Crossing The Caucasus | hiking across Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan (short film)

[@markinney]

As an Azerbaijani, I enjoyed your Great Caucasus journey. You’re always welcome here, especially in Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 ❤

[@RichardHartfield]

Thank you! 😊

[@theteconotiam6155]

As a Muslim, I know there are many Muslims in Caucasus, and I knew a little about the natural beauty of Caucasus. But after watching your journey, I get more info... Thank you a lot... This video should have millions of views...

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much!

[@rehansargis]

​@@thetej2227better you look into islam...

[@Shiiiivam0660]

❤

[@TheWorldNeedsNata]

This is an impressive journey you did. Congratulations. As a Georgian citizen and a woman, I find it challenging to replicate similar trip. Still, I hope one day the region will have enough peace and prosperity for its residents to enjoy living there at its fullest and at peace with each other.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thank you very much Natalia. I think many, many people share these same sentiments. I really hope that the situation improves over the coming years.

[@vectorland9501]

As an Ingushetian, I must say that this video is really impressive. There are very few trips to the Caucasus like this one on KZbin. There are also very beautiful historical ruins in Ingushetia. There are 8th and 13th century towers in Dzeyrakh, Egikal, Galashki and Sunzha .How beautiful, isn't it!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for your lovely comment, that’s great to hear. A soldier I met working on one of the mountain checkpoints was from Ingushetia, he was telling me the same thing about the ruins and how stunning it is there. I was gutted to miss out on it!

[@annemiker4623]

hi Richard! you've done a great job! just a wonderful video. I'm from Russia and I feel very sorry for the situation that has happened to you there. you know 99% of Russians are still afraid of traveling there but you've done it! thank you very much

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks so much Anne, I’m so glad you enjoyed the film! Which part of Russia are you from? I hope you can visit the North Caucasus one day (if you haven’t already of course). I’d love to go back but I’m not sure if it will be possible for a very long time :(

[@annemiker4623]

@@RichardHartfield I'm from the border of the Urals and Siberia, close to the border with Kazakhstan (Chelyabinsk), but currently live in Moscow. I hope you'll be able to come back as soon as possible, let's believe in wonders. I'd personally recommend you to have a look at Altai, Karelia, and the Golden Ring (even if you can do it just on the internet)

[@MoritzBaldes]

Hey Richard, I can't even fathom how much courage it must've taken to complete your trip. I could never imagine me doing anything like it. That being said, thank you for uploading this video. It was truly inspirational and amazing to watch. I loved it. I don't understand how this hasn't got millions of views.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much! 😊

[@JourneywithBrandon]

This took an extraordinary amount of courage to complete! You've done something incredible to be proud of. Amazing work, thank you for taking me with you in your video.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much for the kind words Brandon!

[@maxlerus]

This video is incredible! Im in love with this region and plan on going there in the future as soon as Ive got the time and money. Its just sad when I watch the news and the only things you hear about the region are ongoing conflicts for centuries. But this video beautifully shows that the people there are extremely kind and it looks like it makes them very happy that someones coming to their country. The way they proudly present you their dances, music, food, culture etc. makes me smile a lot. Thanks for the great video, keep it up!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much, and best of luck with your own trip!

[@mockingjasonn8660]

what a fucking trip dude. thanks for sharing it with us! i cant even explain how much respect i have for your bravery. i wouldn’t even dare to dream of such a thing. this is fucking inspiring. beautiful shots taken as well. and i just want to point out that even when things didn’t work out or you got a major stepback, you still kept going. and that all alone? like what the fuck dude. and what you got in return were some beautiful kindhearted people. thanks again for sharing this crazy adventure with us and i’ll keep an eye out for your video’s! have a good one homie x

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks so much for the kind words :)

[@amoreazione3563]

This documentary deserves so many more views!!

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers! Feel free to share it around :)

[@yekaterinaminskova381]

Wow what a trip! You are one brave guy. I'm from North Caucasus (Russia) and growing up with such nature been a blessing. Thank you for sharing your journey and showing such incredible views !

[@RichardHartfield]

That’s awesome, which part are you from? Thanks so much for watching!

[@TemplarYogi]

amazing achievement ! beautiful part of the world .

[@GoingTheWholeHogg]

As if the hiking itself isn't challenging enough, you had to deal with so much bureaucracy, uncertainty over routes and permission, constantly changing plans and the mental toll this takes, plus you were filming it all. A great effort, and well edited to tell the story of your journey. I can't imagine how tricky that must have been to cut it all down to 23 minutes! You've mentioned you might edit an extended version for KZbin, would love to see that too! We've hiked and filmed a lot of trails from Svaneti to Lagodekhi over the last couple of years, a few border permits to get here and there, but thankfully no tense encounters with the authorities or underlying fear following us. Well done! Kim

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for that Kim! It was definitely exhausting at times trying to capture everything whilst dealing with all the challenges, but I’m really glad I tried my best, and came away with a fair bit of useable footage. Watch this space then I guess for a longer version sometime down the line! Enjoy your future hikes :)

[@starky497]

Multidimensionally inspiring mate. I think this is the new pioneering frontier, navigating an intense political landscape along with the physical one. So illuminating. Really great brave work, thankyou for sharing.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much!

[@TeutobergForestryService]

Bravo; sir. All men are animated in all forms but few truly get to live. You’re really living, brother.

[@xeenslayer]

What an inspiring trip man! Absolutely amazing experience you must've had there. Just wow!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much, it was something I’ll never forget. It took so long to plan, and also to edit the film, but it’s great to look back on and remember!

[@mercedesaug]

Thanks for taking us along. Transcendent scenery. Love the people you met. Uncomplicated, generous, seem genuinely happy despite oppressive situation. Thanks again.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for watching!

[@rocknroller642]

Damn I cant stress out how good of a video this is, and super inspiring as well. Id definitely want to try the Caucasus mountains at some point. Thank you for this glimpse of your adventure

[@RichardHartfield]

Thank you, that’s really kind of you. It was a lot of hard work to make, with lots of failing along the way! I definitely recommend you go there at some point, it’s an incredible part of the world!

[@Droidzi]

Great presentation - most enjoyable. I've grown increasingly curious about this part of the world since exploring my DNA (25% South Caucasus)

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much! I hope you can visit the region one day, you’ll love it!

[@spiffcats]

This was amazing to watch, thanks for taking us a long with you. I understand the desire to be in the mountains, here in Canada I have done a few trips. Nothing is quiet like the exhilaration of climbing endless cliffs and ridges where almost no one has been before or camping right on a saddle 3300m up beside an ancient glacier several square km in size.

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers for watching, it sounds like I need to go backpacking in Canada next! Which regions would you recommend? :)

[@spiffcats]

@@RichardHartfield Depends how long you want to be out and how steep a terrain you want to be in. The west Kootenay in BC is great for 2 or 3 day trips, but up near golden is pretty epic for longer trips. The best 2 day trip I have done so far is in the west Kootenay, MT Marion

[@Tristandewet]

Epic adventure man! Exploring these mountains is something that's been high on my list for a while and you've done an amazing job at showing them off!

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers Tristan!

[@denizyilmaz8553]

Absolutly beautiful! one of the greatest travel documentaries i ever watch. well done my friend

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks!

[@khushiagrawal8461]

thank you for filming this surreal journey, I've always loved hiking and watching this truly reminded me of when I was hiking across the Himalayas in Uttarakhand :)

[@RichardHartfield]

thanks for watching!

[@quietfire286]

That was F****ing brilliant, I really enjoyed that, a truly inspiring and well produced video. Finding things like this is what KZbin is all about. Your love for the Mountains, the people and true spirit of adventure really came across. Hats off xxx

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much! So glad you enjoyed it

[@Hallvard0]

Beautiful! This video deserves more attention :)

[@RichardHartfield]

Thank you! 😊 Please feel free to share it with friends!

[@OktaviusBiedermann]

What a journey! Gonna do some hiking myself when I'm in Georgia in September.

[@newzrat]

I could have watched for a few more hours. What beauty!!

[@shehanchanuka15]

Man those people in the mountains does not have to give a shit about what us urban dumbasses have to. That's life man that is what life is. So calm. My depression disappeared just by watching them. Wooow what a life they have. Thanks bro.

[@aerophilVIDEO]

What a great adventure! I had similar experiences with authorities when I was trekking in Kyrgyzstan. But I’m 100% sure, that your challenges - through all these Caucasus Regions - where so much more severe. Really inspiring and thanks for taking us along!

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers for watching! I’d like to visit Kyrgyzstan sometime soon!

[@MrRandom54]

now this is a proper adventure

[@LoLo-hs7bp]

This should have a million views

[@ulysses988]

Wow what kind and cool people live there

[@RE-nb5nt]

Wow, what an incredible journey. Thank you for sharing it with us!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks, I’m really glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching :)

[@dianawanderlust]

Richard, such an amazing video! Thanks for sharing

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers for watching!

[@olivetree-unterwegs]

This is such an insane trip Richard and its so well documented! I am really overwhelmed, also I know how much passion you put into that bit of film. So so nice to see it online!

[@RichardHartfield]

Ah thanks so much man! See you soon hopefully

[@TomAndJoeVlogsTJOutdoors]

Woah, what an inspiring video and trip! You are very very brave, this video certainly deserves a sub! It’s nice to see you met some friendly people along your way as well, it sounded a very very surreal trip. Much respect, you smashed it! All the best - Cheers Joe

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much! The people were incredibly friendly, I would’ve been too scared to carry on if they hadn’t helped me!

[@Nathan-sc7hs]

I tip my hat to you, Richard... a very sincere, modest and generous account of your trip (incl. of the people you met) - I found it quite moving. Like you, I have a serious case of wanderlust and whenever possible would have reveries about (and even sometimes plan and do!) madcap adventures (though admittedly not quite as epic as yours here - esp. when undertaken independently), but due to poor health/mobility over the last decade or so haven't been able to fulfil that part of me. I've never really been able to adapt to that (permanent) loss of freedom. Still, experiences such as yours, as well as your ability to capture them so thoughtfully and competently in this format, has lent a vicarious boost. Thank you for sharing your endeavours, and good luck for the rest of your life (travel-related or otherwise).

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks Nathan that’s really kind of you. I’m so glad the film resonated with you so much. I hope you can still go out on your own adventures, even despite the challenges you face.

[@vladiluba]

Thank you Richard! this made me smile ))) so sweet... congratulations on your will power ! you are a brave soul. I am Russian from North Caucasus .

[@RichardHartfield]

Thank you very much! :)

[@JMsoo]

Very amazing thing you have done! Bravo, In 2017 I’ve been to a place north east of Murmansk called Teriberka, to photograph the northern lights, I too had to experience the FSB :/

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers!

[@WildOwlFilms]

Absolutely stunning journey. I have visited Georgia three times and would love to visit again. One of the most beautiful countries on earth.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks Simon! And yeah I can’t wait to revisit Georgia! Which is your favourite region?

[@WildOwlFilms]

@@RichardHartfield Samskthe Imereti region is where I visited last time around Borjormi and Bakuriani. Would love to go to Kazbegi and Svaneti next time.

[@edityourlife]

Enjoyed every second of your journey. Thank you for taking the time to make your film and share with us all. Truly unique landscapes! So much green in those ranges. The Eastern end did look like a true gem, insane geologic features. Best wishes!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks Jeremy! Yeah the landscapes shifted so much as I headed east. Every part had its own beauty!

[@edityourlife]

@@RichardHartfield The Tool hat was a nice addition. Rock on.

[@RichardHartfield]

@@edityourlife yeah man! Best hat ever, but it’s falling apart now unfortunately. It’s seen too many miles!

[@ataneRxR]

Omg Richard !!! Congrats on such an epic journey Your editing and narration is just perfect I felt like I’m watching professional production, stunning views, you dealt with everything and managed to stay calm and…yourself Hat off 👍 been worth of waiting for your movie

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks so much, that’s really heartwarming. It was such a lot of work, but a really rewarding process, learning how to edit and structure a story from so much random footage! I’m glad it’s nice to watch :) thanks for waiting!

[@danos5181]

Amazing! So happy to have followed your trip and see so ever briefly some of the wonders that you saw and the kindness you were bestowed upon and to witness your optimism and great courage to wander through completely foreign lands! Thank you and keep it up!

[@RichardHartfield]

Ah thanks very much, that’s really lovely!

[@nilebarrow8296]

So incredibly inspiring and heartwarming. What an incredible experience that must have been. Thank you so much for documenting it and sharing it with the world :)

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks so much Nile, it was a truly heartwarming experience, and it feels great to be able to pass some of that magic on from the people who helped me! :)

[@domo3552]

Hi Richard. I've loved watching ALL your videos. They really genuinely inspire me to undertake my own long distance hikes. We haven't seen you recently, so I only hope that you've been doing some great inspiring journeys to share with us here and/or in TGO etc. Maybe you just deserve a well-earned rest! All the best Rich.

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers dom that’s really lovely to hear! My video editing skills are a lot slower than my hiking unfortunately! but I crossed the whole alps last year and did another 10 day hike this summer, so lots of footage to get into over winter! I’m always putting stuff on Instagram as well. Good luck on your future hikes! :)

[@domo3552]

@@RichardHartfield Nice! I don't do IG or any other social media for that matter. So I'm really looking forward to any KZbin stuff, and best wishes with your excellent articles too!

[@RichardHartfield]

@@domo3552 cheers!!

[@babakpezeshki2065]

That was absolutely stunning, what a great journey. Much of life is unpredictable like that, but you made the best of it. Thx for sharing. I was really moved

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for watching! The best things happen when you just put yourself out there and see what fortune brings!

[@SmartSam1]

Wow! Magnificent Beauty captured! Paradise indeed! 👌👍🎉

[@jamiewilliams685]

Well in lad. Wandering this planet with hope in your heart is the very essence of existence.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks Jamie, that’s really well put.

[@joe24ambia]

Very inspiring and beautiful.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much!

[@JamieBarnes]

That was an incredible watch. Thank you so much for sharing your journey Richard!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much Jamie :)

[@yagamilight64]

Wow much respect man. I've learned so much from you, this is really inspiring. One technical question if you don't mind me asking, how did you manage with the fire and cooking your food in places where there were no trees/wood?

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for the kind words! I used a lightweight camping stove with a gas canister :)

[@yagamilight64]

@@RichardHartfield Thank you man. Your channel is amazing, just found out that you did more of those solo trips. Im amazed, keep going man. I wish you all the best Richard

[@RichardHartfield]

@@yagamilight64 thanks! :)

[@sophielabaronne2262]

Merci de partager ton aventure....la sencure est telle...que l on a rarement ce genre de contenus en France..❤🎉😊💪🥰

[@RichardHartfield]

Merci!! 😊

[@patilo33]

Incredible Richard. A true, modern day pioneer. i had given up hope that, with all that is going on in this world, your generation could hang onto that adventurous spirit. But you show that it's still there. Wishing you a fantastic future where you can inspire others.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much for the kind words! I think being adventurous is part of what makes us human, so it can't die out :)

[@vincesjm]

This was so beautiful. In multiple ways. It brought tears to my eyes in places. Thank you, Richard, for sharing your journey, and this story.

[@RichardHartfield]

Ah thanks so much Vincent, that really means a lot to know that the emotions resonated with you. It was a really special journey, with so many inspiring people and places :)

[@vincesjm]

@@RichardHartfield Not a problem. Actually, I was hiking in northern Georgia back in June, so (though no where's near adventurous as yours) my experience resonated with some of the beauty you experienced.

[@RichardHartfield]

@@vincesjm ah that’s lovely, I’m glad it could bring back some memories for you.those places and experiences always stay with us! The Caucasus is a place I know I’ll always come back to, for so many reasons. The mountains there are truly special.

[@functionalclothinglab]

Beautiful all the way through, from outside to inside.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@doctralee9424]

Amazing track, congrats !

[@RichardHartfield]

cheers!

[@johnsnediker9175]

Just stumbled across this. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing your adventure!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@54855485]

Awesome film and awesome adventure. Great job. I hope to be in the mountains in northern Azerbaijan for a bit next summer and this is a really exciting window on that world.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much, and wishing you a great journey!

[@jonashubalekwhiskyandthewild]

Great film with some stunning views and fantastic adventure. So real and honest. Well done Richard. Yeah.. poorer people are usually better characters and happier they are.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much. The world is full of kind people, especially in the mountains!

[@moulmul]

I love Georgia. I've been a bit scared sometimes, alone in the mountains, it's so wild ! After that i chose to hike with other travellers ! You courageous :)

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks, I was scared a lot of the time as well! The people I met often made it feel a lot more welcoming, and reminded me of friends and family back home :)

[@sophielabaronne2262]

Magic❤❤❤❤

[@robaardvark6841]

Great film, mate! Lovely photography, and it’s fantastic that you met so many generous and welcoming people in such remote places.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much Rob! So many lovely people in the Caucasus

[@ZoranJeremic-p7o]

Best place on earth

[@natalitravelsoul353]

Wow! That's really great job Richard! I love mountains and nature of Caucasus is just simply gorgeous, amazing, awesome! I've been visiting a lot of beautiful places here and I'm excited of this region. I live in here. You showed it absolutely stunning! Thanks for visiting and sharing with people all over the world. I invite you here once again and would recommend you some very special places to visit. Good luck🍀 and be happy!!!!!!

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers Natali! It would be amazing to come back one day and see more

[@РоксиРокси-й4г]

​@@RichardHartfieldHi, Richard! I myself come from the North Caucasus, I want to ask you, are you Scottish?

[@drcldiao2]

amazing journey. What a beautiful place.

[@RichardHartfield]

It really is! Cheers for watching :)

[@WyeExplorer]

Superb and so inspiring Richard. So much appeared wrong with this trip but in fact you were lead to some of the best connections. An incredible place. Thanks for sharing your courage and journey with us. All the best for 2022. Mark

[@slaphaddalztick]

Respect! One of the most impressive things I've ever watched. Wonderful journey!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thank you very much!

[@lorainedenison]

Amazing film Richard. You are very brave and adventurous, I bet you feel like you can now achieve anything x

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks Loraine, I’m really glad you enjoyed it! I don’t always feel very brave or adventurous, but the memories from this trip are a helpful reminder that sometimes I can be!

[@raulrio1087]

Stunning Nature and Wonderful People. Thank you 😎

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers for watching Raul! :)

[@thebirthdayletters1782]

Amazing bravery and storytelling - a gift from the algorithmic gods : )

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers for the kind words! :)

[@clazza8468]

We loved watching this and are very proud of you. You need to do more!x

[@AngusSuter]

Wow! What a beautiful place with many kind people. An inspiring adventure mate!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks Angus for the kind words! :)

[@Barbararoozen]

Thank you for sharing this amazing experience ❤

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much for taking the time to watch it! :)

[@aimeedavis4385]

Brilliant, thank you for sharing

[@RichardHartfield]

thanks for watching!

[@amarfateen]

I loved every second of those travel vlog! Thanks for such a beautiful video

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers for watching! :)

[@paulbeaton3134]

That was such a pleasure to watch - absolutely amazing - I was transfixed the entire time. Amazing job on the edit.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much Paul! It was a really long learning process for me with many many re-edits! Glad the work paid off :)

[@alyarednesher8663]

Amazing! I'm astounded. Thank you for sharing.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much for watching :)

[@ctr360x10]

wowwwwwwwwww. absolutely love this, your story and the landscapes are equally amazing

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for watching, it’s a really special part of the world!

[@intothecaucasus]

What a journey, truly amazing!!!

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers for watching! :)

[@soerenjordan]

Awesome, thx for sharing, what a trip, I'd love to go hiking in Georgia one day.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for watching! I can’t recommend Georgia enough. There’s the Transcaucasian trail, and also a great resource for trails called ‘trekking in the Caucasus’ on Facebook. They have loads of great info to get planning!

[@seustaceRotterdam]

I did a trip across Georgia 🇬🇪 last year but missed out on the mountains. What an epic experience! Thanks for sharing!

[@RichardHartfield]

Sounds like a good excuse to go back! Such a beautiful country!

[@seustaceRotterdam]

@@RichardHartfield kzbin.info/www/bejne/apXakGWmm9GbiqMsi=5l-doHzzMRky10D4

[@seustaceRotterdam]

@@RichardHartfield longer video kzbin.info/www/bejne/fILHfnqPnsl-p5Isi=KRZD5DygunTHvBMA

[@BadKlov]

words cannot describe how beautiful your video was. i am so jelous! i would have loved to do with you! you did incredible even without completing some part of it. what a journey! thank you for sharing. ill be planning my trip too!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks that's really kind of you! Best of luck with your plans.

[@lauralynn_]

Cooool film! Amazing mountains… Greetings from Tilburg

[@edwardthompson1160]

A gem of a watch - Awesome.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks Edward! :)

[@Apolloneous]

Very high-quality video. Great cinematography and there's also subtitle as well! This deserve more views tbh. Keep up the good work, man!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much! Feel free to share it around! 😊

[@LourieJacobs79]

Incredible journey, Thank you for sharing it.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for watching!

[@ericgriffin6698]

Richard, well done..great video really enjoyed watching your journey to AZ. I live here in Baku iam thinking to ride my motorcycle from UK to Baku via Turkey, Georgia and thru AZ The Georgian Bay road border has been closed since Covid but we are told it's going to open again if so I can plan my journey, I to want to see Georgia and The Greater Caucuses I've seen from the air and that's breathtaking so I cannot imagine what a incredible journey this will be. Happy Travels from Baku 🇬🇧😊👍👍👍👍

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks Eric, your journey sounds amazing, best of luck with it! 😊

[@justdoit8779]

One of the greatest videos I've ever watched . What you did is my dream . To hike the beautiful Caucasus mountains . That took an amazing amount of bravery . You must be pleased .

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much for the kind words!

[@alexdetrojan4534]

Impressive. Heading out by yourself, not knowing the languages or all the routes, well, all i can say is, you certainly got a big pair mate. 👍

[@adventure-georgia]

Great movie! You could have done the whole Caucasus range from Georgia, just with 10km skipping near Samachablo.

[@seanretana2357]

Well done Richard, long live the Caucasus!

[@bccochrane1]

I’ve been waiting for this for a while, what a trip, brilliant! Some of that scenery is truly breathtaking. Like you say it’s the people along the way that make a trip even more special. Well done on putting this together and thanks for sharing it 👍🏻 Where next?

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much for watching. Yeah the people really made it so much more impactful for me. They were often willing to drop everything just to help me out. I did a two month hiking and mountaineering route across the Alps this summer. So my next project is editing that into another film :)

[@bccochrane1]

@@RichardHartfield Good man I’ll look forward to that one. I know what you mean and the people, the amount of generosity that is out there in the country is really special. My experience is that mountain people anywhere in the world seem to always be welcoming and it is their honour to help, feed or guide you, long may it stay that way. I’ll be forwarding your vid to many, cheers 👍🏻

[@RichardHartfield]

@@bccochrane1 This is so true. People in the mountains often seem to understand the value of helping strangers, maybe because of how harsh the environment can be there.

[@tomhobsonsound2638]

What an amazing trip & video!! I've also done low altitude trekking through the Gereogian side of the caucuses and couldn't recommend it enough

[@RichardHartfield]

Cheers! Yeah Georgia is beautiful, I’d love to go back and see the areas in southern Caucasus. Maybe on the Transcaucasian trail!

[@WalkWithWallace]

That is some adventure mate, hiker's paradise. The locals are so friendly. Shame the Russian authorities couldn't just leave you be, it would attract more hiking tourists. Good choice of tent too, but I'm not biased. 😁

[@RichardHartfield]

Yeah the Notch is a great tent! Kept me sheltered on many a trip! :D

[@ICXCNIKA95]

My family is from a village in Karachay-Cherkessia called Sparta. I’ve never been but this video really inspired me. Thank you

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks, that’s great to hear! :)

[@rigbyUnbound]

wow what a fantastic adventure.. truly inspiring how you dealt with the fear of the officials to accomplish your goal & to meet the amazing people and walk amongst those incredible vistas. congratulations on a wonderful film!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@jes2447]

Greetings from the Ural Mountains region. I am a student and a hiking enthusiast like you. I was very impressed with your journey, and this film as a whole. It is very sad that the actions of our government spoil the impressions of foreigners from our country, both globally (i reffer to recent horrible events) and locally. And the fact that you could not visit some equally beautiful places because of stupid bureaucracy and unnecessary control makes me sad. I am glad that you met wonderful people on the way and got into the really amazing atmosphere of the Caucasus. This is a truly magical place and trip. Thank you for this movie, all the best!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks very much for the kind words! how are the Ural Mountains for backpacking? 😊

[@jes2447]

@@RichardHartfield it's very chill and easy at south region of mountains. The most popular easy tourist place is Chusovaya river with its beautiful views, I was once kayaking there. Urals get a lot of beatiful caves too. There are also a lot of other great locations. But the more north you go, the more harder it gets. North Ural mountains is layed in permafrost in no man's land. There are almost no villages or cities there. You can get there only by helicopter. But views are the best there, obviously. Urals are quite scattered at a distance from each other, unlike the Caucasus, and much lower, so this is a completely different experience, no less fascinating for me.

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks for this, I want to go one day! It must feel so remote there in the north. Kayaking sounds like a great way to experience it as well!

[@agayevayxan]

Wonderful trip, congrats! Specially i appreciate your modesty!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thank you very much!

[@charliewilson9125]

Such an well done and beautifully put together video!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@charliewilson9125]

@@RichardHartfield How do you colour grade? Cant believe its shot on a phone

[@MehraliyevFuad]

WOW guy! You have a lion heart - brave and kind as Mountains !!

[@RichardHartfield]

Thank you very much!