2016 Appalachian Trail Thru Hike

[@alyishiking]

I hiked 1,378 miles in 2016. I quit because of so many reasons. I hated quitting. I think about getting back out there every day. I'm planning to try again in '22. Thanks for posting this.

[@swoz_]

Did you ever get back out there? Rooting for you regardless.

[@nigellockett8828]

2018 thru hiker. Miss it! Thanks for posting brought back great memories.

[@binwang3241]

Gorgeous, magnificent, heart-moving... can't find more words to describe this. great video, great journey.

[@jacobwestfall3247]

Ive watched this so many times, 2020 thru hike is the goal

[@PierreYvesStOnge]

I watched it before my thru and all I can say it is even better after. Brought me back so many memories, I could remember so many places and not only the views sometime it was the "nameless" places. Thanks.

[@botanyboy1]

Wow, the whole trail in just over 8 minutes! Thanks for rekindling the memories. Botany Boy '96

[@bouy8097]

even thou my thru hike is 3 years away ill still keep watchin this vid over and over again to keep me pumed for it

[@timbloemendaal734]

I'm stoked for you! It's an incredible experience, to say the least.

[@opforsoldier8527]

I truly admire those who attempt and especially those who complete a thru hike as well section hikers as none of it is an easy prospect. We just got back yesterday from setting up a Trail Magic(Sat 4/22) around the Newfound Gap TN area and met an abundance of great people. What was truly amazing was the cross section of society out there and even more so were the myriad of reasons for their hikes. Hopefully they will all find whatever it is they set out to find or accomplish as well bring back many amazing memories of their time on the AT.

[@FetchingCoffee]

You did such a beautiful job with this. And the music is perfect. Congrats on your incredible achievement.

[@Biggwoody]

The most beautiful videography/cinematography of the AT I've seen. In fact, it may be the best 8 1/2 minutes on youtube. Total homerun. Moved to tears even. But then, I cry during TV commercials sometimes too.

[@timbloemendaal734]

You are far too kind. Thank you, though!

[@natekirk18]

From Va, Love that you gave my state alot of clips. Great to see people enjoying my Great wild state.

[@txhypnotist]

Congrats on the journey. Now with your new enlightenment you can improve the planet through who you are. Make it a great day.

[@dedexyz8475]

Fantastic! Felt like I was there...and my hip had me bitchin'. Without the mileage. KUDOS on your accomplishment/hard work/dedication. It inspired me.

[@fleetaholt6218]

WOW there are no words to describe this but WOW.

[@Rossco007]

Wow. That was fantastic. Very emotional building up to Katahdin at the end!

[@BmHabib017]

just waiting to graduate from college and ill be there!

[@MikeRumohr]

You put together a very nice video and accurately captured what's it's like to be out there...thanks!

[@lisaleger7815]

Thank you for this! My son left a week ago for the AT. I am so psyched for his adventure. Beautiful video!

[@rustybearfox809]

I've watched this a hundred times, and I now sit 320 miles from Katahdin having hiked here from Amicalola falls. I want you to know how much of an inspiration your experience was. Before and during my thru. thank you.

[@RyanJohnsonAT2016]

Great job with this video...it really took me back and was awesome to see some familiar faces (like Rocket and Porkroll). I was probably about 5-7 days ahead of you, finished on July 1st. I miss the trail so much...

[@SherwoodAnderson]

Thank you for this lovely video. My friend just started three days ago so it's nice to see sights that will encounter/experience.

[@Alpenglow_hikes]

Candlemaker, Great job on the video! I enjoyed hiking with you for part of the trail. Take care, Alpenglow

[@120cabrini]

Beautiful video Tim! Eight and a half minutes of greatness. I like the tip too, in your comments, about eating before you are hungry and drinking before you are thirsty. Excellent advice. I finished the AT in 1980 and this brought it all back. Congratulations.

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it and it could bring back some good memories. What a great experience it was...

[@ecksluss]

Simply amazing

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Congratulations on the hike. Nice job on the video. The final shots on Katahdin were very cool ...

[@seansilverman9131]

Love seeing things in these videos I remember. Even just the most random spots in your video causes the memories to flood back. I was sobo 2016, we probably passed each other. Congrats on finishing man

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thank you, Ben! lol

[@jag1870]

Great vid! Thank you for sharing!

[@pinkitink86]

Wow Tim, the best video I have seen yet. Well done, you did a real beautiful job with the video :)

[@StickmanWilmingtonNC]

Congratulations on this completing this epic trek. What an adventure! Thanks for sharing. Regards, Stickman.

[@Larry3043]

Awesome video, great job and congrats on your summit and finish. Keep hiking and happy trails

[@PatrickSturgill]

Such a beautiful video. literally made me teary. Just started thinking about doing this.

[@RustyNail5856]

That was very Beautiful , I enjoyed it . thanks.

[@brianwhiddenccim1489]

Well done video and congratulations on your thru hike.

[@baskets8429]

Beautiful footage ! Congrats

[@BrianSal93]

Great video man, you really pumped me up for my hike next year!

[@timbloemendaal734]

Best of luck!

[@Ballabruce1]

I'll be leaving mid March for mine! I might see you on the trail!!

[@adelewilliams7426]

Amazing video!

[@MariaAlexander6]

this is such a beautiful video. makes me so excited to hike the trail

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thank you! Enjoy it.

[@kampersadventures958]

Such an amazing video. Loved every second.

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thank you!

[@ThaiGirlAdventures]

Very nice hiking and great video and very enjoy you video.

[@cantigicantigi8224]

Amazing video, make me want to try it !

[@xx5386]

Thanks Tim for this video

[@eitser7376]

Congratulations!!

[@gpk7683]

Thanks Tim. I have seen the AT through your’s and others eyes but will have to wait till the next life to see it through mine

[@traciebott3743]

Just found your video Thanks for sharing

[@sindyseal5411]

Your thru hiking videos are awesome! Very well done. Love them both and can't wait to see what's next.

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thank you, Sindy!

[@heathfranklin9305]

Great video.

[@netmonkey2005]

Congrats on your achievement. Amazing.

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thank you!

[@canadianneo-frontiersmen6165]

Thanks for the share!

[@juliarussell6871]

Music went well with the video enjoyed video as well

[@TravelKatzFamily]

Great video!

[@Cindy-ys9xb]

Lovely, Tim! Might I ask you what the music is that you chose? I

[@120cabrini]

Hey Tim, I keep coming back to this video. It really is beautiful. Great work. I finally uploaded my post AT gear video circa 1980. You might get a kick out of it. Gear might have been different, but the trail was every bit as gorgeous and compelling as your video does so beautiful a job of conveying. All the best to you.

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thank you, I appreciate it! I will check it out. Thanks for the heads up.

[@JMS407]

Well done.

[@thegreatexaggerator9077]

That was awesome!

[@daglacier97colt]

Katahdin is such a treasure

[@juliagarcia3855]

Inspiring!

[@Ureyeuh]

1:08 That was a feisty one!

[@tony_r_pierce]

Nice one!

[@robertreaves4716]

Does connection to Ohio and north Carolina

[@Mtnsunshine]

Very well done! Thanks for taking me along for the hike. You have brightened my day. And yes, as hoopzers3 asked, what camera did you use! A GoPro?

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thanks for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed it! I used an iPhone 6.

[@Mtnsunshine]

Wow! I'll have to get me one of those phones one day. Excellent quality. And who is that guy in the suit next to your name? Lolol....

[@timbloemendaal734]

Good question haha... me before being homeless for 4.5 months

[@andrewfritsch1168]

Any tips for walking while shooting for a steady shot? So pumped for my 17 thru..

[@timbloemendaal734]

It just took practice over the trip to keep my hand and arm steady to do it well and get the shots I wanted.

[@ThatHikerGirl]

Nicely done! Very jealous you saw some moose!

[@ayeevertisu3324]

Great vid my friend, and awesome accomplishment. Paul Bunion, Section Hiker (2014-2106)

[@johnaddison5927]

Thank sir for the memories..Johnny Oak NOBO '14

[@kevinwolf6389]

What type of equipment did you use? Any recommendations or drawbacks to what you chose? Specifically I'm asking about shoes, tent, backpack, hiking poles, stove, etc.

[@timbloemendaal734]

Kevin, to begin, there is no specific setup which will guarantee your chances of completing a trail. I saw some people with the lightest and most expensive gear drop out weeks into the hike and I saw people with the most primitive gear make it to Katahdin. The things I carried worked well for me and won't work well for everyone. With this said, I took a lightweight approach to the equipment I carried. I started in February, so I began the trail with waterproof mid-height Solomon boots and once I walked out of winter I transitioned into a non-waterproof Solomon trail running shoe. Thanks to testing out the shoes, socks and sock liners pre-trail, I can count the number of blisters I got on one hand. Shoes should be extensively tested before a long hike to make sure the toe box is big enough and they have a good fit. In regards to a tent, I used a Tarptent ProTrail. Lightweight, affordable and extremely compactable. I used aluminum Leki trekking poles. Unbeatable warranty, still lightweight and worth the price. I went with the Trail Designs Sidewinder Ti-Tri with Starlyte burner for my stove set up. I used a 1.3L titanium pot...I made some big meals... The Granite Gear Blaze A.C. 60 was the pack I used. Fairly lightweight yet durable. Granite Gear could not have been better about replacing the back plate of my pack when I discovered it was broken post-hike.

[@kevinwolf6389]

I appreciate this. I've asked several people who have hiked the trail so I can make the most informed decisions going forward. Thanks again for the input.

[@timbloemendaal734]

My pleasure! Let me know if you have more questions. I love to help out and would welcome talking further if you want more input. I saw a lot of different gear out there and pending budget would make some changes, but I was overall happy with my choices.

[@kevinwolf6389]

Great! Thanks! Roughly, how much did hiking the trail cost you? How did you prepare for it financially? I'm sure there's a ton of questions that I'm not thinking of at the moment. So, I'll leave the floor to you. If there's anything you feel I should know, I'll take any and all input.

[@timbloemendaal734]

It was between $2,000 and $3,000. On the trail I didn't stay in towns much and stayed on the cheaper path there which simply takes discipline not to get sucked into hostels and town food and beer. I prepared for it financially by graduating college a semester early then working in a welding factory for 1.5 months. Then moved my stuff home to my parents house so the only thing I had to worry about for cost was whatever I bought on the trail.

[@jacobbrock8408]

Awesome video! Was it difficult starting the trail at such an early date? Particularly with the temperature and snow.

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thank you! There were challenges, but it wasn't too difficult. I left my home in West Michigan to get on the trail, so it was consistently colder at home compared to on the trail. I tested my gear in northern Michigan in the heart of winter and knew I would be warm enough even when I saw single digits on the trail. Doing this gave me peace of mind when getting on the trail because I had backpacking in winter before and knew what to expect for the most part.

[@jacobbrock8408]

Great to hear! I'm in northern Ohio so I'll plan on doing the same. Thanks man

[@timbloemendaal734]

Good plan! Of course!

[@jacobbrock8408]

Hey man, ended up finishing my thru hike June 29th. Thanks for the inspiration. Still think this is the best video out there haha

[@TheBill9999]

awesome vid man

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thank you!

[@luckysnuf7509]

Ik ben ook Nederlands hoe heb je het gedaan met je visa kheb er momenteel moeite mee informatie te verkrijgen ik hoop dat je dit leest maar heb weinig hoop

[@pinkitink86]

Also what are the songs you picked called?

[@timbloemendaal734]

- Radical Face: Mountains - M83: Outro

[@ChaseAnimations]

awesome vid man and congrats on the journey! Quick question, what camera/video equipment was used to get such good quality?

[@timbloemendaal734]

Thank you! I shot exclusively with an iPhone 6.

[@wesleydean7213]

you're getting me excited for spring 2018! is this all shot with an iPhone??

[@jimmydcricket5893]

A Walk in the Woods movie made me aware of the Appalachian Trail.

[@GEORGIEVICH21]

Cool.)

[@rd264]

classy

[@randomvideos9316]

❤️❤️❤️❤️😭

[@jlcrisp007]

Good Job :)

[@justinhawke007]

[@rustybearfox809]

I've watched this a hundred times, and I now sit 320 miles from Katahdin having hiked here from Amicalola falls. I want you to know how much of an inspiration your experience was. Before and during my thru. thank you.

[@timbloemendaal734]

Rusty, thanks so much for passing the kind words on. Congrats on getting close to the finish on the AT! Awesome accomplishment.