Backpacking the Yellowstone Thorofare, October 2021 [EXTENDED VERSION]

The short color-corrected version can be found here: • Backpacking Yellowston...
This trip took place from Oct 2nd through the 11th, late in the backpacking season for Yellowstone. The original plan was to spend 10 nights and 11 days in the backcountry. Due to bad weather, I hiked out a couple days early making the trip an 8-night, 9-day trip. I covered 93 miles total, traveling from Heart Lake to Yellowstone Lake, then down the Thorofare, over to Mariposa Lake, and out via Heart Lake. Temperatures ranged from 20F to 70F. I did this trip solo. I stayed at 8J1, 7G1, 6A3, 6D2, 6Y6, 6Y4, 6M4, and 8C5. I saw and heard a ton of wildlife on this trip. I didn't see anyone for 9 days. I apologize for the camera mount that is visible in some of the shots, either I rushed or didn't notice. Also, there isn't much shot on the last two days as I hiked 17.5 miles one day and 15.5 miles the next day to beat the oncoming winter storm and 12" to 18" of snow that was forecasted.
Big shout out to my wife, Teresa for being as understanding as she was with me on this trip. To my best friends Alex, Ian, and Josh - next year fellas.
Finally, this trip video is not a guide. Please do the research yourself before taking on a trip like this. Yellowstone is a dangerous place if you don't know what you're doing or don't have the correct gear. Please use good judgment. Keep comments civil and polite, please. I will remove any comments that are out of scope or are rude to others. Enjoy!
0:00 Introduction
1:57 Day One, Hiking into Heart Lake 8J1
18:33 Day Two, Up and over to Grouse Creek 7G1
36:58 Day Three, My Favorite Site 6A3
57:56 Day Four, Into the Thorofare 6D2
1:32:05 Day Five, Bend in the River 6Y6
1:40:53 Day Six, Thorofare Ranger Station 6Y4
2:01:39 Day Seven, The Climb to Mariposa 6M4
2:11:10 Day Eight, 17.5 Miles of Snow and Ice 8C5
2:19:14 Day Nine, Outrunning the Storm

[@jtoneal]

Ah, the triumphs & struggles of backpacking... "It is stupid cold and wet, and I just -- yeah." Amazing scenery - thanks for taking us on the journey.

[@karukun0212]

Solo into the Thorofare; some guts this man be havin. Glad I caught this. I agree that Joey is an inspiration--I miss his spilled beer in the pack episodes.

[@cjjt66]

FANTASTIC! Love it. I am totally inspired & must do this hike. Amazing that you did it alone & so late in the year. I'm not sure I could deal with darkness, but the fires must help. Volume a little low at times--not sure if you can adjust in post-production. Keep up the good work!!!

[@wildflower_gypsy]

i’m about 7 mins in and excited that it seems like you don’t use music… i love that!

[@mikewanders]

Dude I go back and watch this whenever I miss the Thorofare-which is often! Watching this is like being there, so credit to you!

[@billmerkle2677]

Agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@alainbelisle4543]

Excellent video, you are courageous 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@wildlandranger9062]

Great trip! Nice footage! Brings back memories of that country when I worked down there. I was the Thorofare Ranger for a few years and the Heart Lake Ranger for 8 years. Sorry we were there when you were at Heart Lake. In 2020 I came back as a volunteer since during the pandemic the NPS couldn't hire many seasonal rangers due to housing concerns. I was in at Heart Lake for almost 70 days. In 2021, my wife and I were at Heart Lake for 56 days. This summer we will be volunteering in Lake Clark National Park in Alaska at the Dick Proenekke Historic Site where I worked with Dick in the early 1990s. I will put up some KZbins of those days at some point.

[@longwildernesswalks]

That's amazing! I've always told my wife I wanted to be a Ranger in Yellowstone. That place grabs my soul. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm jealous :)

[@mediocremountainman1863]

Saw your video and that you mentioned Joey! Good friend of mine. Awesome to hear how many people he's inspired. I'm looking forward to my trip with him this summer! Have a great season!

[@billmerkle2677]

Amazing scenery for sure. We camped near Hawks Rest Ranger Station back in 2017. We were on a pack trip with Unbranded people. Took a bath in the Yellowstone.... COLD!

[@longwildernesswalks]

Crazy cold. You should check out Mr. Bubbles on the West side of the park. It's an amazing soak.

[@michaeltaylor2973]

I been to YELLOWSTONE 2 TIMES. 2ND TIME 2009 ,WE SPOTTED A BULL ELK CLOSE TO YELLOWSTONE LAKE, WE GOT OUT THE SUV , AND TOOK CLOSE UP PICTURES OF THE BIG BULL. IT WAS IN AUGUST OF THAT YEAR, IT WAS GREAT

[@longwildernesswalks]

My first time was in 2016. Stayed at 5E8 on the west side of Yellowstone lake. It just grabbed my soul and I’ve gone back every single year since. Hope you get to go again! I’m going out on a whole new adventure this year in September. It’s still in Yellowstone, but a whole new way of seeing the area. Hope to see you again in October. Take care!

[@WyomingandtheWild]

Amazing video! Thank you! You are one brave man! I wish I could be brave like that.

[@trailheadtracks]

Awesome. I really enjoyed. Thank you for all the effort to share!

[@josinevandongen357]

Greetings from the Netherlands, i totally enjoyed this video. You have a sort of calmness, serenity that suites the beautiful nature that you show us. Loon forward to watching your other videos:)

[@Mark_Jacobson81]

Sorry man but if I’m camping alone and I hear coyotes or wolves in what sounds like large numbers not far from my camp I would be freaking out in a major way and no way I would be getting one minute of sleep 😂. Hats off to anyone who does that and keeps cool in that situation. You and Joey must be super confident outdoorsmen! By the way, you did a really great job with this video. Takes a lot of guts so you definitely have my respect. Look forward to your future adventures 👍

[@longwildernesswalks]

Thank you. Always nice to hear someone appreciates the effort.

[@billmerkle2677]

Nah. That's just music out there.

[@7Saturdays]

Great video. Thanks for taking us along. Some day…

[@Mark_Jacobson81]

Love to hear from Joey as well… kinda worried about him, but he’s tough so I’m sure he’s right as rain.

[@ChacaConProductions]

nice video man. I would like to do yellowstone sometime myself

[@benjaminkassaw416]

Looks amazing.

[@mitchfletcher-wv9dd]

😊

[@jimdavis2785]

What’s up, Aaron?!

[@josephshepherd9243]

Dope

[@billmerkle2677]

Hello again. I would be interested in contacting you and knowing you items packed for 10 days and more.

[@longwildernesswalks]

Bill, no problem. Here is my LighterPack list: lighterpack.com/r/c5e6xh

[@twochordcool]

Why do bears dig up fire pits? I can't understand what they would be interested in unless campers did a really bad job at burning their leftover food waste.

[@longwildernesswalks]

That’s exactly why. First, if you pack it in you should pack it out. Trash and all. Bears learn that folks burn trash and they were rewarded for digging the firepit up with some form of food at least once. It happens. Still, that second night I listened all night as best I could. Best to just pack out anything and everything you brought in. Burning it doesn’t do the next group any favors. Ya know? Lol

[@twochordcool]

@@longwildernesswalks I agree with that but it can be messy packing out nasty gooey Mountain House dinners that you couldn't take another bite of....but if you burn it you gotta make sure you burn it to nothing.

[@johnforaker2578]

@@twochordcool nope..if ya pack it in…PACK it out..a fed bear is truly a dead bear…and perhaps th next person that is unfortunate enough to camp in th spot you dumped your trash in…….please think of others and pack it out.

[@tjenki00]

Absolutely awesome video, you did a fantastic job of showing one of the wildest areas of the lower 48. We spent 3 weeks at Fox Park a few years ago and hiked all over back in there, it’s truly spectacular country! 🏔🏕

[@longwildernesswalks]

Thanks! I really appreciate the feedback and support.