Thru-Hiking the Sheltowee Trace Ep. 2: The Hiker in Pain

[@roche4647]

Pain is weakness leaving the body. GODSPEED!

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

That's a great quote! It's often true too. Thanks for commenting.

[@theaddictedprepper902]

Kayakers, like backpackers are awesome folks! That was a fortuitous meeting!

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

It was pretty bizarre how that worked out. Since the creek is usually no deeper than knee-deep, it's not a place where you find kayakers. That guy was a local.

[@markgang1861]

Happy wandering along the trace.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Thank you!

[@RoughingItWithRuth]

Wow Evan your trip just gets more and more epic! Good call on the storm, and I hope your feet get better soon!

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

I didn't film enough during that storm. It was epic. Then afterwords, I camped on rocks under that rock ledge. That was really cool too. But I was lacking the energy to narrate or explain. I wish I would have . . .

[@RoughingItWithRuth]

Yeah sometimes turning on the camera is really tough! The footage you did get told an awesome story though!

[@ronwarren5085]

I hope you can continue walking . I'm really enjoying the video thanks for taking us along .

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@SalineScott]

You really lucked out with the guy helping you cross. I hope your feet are doing better now. Can't wait to see the next episode. As soon as Adam gets here, we'll be heading to the lake. Have a great weekend.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

I was so happy to see that guy. But once I was across, I kept thinking about what a great video I would have had if I'd filmed myself crossing while holding my pack over my head. Realistically, though, the banks on the other side were so steep and muddy I don't know if I could have climbed out of the river . . .

[@cumberlandquiltchic1]

That looks like a tough hike ! Good for you! Keep going

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[@FinalMyle]

Very lucky indeed with Rock Creek. That was my experience on this trail, every time I needed something or I was worried about something a solution would present itself.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Exactly.

[@paulgammelljr6883]

crazy water crossings.not like the whites. cool but nuts. glad you made it

[@Tipster49]

how cool you had a kayak river angel! I agree with him that it’s karma had no idea beavers could be aggressive; come to find out, there’s a wikipedia page for “Beaver attack” thank you so much for being so thorough and giving great info about the trails, your feet, tarp, all of it! I may want to hike this also in preparation for the AT your poor feet are a mess 😬 curious to see how they do moving forward

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@iksniler9067]

Just got picked up from cumbeand falls. Did 110 miles in 5 days. Very bad swelling on left ankle with knee pain to accommodate it, lol. Thru hike now has turned into a section hike. It was very cold and icy but worth every mile. I can relate to this video!

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Chad Relinski Yeah, thanks! Good luck as you continue to hike the trail!

[@ellisholcomb2299]

thanks for taking us along with you enjoyed watching when I used to hike it was alot slower pace I would try to take it all in wish you all the very best until next time my friend

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

I'm trying to take it all in! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Goodnessgraciius]

"Hiking looks so fun and easy on KZbin. I'm trying to combat that." TRUTH!!! Great video.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Thanks, appreciate that!

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

some of that background music sounded like CAKE! really enjoying your adventure

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

I don't know of Cake but I will check them out. As always, thanks for watching and commenting!

[@YesterdayMeetsToday]

100 miles in 5 days is quite impressive. Best of luck with the rest of the trail

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Glad you're watching, thanks!

[@thathikingguy]

Great second episode. I find it fascinating how nature tests us and how we overcome and adapt. Looks like you are adapting well. Keep em coming!!

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

I will, thanks!

[@potatothorn]

loving the greenery on this trail. so cool you found a ferry that guy was Awesome! Clear water in those little creeks, Rox and I are really enjoying this hike thanks for taking us with you

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

You're very welcome -- I'm always glad you're watching and commenting!

[@pamaladarsow2763]

Awesome storm !

[@Willys-Adventures]

some great work on the video editing Evan thanks for sharing

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Thanks, I appreciate that -- and you're welcome!

[@Bluehathiker]

Great episodes! Looking forward to each one!

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Thank you!

[@PumpkinVillage]

Very nice. Hope the feet work out for you. The video's are amazing. Great timing with that kayak to get across the river. Take care, Al

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Yes, I got pretty lucky. That "river" is usually no more than knee-deep, so it's not one where you find kayakers -- that guy was a local.

[@JaxxDrinkwater]

I'm loving is so far Evan. 20 miles a day with blisters! You are officially Bad A$$ my friend. looking forward to the rest.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

More crazy/obsessed than badass, but thanks!

[@rialobran]

Very much enjoyed the first 2 episodes, looking forward to the rest....I need it after watching this! ;) Just a thought, (I'm sure you've thought of this), why not get yourself some neoprene canoe/surfing shoes to change into at river crossings, they weigh next to nothing

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

I'm evaluating all my crossing options. My problem is I only get blisters at the beginning of the trip, and only when I'm doing 18+ miles per day.. Later in the trip, after the blisters have healed, my feet could be wet all day and I'd have no problem with blisters. But with blisters and open sores, I worry about infection, and then it doesn't matter what shoes I'm wearing. I've been trying many different ways of crossing on this trip -- shoes and socks, shoes without socks, just socks, barefooted.

[@rialobran]

I've not much to add that I'm sure you haven't attempted, I use a pair of cheap neoprene shoes I got in Walmart the last time I was in the US, 2 years in and they still work fine....But then 12 miles is about my days worth :)

[@TawnaTV]

Awesome mileage in five days! Hope the feet are OK..would like to see you able to carry on. Either way, your adventures are always great to watch!

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Thanks so much--appreciate it!

[@Sleeves]

I am enjoying the commentary. There are many decisions to make while out on the trail and I appreciate you highlighting them. Man, I have never had to swim at a ford. Good stuff. Glad you met that nice gentleman to carry your gear across. Perfect timing! Take care of those feet. Dry is definitely the key, for sure. Congratulations on the 5 day/100 mile accomplishment! Nice! I knew you could do it. This looks like a beautiful trail. How long did it take you to let go of the craziness of life and fully immerse yourself into the "other" craziness called trail life? Sorry I am so slow at watching your videos. Work is taking most of my time. I look forward to catching your other episodes. Take care.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Hey, no problem -- I'm just glad you're watching! It didn't really take long to get immersed into the trail and forget the other life -- much less time than I thought it would. It's probably because of the decisions you were talking about. Right away, I was focused on the daily hiking goals . . .

[@williamjackson1124]

I'm. always looking for new videos from you. great job! when are we gonna see AT thru hike.!? 😁

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

The AT -- I'm going to get around to discussing that eventually in this series. Hope you enjoy it!

[@milestonowheres]

Long distance hiking looks so easy watching videos on KZbin.. Thanks for showing the other side ..100 miles in 5 days is no joke . A man has to push himself to keep up that pace .. How is the trail conditions? Well kept and easy to follow I hope .. Good luck out there Evan .

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

The trail conditions have definitely varied so far. For example, the trail was flooded and impassable in small sections along the Cumberland River. And it's not easy to follow without the right navigational aids. I'm trying to talk about that when I can . . .

[@uptrail7169]

Good Luck Evan! Your feet look very painful and I sure hope that they will heal enough for the thru-hike. I'm really enjoying this series! This is my first time watching a Sheltowee thru -hike. We hiked a few miles of it in the spring at RRG.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

The Sheltowee Trace has been fun. Thanks for watching!

[@CarolinaChrisOutdoors]

You definitely are succeeding in showing the "other side" of long distance hiking! My feet are on fire, and my hips hurt and I'm on the couch!!!!

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Then I'm accomplishing my goal! Thanks for tuning in . . .

[@WayOffTheTrail]

Hope you didn't over-do it. Lovely woods there. Cool kayaker dude. Nice storm footage.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

I definitely over-did it. It's a problem of mine I need to get under control. But I'm still trudging along!

[@shcmoly]

So many blisters, maybe you need different/custom shoes? Hats off to the kayaker, I hope there were warnings on the trail.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

No warnings on the trail. The Sheltowee Trace has a website but it's hard for them to keep up with the whole 324-mile trail from day to day. Shoes -- maybe. For me, it's a function of walking too far. In other words, my shoes work perfectly up to about 18 miles. Then I get blisters but they usually heal as I keep walking. The next layer of skin is tougher.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Great continuation. Man, that was nice of that guy to take your gear across. I laughed about the angry beavers comment waaaay too much. 😂😂

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

The advice along the way that I received from locals was always pretty funny, I thought. No sign of those angry beavers!

[@yoadrianne466]

Long distance hiking always looks easy and fun on KZbin. I’m doing what I can to fix that problem!! 😂😂😂

[@adamholbrook2281]

Hi Evan. Thanks for another installment. I'm enjoying following along and seeing some of the scenery. Did you find a good reference guide for the STT, or are you piecing your own together?

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

The guidebook from 2010 is a little outdated but I had it with me. Also paper maps and some GPS data from someone who section-hiked last year. Even with all this, the trail is still hard to follow in places and the blazing is very inconsistent. Great in some places, all but nonexistent in others.

[@Tom-tt1vg]

Yes enjoy watching you on KZbin, but hopefully someday I'll hike the sheltowee trace

[@Louisvilledc]

Have you tried Wig Wam Cool Max sock liners? Great at preventing blisters.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

I'll check those out. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

[@TheWeekendHiker]

The struggle is real. It always looks easier on youtube ;) On long distance hiking, do your feet ever toughen up the more you hike, or is it pretty much the same? Enjoyed it brother, off to see part 3. Take care. -ATB Adam 🐢

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

My feet toughen up after some initial blisters. The challenge is hoping they don't get infected. After the first ones heel, I don't have to worry about it anymore. I don't get any blisters until over 18 miles or so . . .

[@markstanton2362]

Nice hike. No trekking poles?

[@shcmoly]

That is a question I always want to ask youtubers, the real answer is; you can hold poles or a camera not both.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

I have trekking poles. When I'm holding the camera with my hand, the trekking poles are out of sight in my other hand. And often I have the camera mounted on a trekking pole with a StickPik. But I only have the camera out 5% or less of the time.

[@beachgirl9823]

WOW - you’re brave to sleep in that cave.

[@bigzach322]

Lucky having that kayaker pass by. Did you have this much trouble with pain on Benton Mackaye?

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Not really. I was going more slowly on the Benton MacKaye trail . . .

[@yogavnture1]

what is a good 25 miile stretch of the trail . good nature and adequate water for filtering?

[@Ranger24]

Good ending...hiking is not the pretty trouble-free process these commercial KZbinrs portray.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

No, it's not. Not at all . . .

[@chrisk4827]

Do you filter your water? OR do you carry several bottles of water and refill from a known potable water source?

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

I either filter or add chemicals. Either way, I get my water from the trail.

[@brandongillispie6154]

I was wondering what backpack you were using for this trip?

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

ZPacks Arc Blast. I recently did a video on all my backpacks.

[@brandongillispie6154]

@@EvansBackpackingVideos ps-Thanks, I've really enjoyed your videos

[@kunicross]

Ad masochistic as it sounds your videos really spike my interest in long distance hiking! Now only the kids need to grow up a bit more because carrying them around is really difficult. 😊

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

And then the kids get a little older, and they can walk themselves -- but you have to carry their backpacks. That's been my experience! At this point, though, all my kids are able to manage by themselves on the trail. That is, if they choose to come along, which they usually don't . . .

[@kunicross]

Evan's Backpacking Videos the fun never stops, from the terrible twos right into the puberty. 😀😰

[@FinalMyle]

Are you sure that's Yahoo Falls? lol.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

From a distance . . . I didn't get up close.

[@FinalMyle]

It's actually very pretty and a nice rest spot. Kentucky's Highest waterfall in fact. :) Love your adventure so far! Good job on the 20 miles days too. I know that's not an easy task by any means.

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

FinalMyle Thanks!!