toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Feb 17, 2019 14:14:22 GMT -8
Second Chance Hiker YouTube ChannelThis guy started a YouTube channel a couple weeks ago to vlog his PCT hike. He was 370+ lbs. at the start and averaging a couple miles/day. Already has 6000 subscribers. Interested in your thoughts.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Feb 17, 2019 14:25:13 GMT -8
If he can inspire other overweight people to get outside then more power to him.
I skimmed through a few of his videos and didn't find them particularly interesting myself.
HYOH
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RumiDude
Trail Wise!
Marmota olympus
Posts: 2,361
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Post by RumiDude on Feb 17, 2019 14:33:11 GMT -8
I saw his first vlog and decided not to follow. I guess I kinda feel like it is a bit of a gimmick. Maybe I am judging too harshly. Regarless, I am tired of the "I am hiking the PCT for fill in the blank" and this kinda feels like just another one. I am not saying he is a fraud or anything, but there have been other kinda videos vloggers/bloggers and other hikers doing for causes or whatever that have turned out to be frauds, so I am always skeptical of this sort of thing. In his first video he was saying something like "nothing is going to stop me from going all the way to Canada". Again I have seen too much of that bravado concerning the PCT and most of the time it turned out to be empty. I truly hope this guy succeeds getting his health in good shape, but there is waaaaaay more to that than just hiking the PCT. Rumi ~the skeptical~Dude EDIT: See Stacy Kozel story as example of fraud.
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Feb 17, 2019 16:56:42 GMT -8
He might get heathy, or he might die. Guess that's why a thousand people are subscribing each of the last few days. Lots of people who've completed the PCT and put out lots of quality videos never got 6000 subscribers.
He's not going to Canada this year. Probably not next year either. But if he can stay on the trail and out of the hospital it will really make a positive difference in his life. So I'm hoping for that.
At this point he's a LLLOOOONG way from being a PCT hiker. He'll probably get lots of help though. It might be a good story.
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Post by johntpenca on Feb 17, 2019 17:21:58 GMT -8
Matt is a heavy hiker that is working on the Ouachita trail. He posted a TR when he did some miles last summer. It's all good.
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RumiDude
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Marmota olympus
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Post by RumiDude on Feb 17, 2019 20:08:14 GMT -8
He'll probably get lots of help though. It's hard to know how he is going to react to all the attention he may get. The attention, at least the positive attention, can really change a person. And often that change is towards "how can I make this pay for me" kinda thing. And sometimes bigger players that may want to come in and take over can change it from a mission to improve myself to a mission to "we can all make some money in this if we play our cards right". Like I said, I only watch one video, which was the one I will embed below. In that he said he is not going to stop until he loses 200 pounds and/or gets to Canada. I admire that he is trying to take control f his life and his health issue, but sometimes it is best to get professional help with that. I wish all the best for him. I hope he finds health and happiness. Rumi
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Feb 18, 2019 7:13:04 GMT -8
The videos when he's hiking are shocking because every mile requires so much effort. I've hiked with big guys who struggled but he's a good 100# heavier than them. Still I think if he can stay on the trail for a month he should be able to start making real progress most days.
The "give me your money because the reason I'm hiking is important" thing is really annoying and sounds to me like the person feels guilt. I'm reading a book written by a guy I used to work with whose son told him he wanted to take a year to find himself after high school. The dad explained that he would fund an education but wouldn't pay for the kid to goof off for a year. So the kid joined the army and was killed in action in Iraq. Mooching trail bums usually survive and the post-trail suicide rate is really low.
I've heard how YouTube pays for views and subscriptions. This kid has 7300 subscribers this morning.
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Post by absarokanaut on Feb 18, 2019 9:21:15 GMT -8
I'm way overweight myself. I hope he finds what he's looking for and loses what he wants to leave behind.
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Post by autumnmist on Feb 18, 2019 12:57:46 GMT -8
I give him a lot of credit and applaud his efforts. I didn't watch the video; sometimes I just don't feel like watching self creations or advertisements, although I also give him credit if the intent was to drum up support.
And it seems these days that many people don't quietly discuss issues with friends or family but rather turn to the Internet to share their concerns and get support, outside of a forum where personal relationships and support can more sincerely develop.
So I don't know if he's seen a doctor to address potential issues, especially cardiac ones. And given the obesity and where he's carrying the weight, I think that would be mandatory.
But I wish him luck; perhaps this is what he needs to spur him on. However,there's a reason for his situation, and if the underlying issues aren't addressed, I wonder if all his work may eventually go for naught. In some ways, this is like the women who went on starvation diets. Crash dieting doesn't work on a long term basis.
But for his sake, I hope he meets at least part of his goal, in sections, to spur him on further.
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FamilySherpa
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Tangled up in Rhododendron
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Post by FamilySherpa on Feb 18, 2019 13:33:07 GMT -8
Obviously for his sake, but also for other people on the trail who would be obligated to try and help him, I hope he doesnt have any cardiac issues. He sure seems to be struggling in most of his videos, which imo, is worrying.
God forbid, but if he were to go into cardiac arrest, he'd likely die. Thats pretty emotionally taxing on anyone else that is present.
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Post by autumnmist on Feb 18, 2019 13:36:04 GMT -8
I wonder if he carries a medic alert.
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geosp
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Post by geosp on Feb 18, 2019 14:36:09 GMT -8
From what I've seen of his vid's I kind of like the bloke. In his condition he's taking on no small thing, and so far he seems able to laugh at situations and himself...and humour will help. Maybe the vid's ease any sense of isolation and give him incentive knowing he's being watched. He's well out of condition though and painfully slow for a thru-hike. He'll need that early start if he's any chance at all of even reaching the Canadian border before getting snowed out. His body will be taking a double hit with the drastic diet change and unaccustomed physical (and mental) stress. Hope he doesn't come to grief. The odds must be well stacked against him, but good on him for getting off the couch and giving it a whirl. I'll watch his progress with interest.
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neita
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outdoors
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Post by neita on May 17, 2019 15:40:19 GMT -8
His most recent Instagram post links to a newspaper article about him: www.mtprogress.net/home/may2019news.htmlA snippet: “I’ve been planning this since March of last year. I had to sell my house, I put everything else into storage to fund this trip. I would say I was pretty lonely and depressed and really unhappy with where my life was at. I actually went to a doctor and he’s like, you’re just setting yourself up for a very short life here.”
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Post by Moonshae on May 17, 2019 17:09:43 GMT -8
Here's the thing...speaking from experience, it's really easy to look at the number, the distance to a healthy weight, and the effort it will take to get there, and think, "Why bother?" I did that for years, and last year decided to bother. I'm down 65 lbs with 25 to go, and that's only half of what this dude needs to lose. It has been a hard road for me, but well worthwhile. Hiking was my inspiration.
It takes guts for a guy like that to be out there recording his struggles. He's not cute like Dixie, he doesn't have piercing blue eyes and a great smile like Darwin, he's not fit like Frozen...he's just a fat dude who decided to improve himself, and along the way, he may inspire some other obese folks to take charge of their health after having written it off. Lots of people have recorded their through hikes and many have attracted large audiences. YouTube income is marginal...no one is living like a king from YouTube revenue. I seriously doubt this guy's primary motivation is to drum up a couple bucks from YouTube if he sold his house to fund his hike. He's not making that money back.
Good for him, I say. If his channel doesn't appeal, there are others that might. That's the great thing about the ease of creating content these days; it has opened all kinds of niches that wouldn't have existed even in the days of videotapes and camcorders.
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RumiDude
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Marmota olympus
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Post by RumiDude on May 17, 2019 21:39:47 GMT -8
Just an observation ... This guy is hiking the PCT to work out his health issues as well as find structure and meaning in his life. He vlogs about his experience and has elicited a lot of support financially, logistically, and encouragement. He eagerly accepts this help. Any naysayers are often shouted down by members of the hiking community. Cheryl Strayed hiked 1100 miles of the PCT in 1995 as a way to work out the struggles in her personal life. She did it alone and on her own. Through that journey she found a sort of peace which helped her come to terms with herself. Seventeen years later she published a best-selling memoir of this experience. Her memoir is often treated with scorn by much of the hiking community. There's even an online community that advocates Don't Hike Like Wild, which seeks to denigrate Cheryl Strayed at every chance. So, what's the difference? I have a few ideas but I will keep them to myself as of now. Rumi EDIT: I should add that my remarks about the hiking community mainly applies to the long distance hiking community, though somewhat less to the general hiking community.
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