Backpacker's Dream - The Wonderland Trail

[@tdelphia1]

This was wonderful! I live very near Rainier, but am not physically up to some of the hikes with big elevation changes so it was a real treat to see so much of the park this way. You are a very gifted videographer with a keen eye for framing the composition...thank you!

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

I always appreciate these comments. Thank you so much! The hiking around Rainier (and most of Washington) is tough, but it’s worth getting out and doing what’s in your comfort level. So pretty!

[@lisaweppler1669]

Best Wonderland trail video ever. Thank you. Bug

[@Waterboyofsuperman]

It’s fantastic no doubt but there are some others that are in the same league. Take a look at the video Cascadia recently posted, for instance.

[@johnkieffer285]

What a great video showing spectacular scenery. Enjoyed your overall production, and your commentaries were just right. This deserves many more views - hope you get them! Thanks for sharing your experience!!

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thank you so much for the compliment! Glad I could share the experience!

[@Charyl.w.an.A]

Thanks for all the hard work you did putting this video together ❤

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thanks for watching!

[@kingcace]

I dont know how this got in my recommended feed but keep going :)

[@paulkysar6207]

Its a shame i have never been to rainer. I can see it from my family room window. I have been over every inch of mt adams on and off trail st helens, goat rocks ect. I have always wanted to hike indian bar at mt adams.

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Sounds like you need to start making plans for rainier!

[@explorationnorthwest]

Great video. The WT is my favorite hike. You did a great job documenting your journey. Great video…. Frank

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thank you! This was an amazing trip! So glad I was able to do it.

[@robertcoulter7592]

Always good vibes Justin! This trail looks insane! I did a day hike on Rainier in 2017 but been thinking about that place ever since! Have a great weekend!

[@cachemacstrailtime]

That was an incredible trip. Great job putting this together. I will be putting in for a permit here in the near future. I can't wait. Take care!

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thank you! Good luck with the permit. It’ll be an amazing experience!

[@SummitSeeker546]

Good stuff! Enjoyed the video a bunch! Looking forward to exploring more of your content…

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thanks for watching!

[@vinnie42ful]

That seems to be an endless flask of whiskey 😂⛺️

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

What you didn’t see was the 700 ml smart water bottle full of Jameson 🤫

[@paulcontursi5982]

Well done! One of the best hiking videos I've ever seen.

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Wow! Thank you so much!

[@peterfontaine4627]

Awesome video! Brought back so many memories for me from just a few months ago. I did it with a Sierra Club National Outings group in September. It looks like you three must have been there in August maybe? It was much harder than I imagined, even though being from Washington and hiking in it all my life I had heard about the WT and how hard it was, it was even harder. Of course, catching a cold, 6 bee stings, and my legs swelling with fluid toward the end didn't help! But I was so thrilled to actually be there, and see everything I saw, and fulfill that dream of doing the WT. Congratulations to all of you and best of trails ahead.

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Yes we were there in August! It was such an amazing experience. Sounds like it got rough at the end for you, but I assume the experience as a whole was more than worth it! I avoided bee stings. Had a few biting flies get me, but nothing notably bad. Congrats on hiking the trail! Cheers!

[@firecloud77]

*_Yes! Summerland is mesmerizing._* It's my favorite part of the Wonderland Trail. We also went clockwise, including the Spray Park leg, in August of 1975. I've been back to Summerland many times over the years. What camera did you shoot this with? The dynamic range is outstanding.

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

No joke.. iPhone 14 Pro.

[@firecloud77]

@@justinhitsthetrail5225 I suspected that was the case. Did you use a gimbal? Oh how I wish smartphones existed in 1975. Lugging a heavy Canon SLR and extra lens around the mountain was not ideal -- and it couldn't shoot audio/video. One interesting thing to note -- you hiked Spray Park in July, and we hiked it in August. Yet for us there was much more snow on the ground in Spray Park than there was for you. In 1975 the climate had experienced a 30-year cooling trend (in spite of the massive increase of CO2 in the atmosphere after WW2). Scientists and the media were freaking out about the possibility of an approaching ice age. I have my own personal copy of National Geographic from that era wherein this fear was chronicled. Watch a KZbin video titled *"Ice Age 1978 Leonard Nimoy"*

[@rodoutdoors]

Great video 👍

[@Waterboyofsuperman]

Excellent WT video!

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thank you!

[@kevinboyer6249]

Justin, what happened to your tent on the Colorado trip with the rain, and then on the other trip with the wind? Got my eye on this tent right now.

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

It performs great in mild rain and mild wind. In Colorado we got consistent rain all night and it sagged like crazy. We couldn’t avoid hitting our heads on the condensation and wet walls when getting out in the morning, which then got the inside of the tent a little wet. I understand the condensation and wet walls will happen with any nylon tent, but the angle of the walls made it worse. Then on a different hike in really heavy winds it flopped around quite a bit. There’s not enough rigid structure or tension for high winds. My best wind experience has actually been with a trekking pole tent.

[@alanfisher6704]

Love the channel! I’m a new backpacker myself, thank you for the video.

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thank you for watching! Backpacking is amazing!

[@amyarmon1956]

Great video. How’d you like the tent!?

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Tent did fine on this trip. However, on a very wet trip in Colorado in September, and a recent windy trip, I didn’t hold up as well as I’d like. Great in fair weather though! Especially for stargazing!

[@relaxingvideosnorthwest3646]

Great video! Thanks

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thanks for watching!

[@shondamartin2021]

❤❤❤

[@mrkjhsn]

Great editing! I'm blown away at the distances you folks were doing on back to back days, as well as the elevations. Did you do any extra conditioning in preparation for this trip?

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thank you! Not too much special training. A extra few leg days at the gym but we usually have good fitness routines and are active people to begin with. Plus as much hiking as we can fit in, of course.

[@tmastictb7820]

My first park ranger gig will be at Mount Rainier this year. It’s videos like this that get me so hyped to be there. Thank you for putting this together. As someone that’ll be issuing backcountry permits, I hope to be able to help out groups like yours put together an unforgettable experience at The Mountain this year.

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

That’s so exciting! Glad I could help get you hyped up. That’s going to be a fun gig!

[@HikingwithGus]

Great video! this is on my bucket list., Managed to get a 5 day Core permit for the Enchantment Lakes a couple years ago. That was one epic trip and a must do if you can get a permit. Thanks for sharing

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thank you! The Enchantments are absolutely on my list! My buddy Harrison, from this video, managed to go earlier last year and can’t speak highly enough of it. Have a great trip! 🍻

[@eyvonneking4618]

That was awesome! Love your cinema photography, and amazing pics. My first time viewing your channel and absolutely loved it! Definitely subscribing and can’t wait to see what else you have to offer

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thank you so much! Cheers 🍻

[@kristymoore7052]

Great footage/account. I have a friend that hiked this in his 60’s. I’m 60 now and am doing the JMT this summer. I’ve hiked the Timberline. How do you compare this to the JMT and Timberline?

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

I’ve never done the Timberline so it’s hard to compare from experience, but from the stats, it’s about equal with the Wonderland in terms of gain per mile. However, it’s by far the shortest. 40 miles vs 100 vs 200+! JMT is hands down the biggest adventure of all three. Well graded, but the high elevation is a factor. The Wonderland was phenomenal, but if I had to pick between that or the JMT, I’d go with the JMT. It’s just a bigger experience.

[@farbeyonddriven8173]

Really enjoyed this! You and Jupiter have a similar laid back style that mainly let's the scenery do the talkin'. Don't know if at 59 i'm up for this kinda brutality but I'll be in the PNW bangin' around somewhere every summer from this one until I can't do it anymore! Thanks new sub

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Thank you! I’m sure the Wonderland Trail is still doable if you take your time. Either way, the PNW is gorgeous. Cheers!

[@Vggfdd-kj9kj]

Where is 14:22 and is there a water source nearby, seems like a good place to camp.

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

That would be the top of Emerald Ridge! One of the prettiest parts of the trail. No camping there though. You have to camp at designated campsites in the park, and Emerald Ridge is a few miles from the nearest one.

[@DanielOutdoors]

Must admit compared to Norway Outdoors laws man, those Permits kinda sucks. Here you can go on National Parks as long as you want, anytime you want. Only rule is take care of yourself and nature as well as dont fly drones in National Parks. But this Wonderland Trail looks beautyfull. Good luck for both on your PCT. I am jealous

[@justinhitsthetrail5225]

Yeah not the best permits. Most national parks aren’t as strict with the itineraries. Like in Yosemite you just need to have starting and ending trailhead and number of nights and you camp whenever. There aren’t many good flat spots on the Wonderland to camp along the trail though, so I understand why they have all of them permitted. Too many people would be trying to camp in the same area. The PCT is going to be a great adventure (and you can camp almost anywhere along the trail). Cheers 🍻

[@im_not_geddy_lee5309]

Unfortunately, people in general can be assholes, skirt every environmental best practice, and fuck up the wilderness. Hence, the need for permitting. Last time we had an eclipse, tourists on Rainier were parking their cars on wildflower meadows. There is only so many people the wilderness can accommodate and still be considered wilderness. People who don’t want to deal with permitting can stay on the many roads and in developed campsites. The park is being loved to death.