It’s great reading about thru-hiking and where the coolest trails are. Books are wonderful at portraying images, so the reader can imagine. This is the beauty of the written word.

However, I don’t know about you, but I like visuals as well.

These are some of the best thru-hiking videographers, and where to watch their stuff.

 

 

 

 

When I researched the Pacific Crest Trail before my thru-hike, one name kept cropping up: Scott ‘Squatch’ Herriott.

Stumbling on a trail sign for the Pacific Crest Trail one day was enough to rouse Squatch’s curiosity, and he wasn’t even a hiker.

What followed was Walk, his first documentary about life on the trail. Still Walking, Even More Walking and Walk followed as he hiked, drove and generally flitted around the PCT for a few years, taking everything in to put on celluloid for you.

He’s also knocked out three Appalachian Trail movies; Flip Flop Flippin’ (where I managed a cameo appearance), Flip Flop Flippin’ 2, and Flip Flopped Flipped. Wait, grab some popcorn, there’s’ more.

He flew to Spain and walked El Camino de Santiago to produce Wayfaring. Iceland is featured in 72 Days in Iceland, and there’s . . . just go take a look or I’ll be here all day.

 

 

Kori hiked the Appalachian Trail the same year I did, but we never met. After I’d finished, it transpired she was only a couple of weeks behind me all the way.

It constantly amazes me how anyone can complete a long distance thru-hike and manage to document it on film as well. I’ve managed to film a few short sections on my YouTube channel, but believe me, the time and dedication required to pull it off is immense.

Not only did Kori manage to do this, but she did it brilliantly in Long Way Home.

It’s a down to earth look at trail life, capturing Kori’s tribulations on the trail, and that of the people she met as well. She nearly didn’t make because of feet problems, but persevered.

 

 

Shane also likes the comical side of trail life, in the same ilk as Squatch. He is a triple crowner, having thru-hiked all three of the US trails; the Pacific Crest, Appalachian, and Continental Divide. He’s a man who not only films other thru-hikers, but also has a great angle because he knows what it feels like to walk up to 3000 miles in one hit.

He has three movies:

Embrace The Brutality deals with the Continental Divide Trail
Thru Story is about the Appalachian Trail
Wizards of the PCT is, well, obvious.

 

 
. . . are both responsible for Tell It On The Mountain, featuring arguably America’s greatest route (again), The Pacific Crest Trail.
 
This documentary followed half a dozen of the 300 or so hikers who attempted the Pacific Crest Trail the year they filmed. While much of the film was shot by professionals, the producers gave cameras to individual hikers, which help provide an intimate look into their experience.

For those that have already hiked the PCT it’s always great to look at others doing the same but most of all, for those due to attempt it, there is no better way to glean some knowledge for themselves.
 
It’s worth watching just for the inclusion of hiking god Scott Williamson. Scott may as well live on the PCT, he’s hiked it more than anyone else, has yo-yo’d it and has the hiking equivalent of Dalia Lama status in thru-hiking crowds. I was mesmerised just listening to his views, how he hiked, his addiction to shaving and the mechanics of going for the Yo-Yo (hiking from Mexico to Canada and then turning around to go back again).
 
Worth watching and as the credits admirably point out: Set Design: Mother Nature.

 

 

Many thanks to Jason Hesselbein, a subscriber who emailed about this one. Somehow, I’d managed to miss this masterpiece, and its testament to the work of Andy Laubthat that I watched this documentary of his Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike without breaking for a cup of tea.
 
The Dusty Camel blog sums this movie up:
 
After landing home from the 173-day hike, Andy began editing; writing and recording 25 original songs for the soundtrack; processed over 300 stills in Adobe After Effects to create 3D cinematic movement in every slide; and wrote narration for this entire feature length piece. In the end his creation is not a film; it’s a work of art.

Stumbled on this one recently just surfing the web. What a find! Every year it seems more fantastic Thru-Hiking movies are joining the fray, and this one’s a belter!

 

Duke and ET have done an amazing job with the cinematography, but this one is all about the hikers.

 

It focuses on talking to the people who are hiking, and the result is a very personal journey where you, if you’re considering a thru-hike, can learn a lot from those doing it.