2018 Thru Hikers To Watch On YouTube

It is the first week in May and thru hike season is in full swing! Advancing technology is making photography, videography, and internet access more accessible to hikers on trail. With that increasing accessibility we also see a steady rise in the number of hikers sharing their journeys online. Many thru hikers on popular long distance trails have strong followings on YouTube channels used to document their hikes.

While watching a hike online certainly can’t compare to getting out on the trail yourself, it can be fun to take a peek into the thru hiking life and compare the experiences of various hikers. Below are four widely unique hikers I have been watching this season.

Darwin On The Trail

Darwin hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2015 and has been documenting various hiking and bikepacking adventures ever since. His Youtube channel is full of informational videos, Q and A’s, and gear reviews. This year he is attempting a thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Darwin’s videos are thorough, well edited, and definitely worth checking out.

The Crawford Family

The Crawford’s are a family of eight with six children ranging from age two to sixteen and they are all currently on the Appalachian Trail. The Crawford’s are experienced vloggers whose YouTube journey began long before their journey on the AT. They acknowledge in their videos that they don’t know how far they will make it but after about a month on the trail it is remarkable to see how much they have grown and evolved. Their videos focus mainly on their day to day life on the AT and don’t give many specifics about gear or locations. If you are looking for a unique perspective on long distance hiking, this is the channel to watch.

Liz Kidder at The Trek

Each year, The Trek features a number of thru hiker blogs and vlogs on their website. Liz is a first time backpacker who is hiking sober and raising money to support substance abuse recovery in her home state. Video quality is not spectacular but Liz does show a fair amount of scenery. I have enjoyed the fresh perspective of someone relatively new to both vlogging and trial life.

Homemade Wanderlust

If you pick one thru hiker to watch this year I recommend Dixie of Homemade Wanderlust. Dixie began her YouTube channel to document her 2015 AT hike. She is now on the Continental Divide Trail working on the the final leg of thru hiking’s triple crown. The editing and videography on her PCT hike was seriously impressive and this year, with her video editor joining her on trail, promises to be just as stunning.

Who are you watching this season? Let us know in the comments below!