220+ mile solo hike through the wilderness

Just got back from hiking over 220 miles across several different wildernesses. Rough terrain, mostly up and over mountains at rather high altitude ending at the summit of the highest peak in the contiguous United States at 14,500'

Finished in 13 days and 22 hours. Went through heat, snow, ice, lightening, rain, hunger. Shrank up pretty good. Maybe got 1500 calories a day with hiking over 20 miles a day most days. None of my clothes or uniforms fit now.

Cheeseburgers are great. So are beds and showers. Mosquitos suck. There were times I literally choked on them and threw up from breathing in clouds of the little bloodsuckers.

I did not get A SINGLE BLISTER over the course of more than 220 miles. I love my 5.11 Taclite boots, and am ordering another pair and retiring these.

The fishing. MAN. The trout are crazy out there. If anyone gets the chance to hike in and fish around Lyell canyon, or any of Ansel Adams wilderness...DO IT! I was in a hurry to get home and stuff my face with real food so I didn't do much fishing. But I did hand line out a couple flies and could pull up a small trout almost every throw.

I was hoping to free dive some of the lakes. Brought goggles with me but the snowy banks and desire to get home were enough for me to pass.

Here's a video of my journey. If you click the link in the description there is a better video with music and such. Youtube has been a pain lately and doesn't allow most music.

Duuuuuuuude.  Thanks for sharing.  Friggin' awesome.

Watched it all.  I'm thinking of hiking it again in the next couple of years and this is a big push in that direction. 

Thanks man.

Watched it all.  I'm thinking of hiking it again in the next couple of years and this is a big push in that direction. 

Thanks man.

Wow. It's my video and I couldn't even watch the whole thing it's so long. 

When did you hike it? I remember a few from here or NCUH were hiking it late 2013 I think. Was that you?

Just got back from hiking over 220 miles across several different wildernesses. Rough terrain, mostly up and over mountains at rather high altitude ending at the summit of the highest peak in the contiguous United States at 14,500'

Finished in 13 days and 22 hours. Went through heat, snow, ice, lightening, rain, hunger. Shrank up pretty good. Maybe got 1500 calories a day with hiking over 20 miles a day most days. None of my clothes or uniforms fit now.

Cheeseburgers are great. So are beds and showers. Mosquitos suck. There were times I literally choked on them and threw up from breathing in clouds of the little bloodsuckers.

I did not get A SINGLE BLISTER over the course of more than 220 miles. I love my 5.11 Taclite boots, and am ordering another pair and retiring these.

The fishing. MAN. The trout are crazy out there. If anyone gets the chance to hike in and fish around Lyell canyon, or any of Ansel Adams wilderness...DO IT! I was in a hurry to get home and stuff my face with real food so I didn't do much fishing. But I did hand line out a couple flies and could pull up a small trout almost every throw.

I was hoping to free dive some of the lakes. Brought goggles with me but the snowy banks and desire to get home were enough for me to pass.

Here's a video of my journey. If you click the link in the description there is a better video with music and such. Youtube has been a pain lately and doesn't allow most music.

You are a savage, was up in emmigrant forest, did 30 miles over the weekend....not as grand as your daily hikes. ....hats off to you sir...great job

That is a major life achievement. WTFG!

Man That is great. What an achievement. 

What was it like not having interaction with no one?

Something Id like to do with my son when he is old enough and I not getting too old to do it.

Watched it all.  I'm thinking of hiking it again in the next couple of years and this is a big push in that direction. 

Thanks man.

Wow. It's my video and I couldn't even watch the whole thing it's so long. 

When did you hike it? I remember a few from here or NCUH were hiking it late 2013 I think. Was that you?

2000. My daughter wants to go now, she'll be 11 next summer. When I was looking into it a few weeks ago it looked like it would be a pain in the balls to get an exit permit from Yosemite, and my window isn't all that flexible for 2016. It is much more flexible in 2017.

 

  Much respect!   Did you do any prep for the trip, exercise wise? How long? 

I never did 220 miles straight. but I did do the 4 day march of Nijmegan in Holland. 40 KM a day and that was a beast, and we had 20 KG packs, and marched in formation with the Dutch Army ( I was stationed with them), but 220 on your own, I am sure there would of been days you were saying what the hell am I doing up here?

Kudo's for a test of endurance, and getting back to the ways things used to be.

http://nijmegenmarchhowto.weebly.com/military.html

That's really impressive! Congrats on your achievement!

0 training for it. I tried it once before when I was in great shape and failed. Did fine out of shape, the altitude sucks regardless of physical condition. I don't regret not training. On something like this you get in shape pretty quick, and being in shape last time didn't help. Altitude is only trainable with more altitude.

As far as no interaction- There was a fair amount of it. Spent 2 days hiking with a group of people I ran into hiking the trail. But the times with none... Fine. Lots of thinking time otherwise I was just on autopilot. Imagine a brain dead hiker with a cheese burger in a thought bubble. Haha

Yes the permits are hard. So many people doing it now. I got screwed a bit. Planned on leaving 6/1 and found out last minute there are no more walk up permits and had to reschedule.


Prep time was significant. Ended up being more than I needed. Had over a week of stuff I sent home because of the faster hike rate. Lots of planning went into the trip though. 

Very impressive, I'm glad you made it back safely.

Great job Gio!!!!!!!

Stoked for you dude!!

Let's dive soon!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

its that damn cheryl strayed and reese witherspoon! 

She's cute.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim