‘And those great souls that have learnt to let go, out here like us we let go, we put on sacks, we hike in mountains. We’ve let go of the TV, the illusions, the jobs, I got to have insurance and all these other concepts that have been holding us into this man made world instead of being lifted up into Gods creations in this life we have.
So, let go.’
Rick ‘Pops’ Stone
Hiker Season is approaching. Social Media is awash with people asking questions about when to start and what equipment to take with them. The Appalachian Trail hopefuls usually get the most excited as they will be the first off the line around the end of March. Indeed, some have already started and due respect to a few who walk the Florida Trail first and link in with the AT as well. It’s like all the thru-hikers of the season, those taking on the AT, the PCT, CDT or whatever takes their fancy are all lined up in their crouch position waiting for the gun to go off.
It’s an exciting time of year, information is there waiting to be gathered and us hikers scan, peer, poke and delve around the Internet looking to gleen what we can to feed a fix. Well, I have good news for you. There are 2 excellent movies coming out this year and I’m not talking mainstream Hollywood bollocks either. Both of these were put together by hikers walking with hikers. The first I have been patiently waiting around for since finishing my AT hike last year for 2 reasons – I know the guy who put it together and hopefully, I get to be in it. I’m in the trailer so that bodes well surely?
Scott ‘Squatch’ Herriott is well known in hiker circles in the States. If you’ve walked the PCT or AT, or even if you’re thinking of doing them, you’ve probably heard of him. A larger than life character nursing a healthy fixation with the Sasquatch legend, Mr Herriot has been a stand up comic and has appeared on the tube. His first series of documentaries on the Pacific Crest Trail, the ‘Walk’ series, were standard brain fodder for me when I was trying to learn everything I could about the walk before I went off to actually do it. I met him first at the PCT Kick Off Party and last year bumped into on several occasions on the Appalachian Trail whilst he was hiking and filming for the second year on trail. ‘Flip Flop Flippin’ was released last year and I had the pleasure of seeing it when Squatch put on a preview at Trail Days in Damascus. The second instalment, ‘Flip Flop Flippin 2’ filmed last year, is due for release around mid March although if you live near Portland, Oregon, you can go see the premier on 9th March at 16.00 PST at the Laurelhurst Theatre. If not, get it HERE.
The second feast for the eyes I only got to hear about a couple of days ago whilst flicking around on Facebook where I saw the Trailer and immediately recognised the legend who was speaking as the picture faded into view. I met Pops a few times on the AT, someone who is not easily forgotten and as I bumped into him several times over the course of a month or so before we settled down to our own pace and lost each other, I developed a healthy respect and deep admiration for the guy. Sometimes I swore I could listen to him for hours, throw in a camp fire reflecting orange faces eager to taste a little more of what he had to say:
‘And those great souls that have learnt to let go, out here like us we let go, we put on sacks, we hike in mountains. We’ve let go of the TV, the illusions, the jobs, I got to have insurance and all these other concepts that have been holding us into this man made world instead of being lifted up into Gods creations in this life we have.
So, let go.’
Rick ‘Pops’ Stone
Kori Feener is the filmmaker and as far as the trailer is concerned, it doesn’t give much away except to say it appears to be beautifully shot and leaves me with a sense of frustration that I can’t see more of it. It is, as yet, untitled which lends even more of a sense of mystery. Maybe she’s just trying to get our attention and string us along a little in the name of marketing. Whatever, it’s working. More HERE.