The Pacific Northwest Trail 2022: Glacier to Polebridge (Part 1)

[@surlyben]

That waterfall shot! It just kept going and going and going. Fantastic! Looking forward to watching the next part.

[@its.human.nature]

Wtf that was absurdly good. The photography, the philosophy, the music, the beauty. Panning waterfall shot 🤯

[@keegan.o]

Thanks Josh!

[@debbiewoods9154]

Your video is the best I've seen on the PNT! I was a trail angel in Bonners Ferry in 2021, and met some awesome people of whom I still keep in contact with. Looking forward to the next installment.

[@keegan.o]

Thanks much Debbie!

[@gottabesometime6632]

Mother nature is just so amazing, as are you with your photography, THANKU for taking me to places I can only imagine as cost from down under would be beyond my budget, but you pointed out MANY MANY beautiful vistas, fauna, and flora, I so would've missed. p.s....the mossies would have me done from day one, so again THANKS for my armchair hike!!!!!! OH....bears...yeah nah!!!!

[@nathanrichards9202]

Epic cant wait for the rest!

[@colemartin2335]

Beautiful video, looking forward to more!

[@mikepallister3037]

Thanks for the journey

[@ritabeck3868]

Wow, amazing, I love the scenery and your commentary and explanation of the Native Americans and their land and the history of USA. I live in Canada and I love your videos.

[@dorkofcork1]

Really like your perspective. Superb .

[@LordQuiche]

Such a good vid, thanks pal. I have some unfinished business on the PCT this year and might hike out West on the PNT 🤔

[@keegan.o]

Thanks for the comment! And enjoyyyyyyyyy 🙌

[@TrailsideFitness]

Strongly considering this trail for myself next year, and your video was great! Thank you!

[@onefootinfrontoftheothernz]

Watched the first 5 min and then have saved the rest to watch with my husband/hiking partner. We are going to do the PNT in 2024 - coming all the way from New Zealand - so currently doing a lot of research. Looking forward to seeing your journey as these appear. We both carry a bit of camera gear as hobby photographer/videographer so we are interested to see what you used.

[@keegan.o]

Nice! I replied down below in detail, here it is: I took a Panasonic GH6 camera with an extra battery and a nitecore 20000 battery bank I used to charge up every night. My main lenses were the Olympus 8-25mm for wide and standard focal lengths, a long lens which I switched out after this first section from a heavier 100-300 to a lighter 45-150 (had to see if I could stand taking the heavier one and hoped I might see a grizly somewhere in the distance, but no such luck), and an Olympus 60mm macro lens. GH6 is m43 so double all those lengths for the full frame equivalent (16-50 equiv in one lens makes the 8-25 pretty great). In the first couple sections of trail I tried out a couple lens alternates, shipping things home and having things sent. I had with me for most of the trip a trailpix tripod, but also a little mini tabletop tripod that could just hold the weight since it was much faster to use than the trailpix. I ended up using mainly the mini tripod due to ease of setup. For this first section, as a camera-savvy person may have noticed, I also actually took a tiny fluid-head to use with my trailpix tripod. Alas, along with the super long lens, I sent this home after the first section too as it just was not used enough to justify the weight. I used a hyperlite mountain gear camera pod (large) to carry my camera centered on the front of my body and whatever lens was on it, and then a variety of fanny-packs and bags in that position to carry my other lenses; this got refined over the trip. Day hiking I would happily use a capture clip, but backpacking long distances symmetry of weight on your body helps avoid pains and easy protection from wet and brush was a yes please for the PNT. Mini carabiners were the main way I hooked stuff up to my pack so that I could switch my camera and lenses positions if I wanted to, and I really liked being able to do that. I actually also used shock cord and more carabiners to add some suspension to my camera and lens cases, which definitely helped with stopping things from jostling around as I moved. Of course this much extra weight decreased my comfort sometimes, but I put a lot of effort into avoiding extra back and shoulder pain because of it, and it largely worked!

[@HolisticHikes]

Love seeing the Pacific Northwest trail footage, this trail seems like that next skill level comparative to some of the other long trail. Hope to see more!

[@marywalker9061]

Loved your take on GNP! I have such fond memories of growing up in NW MT and having the park as my back yard playground. I can’t wait to make another plan to visit there and see the area thru adult eyes.

[@keegan.o]

Thanks Mary! It's an incredible place. I also have fond memories of a particular stir fry I once had...

[@taonowbrowncow]

Hi! Thank you so much for your generous efforts in creating this film. Ben and I were incredibly moved and humbled by not just the journey itself- but the live and thoughtful descriptions along the way. The historical context you provided with each leg of the journey was enlightening and important. And the music! The scurry of a creature aligned with an energetic melody! The breathtaking visuals paced with perfect timing and wonderful composition! Relieved this is only party one : ) Bravo!

[@Ekpap]

This is SO well done. Props to you for completing this trail and filming the whole thing! Also, I appreciate how informative it is.

[@keegan.o]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@deanbothwell6992]

This was the shot to the head I needed as I had my coffee this morning a perfect mixture of hard work,beauty, talent and an occasional fuck me that was sketchy. I salute you Sir.

[@Cschuepbach17]

Incredible filmmaking Keegan. Curious what your video equipment setup was for this hike??

[@keegan.o]

Thanks! I took a Panasonic GH6 camera with an extra battery and a nitecore 20000 battery bank I used to charge up every night. My main lenses were the Olympus 8-25mm for wide and standard focal lengths, a long lens which I switched out after this first section from a heavier 100-300 to a lighter 45-150 (had to see if I could stand taking the heavier one and hoped I might see a grizly somewhere in the distance, but no such luck), and an Olympus 60mm macro lens. GH6 is m43 so double all those lengths for the full frame equivalent (16-50 equiv in one lens makes the 8-25 pretty great). In the first couple sections of trail I tried out a couple lens alternates, shipping things home and having things sent. I had with me for most of the trip a trailpix tripod, but also a little mini tabletop tripod that could just hold the weight since it was much faster to use than the trailpix. I ended up using mainly the mini tripod due to ease of setup. For this first section, as a camera-savvy person may have noticed, I also actually took a tiny fluid-head to use with my trailpix tripod. Alas, along with the super long lens, I sent this home after the first section too as it just was not used enough to justify the weight. I used a hyperlite mountain gear camera pod (large) to carry my camera centered on the front of my body and whatever lens was on it, and then a variety of fanny-packs and bags in that position to carry my other lenses; this got refined over the trip. Day hiking I would happily use a capture clip, but backpacking long distances symmetry of weight on your body helps avoid pains and easy protection from wet and brush was a yes please for the PNT. Mini carabiners were the main way I hooked stuff up to my pack so that I could switch my camera and lenses positions if I wanted to, and I really liked being able to do that. I actually also used shock cord and more carabiners to add some suspension to my camera and lens cases, which definitely helped with stopping things from jostling around as I moved. Of course this much extra weight decreased my comfort sometimes, but I put a lot of effort into avoiding extra back and shoulder pain because of it, and it largely worked!

[@keegan.o]

Ah yes and I almost forgot audio, alas I did not master that aspect of film-making conveniently while long distance backpacking on this trip haha. I took a zoom H1n with me, but because I used the hyperlite mtn gear camera pod to carry my camera that meant I would have had to attach and detach it to use as an on-camera mic. This meant it was largely used independently for trail journaling and field recording in various areas instead. That's the biggest piece I would like to figure out more with my carrying strategy.

[@TheREALMuad-dib]

The video starts at 8:05. @31:18 we get a report about his bowel movements. Just so you know my last bowel movement was 5:45am after some coffee..

[@keegan.o]

Haha, fair points! The bowel movement thing is because I had significant ecoli poisoning before the trip which was lingering on and stopped me from leaving town, I should have told that story more succinctly!

[@miyahosaka8361]

I might have missed this in the video, apologies if so. What was your start date?

[@keegan.o]

I headed out from the terminus on June 30th, 2022! It was a later snow year than usual, so usually by then it would be less snowy.

[@miyahosaka8361]

@keegan.o I will just have to pay attention to the snow pack this year. Not headed out till 25'. I prefer starting early but this isn't the PCT where I get 700 miles of desert, as you know. Haha straight up to those passes! Gorgeous videos. Can't wait to watch them all. Thank you for what you made 😀

[@keegan.o]

@@miyahosaka8361 Cheers! I recommend joining the PNT Hikers facebook group if you have facebook, some official PNTA people there give good advice and people share what they know about the snow each season.

[@kumatmebro315]

Interesting that you don't mention the blackfeet waged a war of genocide on the kootenai people and forced them west of the rockies

[@spudnikholyghostroller7314]

Then don't say goodbye take her with you, she heard when she gets tried you would carry her.