888 After many nights of worry, I contacted Katherine, 974 00:48:09,930 --> 00:48:12,228 Bible's wife, via satellite messenger to see 975 00:48:12,270 --> 00:48:15,348 if there was any news regarding his disappearance. 976 00:48:15,390 --> 00:48:18,018 She quickly responded that he was currently in a hostel 977 00:48:18,060 --> 00:48:20,868 in Bishop, California, recovering from his ordeal 978 00:48:20,910 --> 00:48:22,248 in the mountains. 979 00:48:22,290 --> 00:48:24,408 What fantastic news this was. 980 00:48:24,450 --> 00:48:26,545 He sent me this text message. 981 00:48:26,587 --> 00:48:29,455 "On March 28th at 1:30 PM," 982 00:48:29,497 --> 00:48:32,455 "I walked out of the Sierra Mountains in California." 983 00:48:32,497 --> 00:48:35,905 "I walked 5.6 miles that day after a 17 day" 984 00:48:35,947 --> 00:48:38,215 "trial of faith through the wilderness." 985 00:48:38,257 --> 00:48:39,715 "I have never been the same since" 986 00:48:39,757 --> 00:48:42,978 "or like I used to be before March 28th." 987 00:48:43,020 --> 00:48:45,678 Stephen "Bible" McGuire. 988 00:48:45,720 --> 00:48:47,508 He was malnourished, without food, 989 00:48:47,550 --> 00:48:49,938 suffering from exposure and frostnip. 990 00:48:49,980 --> 00:48:52,563 He was the happiest he'd ever been in his life. 991 00:48:53,850 --> 00:48:54,770 - Found this... 992 00:48:56,070 --> 00:48:59,163 Sun shower thing in that bear vault. 993 00:49:00,330 --> 00:49:02,298 So I filled it up and warmed it up this morning 994 00:49:02,340 --> 00:49:05,643 and took a piping lukewarm shower. 995 00:49:07,320 --> 00:49:10,308 And I'm here today with actual human beings. 996 00:49:10,350 --> 00:49:13,143 Pony Express, right here, stretchin' it out. 997 00:49:14,220 --> 00:49:16,128 What's up, Pony Express? 998 00:49:16,170 --> 00:49:17,268 - What's up, Knoxville? 999 00:49:17,310 --> 00:49:19,225 - [Andrew] How late were we at? 1000 00:49:19,267 --> 00:49:20,508 - [Pony Express] 9:30? 1001 00:49:20,550 --> 00:49:22,188 - It was 9:30? - 9:30. 1002 00:49:22,230 --> 00:49:23,148 - [Andrew] Oh, my gosh. 1003 00:49:23,190 --> 00:49:24,138 - [Hiker] Livin' large. 1004 00:49:24,180 --> 00:49:26,238 - [Andrew] Is that hiker 3:00 AM? 1005 00:49:26,280 --> 00:49:27,113 - [Hiker] Yeah. 1006 00:49:28,980 --> 00:49:30,630 - What's that? - It was a party. 1007 00:49:31,530 --> 00:49:33,078 - It was a party. 1008 00:49:33,120 --> 00:49:34,668 And just for the record, 1009 00:49:34,710 --> 00:49:36,408 Pony Express, where are you from? 1010 00:49:36,450 --> 00:49:40,308 - I'm from Pennsylvania, now live in Burbank, California. 1011 00:49:40,350 --> 00:49:42,708 - And dare I ask where you're from? 1012 00:49:42,750 --> 00:49:44,028 - Seattle. 1013 00:49:44,070 --> 00:49:45,588 Another Washingtonian on trail. 1014 00:49:45,630 --> 00:49:47,388 - There's a lot of us. 1015 00:49:47,430 --> 00:49:51,123 Think we like the Sierras 'cause we have the Cascades. 1016 00:49:52,830 --> 00:49:56,538 Anyway, that's the report here on lazy Sunday afternoon. 1017 00:49:56,580 --> 00:49:58,248 Actually, Sunday morning. 1018 00:49:58,290 --> 00:50:02,628 Day number 74, here out the JMT slash PCT. 1019 00:50:02,670 --> 00:50:06,138 Day number 74, as I drop in elevation, 1020 00:50:06,180 --> 00:50:09,303 I have found myself in the land of some cedar trees. 1021 00:50:10,410 --> 00:50:11,988 As you can see. 1022 00:50:12,030 --> 00:50:15,078 And one thing that I like to do... 1023 00:50:15,120 --> 00:50:18,798 If I know I'm gonna be camping tonight or tomorrow, 1024 00:50:18,840 --> 00:50:21,258 which I will be, of course, 1025 00:50:21,300 --> 00:50:23,448 and there's a possibility of a campfire, 1026 00:50:23,490 --> 00:50:26,538 which there is because we're below 10,000 feet 1027 00:50:26,580 --> 00:50:28,248 in the Sierras, 1028 00:50:28,290 --> 00:50:30,190 is I like to take a little bit of this 1029 00:50:31,560 --> 00:50:33,470 cedar bark, which is... 1030 00:50:35,550 --> 00:50:36,753 A lot like paper. 1031 00:50:38,550 --> 00:50:40,773 Yeah, it's very dry. 1032 00:50:42,210 --> 00:50:44,073 It's very fibrous. 1033 00:50:45,060 --> 00:50:47,418 It's also very flammable. 1034 00:50:47,460 --> 00:50:50,628 So what I'll typically do is I'll just take some of this 1035 00:50:50,670 --> 00:50:51,513 and save it. 1036 00:50:52,500 --> 00:50:55,323 And I'll save it for tinder for starting tonight's fire. 1037 00:50:56,430 --> 00:51:00,378 And sometimes I'll put it in a Ziploc bag. 1038 00:51:00,420 --> 00:51:02,553 Sometimes I'll put it in with my garbage. 1039 00:51:03,870 --> 00:51:06,588 Sometimes I'll just put it in my pocket. 1040 00:51:06,630 --> 00:51:11,298 But it works marvelously for a fire starter, 1041 00:51:11,340 --> 00:51:14,553 especially if you separate the strands a little bit. 1042 00:51:16,110 --> 00:51:19,683 It burns just like tissue paper would. 1043 00:51:22,380 --> 00:51:23,958 Just a little... 1044 00:51:24,000 --> 00:51:25,938 Little trick, you're always kinda thinking about 1045 00:51:25,980 --> 00:51:29,433 these things because you have a lot of time to think. 1046 00:51:31,350 --> 00:51:33,093 Day number 83. 1047 00:51:34,800 --> 00:51:36,963 This was the campsite for last night. 1048 00:51:41,070 --> 00:51:44,088 A fabulous view of Silver Falls. 1049 00:51:44,130 --> 00:51:45,843 Right outside the front door. 1050 00:51:47,700 --> 00:51:49,518 Fell asleep to the sound of the roaring 1051 00:51:49,560 --> 00:51:51,063 waterfall last night. 1052 00:51:54,450 --> 00:51:59,110 I said I was going to talk a little bit about Mammoth. 1053 00:52:02,100 --> 00:52:05,688 I've never been so excited to go to a town in my whole life. 1054 00:52:05,730 --> 00:52:09,288 It was over two weeks in the wilderness for me. 1055 00:52:09,330 --> 00:52:12,250 14 days, I think it might have been 15 days 1056 00:52:13,140 --> 00:52:15,363 that I was out on the trail. 1057 00:52:17,190 --> 00:52:18,828 Didn't go into town for a resupply, 1058 00:52:18,870 --> 00:52:21,483 just hiked through the Sierras in the snow. 1059 00:52:22,950 --> 00:52:26,058 In the nice weather, in early morning, 1060 00:52:26,100 --> 00:52:28,398 late at night, snowshoes, 1061 00:52:28,440 --> 00:52:30,558 ice ax, crampons. 1062 00:52:30,600 --> 00:52:33,543 It was the longest time I've ever spent in the wilderness. 1063 00:52:34,640 --> 00:52:38,073 And I think that's about my limit. Two weeks. 1064 00:52:41,340 --> 00:52:42,813 I came into Mammoth. 1065 00:52:43,825 --> 00:52:47,778 I had just run out of fuel and I had one ramen packet left. 1066 00:52:47,820 --> 00:52:49,593 Pony Express had given it to me. 1067 00:52:50,940 --> 00:52:55,773 And that was it, so I was running on fumes when I came in. 1068 00:52:57,000 --> 00:53:01,668 And boy, was it nice to take a couple zeros, 1069 00:53:01,710 --> 00:53:04,668 put some pounds back on, eat some food, 1070 00:53:04,710 --> 00:53:06,633 rest the feet, rest the right hip. 1071 00:53:08,070 --> 00:53:11,148 And it feels really good to be back on the trail. 1072 00:53:11,190 --> 00:53:14,718 Although, this time it's only gonna be a week or less 1073 00:53:14,760 --> 00:53:17,703 and probably moving forward, a week or less. 1074 00:53:20,490 --> 00:53:23,058 So I'm really happy that I did that. 1075 00:53:23,100 --> 00:53:27,168 I think, looking back, that 14 day stretch in the Sierras 1076 00:53:27,210 --> 00:53:29,628 is gonna be the most difficult and also probably 1077 00:53:29,670 --> 00:53:31,818 my favorite part of the whole trip. 1078 00:53:31,860 --> 00:53:36,138 I was solo for over 90% of that time, 1079 00:53:36,180 --> 00:53:38,838 which at times was challenging but I learned a lot 1080 00:53:38,880 --> 00:53:42,798 and I would definitely do it all over again. 1081 00:53:42,840 --> 00:53:45,048 And hopefully, someday we'll get the opportunity 1082 00:53:45,090 --> 00:53:46,250 to come back... 1083 00:53:47,340 --> 00:53:49,490 To the Sierras and... 1084 00:53:50,790 --> 00:53:51,693 Hike more of it. 1085 00:53:52,560 --> 00:53:55,560 There's so much to see. I've just only seen just a fraction. 1086 00:53:58,110 --> 00:53:58,943 Anyway. 1087 00:53:59,850 --> 00:54:01,188 Today's a new day. 1088 00:54:01,230 --> 00:54:04,218 Gonna put some new miles on and see what lies ahead 1089 00:54:04,260 --> 00:54:05,793 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1090 00:54:06,840 --> 00:54:09,138 Still about three miles off trail, 1091 00:54:09,180 --> 00:54:12,978 two miles off trail right now at Rainbow Falls, 1092 00:54:13,020 --> 00:54:15,168 here at day number 83. 1093 00:54:15,210 --> 00:54:17,448 On the mighty, just off the mighty 1094 00:54:17,490 --> 00:54:20,671 Pacific Crest slash John Muir Trail. 1095 00:54:20,713 --> 00:54:23,130 (soft music) 1096 00:54:30,586 --> 00:54:32,448 (soft music) 1097 00:54:32,490 --> 00:54:33,648 Where's the snow? 1098 00:54:33,690 --> 00:54:35,940 Snow is dissipating the farther north we get. 1099 00:54:38,160 --> 00:54:40,128 You can see this is kinda cool. 1100 00:54:40,170 --> 00:54:43,548 This is all marmot droppings, I'm pretty sure. 1101 00:54:43,590 --> 00:54:46,398 And this is one of the most square 1102 00:54:46,440 --> 00:54:48,768 cairns I've ever seen. 1103 00:54:48,810 --> 00:54:51,438 Kinda neat marking the path. 1104 00:54:51,480 --> 00:54:54,678 Day number 85, right here on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1105 00:54:54,720 --> 00:54:56,568 This is the campsite today. 1106 00:54:56,610 --> 00:54:59,088 It looks like a legitimate campsite. 1107 00:54:59,130 --> 00:55:01,458 Got some laundry hanging. Got my tent pitched. 1108 00:55:01,500 --> 00:55:03,678 Here's Hopper over here. 1109 00:55:03,720 --> 00:55:06,220 She's camping with me today. She pitched her tent. 1110 00:55:07,440 --> 00:55:10,458 I've prepared a nice campfire, 1111 00:55:10,500 --> 00:55:14,208 which I was gonna show you my preferred method 1112 00:55:14,250 --> 00:55:16,458 for building a campfire. 1113 00:55:16,500 --> 00:55:19,128 What I like to do is, first of all, if there's no ring, 1114 00:55:19,170 --> 00:55:19,961 build a ring. 1115 00:55:20,003 --> 00:55:23,208 If there is one, I get a flat rock like this. 1116 00:55:23,250 --> 00:55:27,063 Because this is a great tortilla warmer. 1117 00:55:28,170 --> 00:55:29,770 And then I will fill 1118 00:55:30,870 --> 00:55:34,788 the ring with this really dry pine needle. 1119 00:55:34,830 --> 00:55:38,178 This works well in the Sierra. These are everywhere. 1120 00:55:38,220 --> 00:55:41,006 And then stack dry twigs on top of it. 1121 00:55:41,048 --> 00:55:43,938 And then prep. I prep all the firewood. 1122 00:55:43,980 --> 00:55:45,798 Because there's nothing worse than running out 1123 00:55:45,840 --> 00:55:47,730 of a good campfire. 1124 00:55:47,772 --> 00:55:50,189 (soft music) 1125 00:55:58,066 --> 00:56:00,798 (soft music) 1126 00:56:00,840 --> 00:56:03,513 This is the top of Nevada Falls right here. 1127 00:56:04,890 --> 00:56:07,509 And the nick point is almost... 1128 00:56:07,551 --> 00:56:09,968 (soft music) 1129 00:56:18,154 --> 00:56:20,328 (soft music) 1130 00:56:20,370 --> 00:56:23,388 Day number 100 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1131 00:56:23,430 --> 00:56:27,378 Coming off the trail, we could see this trail magic van. 1132 00:56:27,420 --> 00:56:29,538 Burgers on the grill. 1133 00:56:29,580 --> 00:56:30,530 Pizza... 1134 00:56:32,010 --> 00:56:32,973 On the grill. 1135 00:56:34,290 --> 00:56:37,368 They've had people donate some stuff. 1136 00:56:37,410 --> 00:56:39,468 They did most of this themselves, 1137 00:56:39,510 --> 00:56:42,153 Alan and Bonnie, out of pocket. 1138 00:56:43,350 --> 00:56:45,768 And there's just massive amounts of food. 1139 00:56:45,810 --> 00:56:47,508 In the morning time, 1140 00:56:47,550 --> 00:56:49,743 they cooked bacon and eggs for everybody. 1141 00:56:50,940 --> 00:56:53,703 And this is completely unexpected. 1142 00:56:54,780 --> 00:56:56,268 Nobody expected somethin' like this. 1143 00:56:56,310 --> 00:57:00,520 Usually trail magic is a cooler full of water 1144 00:57:01,650 --> 00:57:03,138 in the middle of a dry spell. 1145 00:57:03,180 --> 00:57:07,338 But this is above and beyond. This is next level. 1146 00:57:07,380 --> 00:57:09,348 And it does exist. 1147 00:57:09,390 --> 00:57:11,590 And I can't believe it but I finally hit it. 1148 00:57:12,491 --> 00:57:13,818 We even got bandanas. 1149 00:57:13,860 --> 00:57:16,218 I mean, talk about thoughtful. 1150 00:57:16,260 --> 00:57:18,183 Day number 100 has been a good day. 1151 00:57:20,076 --> 00:57:21,738 In fact, what a way to celebrate it. 1152 00:57:21,780 --> 00:57:23,373 Look at this beautiful spot. 1153 00:57:28,020 --> 00:57:30,723 And even the company's not bad on day 100. 1154 00:57:31,728 --> 00:57:32,988 (Andrew chuckling) 1155 00:57:33,030 --> 00:57:34,772 What do you think? Not bad, huh? 1156 00:57:34,814 --> 00:57:35,605 - [Hiker] Not bad. 1157 00:57:35,647 --> 00:57:37,908 - Not bad. - Not bad for two dirty guys. 1158 00:57:37,950 --> 00:57:38,783 - That's right. 1159 00:57:39,840 --> 00:57:42,948 And it's just after a full moon so the sky 1160 00:57:42,990 --> 00:57:45,708 should be amazing tonight, nice and bright. 1161 00:57:45,750 --> 00:57:48,393 Moon comes up late so the stars will be visible. 1162 00:57:49,290 --> 00:57:51,063 Venus and Jupiter in the sky. 1163 00:57:53,730 --> 00:57:54,563 It's the livin'. 1164 00:57:55,784 --> 00:57:57,814 (soft music) 1165 00:57:57,856 --> 00:58:00,856 (singer vocalizing) 1166 00:58:08,025 --> 00:58:10,308 - [Andrew Voiceover] After skipping 150 miles in northern 1167 00:58:10,350 --> 00:58:14,898 California due to wildfires, it was off to Oregon. 1168 00:58:14,940 --> 00:58:17,478 Everybody said Oregon was going to be the easiest 1169 00:58:17,520 --> 00:58:19,218 part of the trail. 1170 00:58:19,260 --> 00:58:20,193 It wasn't. 1171 00:58:21,390 --> 00:58:23,268 But I wasn't concerned. 1172 00:58:23,310 --> 00:58:26,748 In fact, I was super excited because I'd be hiking 1173 00:58:26,790 --> 00:58:28,878 some of it with some of my best friends 1174 00:58:28,920 --> 00:58:31,588 in the whole world, Jared and Dave. 1175 00:58:31,630 --> 00:58:32,421 (Andrew laughing) 1176 00:58:32,463 --> 00:58:33,558 - I can't tell if you're crying or laughing. 1177 00:58:33,600 --> 00:58:35,212 - It hurts, it hurts. - You're laughing 'cause 1178 00:58:35,254 --> 00:58:36,520 it hurts. 1179 00:58:36,562 --> 00:58:37,479 - It hurts. 1180 00:58:38,647 --> 00:58:40,038 (Andrew laughing) 1181 00:58:40,080 --> 00:58:41,830 I mean, what else are you gonna do? 1182 00:58:42,727 --> 00:58:45,332 - There we go. - Okay. All right. 1183 00:58:45,374 --> 00:58:46,207 Thank you. 1184 00:58:48,144 --> 00:58:49,008 - [Andrew Voiceover] We've known each other since 1185 00:58:49,050 --> 00:58:51,648 kindergarten and shared countless experiences 1186 00:58:51,690 --> 00:58:53,628 and adventures together. 1187 00:58:53,670 --> 00:58:56,958 They're the two most capable outdoors men I know 1188 00:58:57,000 --> 00:59:00,378 and they were taking a week off with no plans. 1189 00:59:00,420 --> 00:59:03,438 Jared and I went rock climbing on Smith Rock, 1190 00:59:03,480 --> 00:59:06,228 went standup paddling and swam in the icy waters 1191 00:59:06,270 --> 00:59:07,848 of the Blue Pool. 1192 00:59:07,890 --> 00:59:11,118 When Dave met us, we had no concrete plans. 1193 00:59:11,160 --> 00:59:13,428 We ended up summiting the South Sister, 1194 00:59:13,470 --> 00:59:15,708 summiting Mount Washington and logging 1195 00:59:15,750 --> 00:59:18,018 more miles on the PCT. 1196 00:59:18,060 --> 00:59:21,018 The Sister's wilderness area proved to be a fantastic 1197 00:59:21,060 --> 00:59:23,628 portion of the trail and I couldn't have picked 1198 00:59:23,670 --> 00:59:26,949 two more fantastic people to share it with. 1199 00:59:26,991 --> 00:59:29,408 (soft music) 1200 00:59:32,016 --> 00:59:35,349 - Look at Dave, buried up to his ankles. 1201 00:59:36,949 --> 00:59:39,782 (Andrew laughing) 1202 00:59:41,230 --> 00:59:44,063 (Andrew laughing) 1203 00:59:46,590 --> 00:59:50,313 I'm saying goodbye to the Sisters in Mount Washington. 1204 00:59:53,190 --> 00:59:54,948 And here's probably the best view 1205 00:59:54,990 --> 00:59:58,563 of Black Butte we've had so far on the trip. 1206 01:00:00,120 --> 01:00:03,318 And then down below is what I believe 1207 01:00:03,360 --> 01:00:07,308 is still part of that huge 2003 forest fire. 1208 01:00:07,350 --> 01:00:10,233 I think it was called the B&B Complex fire. 1209 01:00:12,090 --> 01:00:14,748 Takes the forest a long time to recover 1210 01:00:14,790 --> 01:00:18,063 after a blaze of that magnitude. 1211 01:00:20,921 --> 01:00:24,558 This is just on a south exposed ridge 1212 01:00:24,600 --> 01:00:28,578 and hopefully, in the next couple miles, 1213 01:00:28,620 --> 01:00:30,978 I'll come around this ridge 1214 01:00:31,020 --> 01:00:33,588 and come face to face 1215 01:00:33,630 --> 01:00:37,687 with Three Finger Jack here at day number 137, 1216 01:00:40,350 --> 01:00:42,843 back on the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon. 1217 01:00:44,910 --> 01:00:45,743 Good morning. 1218 01:00:46,620 --> 01:00:48,843 Day number 139. 1219 01:00:49,830 --> 01:00:52,173 Out here in the Mount Jefferson wilderness. 1220 01:00:54,930 --> 01:00:57,483 Let's take a look at this amazing campsite. 1221 01:00:59,100 --> 01:01:00,513 What a great view. 1222 01:01:01,590 --> 01:01:02,793 Mount Jefferson. 1223 01:01:04,590 --> 01:01:07,473 There she is and this feels like home to me. 1224 01:01:09,570 --> 01:01:12,093 It's green, it's gorgeous. 1225 01:01:14,070 --> 01:01:16,023 There's fir trees everywhere. 1226 01:01:17,400 --> 01:01:21,903 A looming cascade volcano in the distance. 1227 01:01:24,390 --> 01:01:26,778 It feels like home and I know that there's 1228 01:01:26,820 --> 01:01:28,773 many more of these that await. 1229 01:01:30,780 --> 01:01:32,148 There's still Mount Hood in Oregon 1230 01:01:32,190 --> 01:01:34,353 and there's a lot more in Washington State. 1231 01:01:37,380 --> 01:01:39,513 We will continue north today. 1232 01:01:41,340 --> 01:01:43,698 But right now it's time to just chill out 1233 01:01:43,740 --> 01:01:47,088 and drink coffee and take in this spectacular 1234 01:01:47,130 --> 01:01:51,168 view of the north side of Mount Jefferson, 1235 01:01:51,210 --> 01:01:55,488 here at day number 139 1236 01:01:55,530 --> 01:01:57,267 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1237 01:01:57,309 --> 01:01:59,892 (upbeat music) 1238 01:02:03,014 --> 01:02:03,805 Here we go. 1239 01:02:03,847 --> 01:02:05,180 - [Diver] Yahoo! 1240 01:02:06,149 --> 01:02:07,659 - [Hiker] That was a pretty good drop. 1241 01:02:07,701 --> 01:02:08,951 - [Andrew] Ooh. 1242 01:02:09,796 --> 01:02:12,379 (upbeat music) 1243 01:02:19,758 --> 01:02:22,341 (upbeat music) 1244 01:02:27,347 --> 01:02:28,818 Well, we have a really nice... 1245 01:02:28,860 --> 01:02:29,913 Wait a minute. 1246 01:02:31,020 --> 01:02:34,128 You know what, I hate it when they build stuff that's 1247 01:02:34,170 --> 01:02:35,418 halfway done. 1248 01:02:35,460 --> 01:02:37,938 It could be a really nice cairn. 1249 01:02:37,980 --> 01:02:39,030 Yeah, let's fix this. 1250 01:02:47,220 --> 01:02:50,058 There we go. (Andrew laughing) 1251 01:02:50,100 --> 01:02:52,098 So much better. 1252 01:02:52,140 --> 01:02:55,638 Now we have a really nice complete cairn 1253 01:02:55,680 --> 01:02:57,028 marking the top of the path here. 1254 01:02:57,070 --> 01:03:01,263 We're 143 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1255 01:03:02,700 --> 01:03:04,848 Couple things noteworthy here in Oregon. 1256 01:03:04,890 --> 01:03:07,128 Number one, I had to get some water from this spot, 1257 01:03:07,170 --> 01:03:10,368 which is kind of a difficult spot to get water from. 1258 01:03:10,410 --> 01:03:12,258 I mean, it's very damp. 1259 01:03:12,300 --> 01:03:14,148 But no clear, easy way to get water. 1260 01:03:14,190 --> 01:03:17,058 So I made a little... 1261 01:03:17,100 --> 01:03:18,800 I don't know what you'd call that. 1262 01:03:20,027 --> 01:03:23,118 But I put it on like roof shingles. 1263 01:03:23,160 --> 01:03:24,588 So the water kinda collects and just 1264 01:03:24,630 --> 01:03:27,798 follows the leaves down and look at that. 1265 01:03:27,840 --> 01:03:28,673 A... 1266 01:03:29,970 --> 01:03:33,183 Full bottle of cool, clear spring water. 1267 01:03:35,670 --> 01:03:37,728 This is the Pacific Northwest. 1268 01:03:37,770 --> 01:03:40,541 And for those of you that don't know, 1269 01:03:40,583 --> 01:03:42,708 this is the land of plenty. 1270 01:03:42,750 --> 01:03:44,958 Plenty of water everywhere. 1271 01:03:45,000 --> 01:03:47,118 Plenty of food everywhere, too. 1272 01:03:47,160 --> 01:03:48,740 It is worth mentioning... 1273 01:03:49,800 --> 01:03:53,598 That there are tons and tons... 1274 01:03:53,640 --> 01:03:55,728 Of berries in this area. 1275 01:03:55,770 --> 01:03:58,338 Not surprising since this is the land of berries. 1276 01:03:58,380 --> 01:04:00,280 This is kind of the end of the summer. 1277 01:04:01,230 --> 01:04:04,008 And boy, the berries are out and they will continue 1278 01:04:04,050 --> 01:04:08,538 to be out and at altitude all the way into Washington. 1279 01:04:08,580 --> 01:04:12,378 And it's a good time to see some bears, too, because 1280 01:04:12,420 --> 01:04:15,168 we're not the only things that love these blueberries. 1281 01:04:15,210 --> 01:04:17,568 I've seen bears plowing through some of these 1282 01:04:17,610 --> 01:04:18,678 blueberry bushes. 1283 01:04:18,720 --> 01:04:21,738 This is the first real good look of Mount Hood 1284 01:04:21,780 --> 01:04:23,193 that I've had so far. 1285 01:04:24,150 --> 01:04:25,953 Thar she blows. 1286 01:04:27,390 --> 01:04:29,823 It's been obscured by smoke. 1287 01:04:30,780 --> 01:04:34,818 And back by Mount Jefferson where I should've seen it. 1288 01:04:34,860 --> 01:04:36,738 And then the rest of the time it's just been hiking 1289 01:04:36,780 --> 01:04:39,408 in trees, so even if it was visible, 1290 01:04:39,450 --> 01:04:42,064 couldn't see the forest from the trees. 1291 01:04:42,106 --> 01:04:44,523 (soft music) 1292 01:04:53,888 --> 01:04:56,305 (soft music) 1293 01:05:03,030 --> 01:05:06,768 And I'm walking into the town of Cascade Locks. 1294 01:05:06,810 --> 01:05:08,868 This is the town, it's small. 1295 01:05:08,910 --> 01:05:11,868 Meeting some friends here for a cold beverage 1296 01:05:11,910 --> 01:05:15,258 and that body of water out there is the Columbia River 1297 01:05:15,300 --> 01:05:17,628 and beyond that is the Evergreen State, 1298 01:05:17,670 --> 01:05:21,093 my home state of Washington and it is good to be home. 1299 01:05:21,990 --> 01:05:23,058 Last stretch of the trail. 1300 01:05:23,100 --> 01:05:25,893 Just a few miles outside of the Bridge of the Gods. 1301 01:05:26,850 --> 01:05:29,973 I had to say goodbye to Jennifer and Kristen. 1302 01:05:31,350 --> 01:05:34,428 They turned around and are headed back home. 1303 01:05:34,470 --> 01:05:38,448 It was really nice of them to come out and see me off. 1304 01:05:38,490 --> 01:05:40,878 Really nice to have some good old 1305 01:05:40,920 --> 01:05:42,933 hometown friends join me on the trail. 1306 01:05:44,670 --> 01:05:46,670 This is the trail now. This is the deal. 1307 01:05:48,780 --> 01:05:51,618 The Bridge of the Gods is the lowest point 1308 01:05:51,660 --> 01:05:53,523 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1309 01:05:54,480 --> 01:05:58,850 And of course, it's the Pacific Crest Trail, which means... 1310 01:05:59,790 --> 01:06:02,390 I have to get back up to the crest of the mountains. 1311 01:06:03,510 --> 01:06:04,360 The next 1312 01:06:05,430 --> 01:06:07,218 section is all uphill 1313 01:06:07,260 --> 01:06:08,868 to gain altitude. 1314 01:06:08,910 --> 01:06:10,683 To get back into the Cascades. 1315 01:06:11,520 --> 01:06:15,348 It's gentle but at altitude, nonetheless. 1316 01:06:15,390 --> 01:06:16,223 And 1317 01:06:17,160 --> 01:06:20,988 It seems that fall has arrived in one day. 1318 01:06:21,030 --> 01:06:23,988 It's really nice. Cool air out here. 1319 01:06:24,030 --> 01:06:25,293 Cloudy skies. 1320 01:06:26,130 --> 01:06:29,088 And the leaves, I mean, it's kinda true in the northwest, 1321 01:06:29,130 --> 01:06:32,238 fall comes in a hurry, comes quickly. 1322 01:06:32,280 --> 01:06:35,298 And it's here. There's a bite in the air at night. 1323 01:06:35,340 --> 01:06:40,340 And I'm enjoying it. So I'll just trek on here. 1324 01:06:40,650 --> 01:06:43,218 Here in the final state, Washington State. 1325 01:06:43,260 --> 01:06:46,188 First section of the final state, Section A, 1326 01:06:46,230 --> 01:06:49,458 day 159, 1327 01:06:49,500 --> 01:06:50,860 here in the Green Tunnel 1328 01:06:52,410 --> 01:06:53,920 where fall has just arrived 1329 01:06:54,904 --> 01:06:56,254 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1330 01:06:57,750 --> 01:07:00,843 Day 161. 1331 01:07:01,710 --> 01:07:03,723 Pacific Crest Trail, Washington State. 1332 01:07:04,740 --> 01:07:08,118 And this is my campsite last night. 1333 01:07:08,160 --> 01:07:13,160 Nice little spot nestled into the mossy green area here. 1334 01:07:14,130 --> 01:07:18,393 This mossy green area is called, Trout Creek. 1335 01:07:19,560 --> 01:07:23,928 Pretty nice concrete bridge spanning the creek itself. 1336 01:07:23,970 --> 01:07:26,628 Man, it's nice out here. Beautiful day. 1337 01:07:26,670 --> 01:07:29,028 No smoke, zero smoke. 1338 01:07:29,070 --> 01:07:31,188 Skies are a little bit cloudy but it's nice. 1339 01:07:31,230 --> 01:07:34,758 The air is just crisp. Little bite of fall. 1340 01:07:34,800 --> 01:07:37,008 Can actually feel the oxygen from all 1341 01:07:37,050 --> 01:07:39,558 the green foliage everywhere. 1342 01:07:39,600 --> 01:07:41,658 And it is good to be here 1343 01:07:41,700 --> 01:07:44,238 in the very lush, very green, 1344 01:07:44,280 --> 01:07:47,358 very Pacific Northwest section of the Pacific Crest Trail. 1345 01:07:47,400 --> 01:07:48,888 Look at this. 1346 01:07:48,930 --> 01:07:49,968 This is pretty typical. 1347 01:07:50,010 --> 01:07:53,118 This is what it's looked like pretty much the whole hike. 1348 01:07:53,160 --> 01:07:55,353 Tons and tons of thick moss. 1349 01:07:56,220 --> 01:07:58,188 Right now we're only at 1,400 feet, 1350 01:07:58,230 --> 01:08:00,078 so once we get a little higher, of course, 1351 01:08:00,120 --> 01:08:02,428 this is gonna look drastically different. 1352 01:08:02,470 --> 01:08:03,383 - Thank you very much. 1353 01:08:03,425 --> 01:08:04,398 - Thank you. - Thank you. 1354 01:08:04,440 --> 01:08:05,988 - [Andrew] Thanks for all of your work on the trail. 1355 01:08:06,030 --> 01:08:07,038 - You're very welcome. 1356 01:08:07,080 --> 01:08:09,235 - [Andrew] Appreciate it. 1357 01:08:09,277 --> 01:08:10,110 Yeah. 1358 01:08:11,919 --> 01:08:13,835 - It's a happy horse life. - Yes, it is. 1359 01:08:16,418 --> 01:08:19,548 This is day number 164, that is a PCT 1360 01:08:19,590 --> 01:08:22,638 Association Volunteer Crew. 1361 01:08:22,680 --> 01:08:24,378 And they were just setting up the base camp 1362 01:08:24,420 --> 01:08:25,818 with all those pack animals. 1363 01:08:25,860 --> 01:08:28,728 So they go in, they bring all the heavy stuff, 1364 01:08:28,770 --> 01:08:30,738 they set up the base camp, 1365 01:08:30,780 --> 01:08:32,973 and then the workers roll in after them, 1366 01:08:33,810 --> 01:08:36,108 and they will stay for weeks at a time 1367 01:08:36,150 --> 01:08:38,178 doing volunteer work on the trail. 1368 01:08:38,220 --> 01:08:41,298 That's how the trail gets to look so nice like this. 1369 01:08:41,340 --> 01:08:44,808 All these people putting all those hours in, 1370 01:08:44,850 --> 01:08:48,588 basically, by hand with a Pulaski tool 1371 01:08:48,630 --> 01:08:51,843 and a shovel and a pick, sometimes a chainsaw. 1372 01:08:53,340 --> 01:08:55,398 It's amazing to think that there's 2,600 miles 1373 01:08:55,440 --> 01:08:59,538 of hand carved trail but it has to be maintained. 1374 01:08:59,580 --> 01:09:02,733 So thank you to all the workers who do that. 1375 01:09:04,170 --> 01:09:06,558 Ted and I have found a beautiful vista here. 1376 01:09:06,600 --> 01:09:10,158 Behind us, we have the north face of Mount Adams 1377 01:09:10,200 --> 01:09:14,988 with what we think is the Adams Glacier right there. 1378 01:09:15,030 --> 01:09:17,508 All that big ice fall coming off of it. 1379 01:09:17,550 --> 01:09:21,348 And this is the first real glimpse of Mount Rainier. 1380 01:09:21,390 --> 01:09:23,883 Straight ahead, floating in the sky. 1381 01:09:25,770 --> 01:09:27,888 And then we were noticing this, too. 1382 01:09:27,930 --> 01:09:31,638 All that yellow stuff, we think that is sulfur 1383 01:09:31,680 --> 01:09:32,471 on the top of the mountain. 1384 01:09:32,513 --> 01:09:36,258 There is a sulfur mine on the very tippy top of this thing. 1385 01:09:36,300 --> 01:09:40,792 And they used to trek up mules and camels, not camels. 1386 01:09:40,834 --> 01:09:43,963 (both laughing) 1387 01:09:44,005 --> 01:09:46,008 - Maybe. Maybe camels. - Maybe camels. Who knows? 1388 01:09:46,050 --> 01:09:47,800 - We weren't there. - Yeah, mules. 1389 01:09:48,780 --> 01:09:50,118 Donkeys. - Giraffes. 1390 01:09:50,160 --> 01:09:51,558 - Yeah. - It could be. 1391 01:09:51,600 --> 01:09:53,808 - There were giraffes goin' up that thing. 1392 01:09:53,850 --> 01:09:55,818 I mean, who knows? Wildebeests. 1393 01:09:55,860 --> 01:09:57,495 All kinds of animals were goin' up there 1394 01:09:57,537 --> 01:10:00,888 and haulin' out all that yellow sulfur from the top. 1395 01:10:00,930 --> 01:10:02,388 That's a fact. 1396 01:10:02,430 --> 01:10:04,968 You heard it here first, people. 1397 01:10:05,010 --> 01:10:09,198 Day 164, Pacific Crest Trail, Washington State. 1398 01:10:09,240 --> 01:10:12,288 Day number 165 in Washington State, 1399 01:10:12,330 --> 01:10:14,043 hiking along with Miyagi. 1400 01:10:15,480 --> 01:10:16,938 What was the phrase? 1401 01:10:16,980 --> 01:10:18,258 What was the phrase you just said? 1402 01:10:18,300 --> 01:10:19,091 - Are you kidding? 1403 01:10:19,133 --> 01:10:20,538 - [Andrew] Are you kidding? We both said it. 1404 01:10:20,580 --> 01:10:21,988 Look at this. - Are you kidding? 1405 01:10:22,030 --> 01:10:23,775 - [Andrew] Are you kidding? 1406 01:10:23,817 --> 01:10:26,568 Mount Adams right in front of us. 1407 01:10:26,610 --> 01:10:30,408 This is the first real glimpse we've had, that we're looking 1408 01:10:30,450 --> 01:10:32,808 towards the west. (dramatic music) 1409 01:10:32,850 --> 01:10:35,088 Looking at the eastern side of the mountain. 1410 01:10:35,130 --> 01:10:37,698 Hiking up this awesome section of trail, 1411 01:10:37,740 --> 01:10:39,963 towards the Goat Rocks wilderness area. 1412 01:10:41,430 --> 01:10:43,998 Which we've caught glimpses of but this, 1413 01:10:44,040 --> 01:10:46,938 I think, is gonna be the first official 1414 01:10:46,980 --> 01:10:49,098 real good look of the Goat Rocks that we've had. 1415 01:10:49,140 --> 01:10:52,068 We've only had glimpses through the trees, 1416 01:10:52,110 --> 01:10:54,978 obscured here and there, 1417 01:10:55,020 --> 01:10:57,798 just enough to tease us of what lies ahead. 1418 01:10:57,840 --> 01:11:00,453 So here we're coming into Goat Rocks. 1419 01:11:03,120 --> 01:11:04,488 It is... 1420 01:11:04,530 --> 01:11:05,363 Stunning. 1421 01:11:08,010 --> 01:11:09,723 Mr. Miyagi's already up here. 1422 01:11:12,540 --> 01:11:13,968 Wow, look at this. 1423 01:11:14,010 --> 01:11:15,880 The camera's not gonna do it justice. 1424 01:11:16,730 --> 01:11:19,147 (soft music) 1425 01:11:27,214 --> 01:11:29,631 (soft music) 1426 01:11:37,526 --> 01:11:39,943 (soft music) 1427 01:11:48,210 --> 01:11:50,960 (dramatic music) 1428 01:11:59,002 --> 01:12:01,752 (dramatic music) 1429 01:12:09,156 --> 01:12:11,906 (dramatic music) 1430 01:12:20,070 --> 01:12:22,820 (dramatic music) 1431 01:12:31,376 --> 01:12:34,126 (dramatic music) 1432 01:12:43,573 --> 01:12:46,323 (dramatic music) 1433 01:12:54,471 --> 01:12:57,221 (dramatic music) 1434 01:13:05,244 --> 01:13:07,994 (dramatic music) 1435 01:13:09,930 --> 01:13:11,928 Day number 170 on the Pacific Crest Trail 1436 01:13:11,970 --> 01:13:14,073 in Washington State in Mount Rainier Park. 1437 01:13:16,740 --> 01:13:17,925 Yeah, I just started my morning hike 1438 01:13:17,967 --> 01:13:20,193 and look at this spectacular view. 1439 01:13:21,120 --> 01:13:21,953 Huh? 1440 01:13:25,050 --> 01:13:25,883 Actually... 1441 01:13:27,240 --> 01:13:31,188 This northwest weather is a welcome sight. 1442 01:13:31,230 --> 01:13:32,778 I love it. 1443 01:13:32,820 --> 01:13:36,408 Maybe because it's been so many days of sunshine in a row. 1444 01:13:36,450 --> 01:13:38,448 It's nice to have a little bit cooler temperature, 1445 01:13:38,490 --> 01:13:41,643 little bit mist, a little bit of precipitation. 1446 01:13:42,600 --> 01:13:46,428 But it feels like the northwest, it feels like home. 1447 01:13:46,470 --> 01:13:50,268 And now entering the gloomy forest on top of it. 1448 01:13:50,310 --> 01:13:51,293 This is great. 1449 01:13:53,550 --> 01:13:55,728 I suspect most of the day is gonna be like this. 1450 01:13:55,770 --> 01:13:59,328 Hiking in the fog, hiking in the mist, occasional showers, 1451 01:13:59,370 --> 01:14:01,578 probably all the way to Snoqualmie Pass. 1452 01:14:01,620 --> 01:14:04,758 I'm afraid I'm not gonna get any hiking done today. 1453 01:14:04,800 --> 01:14:08,208 I mean, if my teeth are blue, that's the reason why. 1454 01:14:08,250 --> 01:14:11,568 It's because I have stumbled into a patch 1455 01:14:11,610 --> 01:14:15,678 of wonderful blueberries and, I mean, patch, 1456 01:14:15,720 --> 01:14:17,358 that's probably the wrong word. 1457 01:14:17,400 --> 01:14:20,523 It's an entire hillside, because look at all these berries. 1458 01:14:21,750 --> 01:14:22,583 You see 'em? 1459 01:14:24,180 --> 01:14:26,478 It's a whole hillside, so all of these red leaves 1460 01:14:26,520 --> 01:14:29,028 everywhere, these are all blueberries. 1461 01:14:29,070 --> 01:14:31,739 Or I guess some people call 'em bumper berries. 1462 01:14:31,781 --> 01:14:33,212 I don't know what they are. 1463 01:14:33,254 --> 01:14:38,254 I do know that they are delicious. 1464 01:14:38,310 --> 01:14:41,118 And I've been stuck here for probably 30 minutes, 1465 01:14:41,160 --> 01:14:42,738 just eating berries. 1466 01:14:42,780 --> 01:14:44,328 - September 8th. (soft music) 1467 01:14:44,370 --> 01:14:48,468 There's nothing like a Pacific Northwest forest in the fall. 1468 01:14:48,510 --> 01:14:53,208 It is eerie and spooky but it holds a strange fascination. 1469 01:14:53,250 --> 01:14:56,538 I'm drawn to it. Maybe because it's terrifying. 1470 01:14:56,580 --> 01:14:59,148 Maybe because it's where I grew up. 1471 01:14:59,190 --> 01:15:01,248 I camped in the thick of it last night 1472 01:15:01,290 --> 01:15:03,768 and watched an episode of "The X-Files." 1473 01:15:03,810 --> 01:15:04,601 I love it. 1474 01:15:04,643 --> 01:15:07,278 Today was cool and clear with an occasional view 1475 01:15:07,320 --> 01:15:10,758 of the J Section and the peaks that lie ahead. 1476 01:15:10,800 --> 01:15:12,948 It is nice to scan the jagged horizon 1477 01:15:12,990 --> 01:15:15,858 and see the profile of familiar mountains. 1478 01:15:15,900 --> 01:15:18,288 Tonight, I'm camped on an abandoned logging road 1479 01:15:18,330 --> 01:15:21,048 with the goal of Snoqualmie Pass tomorrow. 1480 01:15:21,090 --> 01:15:23,778 An elk just bugled in the distance. 1481 01:15:23,820 --> 01:15:25,323 I'm excited for nightfall. 1482 01:15:27,180 --> 01:15:30,783 - So today's goal is to try to get to Snoqualmie Pass. 1483 01:15:32,100 --> 01:15:35,718 Each day that passes by feels more and more like fall. 1484 01:15:35,760 --> 01:15:40,248 So there's not much time left in this journey. 1485 01:15:40,290 --> 01:15:42,723 I wanna milk it for everything it's worth. 1486 01:15:45,600 --> 01:15:48,250 I'm gonna be hiking with my friend, Carl 1487 01:15:49,230 --> 01:15:50,238 through the J Section in Snoqualmie. 1488 01:15:50,280 --> 01:15:54,438 From Snoqualmie to Stevens with a possible side trip 1489 01:15:54,480 --> 01:15:56,163 summit to Mount Daniel. 1490 01:15:57,960 --> 01:15:59,160 We'll see how that goes. 1491 01:16:00,180 --> 01:16:02,088 But as for right now, I am really enjoying 1492 01:16:02,130 --> 01:16:04,773 the morning walk through the very damp, 1493 01:16:05,670 --> 01:16:09,378 lush, thick Pacific Northwest 1494 01:16:09,420 --> 01:16:12,918 forest in the mist, on the trail. 1495 01:16:12,960 --> 01:16:16,098 Day number 171 in Washington State 1496 01:16:16,140 --> 01:16:17,583 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1497 01:16:19,170 --> 01:16:22,818 Day number 173 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1498 01:16:22,860 --> 01:16:24,708 In the J Section of Washington State. 1499 01:16:24,750 --> 01:16:27,543 Started at Snoqualmie Pass. Hiking here with Carl. 1500 01:16:29,640 --> 01:16:31,728 You'll hear a lot of talk about this on the trail. 1501 01:16:31,770 --> 01:16:34,188 This is a very unique section of the trail. 1502 01:16:34,230 --> 01:16:37,728 It is the longest, continuously dynamited section 1503 01:16:37,770 --> 01:16:41,238 on the PCT. (soft music) 1504 01:16:41,280 --> 01:16:43,338 So all this rock has been blasted. 1505 01:16:43,380 --> 01:16:45,558 Obviously, the trail, this was just a rock face. 1506 01:16:45,600 --> 01:16:47,868 You can kinda see how it comes down. 1507 01:16:47,910 --> 01:16:49,143 Everything was blasted. 1508 01:16:52,740 --> 01:16:55,818 Actually, we just heard news that somebody perished 1509 01:16:55,860 --> 01:16:58,278 on this section last week. 1510 01:16:58,320 --> 01:16:59,973 Somebody fell off. 1511 01:17:00,840 --> 01:17:02,058 I don't know how or why. 1512 01:17:02,100 --> 01:17:05,118 Probably taking a selfie and stepping backwards. 1513 01:17:05,160 --> 01:17:07,698 But it is a long ways down. 1514 01:17:07,740 --> 01:17:10,197 It's got a little bit of exposure. Let's take a look. 1515 01:17:10,239 --> 01:17:12,028 - [Carl] Do you want me to hold the camera over for you? 1516 01:17:12,070 --> 01:17:13,823 - You wanna do it? Okay. 1517 01:17:13,865 --> 01:17:14,868 I don't like to get close to the edge 1518 01:17:14,910 --> 01:17:16,743 but Carl's a mountain goat. Ah! 1519 01:17:17,850 --> 01:17:19,338 Good morning. 1520 01:17:19,380 --> 01:17:21,018 Day 176. 1521 01:17:21,060 --> 01:17:23,658 We've got ourself a morning person over here. 1522 01:17:23,700 --> 01:17:24,600 - [Carl] Let's go! 1523 01:17:26,220 --> 01:17:27,053 - Oh, man. 1524 01:17:28,770 --> 01:17:30,798 Yeah, it's snowin'. 1525 01:17:30,840 --> 01:17:32,660 Can you see it? We're at... 1526 01:17:33,507 --> 01:17:34,938 Let me look. 1527 01:17:34,980 --> 01:17:36,858 Almost 7,800 feet right now. 1528 01:17:36,900 --> 01:17:39,093 And it is definitely snowin' up here. 1529 01:17:39,990 --> 01:17:44,058 You can see Cathedral Rock right there. 1530 01:17:44,100 --> 01:17:45,753 Peggy's Pond down below it. 1531 01:17:47,670 --> 01:17:50,913 And our route was kinda up this way. 1532 01:17:52,440 --> 01:17:55,368 And then we basically traversed this ridge 1533 01:17:55,410 --> 01:17:58,158 up to here and then cut all the way down 1534 01:17:58,200 --> 01:18:00,618 below the snow on the rock. 1535 01:18:00,660 --> 01:18:03,798 And now we've just been climbing straight up. 1536 01:18:03,840 --> 01:18:06,003 So straight up, up we go. 1537 01:18:06,045 --> 01:18:08,628 (upbeat music) 1538 01:18:17,319 --> 01:18:19,902 (upbeat music) 1539 01:18:28,441 --> 01:18:31,024 (upbeat music) 1540 01:18:35,760 --> 01:18:38,928 So this is a big night hike for the last, 1541 01:18:38,970 --> 01:18:40,428 probably four or five miles. 1542 01:18:40,470 --> 01:18:43,878 It's a headlamp hike all the way to Steven's Pass, right? 1543 01:18:43,920 --> 01:18:45,873 - Yeah. - I think that is true. 1544 01:18:46,980 --> 01:18:48,348 - [Carl] That's the aim. 1545 01:18:48,390 --> 01:18:49,578 - That is the aim. 1546 01:18:49,620 --> 01:18:52,308 We're going above and beyond the call of duty here. 1547 01:18:52,350 --> 01:18:55,368 24 miles, last four by headlamp in Washington State. 1548 01:18:55,410 --> 01:18:59,928 177 days in on the Pacific Crest Trail, Section J. 1549 01:18:59,970 --> 01:19:01,826 - [Carl] The last day on Section J. 1550 01:19:01,868 --> 01:19:03,543 - Oh, yeah, last day of J. 1551 01:19:04,680 --> 01:19:07,788 All right, it's day 184 1552 01:19:07,830 --> 01:19:09,318 on the PCT. 1553 01:19:09,360 --> 01:19:13,518 Time to seize the moment while the moment is at hand. 1554 01:19:13,560 --> 01:19:17,388 And that moment being the first real good look 1555 01:19:17,430 --> 01:19:18,693 at Glacier Peak. 1556 01:19:19,740 --> 01:19:22,578 There it is in the remnants of a lenticular 1557 01:19:22,620 --> 01:19:23,800 cloud, hovering 1558 01:19:24,780 --> 01:19:28,638 over the top, getting stretched out by the wind. 1559 01:19:28,680 --> 01:19:30,918 This one up here is called Indian Head. 1560 01:19:30,960 --> 01:19:33,228 And then of course, moving over we have 1561 01:19:33,270 --> 01:19:35,658 the spiky one here is Clark, 1562 01:19:35,700 --> 01:19:37,698 and then this one is Saul. 1563 01:19:37,740 --> 01:19:39,198 Here, let's have one last look around 1564 01:19:39,240 --> 01:19:43,523 this awesome vista here. (soft music) 1565 01:19:45,155 --> 01:19:47,572 (soft music) 1566 01:19:52,350 --> 01:19:54,753 Day 185 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1567 01:19:56,970 --> 01:19:59,508 Who says there's no jungles in the northwest? 1568 01:19:59,550 --> 01:20:00,708 Look around. 1569 01:20:00,750 --> 01:20:03,018 There's all kinds of different fir trees and hemlock trees 1570 01:20:03,060 --> 01:20:06,438 and moss and mushrooms and all kinds of stuff in here. 1571 01:20:06,480 --> 01:20:08,058 But it is just... 1572 01:20:08,100 --> 01:20:10,773 There's every color of green you can imagine in here. 1573 01:20:11,730 --> 01:20:14,928 Kinda neat, there's beauty in pretty much 1574 01:20:14,970 --> 01:20:18,198 every part of this trail and this is no exception 1575 01:20:18,240 --> 01:20:22,128 here at day number 185 on the Pacific Crest Trail, 1576 01:20:22,170 --> 01:20:24,348 Section K in Washington State. 1577 01:20:24,390 --> 01:20:29,099 Day number 185 on the Pacific Crest River. 1578 01:20:29,141 --> 01:20:29,932 (Andrew chuckling) 1579 01:20:29,974 --> 01:20:33,423 This is a muddy mess. Let's take a look. 1580 01:20:36,870 --> 01:20:40,728 This is what the trail looks like all the way, 1581 01:20:40,770 --> 01:20:42,273 this entire thing. 1582 01:20:45,120 --> 01:20:47,013 I'm just gonna keep trekkin' in this. 1583 01:20:48,660 --> 01:20:52,863 Part of me just wants to just stay warm by moving. 1584 01:20:53,910 --> 01:20:56,388 And if I'm talkin' loud, I'm trying to keep my spirits up 1585 01:20:56,430 --> 01:20:59,658 by listening to music, I got music crankin' right now. 1586 01:20:59,700 --> 01:21:04,700 So I'm gonna, hopefully, just crank that until... 1587 01:21:05,520 --> 01:21:08,598 Well hopefully 'til the morning, if I can make it that long. 1588 01:21:08,640 --> 01:21:11,808 So anyway, that's what's goin' on here. 1589 01:21:11,850 --> 01:21:13,503 It's wild waves out here. 1590 01:21:15,330 --> 01:21:17,373 Pacific Crest, oh! 1591 01:21:18,960 --> 01:21:21,743 Trail. (soft music) 1592 01:21:22,860 --> 01:21:25,120 Day number 185 1593 01:21:26,141 --> 01:21:27,603 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1594 01:21:29,190 --> 01:21:30,303 Wow, what a day. 1595 01:21:31,560 --> 01:21:33,348 I threw in the towel. 1596 01:21:33,390 --> 01:21:36,123 I hiked for 16 hours straight today. 1597 01:21:37,200 --> 01:21:38,868 The rain never ceased. 1598 01:21:38,910 --> 01:21:41,553 It did stop once when it turned into snow. 1599 01:21:43,650 --> 01:21:48,183 But in 16 hours I only went a little over 24 miles. 1600 01:21:49,655 --> 01:21:51,708 The trail is thrashed. 1601 01:21:51,750 --> 01:21:54,648 Blow-downs, washouts, 1602 01:21:54,690 --> 01:21:56,028 mud, 1603 01:21:56,070 --> 01:21:57,483 swollen creeks. 1604 01:22:00,180 --> 01:22:03,123 The K Section is in rough shape right now. 1605 01:22:06,277 --> 01:22:07,960 I pitched my tent in a hurry 1606 01:22:09,120 --> 01:22:11,520 in the middle of the woods, kind of in a puddle. 1607 01:22:12,900 --> 01:22:15,528 In an effort to try to get a little bit dry 1608 01:22:15,570 --> 01:22:17,043 and try to get some sleep. 1609 01:22:22,639 --> 01:22:24,991 It was a valiant effort. That's as far as I got. 1610 01:22:25,033 --> 01:22:28,323 I didn't feel comfortable continuing on. 1611 01:22:33,041 --> 01:22:35,988 At night, crossing streams and I definitely 1612 01:22:36,030 --> 01:22:39,648 didn't wanna hike up to elevation again tonight. 1613 01:22:39,690 --> 01:22:43,743 All the snow up there so this is where we're at. 1614 01:22:45,120 --> 01:22:46,070 Anyway... 1615 01:22:46,950 --> 01:22:50,628 Something tells me, despite the fact that I'm soaking wet, 1616 01:22:50,670 --> 01:22:52,668 probably gonna have a pretty good rest tonight 1617 01:22:52,710 --> 01:22:55,053 here at day number 185. 1618 01:22:55,980 --> 01:22:58,510 Washington State, K Section 1619 01:22:59,370 --> 01:23:01,083 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1620 01:23:02,762 --> 01:23:05,429 (water rushing) 1621 01:23:13,110 --> 01:23:15,710 Anyway, let's hope that today's a little bit better. 1622 01:23:16,980 --> 01:23:19,638 Yeah, yesterday was seriously one of the toughest days 1623 01:23:19,680 --> 01:23:21,093 I've had on this whole trip. 1624 01:23:21,930 --> 01:23:23,733 So it's a new day today. 1625 01:23:24,570 --> 01:23:28,848 Let's see what it brings here at day number 186. 1626 01:23:28,890 --> 01:23:31,923 This is the North Cascades, ladies and gentlemen. 1627 01:23:33,150 --> 01:23:35,388 In all of its glory and it doesn't get 1628 01:23:35,430 --> 01:23:36,633 much better than this. 1629 01:23:37,740 --> 01:23:40,503 Truly one of the most spectacular views on the trail. 1630 01:23:43,740 --> 01:23:46,188 Where are we at? Is this Cloudy Pass? 1631 01:23:46,230 --> 01:23:47,021 - [Carl] Yeah, I think so. 1632 01:23:47,063 --> 01:23:48,378 - Yeah, I think we're right in the saddle 1633 01:23:48,420 --> 01:23:50,658 of Cloudy Pass right now. 1634 01:23:50,700 --> 01:23:52,818 On day 187, 1635 01:23:52,860 --> 01:23:55,923 Section K in Washington State. 1636 01:23:57,050 --> 01:23:59,373 Day number 189. 1637 01:24:00,210 --> 01:24:03,558 Just off the PCT, on a bridge. 1638 01:24:03,600 --> 01:24:05,958 A bridge that goes over a creek. 1639 01:24:06,000 --> 01:24:08,793 A creek that is called, Bridge Creek. 1640 01:24:12,720 --> 01:24:13,553 Here it is. 1641 01:24:14,548 --> 01:24:17,215 (water rushing) 1642 01:24:24,301 --> 01:24:27,018 The water is crystal clear. 1643 01:24:27,060 --> 01:24:28,608 I'm not sure exactly where it comes from. 1644 01:24:28,650 --> 01:24:31,638 It could come from the backside of Mount McGregor 1645 01:24:31,680 --> 01:24:33,968 where we just were, there's a glacier up there. 1646 01:24:34,010 --> 01:24:36,798 So this might all be glacial runoff from that. 1647 01:24:36,840 --> 01:24:38,340 Take a look at the other side. 1648 01:24:42,990 --> 01:24:47,703 Huge rock, granite island and a nice little water slide, 1649 01:24:48,660 --> 01:24:50,673 slash swimming hole right in there. 1650 01:24:52,560 --> 01:24:55,510 Kind of a neat little spot. Look at how clear the water is. 1651 01:24:57,150 --> 01:24:59,988 Section L in Washington State. 1652 01:25:00,030 --> 01:25:03,258 And this section of the trail is... 1653 01:25:03,300 --> 01:25:06,422 It is ridiculously beautiful out here. 1654 01:25:06,464 --> 01:25:07,255 (soft music) 1655 01:25:07,297 --> 01:25:09,948 I mean, this has gotta be one of the prettiest 1656 01:25:09,990 --> 01:25:12,318 spots on the whole trail. 1657 01:25:12,360 --> 01:25:16,068 I probably said that a lot about a lot of spots but this is. 1658 01:25:16,110 --> 01:25:20,328 Cutthroat Pass is right here. It's the low spot. 1659 01:25:20,370 --> 01:25:22,038 Everything is wide open. 1660 01:25:22,080 --> 01:25:24,678 I mean, we've got this beautiful day also. 1661 01:25:24,720 --> 01:25:28,728 And the mountains all around this area are all granite. 1662 01:25:28,770 --> 01:25:30,318 Very reminiscent of the mountains 1663 01:25:30,360 --> 01:25:33,318 down in central California, all granite. 1664 01:25:33,360 --> 01:25:35,463 And here we are comin' around the corner. 1665 01:25:36,810 --> 01:25:39,348 Of course, that's Silver Star Mountain right there. 1666 01:25:39,390 --> 01:25:41,493 And we're swingin' around. 1667 01:25:42,840 --> 01:25:44,883 Rugged, beautiful mountains everywhere. 1668 01:25:49,230 --> 01:25:50,943 But wow, what a day. 1669 01:25:52,080 --> 01:25:55,548 What a day, what a spot, what a place. 1670 01:25:55,590 --> 01:25:58,748 What a way to roll into Canada these next last few days 1671 01:25:58,790 --> 01:26:00,708 in this section of the trail. 1672 01:26:00,750 --> 01:26:04,998 Absolutely stunning here at day number 192, 1673 01:26:05,040 --> 01:26:07,908 Section L in Washington State 1674 01:26:07,950 --> 01:26:12,213 right here on the magnificent Pacific Crest Trail. 1675 01:26:14,280 --> 01:26:15,858 Whoo! 1676 01:26:15,900 --> 01:26:17,778 Day number 192, 1677 01:26:17,820 --> 01:26:19,878 sitting atop 1678 01:26:19,920 --> 01:26:21,070 the Golden Horn 1679 01:26:22,170 --> 01:26:25,338 with a fantastic panorama all around me. 1680 01:26:25,380 --> 01:26:28,863 What a great climb. It's funny how things work out. 1681 01:26:29,730 --> 01:26:32,088 Until two days ago, I'd never even heard 1682 01:26:32,130 --> 01:26:33,828 of the... 1683 01:26:33,870 --> 01:26:35,208 Golden Horn. 1684 01:26:35,250 --> 01:26:36,708 I'd never even heard of it. 1685 01:26:36,750 --> 01:26:39,483 But I saw it in the distance from Mount McGregor. 1686 01:26:41,160 --> 01:26:44,808 And today, I had no intention 1687 01:26:44,850 --> 01:26:47,658 of going down to the Snow Lake. 1688 01:26:47,700 --> 01:26:49,368 But because I had a little extra time, 1689 01:26:49,410 --> 01:26:51,708 I just decided to do a little bit of route finding 1690 01:26:51,750 --> 01:26:55,368 and found my way to the Snow Lake. 1691 01:26:55,410 --> 01:26:59,538 And until about an hour and 20 minutes ago, 1692 01:26:59,580 --> 01:27:02,028 I had no intention of climbing this thing. 1693 01:27:02,070 --> 01:27:04,098 It was just on a whim. 1694 01:27:04,140 --> 01:27:07,653 So it's just funny how things work out sometimes. 1695 01:27:09,030 --> 01:27:12,123 But wow, I think I'm just gonna hang out here for a moment. 1696 01:27:13,110 --> 01:27:17,810 And turn around and eat a snack and take in this... 1697 01:27:18,780 --> 01:27:22,758 Priceless view. It is truly an unbelievable view up here. 1698 01:27:22,800 --> 01:27:25,473 And what a day. I can't believe this day. 1699 01:27:26,460 --> 01:27:28,848 Not a breeze. Some cloud breaks. 1700 01:27:28,890 --> 01:27:30,273 Some sun breaks. 1701 01:27:31,170 --> 01:27:32,613 You can see the sun rays. 1702 01:27:35,880 --> 01:27:39,333 On top of the Golden Horn in the North Cascades. 1703 01:27:42,480 --> 01:27:46,353 Day 194 on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1704 01:27:47,220 --> 01:27:48,970 What a difference a day makes, huh? 1705 01:27:50,490 --> 01:27:53,838 This is what happened last night. 1706 01:27:53,880 --> 01:27:55,398 It 1707 01:27:55,440 --> 01:27:58,893 Just did not stop snowing all night long. 1708 01:28:00,660 --> 01:28:03,018 And I'm at 6,500 feet. 1709 01:28:03,060 --> 01:28:05,898 Here's my tent. This thing was covered. 1710 01:28:05,940 --> 01:28:07,720 I spent the entire evening 1711 01:28:09,060 --> 01:28:11,178 knocking snow off of it, getting up, 1712 01:28:11,220 --> 01:28:14,613 taking my gloves and pulling snow away from the edges. 1713 01:28:15,690 --> 01:28:17,823 Trying to keep it from collapsing in. 1714 01:28:18,870 --> 01:28:20,568 But all of the large trees are covered. 1715 01:28:20,610 --> 01:28:22,818 The evergreens are covered, everything is covered. 1716 01:28:22,860 --> 01:28:24,093 The trail is covered. 1717 01:28:27,090 --> 01:28:28,818 I've got a brief break in the weather where there's 1718 01:28:28,860 --> 01:28:30,888 no rain, no sleet, no snow right now. 1719 01:28:30,930 --> 01:28:32,418 So I'm gonna try to pack everything up 1720 01:28:32,460 --> 01:28:34,878 as quickly as possible and start 1721 01:28:34,920 --> 01:28:37,848 truckin' onwards in this stuff. 1722 01:28:37,890 --> 01:28:40,338 And two days 'til Canada and the PC 1723 01:28:40,380 --> 01:28:42,498 has given me everything it's got so far. 1724 01:28:42,540 --> 01:28:45,258 We've got the sunshine, the wind, the rain, 1725 01:28:45,300 --> 01:28:47,770 a beautiful sunset, sleet, and now 1726 01:28:48,630 --> 01:28:50,043 a snowstorm rolled through. 1727 01:28:51,240 --> 01:28:55,533 Let's hope it's the last one here at day number 194. 1728 01:28:57,360 --> 01:29:00,818 Just 36 miles from the border, I think. 1729 01:29:00,860 --> 01:29:02,808 In the L Section of Washington State 1730 01:29:02,850 --> 01:29:05,300 on the Pacific Crest Trail in the North Cascades. 1731 01:29:06,150 --> 01:29:09,048 You'll notice that there's no snow around me. 1732 01:29:09,090 --> 01:29:11,238 And that is because I've dropped elevation. 1733 01:29:11,280 --> 01:29:13,368 I think right now it's about 5,800. 1734 01:29:13,410 --> 01:29:16,338 Snow level's at six right now. 1735 01:29:16,380 --> 01:29:18,918 And ordinarily, 1736 01:29:18,960 --> 01:29:20,418 the PCT would be 1737 01:29:20,460 --> 01:29:23,268 covered in snow and socked in, however, 1738 01:29:23,310 --> 01:29:24,993 I'm not on the PCT. 1739 01:29:26,820 --> 01:29:28,548 This is a reroute. 1740 01:29:28,590 --> 01:29:33,498 There was a fire near Holman Creek earlier in the year 1741 01:29:33,540 --> 01:29:36,303 and so the PCT is still shut down. 1742 01:29:37,560 --> 01:29:39,798 I'm sure the fire has gotta be out by now, 1743 01:29:39,840 --> 01:29:43,128 after that dumping of snow we got. 1744 01:29:43,170 --> 01:29:46,773 However, I was not about to risk it. 1745 01:29:47,850 --> 01:29:49,698 This re-route's about four miles longer, 1746 01:29:49,740 --> 01:29:51,858 but it's a known commodity, 1747 01:29:51,900 --> 01:29:54,978 in the fact that it is a traveled trail. 1748 01:29:55,020 --> 01:29:57,888 And the fact that it lost some elevation 1749 01:29:57,930 --> 01:30:01,518 and got out of the snow is a major plus. 1750 01:30:01,560 --> 01:30:06,078 Day 195 on the reroute, on the Holman Fire Trail, 1751 01:30:06,120 --> 01:30:07,203 just off the PCT. 1752 01:30:08,550 --> 01:30:12,108 And I am in the land of the Quaking Aspens. 1753 01:30:12,150 --> 01:30:14,673 Or some people call them the Trembling Aspens. 1754 01:30:15,600 --> 01:30:16,653 They're all around. 1755 01:30:17,760 --> 01:30:19,323 And they're perfect right now. 1756 01:30:21,150 --> 01:30:22,833 This brilliant yellow color. 1757 01:30:24,000 --> 01:30:26,988 And making it even more brilliant 1758 01:30:27,030 --> 01:30:29,748 is that big, bright thing up in the sky. 1759 01:30:29,790 --> 01:30:31,968 It's been scarce over the past several days, 1760 01:30:32,010 --> 01:30:34,878 so it's good to have a very brief break 1761 01:30:34,920 --> 01:30:37,473 of sunshine amidst the rain. 1762 01:30:38,460 --> 01:30:40,113 Tomorrow is Monument Day. 1763 01:30:41,250 --> 01:30:44,838 And theoretically, tonight, I'm supposed to meet up 1764 01:30:44,880 --> 01:30:46,023 with Mike and Connor. 1765 01:30:48,000 --> 01:30:49,143 Not far from here. 1766 01:30:55,080 --> 01:30:55,913 Good morning. 1767 01:30:56,790 --> 01:30:59,181 Day number 196. This is the big day. 1768 01:30:59,223 --> 01:31:00,903 This is Canada Day. 1769 01:31:04,380 --> 01:31:05,671 I'm still in my tent. 1770 01:31:05,713 --> 01:31:09,978 I just made some delicious mashed potatoes for breakfast. 1771 01:31:10,020 --> 01:31:11,628 And it is... 1772 01:31:11,670 --> 01:31:13,188 I haven't even unzipped it but you can see 1773 01:31:13,230 --> 01:31:14,658 it's hailing outside. 1774 01:31:14,700 --> 01:31:16,248 I'm just putting the finishing touches 1775 01:31:16,290 --> 01:31:17,583 on packin' up my tent. 1776 01:31:18,842 --> 01:31:22,338 It has stopped raining and hailing at the moment 1777 01:31:22,380 --> 01:31:24,993 up here at a place called Woody Pass. 1778 01:31:25,980 --> 01:31:28,758 And 6,500 feet. You can look around. 1779 01:31:28,800 --> 01:31:30,678 There's even a tiny bit of sunshine 1780 01:31:30,720 --> 01:31:32,403 poking through momentarily. 1781 01:31:35,760 --> 01:31:38,268 I'm here with the boys, the boys are actually camped 1782 01:31:38,310 --> 01:31:39,453 right down below. 1783 01:31:42,480 --> 01:31:43,670 Right down... 1784 01:31:45,870 --> 01:31:46,713 Down here. 1785 01:31:49,410 --> 01:31:50,343 There they are. 1786 01:31:51,180 --> 01:31:52,023 Getting ready. 1787 01:31:53,442 --> 01:31:55,248 - Whoo hoo! - Last day. 1788 01:31:55,290 --> 01:31:56,988 Traveling with the boys I started with. 1789 01:31:57,030 --> 01:31:59,208 There's Mike up there. - Hey! 1790 01:31:59,250 --> 01:32:02,455 - There's Connor looking fit as a fiddle. 1791 01:32:02,497 --> 01:32:03,558 - [Connor] Oh, yeah. 1792 01:32:03,600 --> 01:32:07,488 - And we're finishing strong... 1793 01:32:07,530 --> 01:32:09,903 In this gnarly Pacific Northwest weather. 1794 01:32:10,770 --> 01:32:12,882 What a way to go out. 1795 01:32:12,924 --> 01:32:14,178 - [Mike] Only fitting. 1796 01:32:14,220 --> 01:32:17,058 - It is only fitting we go out this way, indeed. 1797 01:32:17,100 --> 01:32:18,993 So we've got four miles of uphill. 1798 01:32:20,040 --> 01:32:22,218 We're gonna climb up to 7,000 and we're gonna get hit 1799 01:32:22,260 --> 01:32:24,468 with this the whole time, I'm sure. 1800 01:32:24,510 --> 01:32:26,658 And then it's all downhill to the Great White North 1801 01:32:26,700 --> 01:32:28,133 to Canada. 1802 01:32:28,175 --> 01:32:29,028 ♪ Oh Canada ♪ 1803 01:32:29,070 --> 01:32:30,468 Yes. 1804 01:32:30,510 --> 01:32:32,508 And it's nice to finish with the boys. 1805 01:32:32,550 --> 01:32:34,518 - Yes, sir. - That we started with. 1806 01:32:34,560 --> 01:32:38,043 That we wanted to take a second day zero, actually. 1807 01:32:39,870 --> 01:32:41,104 - [Mike] Almost. 1808 01:32:41,146 --> 01:32:44,358 - We wrecked ourselves the first day in various ways 1809 01:32:44,400 --> 01:32:46,548 and had to rethink our whole trip. 1810 01:32:46,590 --> 01:32:48,588 And who would've thought we'd make it this far? 1811 01:32:48,630 --> 01:32:50,958 We have a couple of celebratory beverages 1812 01:32:51,000 --> 01:32:52,533 on board right now. 1813 01:32:55,230 --> 01:32:59,388 Mike has carried these things right here since... 1814 01:32:59,430 --> 01:33:00,452 Since when? 1815 01:33:00,494 --> 01:33:02,178 - Tohickon. - Since Tohickon. 1816 01:33:02,220 --> 01:33:03,734 Through the snow. 1817 01:33:03,776 --> 01:33:04,578 - The snow. - Through the rain. 1818 01:33:04,620 --> 01:33:05,785 - Rain. - The terrible flood. 1819 01:33:05,827 --> 01:33:08,178 - The cold. - The earthquake, the locust. 1820 01:33:08,220 --> 01:33:09,513 - [Mike] The everything. 1821 01:33:09,555 --> 01:33:10,346 (hikers cheering) 1822 01:33:10,388 --> 01:33:11,973 - [Hiker] Congratulations, guys. 1823 01:33:12,015 --> 01:33:14,337 - [Mike] Thank you. There's a piece of wood here. 1824 01:33:14,379 --> 01:33:15,598 (hikers laughing) 1825 01:33:15,640 --> 01:33:17,468 (soft music) 1826 01:33:17,510 --> 01:33:19,218 - [Andrew Voiceover] March 16. 1827 01:33:19,260 --> 01:33:21,318 I write this final journal entry nearly 1828 01:33:21,360 --> 01:33:23,988 six months after finishing the hike. 1829 01:33:24,030 --> 01:33:26,868 I guess with all the chaos and excitement of completion 1830 01:33:26,910 --> 01:33:28,968 and life, I just totally forgot 1831 01:33:29,010 --> 01:33:30,693 to put a bow on this endeavor. 1832 01:33:31,980 --> 01:33:34,848 We arrived at Monument 78 in the rain 1833 01:33:34,890 --> 01:33:38,778 and were greeted by a small gathering of 10 to 15 people. 1834 01:33:38,820 --> 01:33:41,898 Everybody clapped and cheered as we hiked in. 1835 01:33:41,940 --> 01:33:44,868 The boys' dads were waiting with cigars and champagne. 1836 01:33:44,910 --> 01:33:48,468 It was definitely an atmosphere of celebration. 1837 01:33:48,510 --> 01:33:52,128 It was so serendipitous that the guys I started with, 1838 01:33:52,170 --> 01:33:54,948 the guys I hiked with for the first month, 1839 01:33:54,990 --> 01:33:57,018 are the guys I finished with. 1840 01:33:57,060 --> 01:33:58,698 I wouldn't want it any other way. 1841 01:33:58,740 --> 01:34:00,828 - It's day 19. - 19, what our plan today, 1842 01:34:00,870 --> 01:34:01,690 fellas? 1843 01:34:01,732 --> 01:34:02,628 - 20 mile day. 1844 01:34:02,670 --> 01:34:04,870 - [Andrew] How many miles did we hike today? 1845 01:34:05,760 --> 01:34:07,248 - 16, I think. - This is our campsite. 1846 01:34:07,290 --> 01:34:09,588 This is an 18 mile day for us today. 1847 01:34:09,630 --> 01:34:11,268 An 18 mile day today. 1848 01:34:11,310 --> 01:34:13,908 We all started together. Well, almost all of us. 1849 01:34:13,950 --> 01:34:16,123 We started together, Connor. 1850 01:34:16,165 --> 01:34:18,915 (dramatic music) 1851 01:34:22,470 --> 01:34:24,120 Here's the poodle dog bush. 1852 01:34:33,735 --> 01:34:36,626 (dramatic music) 1853 01:34:36,668 --> 01:34:39,001 Still frozen. What a luxury. 1854 01:34:43,433 --> 01:34:46,183 (dramatic music) 1855 01:34:52,776 --> 01:34:55,006 (dramatic music) 1856 01:34:55,048 --> 01:34:56,215 Nice and slow. 1857 01:35:03,475 --> 01:35:06,983 (dramatic music) 1858 01:35:07,025 --> 01:35:11,705 Evidence of volcanic activity. This is the root. 1859 01:35:11,747 --> 01:35:14,497 (dramatic music) 1860 01:35:21,814 --> 01:35:24,564 (dramatic music) 1861 01:35:32,653 --> 01:35:35,403 (dramatic music) 1862 01:35:43,466 --> 01:35:46,216 (dramatic music) 1863 01:35:48,763 --> 01:35:52,556 Does it get any better? I don't think so. 1864 01:35:52,598 --> 01:35:54,468 - [Andrew Voiceover] After stopping to soak it all in, 1865 01:35:54,510 --> 01:35:56,778 we had to hike an additional eight miles 1866 01:35:56,820 --> 01:36:00,498 to Manning Park in the snow, of course. 1867 01:36:00,540 --> 01:36:02,988 My parents drove from Anna Cordes to Canada 1868 01:36:03,030 --> 01:36:05,268 to meet me and pick me up. 1869 01:36:05,310 --> 01:36:08,538 They patiently waited for hours for me to arrive. 1870 01:36:08,580 --> 01:36:10,668 It was so wonderful to see them. 1871 01:36:10,710 --> 01:36:13,293 I'm so blessed to have such a supportive family. 1872 01:36:14,130 --> 01:36:16,728 Sitting here in the real world, I smile 1873 01:36:16,770 --> 01:36:18,303 as I relive this moment. 1874 01:36:19,320 --> 01:36:22,323 Not a day goes by that I don't think about the trail. 1875 01:36:23,370 --> 01:36:24,693 Every step was worth it. 1876 01:36:25,838 --> 01:36:28,588 (dramatic music) 1877 01:36:37,963 --> 01:36:40,713 (dramatic music) 1878 01:36:48,563 --> 01:36:51,063 (light music) 1879 01:36:59,828 --> 01:37:02,328 (light music) 1880 01:37:08,691 --> 01:37:11,191 (light music) 1881 01:37:19,260 --> 01:37:23,073 - Day number 74 out here on the Pacific Crest Trail. 1882 01:37:24,030 --> 01:37:25,938 I'm hiking along 1883 01:37:25,980 --> 01:37:29,088 and I've found something that I've heard about 1884 01:37:29,130 --> 01:37:32,988 for hundreds of miles now, but finally experienced. 1885 01:37:33,030 --> 01:37:34,470 And this is it right here. 1886 01:37:35,610 --> 01:37:38,943 This is a very large pine tree. 1887 01:37:42,900 --> 01:37:45,273 And this is called a Jeffrey Pine. 1888 01:37:46,380 --> 01:37:49,608 And this is a large example of it. 1889 01:37:49,650 --> 01:37:52,338 But they come in all different sizes. 1890 01:37:52,380 --> 01:37:55,158 And one thing that makes this particular type 1891 01:37:55,200 --> 01:37:56,740 of pine tree special 1892 01:37:57,750 --> 01:38:02,298 is the aroma that it gives off when the sun hits it. 1893 01:38:02,340 --> 01:38:04,548 I was hiking down the trail right here. 1894 01:38:04,590 --> 01:38:08,958 And I stopped right here because the aroma... 1895 01:38:09,000 --> 01:38:11,148 Is so strong. 1896 01:38:11,190 --> 01:38:15,288 And it's something that happens when the sunshine hits 1897 01:38:15,330 --> 01:38:17,328 the bark on this tree. 1898 01:38:17,370 --> 01:38:18,753 I can smell it right now. 1899 01:38:21,840 --> 01:38:23,268 It smells so good. 1900 01:38:23,310 --> 01:38:25,008 It smells 1901 01:38:25,050 --> 01:38:27,978 like a vanilla shake. 1902 01:38:28,020 --> 01:38:31,428 It smells like pure vanilla extract 1903 01:38:31,470 --> 01:38:34,098 and it's a very sweet, 1904 01:38:34,140 --> 01:38:36,738 fragrant aroma. 1905 01:38:36,780 --> 01:38:39,438 But when I was hiking with Mr. Jimmy, 1906 01:38:39,480 --> 01:38:41,958 he was telling me about his line of work 1907 01:38:42,000 --> 01:38:44,418 and he is an expert in trees 1908 01:38:44,460 --> 01:38:47,478 and he was telling me about the Jeffrey Pine. 1909 01:38:47,520 --> 01:38:49,098 And I've heard about this from Chelsea 1910 01:38:49,140 --> 01:38:51,138 and a few other people also. 1911 01:38:51,180 --> 01:38:52,818 But he said one way that you can tell, 1912 01:38:52,860 --> 01:38:55,338 aside from the sun hitting the bark and smelling it, 1913 01:38:55,380 --> 01:38:57,348 is the pine cone. 1914 01:38:57,390 --> 01:39:01,008 He says, it's not prickly when you hold it. 1915 01:39:01,050 --> 01:39:04,555 He says, "Remember, it's a prickly Ponderosa" 1916 01:39:04,597 --> 01:39:06,228 "and a gentle Jeffrey." 1917 01:39:06,270 --> 01:39:07,638 They're very similar trees. 1918 01:39:07,680 --> 01:39:09,948 I think the Ponderosa is the higher elevation 1919 01:39:09,990 --> 01:39:11,373 version of the Jeffrey. 1920 01:39:14,640 --> 01:39:18,408 It's not doing anything to assuage my appetite. 1921 01:39:18,450 --> 01:39:21,378 But man, does it smell good. 1922 01:39:21,420 --> 01:39:25,458 The vanilla scent of a gentle Jeffrey Pine 1923 01:39:25,500 --> 01:39:28,608 out here on day number 74 1924 01:39:28,650 --> 01:39:32,373 on the Pacific Crest Trail right here in California.