Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail - Part 1

Part one of two of my 70 mile thru-hike of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
All songs from www.bensound.com

[@annajo1963]

Fallen leaves begin to decay and their sugars and organic compounds in the leaf break down, creating the classic musky-sweet of a leaf pile.

[@jls935]

Oh my gosh thank you!

[@eddiep3743]

Smell? Maybe trial mix? ✌❤

[@countyphotographer]

If it’s that musky smell I know exactly what you mean I always thought it was the deer in rutting season. They have glands on their legs. But I have heard it explained as the leaf decay also sort of mouldy smell. My other theory is Hickory? That would be a familiar spicy smell as in Hickory-smoked bacon.

[@mdg.9533]

I think that scent is the Spice of LIFE!!

[@AntonvonGütwrench]

That smell has a name. The smell of decay and dampness. Petrichor.

[@rachellsn1791]

You’re always so positive and inspiring! Keep going!

[@billseay6399]

Hey Thanks loved it

[@stoicodysseys6352]

I love seeing you on trail. I hope you're still at it. I am doing a thru hike of the Laurel Highlands next weekend

[@timothydurkan]

The music... oooof!

[@frolege1]

Nice video, nice foliage, nice music and of course nice host.

[@trailsandtravelswithlea]

Yellow blazes, just like the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin... hardest to see in the Fall!

[@Crystal__Clear]

gosh this was breathtakingly beautiful

[@robinsmith9734]

Nicely done Julia, your old back yard. The colors were as early autumn paints into your memory box, well done......

[@TakeCareMan]

You’re B roll is great, and you are adorable. Great hike!

[@mikestanford6418]

Just did the LHHT in 3 days. The last few miles (miles 6-1) were pretty brutal and it’s not you being outta shape. Love this trail and will always hold a place in my heart as a true favorite. Best part about the trail- the mile markers. Worst part about the trail- the mile markers ! Great video!!! It shows off the true beauty of the best short trail ever.

[@outlaw565]

Ohio pyle is a really nice recreational area. Pa.in the fall... great places to be this time of year for sure. 7 springs good skiing! Thanks for the video Julia, good to see you back out on the trail.

[@hermeticallysealed]

right on, rocket. love that trail

[@petergrant9259]

You have a wonderful Mom...that was the best ending to a vlog...

[@db.mc2]

Hi Rocket, good to see you back on trail again, missed watching your adventures. I thought your AT video was inspiring and very cool!👊👍 I've started hiking again because of watching thru hikers like yourself, Frozen, Hickory, Craig Mains(Hawk), and many others. Thank you all for that. I appreciate all of you sharing your journeys with everyone. Be well, be safe, and don't ever change👍🙂 Looking forward to your next adventure, journey.

[@petersherman2552]

nice film Miss R. watched both parts and some bits twice. That's a beaut trail!

[@HeyItsTim]

Great colors, and WOW a 25 miler on day 2. Great video and fun music. Thanks for sharing.

[@ronronson7177]

Awesome Rocket

[@randysmith9493]

"Rocket", such inspiration, good to see you back, awesome, you have new cinemetography, new twist on music on trail. New trail legs.....

[@stephenhiker9807]

Awesome hike!

[@kckrye]

Dang thats in my neck of the woods. It would have been awesome to run into you out there. I watched your AT journey so your a trail hiking celeb in my book. 😆

[@Wondering_Fireball]

Love it, the most important piece of gear on top of your pack. LOL

[@MedfordHills]

Liked the video

[@davidroberts1816]

Love all the shots of the autumn colours

[@rigbyUnbound]

really loved the video work at the beginning and i get what you mean about the scent.. oh smellovison! looking forward to part der ;)

[@sylviawinstead8799]

I don’t know if you realize how funny you are but you are. You made me laugh. Thanks for this vigorous hike your showing us. I’m going to do that one day when I can let go of my fear

[@HistoricWrath]

Great video! The trail looks beautiful. Go Rocket!

[@justinsimpson9892]

Love that your back out. Keep kicking ass

[@AndyParrishOutdoors]

Love the whole quality of the video. Very well done. 👏👏👏

[@patrickkinney2605]

I loved watching this, it brought back a lot of memories. I hiked this trail as a boy scout in the 70s. It was very new then and it good to see that is has been so well maintained. I grew up in the Pittsburgh area, live in VA now only 20 minutes from the AT. Love hiking but haven't backpacked in many years. Your videos are inspiring me to get back out there again!

[@markcummings6856]

Great video! What a heck of a job you did on this video. Superb editing imo. Loved the sun shining through the mist/fog your first morning.

[@arturmieszkamwanglii2168]

I like your videos!

[@davidhall8874]

The leaves. As I travel on my bike this time of year, it is the greatest smell of fall. Can't smell it from the car, o ly the motorcycle!

[@garydavis5096]

I love your videos , I did some sections of that trail it is beautiful.

[@frolege1]

Nice headband

[@chrisholmes5765]

7:02..."everything's so beautiful"... Yep, I agree!! The scenery is nice too. ;)

[@ytrbou812]

Awesome video! Thank you for sharing.

[@buzzonedown]

That ending is hilarious.

[@jocky2]

Loved the video Julia. You are a inspiration, thank you.

[@vietadvisor6781]

Love the music. It went so well with your hike. Love your vids too, they are a super inspiration to all

[@JH-mt3pp]

I enjoyed your video. We hiked to LeConte lodge last week on Alum cave trail and spent the night.It's only 5 miles up and I'm only 67 years old but still proud to have done it lol .

[@DS-ej6du]

Really impressed those Doritos lasted into the second day😃

[@gmanadventurer8892]

Welcome to the Laurel Highlands!!! You also need to check out the Standing Stone trail.

[@calciumrox]

Yess Julia great job!! I did miles 70-18 so it's great to see what the first bit looks like :D

[@joelwilliams5383]

Great seeing you back in the woods!

[@LordQuiche]

Good vid!

[@SanaurRehmanShahmir]

You should have been selected as Miss America! Your work makes you deserving for that!

[@Sabrekea56]

I once told my husband that I loved the sweet spicy smell of cotton crops in the fall. He laughed at me and explained I was smelling the defoliant they spray on the cotton fields to kill the leaves before picking the cotton. Oh well, I still love it.

[@ras0220]

Monday I am going to Amicalola and hiking to Unicoi...come with me! I love your videos!

[@johnelliott5923]

Glad to see ya out love you!

[@aaronkulik656]

Those first two days are ROUGH with all that vertical gain... enjoy the easy peasy last 62.

[@gdugger73]

Sassafras! 😊

[@bobfox6770]

Nice day 1 :) Go Rocket

[@kmat7163]

I’ve only watched 30 seconds but love the Doritos on top of pack.

[@Johnnywalleye1]

When I got to seven springs ,I was hopeful that paddle boat rental would have a burger or at least a hot dog , no luck but at least they had cold drinks

[@bethgentry5565]

Reminds me of the Southern Tier of New York. Beautiful hike you are on. That bag of Doritos wouldn't stand a chance with me

[@AlesandTrails]

Awesome job, we are planning to do this in March!

[@MrEllio7]

I did a section of the trail two years ago. Due to time constraints I did an out and back overnight with a small group starting at the gravestones.

[@BigByrd-gy8qk]

Your mileage is even more impressive noting that you didn't arise until 8am. Crikey! To be young again. I think you did it more on the 6 mile day, but taking the time to plant the camera for a shot of you walking without the camera, takes a lot of extra time, and provides us with some good shots. It mixes it all up. If you haven't checked out The Bike Wanderer, Ioghan has put together some very nice videos of his adventures, and there are a lot techniques he has picked up along the way. Check him out.

[@seppvomberg6370]

Would love to hike with you from hut to hut here in Europe through the Dolomites.....i am quite sure you d love the Dolomites.... Grüsse Stefan

[@jeffpresley4159]

Who thought the the smell of decaying vegetable matter could smell so good:)

[@jmsbohannon]

Rocket on trail!!! Woohoooooo!!!!!!

[@GoStuhlers]

I might be wrong but it looked like a black bear cub was climbing a tree in the distance around the 5:18-5:21 mark ...also, kudos on making so many miles after having taken time off.

[@owenamos3863]

There is a bush that grows on the East coast called spice bush. If I remember correctly it has red berries. It makes tasty tea. That is probably what you are smelling.

[@m_soko]

"Literally" it could be a northern spice bush!

[@matthewwollert3531]

Pretty sure the smell is the degradation of sugars from maples and other trees leaves..... heaven!

[@walterhibbard4096]

Cant wait to get out there this season. The Doritos were a fine choice my friend!

[@quilrock]

Cool. That big intersection on Firetower road 14:41

[@Wondering_Fireball]

That was funny your mom driving right on buy. LMFAO

[@titanpreparedness]

You say that was in Pennsylvania? Man that nice. Come check out the foothills trail its 72miles so not much futher than this.

[@dblomqu1]

I think you smell Doritos....

[@JeffRElliott]

now I want doritos

[@rdiddy9869]

Nice video rocket!

[@Kirtru]

Where was those rock formations? They look so pretty

[@brucehodson2763]

Spice bush (or any species of the Lindera genus). Kind of a peppery aroma.

[@IamaMovinright]

Nutmeg & Clove both have earthy spice smells.

[@danthompson7138]

id love to meet you ! outstanding

[@MichaelSmith-ri1rb]

It's pumpkin spice. ☕

[@frolege1]

The smell is spicy moose poop emanating from strong Maine winds reaching down to PA.

[@soccerstar204]

Wow to the max great video. What type of camera did you use?

[@Ontrail82]

It’s the smell of rotting leaves lol ...great video tho! I enjoyed it! I can’t make a 15 minute video to save my life! 😂😂😂

[@jls935]

I know the scent you’re talking about, what a leaf pile smells like. This is not that smell... it’s different. I’m thinking maybe a slice bush??

[@delphinelesterlost3285]

70 miles is a long way to go, enjoy!

[@xchick10]

curious---when you do a one or two night, low mile hike do you carry more lux items? I find that I am willing to carry a ridiculous amount of weight for less than 8 mile days...

[@jls935]

Just some warmer options extra pants etc...

[@littlethislittlethat456]

Nice video Rocket! That's a giant bag of Doritos on top. I'm sure those will be severely dented after the first night. That Fall smell of the leaves I call Tannin. Your video is great. You haven't lost your touch but Drink Water!!!! You're a nurse and know better. I really like your music. Where do you get your music from? Woo hoo, 25 Miles! John from MI

[@amraa23]

Hardware unboxed 😄

[@snapperpetta9145]

Just curious...what prompted you to hike the trail in the direction you did? Most of the other videos on this trail have folks hiking in the opposite direction. I'm considering doing this trail so would like to know your thoughts. Thanks for the help.

[@quilrock]

I'm guessing, she lives in Johnstown, the trail goes from Ohiopyle to Johnstown, so she would be kinda hiking her way back home ?

[@snapperpetta9145]

@@quilrock Thanks for your thoughts. They certainly make sense.

[@jls935]

My mom lives in Somerset, near seven springs..... it was easier to drop my car in Johnstown..... and be dropped off in ohiopyle. Also I’m a nobo at heart ♥️

[@snapperpetta9145]

@@jls935 Thanks for the reply. One of your avid viewers suggested that was the reason why you did it this way but I appreciate hearing from you as well. Thanks for taking the time to do so. Happy Hiking!

[@BOBOMulleinWolf]

@@jls935 Living in Westmoreland County my wife and I have hiked here many times, never the entire trail though. Mom lives in Somerset? That's where my sister lives. Across from Laurel Hill St Park

[@kb2hiker]

Likely, the smell is elk sting from ferns as they decompose after first frost. Haven’t had a first frost?.......then no idea! Go with the moose poop!

[@kohlphinney9411]

Awesome video! Just curious how the g20 is holding up? I’m thinking about ordering one.

[@fb1781]

Did you film all of this with just your phone? Those shots have some amazing definition.

[@jls935]

I used the DGI pocket Osmo!

[@Wondering_Fireball]

It’s funny that after you have experienced hiker hunger and got used to carrying a lot of food out of necessity. Then you plan for a three or four day trip carrying the amount of food you carried when always hungry. Well call it extra conditioning.

[@timmcteague1827]

Maybe sassafras

[@scottsteel2334]

Twenty five miles for the "city ? Girl" Was very very impressive. And even more impressive was the video artistry. Hopefully you were not doing the Laural Highlands trail when the small earthquake hit Bolivar a few nights ago.

[@quilrock]

What , a earthquake hit Bolivar?

[@scottsteel2334]

@@quilrock 2.9 on the Richter scale and I do believe they said it was at 12:30 a.m.

[@scottsteel2334]

@@quilrock The USGS along with DEP reclassified the quake as being caused by a mine collapse. It must have been a hell of a collaspe to register a reading.

[@owenamos3863]

You can identify it with a field guide .

[@nickstall8167]

Such a perfectly cute girl

[@larrycarol6693]

Right? I think I’m in KZbin love.

[@shannonbritton5313]

If there was one section of the AT that you could do, which one would u choose? Because of time constraints and kids, etc, I can only go for about 2 weeks. Was hoping u could give me some ideas!!❤💛💙💜💚🧡🤎

[@jls935]

The whites or Greyson highlands!

[@urbantrails1]

Was that smell wild garlic

[@jls935]

Oh maybe!!

[@danhackett4199]

Are those beach nut trees.

[@dniemi58]

It looks like you’re racing?!

[@jamiern2]

I smell it too. smells like pot.

[@nicoleandjoshbaldwin4228]

Just stick to the darknesses prevails podcast, it helps keep you moving