You failed to hike the length of Scotland, but you succeeded in having a memorable experience and sharing it with us and I think that's what really matters. I have quit long distance hikes and I have completed long distance hikes, and the difference between the two meant nothing compared to the experiences contained within.

@courtneyevewhite

Жыл бұрын

Yes! So true, a good lesson in listening to yourself and knowing when something is challenging vs not fulfilling! Happy trails!

As a British hiker, if you’d ever consider giving Scotland another chance I really recommend following the West Highland Way (followed by the steam train to Mallaig and then ferry and bus across to Skye Trail if you want some extra miles). It’s shorter but in my opinion, crosses the most stunning parts of Scotland and has much more hikers that will be heading in the same direction than the relatively unknown National Trail. Stay in hostels and bothies and you’ll meet loads of likeminded people doing the same or similar routes

I’m literally watching this on a bus to Milan after just getting a really bad knee injury and failing to hike the Tour Du Mont Blanc after only completing half the trek! I’ve been feeling so disappointed in myself and so let down by my body and this video has made me feel a whole lot better. Also; side quests can be the best adventures of all!

“Kindness of strangers never cease to amaze”. Beautifull!

Sounds like the journey took you where you were meant to be

Courtney, I relate deeply to the feeling of "wasting" an opportunity most aren't able to have. It's a tough road to navigate, and it's easy to not cut yourself slack. Thank you for sharing how you pivoted this experience and stayed authentic to what you truly needed. Also, your videos are breathtakingly shot and edited and watching them is escapesim at its finest. Keep going. xx

Next time you’re in the UK you should come to Wales. The scenery and hiking is insane! I Enjoy your videos. Very well done. Keep it up 🤟

I can't tell you how timely this video is!! I just had a very similar "failure" of a solo trip this week! I had set out on this epic trip with a meticulously planned itinerary that went out the window on day one. Miscalculations on trail, treks that ended up being half of their expected length, and unexpectedly bad biting bugs swarming my dog for days reshaped and ultimately ended my journey early as well. I've been trying to reframe the journey into something better for the last few days. So while I'm sure we share a similar sense of disappointment, it's so lovely to see you end your trip on such a positive note. It was totally different than what you had set out to do, but you still made the best of it! It looks like you had a wonderful time in Europe, and if you ever decide to return to the Scottish National Trail I know you'll crush it ❤ Much love from Canada!

@courtneyevewhite

Жыл бұрын

Damn, I’m sorry to hear about your trip, I guess that’s the nature of these things! Don’t be too hard on yourself, still many opportunities to tackle more adventures and take more trips in the future!

Your videos are so well done - beautifully filmed, edited, voiced. You make your experiences into a story. I always jump when I see a new video that you have done. Never disappointed

Hi Courtney, thru-hike GR11 Trail on the Pyrenees mountain range, along the boundary between France and Spain. It is very hard, but you will love it. Regards.

@courtneyevewhite

Жыл бұрын

Hey! Would absolutely love to, I think a better planned Europe trip is definitely on the cards for the near future

Great film Courtney. I'm sorry you didn't get to see more of Scotland, but good on ya for making the tough call when it didn't feel right. Looks like you managed to turn it into a different kind of epic adventure!

What a experience, your filming and editing are simply from another planet! Breathtaking video!

I'm so glad to have found your channel! I love the way you share the stories of your journey ⛰

Wow, watching your video "I Failed To Solo Hike The Length Of Scotland" was truly inspiring! Your determination to take on such a challenging adventure is commendable. Although you may not have completed the hike as planned, the fact that you had the courage to embark on this journey speaks volumes about your character. Remember, failure is just another stepping stone on the path to success. Keep pushing yourself, and I have no doubt that you'll achieve remarkable things in the future. Keep up the great work!

I really like following your adventures Courtney! I’m honestly excited for whatever you do and put out. I think it’s a really beautiful and mature thing to be able to realize when something isn’t feeling right and to change direction. Also, I too enjoy solo travel and am getting ready to hike around Mt Hood in Oregon here soon by myself. I’d hope if I was solo in European cities this is how it would turn out for me too lol, it looked like a fun adventure.

On any adventure you've gotta know your limits and when to stop and you can't predict what the mind will do to you even if you have the physical capability which you clearly do. You still made an awesome video out of it too. Great effort courtney

Also, the SNT looks lovely. Time to inflict myself upon Scotland. Even though I’m not fond of rain..

“I need to hike again” my brain with any minor discomfort😂

Love to see you visited my city! I'm watching your video from my apartment in Copenhagen this very moment. I had churros from the same place you did two weeks ago, and I had a swim after work at "Bølgen" (the wave) (8:06) just last week. It's a city you can never get tired of. Please come back one day!

These videos are edited incredibly well. All of them.

Hey Courtney, I really like watching your videos. You failed at nothing, your out there living life. Your inspiring me to get out and travel. I've done a few week long solo trips. Hello From Melbourne!

glad to see you safe.

Very nice vid. Thanks 😊

I love that you were in my country and I lived in your hometown and we worked together for a few months. How small and magical this world is! Well done on the journey you embarked on and making a hard but healthy decision for yourself. Respect 😊🙏✨️ xx

How you tell your story is so beautiful, I almost cried more than ones. And it makes me wanna go hike so much more, but that's just so much more difficult here where I live in winter. I'm looking forward to the summer and probably my longest multiday hike.

You did not fail. You did not complete the trail, which is one of the most challenging in the UK. People who fail don't start and sit at the table later in life, saying, "I wish I had." I will be walking the SNT next year, having completed the CWT twice since turning 66. The trail will always be there and you made a wise decision. Hope you return one day.

Hello I just watched your pct video and now this. I always wanted to do a hike like this but never had the courage to do it. I admire your determination as well as your content. Although I can’t do the things your doing. your videos are sooo awesome as if I was there. Thanks for sharing.

Love watching your video! You didn't failed, you tried and went to something different. Bravo from France !

@courtneyevewhite

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for watching xx

I think you showed us all its about new experiences and not achieving some predetermined goal. All about the Journey and looks like you had a great one. Hiking, Backpacking, travelling. Its gives us a chance to gain new experiences and perspectives. Another great Vlog thats real and bravely vulnerable

Bah! You failed at nothing. You vacationed in Europe, hiking half the Scottish trail and exploring some other things to be done. I was in Sweden when you were in Denmark, and it’s been a lovely spring for travel! Life is good!

I really feel like that PCT hike will be unmatched. I think in a similar way about my 2014 packpacking trip in the USA, nothing ever compares.

6:30 Yes, Britain has this effect

Lovely video Courtney, truly inspirational! I'm still too scared to hike alone. Yep, I said it. I'm a scared 31yo lol. That's changing later this year or early next year tho. What kind of camera gear do you use to record this? I recently sold all of mine, bought a drone and looking for a lighter camera myself.

Scotland for the win! heh I actually like the fact you failed as well. It shows how hard is to do proper hikes solo without mental help of other 10 people around you and much more support in general like on the PCT. Scotland is tough and I love it, John Muir Way kicked my ass as well!

Thanks for the video Courtney - you captured the Scottish countryside and urban cities really beautifully. I think that thru hiking on established trails seem like the way to go. I am looking at Te Araroa Trail in NZ - have you considered that one? What do you think the pros and cons of that would be for a solo hiker?

4:26 This is such a difficult thing to explain and I've felt quite a lot. On one hand, I know that I should be very privileged - for most of human history, we've had to work all day just to be able to provide for ourselves and have the essentials. Even just a few hundred years ago in the industrial revolution, you would work an average of 12-14 hours just to provide for you and your family. I know that. My brain understands that. Some people do have it worse than me. Others have it better. **What I need to keep reminding myself is that at the end of the day, I need to be in the moment and appreciate it - saviour it.** On one one hand I can say that to avoid feeling like I've wasted the trip, I must change my mindset (and my goals and expectations of the trip) to accept that I can't change the situation that others are in and the best way for me to not waste this trip is to not feel guilty that I'm wasting it. However, this turns into a feedback loop from my own experience. I feel guilty because I'm not enjoying the situation I'm in and I should be because I'm in a privilized situation -> I tell myself to not feel guilty because I know I can't change the situation others are in and only my own -> Not many people have an opportunity to do this because of their situation. I must convince myself that I enjoy this trip because I'll let everyone down if I said I didn't enjoy myself travelling or thru-hiking - I decision I made for myself -> Trying to convince myself failed and now I feel more guilty. And thus the negative feedback loop continues. The only way to change this is to seek the beauty of the moment. Accept that you things aren't going like you wanted them to, and it is ok to have these overwhelming feelings, but if you leave and can still say "this trip was amazing, worth it, made fond memories and I'd love to go back there" then that isn't that all one can hope for?

I similarly failed to finish my first ultramarathon attempt recently. Rather than fall into the depths of despair, I'm using the experience as an opportunity to rebuild even stronger and work towards my next attempt---coincidentally in Scotland!

Your videos are always phenomenal! What do you use for editing?

Amazing video! I was wondering where you got that maroon turtleneck that says stax? i have been looking for a good turtleneck for hikiing :)

You did good. Experience is the set of errors and successes that we accumulate throughout life. Don't give up and keep going. By the way, I recommend doing El Camino de Santiago, the northern route or called the French route, in Spain. You can handle it. Greetings and good way. Ok

Hey, thanks for all you beautiful videos I enjoyed them a lot. As a fellow hiker from europe I can not recommend the french and italien Alps enough if you would like to give europe another try. Especially the italien Alps are georgeous. The huts have are small, cosy and have delicious food and the mountains are stunning. The GTA is a famos long distance hike there with a good access from the city of torino.

The Dutch alarm thing is a test indeed, every first monday of the month at 12 noon. (:

Last month I had a very similar experience. I was hiking solo the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland, but I stopped 6 days before completing it because I realized I wanted to do something different too. I took the opportunity to visit England for one week and it's been amazing. No regret. Always follow your heart. Thanks for sharing!

@ninjochoya6017

8 ай бұрын

You stopped a hike just because you wanted to do something different? Was it hard to get transport back to a town or did you have to walk back?

@rumozamonia6645

8 ай бұрын

@@ninjochoya6017 I realized that I didn't have the proper motivation to finish it and didn't want to continue just because I had to, without enjoying the experience as I should. Also, I realized that I can hike solo for 10 days max, with friends it would have been different. I stopped in Ullapool, knowing that there were public transports there, so no issues with leaving the trail ;) But I want to finish the CWT eventually!

In every end there is a new beginning. As Bridget has already mentioned, i would opt for the Highlands and the Isle of Skye next time, there are the most impressive landscapes of Scotland (been there 2 times for winter camping). For longer hikes in Europe, there are also a lot of possibilities in Norway and Sweden. Or, something a bit different, the Camino Frances through the north of Spain. Not a classic through-hike like the PCT (no need for a tent and self-supply / cooking yourself). But this way it is possible to go even more ultralight. In combination with the Camino Finisterre almost 900 km from SJPDP to Finisterre at the atlantic ocean (that's my goal for this autumn, within a maximum of 32 days). Greets from Switzerland 🙃

From watching your previous videos you definitely enjoy yourself more when you are part of a group or 'Tramily". Solo hiking isn't for everyone - and that's ok.

@courtneyevewhite

9 ай бұрын

Absolutely! The human connection has to be one of the best parts for me!

I suspect most “through hikers” would get their arses kicked by Scotland. I always think that when I watch those endless PCT videos which have remarkably little adversity in them compared to your average Scottish long distance hike, even if the distance is massive. Another great storytelling video though. Keep up the good work

@courtneyevewhite

Жыл бұрын

Yeah it’s interesting, I actually felt the opposite! I was really sick of walking on town paths and cattle fields. The biggest thing for me was the isolation, the sense of community you get on an established thruhike hasn’t quite developed in Scotland yet. Thanks for watching!

@danfascia

Жыл бұрын

@@courtneyevewhite I couldn’t tell where you hiked but from what you say perhaps the lower parts of Scotland… which is boring, more like Sunday walk territory. If you get north of Loch Lomond it starts to get much more interesting, and wild. You’re right about the lack of community though, there really aren’t many people out there. You get a bit of solidarity in the bothies.

I can relate to you so much. I recently found out that sharing my experiences can also feel like a bit of a burden sometimes. Wonder if your Scotland travel would've been different without the pressure of making a video about it.

@courtneyevewhite

Жыл бұрын

Yes I 100% agree, still getting used to the film making stuff and it definitely made it harder to call it quits knowing that people would watch that. Working to find a good balance but we’ll get there! X

Your ability to take us along with you and feel what you feel is brilliant- and your trail in Scotland WAS supposed to take you to traveling through Europe. It's all as it should be.

You made the best out of a bad situation! Did you pack and brought all those extra clothes (the things you where wearing in Europe) during your hike? Seems like so much weight :p

Enjoyed the video but curious why you didn't finish - just from not feeling happy? Is the ups and downs on the trail not normal? Would love to learn why you decided to give up. Stark contrast from the trail to taking flights to different cities. I'm glad you ended up doing what's good for you!

🎉

Such is life. We might be set upon completing a goal and it's okay to change our minds - you're learning to be okay with pivoting direction mid-goal. Life is short, don't waste it on things you're not excited about.

Wait you were in Denmark?? I live here thats awesome hope you enjoyed your stay!

@courtneyevewhite

Жыл бұрын

Oh there you go! Absolutely gorgeous place and amazing weather at the moment, hope you’re enjoying your summer!

Sometimes its not about where we think we should be, but where we actually need to be.

Looks like you enjoyed Copenhagen and Amsterdam, more than you would've enjoyed finishing the trail. I'd say that's a success, rather than a failure!

What an incredible journey nonetheless! Is there ever truly failure? Or just an opportunity to relearn how to succeed perhaps in an entirely different way?

As for the emergency alert: As a Dutch person I apologize for the negligence towards foreigners. I live abroad and I know that feeling.

fyi your patreon link is not working.

Wow i wonder how you manage to meet so many nice people just by sitting there having dinner. Do people approach you? Do you ask them what they are having to start a convo? Howww??? I want to meet random people too!

@courtneyevewhite

6 ай бұрын

Haha just sit and take it in, I try not to be on my phone while eating and sometimes cool things happen!

come back to Copenhagen any time - will gladly show you the none-turist-traps

You have embarked on this journey in order to seek what it is that you want. If you have come to this realization then perhaps this is the realization you were meant to have. Everything happens for a reason.

The trail was not ready for you. Stay healthy, mind and soul.

@courtneyevewhite

Жыл бұрын

That’s a nice way to put it! Thank you 😊

I didn't understand what the problem was. You clearly weren't getting sick, since you were okay in Copenhagen. Did you figure out what was wrong?

your septum piercing is steadily eroding the bridge of your nose

@courtneyevewhite

9 ай бұрын

Interesting…

FAIL.