36 Days Solo Thru-Hiking the Rocky Mountains | Full Documentary

1,100km & 36 Days Thru-Hiking the Great Divide Trail in the Canadian Rockies
👇 GEAR FROM THE TRIP 👇

-- POST-TRIP VIDEOS --

------------------------------------------------------------------------
⭐ MY FAVORITE GEAR FROM THE GDT ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONNECT WITH ME!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This video description includes affiliate links. Affiliate links help support the channel at no extra cost to you!

Great Divide Trail Thru-hike
Day 1 - The Start 0:00
Day 2 - Preparing for Wildlife 7:01
Day 3 - No trail. No water. No shade 15:54
Day 4 - La Coulette Ridge Kicked My Butt 25:12
Day 5 - Conquering My Fear of Heights 37:09
Day 6 - Gear Failure #1 47:01
Day 7 - Zero Day w/ Stephipoo 55:17
Day 8 - Cold & Rainy 1:03:17
Day 9 - First Bear Encounter 1:12:08
Day 10 - Tornado Pass & Broken Shoes 1:21:46
Day 11 - Where are all the humans? 1:31:49
Day 12 - One of My Favorite Spots 1:41:35
Day 13 - Reflections on the Hike 1:55:51
Day 14 - Zero Day & Bucket Laundry 2:03:58
Day 15 - Charged by a Grizzly Bear 2:06:25
Day 16 - Smoky Mount Assiniboine 2:21:19
Day 17 - The Longest Day 2:33:08
Day 18 - The Rockwall, Part 1 2:45:22
Day 19 - The Rockwall Part 2 2:58:32
Day 20 - Zero Day in Golden 3:04:24
Day 21 - Toughest Day Yet, Maybe 3:07:51
Day 22 - Amiskwi Ridge in a Cloud 3:21:39
Day 23 - Freezing on the Howse River Floodplain 3:33:31
Day 24 - Highest Point on the Trail 3:41:57
Day 25 - Hit by Shin Splints 3:55:12
Day 26 - Moving the Needle 4:07:22
Day 27 - Willows Breaking My Soul 4:17:15
Day 28 - The Epic Skyline Trail 4:26:48
Day 29 - New Gear & Zero in Jasper 4:34:19
Day 30 - Beginning of the End 4:42:01
Day 31 - Gear Disappointment & Group Hiking 4:51:09
Day 32 - Can't Believe This Snow 4:59:33
Day 33 - Tortured Body & Insane Views 5:11:09
Day 34 - I Go A LiTtLe CRaZy 5:24:30
Day 35 - So Close, Yet So Far 5:33:50
Day 36 - I Am Done 5:44:56

[JustinOutdoors]

Thanks for watching! Below are links to the gear and food I used on the trip, some Q&A videos, and how I trained!

👇 GEAR FROM THE TRIP 👇


-- POST-TRIP VIDEOS --

[lenzlambrecht]

I came here for the hiking and the nature, but I stayed for how vulnerable and loving and you are with yourself and how strong and resilient you are at the same time, that is truly inspiring and beautiful...and of course for the nature and the hiking. Thank you for sharing this adventure with us, im sure im stopping by for a rewatch soon!

[longwildernesswalks]

Justin, I just finished the entire 6 hours. First, I can 110% relate to the emotions you felt by accomplishing your goals. Wow. I felt that bro. Super proud of you, even though all I do is watch you on YT. I much prefer long videos like this. Absolutely loved it! You've given me some inspiration. Thank you for sharing! Edit: How much weight did you lose? It looks like 10-15 lbs.

[rickychopsbarbershop]

I’m 1/4 of the way through this master piece, I’m watching 10-15 minutes before bed each night. I’m now dreaming of doing my own hikes as I fall asleep. Your videos have motivated me beyond belief. Since watching this I have done a day hike, and am now planning an over night hike.
Thank you for the content, your an absolute legend sir.

[dougtalbot]

You are a true inspiration. You're a good Canadian kid and a true beast hiker. You have got me interested in hiking - I love watching your adventures. I'm 61 years old man carrying extra pounds and not in poor health, but not great health. Since watching your videos and starting to get moving myself I have lost 52 pounds. I now go on several hikes a week, ranging from 3 to 10k. It is getting easier and I am starting to push myself. I think of you when I'm struggling.... except I'm on a 3.5 k walk with 300 ft elevation and you were tacking 52 k days and 5000 ft elevation... lol. I'm working my way up to overnight trips. This fall I would like to try my first overnight solo. So much to look forward to. More than anything looking forward to getting in shape and pushing my boundaries. I'm on Vancouver Island, so loads of trail and lots of elevation. I really enjoyed this GDT video... its up and its downs... exhilaration and low points... great trails and frickin' Volkswagon-sized grizzly bears. Looking forward to your next great adventure.

[rungavagairun]

Epic adventure. I'm almost 4 hours in and still watching.
1. there is definitely value seeing someone who is still learning, as opposed to seasoned thru hikers. Because you are still learning, your process isn't as automatic and you are consciously working through problems and thinking out loud. We, the viewers, benefit from hearing the reasons for your choices.
2. parks permits need to be more flexible. Rigidity in wilderness situations forces people to make choices that may not be the best for their situation, health, and well being just so they don't violate a permit. Good on you for not allowing the permit schedule to put you into a riskier situation.

[teekaytrailers]

I finished the whole 6 hour video, and have to say you seem like a humble cool guy and it was your personality that kept me around till the end. Thanks for putting in the effort to bring us with you and congratulations bro on everything you’ve accomplished!

[llsudsll]

Only 2 hours in but phenomenal documentary Justin, this is seriously next level! Hope you get the likes/views this deserves!

[the_average_backpacker]

Justin, I've never watched a video on YouTube that's over an hour long, and I just finished watching your entire journey. Thank you for putting this together and putting yourself out there, showing the less glamorous/graceful parts of backpacking, and most importantly for being vulnerable (and showing that!). You are awesome, and so was watching your journey.

[ShinyBubbbbles]

I’m a little less than half way thru your video and I’ve enjoyed it immensely. Great footage, convo, emotions, etc…. You are a brave and strong young man to do this!

[frogturtle]

just hit the halfway mark and still going! just wanted to pause and say thanks for documenting this adventure and all the lessons/emotions that came from it. super inspiring and something for all of us to look up to, especially with your determination and positive attitude even after dealing with some pretty insane obstacles.

also a side thanks for taking time to answer gear questions on reddit, super great that you still find the time to help out the community. I’m just a noob but your videos and posts have been a huge help. take care bro! cheers

[ghtaylo]

Just finished watching all 6 hours. My wife and I did the Camino this 500 miles. We went through many of the same emotions, but no doubt your thru hike was a much bigger challenge. I admire what you have done and hope you take the confidence with you for the rest of your life. Some days are hard, some days are easier, but if we keep putting one foot in front of the other the opportunities are limitless. Congratulations on this awesome achievement and wish you the best as you continue on with your plans for your life, family and relationships.

[alexjenkins]

I clicked on this video thinking it was hiking through Colorado Rocky’s, but I stayed because I got invested into the journey. Not only did you do a great job showing and informing us on all the places you explored, but also a fantastic job documenting the ups and downs of the whole adventure. Very inspiring to live life in the moment and enjoy the journey. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[CollinLG]

This has been great to watch this series with my 7 and 4 year olds. They have really enjoyed watching your daily videos. Thanks and maybe see you out there one day west of YYC!!

[Mike-bbzl]

Hey Justin, just found your channel and I am loving the videos. I just finished the video on the GDT. Very proud of you for finishing the trail. I am also proud of how you shared your emotions while on the trail. We need more of that. That just shows how strong you truly are. Thank you.

[daniellekelsch]

Something I appreciated so much about this video is you can’t deny that everything happens for a reason. In the moment it’s so hard to feel that way when something horrible happens to you or something isn’t going as planned but every single time that occurred, there was something that happened for you afterwards that was great. Not to down play at all and mask situations with “well everything happens for a reason” because that kind of invalidates what happened. But when it’s displayed how it was in this video it just reminds you to keep going because it always works out

[giosanchez]

Thanks for keeping me company during my work day! Thanks for documenting your journey and sharing the emotional rollercoaster of it all

[dustinjolly]

Little over 2 hours in, and MAN!!!....Major props to you for having that bear spray very accessible. ALWAYS have to stay ready and alert. Just goes to show that it pays to be prepared. You dodged a potentially deadly encounter due to your preparedness!! Loving this doc!! Great job!!

[electrontube]

Justin, I wanted to thank you for sharing your experience. It takes a reasonable, responsible, mature, and adult human being to share what you have with complete strangers. You are a measured response to the chaos of the world and (to me at least) a very real inspiration to centering one's self in a culture that tries to pull all of us in so many different directions all at once.
It takes a passionate, insightful, and honest person to start up a camera and aim it at themselves in a difficult or uncomfortable situation, even if it's just to show an unknown audience what it might be like should they wish to attend this or something similar. Besides this, the views are beautiful and motivating.
Again, my sincere thanks.

[briellelynne]

I cant thank you enough for this video! I have never went backpacking, but its a dream of mine, and to see what you went through, what you have learned and how you have grown thus far is outstanding! I am not even halfway through the video yet and am already loving it! Gonna go watch the rest now, see ya 😊