I'm not sure how many people will read this, but I figured I should have some kind of an update on what the situation is with this blog (and by extension my vlog on Youtube). A few years ago I finally had enough with most social media and quietly quit. And honestly I am happier spending less time online in general than I was before when I was more of a regular.
I still go hiking and still love the outdoors. There was a phase of my life when I loved documenting it. It was fun to take a bunch of pictures and discuss my outdoor life on here and on Youtube. It became a part of my routines and I did get a lot out of it. Then eventually I started to feel like I got what I wanted to say and document out of my system. I reached many of the goals I set out for myself over the years.
It didn't happen overnight. And at first I was a bit disappointed, but then looking back at everything I've done on here and on Youtube, satisfaction replaced the disappointment. Then going out on my usual backpacking trips I felt something that I didn't feel before, which was an odd sense of being liberated from the work involved in all this. I still take pictures, of course, but just a handful. It never felt like a chore or homework writing this blog. But it was work. With that work gone, it made things a bit easier. A few less things to think about.
So I'm not sure what the future of this blog will be. I have no more big plans here or on Youtube. But things can change. I doubt my kit will change much, though. I have my gear so dialed in and it works so well for me that I have very little desire to change or upgrade anything. Thankfully I have been able to maintain my body so that I still wear the same sized clothing that I wore two decades ago. I'm 44 years old now, and as perhaps most mid 40 year olds, I can feel my vigor slowly slipping away. Ten years ago I was slightly disappointed if I didn't hike at least 30km in a day of backpacking. The past few years, I have been fine with 25km a day, and felt a tinge of pride on the more rare 30km days.
I still make sure to walk at least 5km a day in my "normal" work routines. I hope that I can at least hold on to my goal of wilderness backpacking trips of multiple days of 25-30km. Which I think is a modest goal, knowing that there are those my age that can still crush 50km days. I'm not sure how long I can maintain this goal. It feels surreal packing my backpack and wondering if this will be the last backpack that I will need to buy.
I do feel more tired than before. But I also feel more contented, more satisfied, and just all around more at peace with things than before. So don't expect much more content out of this blog or my Youtube channel. And aside from a few comments here and there on Reddit, nothing on other social media. If there is anything that still feels the same from when I posted my first posts on this blog and now, it's that I am aware that I am mostly talking to myself here. I was surprised at having anymore than close family and friends read and encourage this whole project. If you are a rare stranger out there that got something out of my blog or Youtube channel, thanks for following along with me and for any support you may have given me.
As I wrap up which might just be my last post, I can proudly say that I never made a single solitary penny from this blog or from my Youtube channel. I never monetized either, I never became a partner, I never got paid. I never got any free gear to test and I was never sponsored. I did get some offers for advertisers, at times strange ones like online casinos and other bullshit. I turned them all down.
That's it. I wish you all happy trails. There will more happy trails for me in the future, and I feel grateful for those to come and those I left behind. The fact that am able to walk them at all let alone afford the time and money to get out there makes me (and probably you too) very, very lucky.
Peace out.
