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One Step at a Time - A Pacific Crest Trail Documentary

Tiernan

21,087 views

In 2025, at 18 years old, I set out to achieve my dream to hike the entire Pacific Crest Trail alone.

The plan was simple: follow the PCT from Canada to Mexico, hiking 2,655 miles across some of the most beautiful and toughest landscape in America.

This is the story of my first solo backpacking trip from the Canadian border across Washington, Oregon, and California. Through some of the most majestic alpine in the country. Its safe to say, I was a completely different person by the time I was done.

This backpacking documentary is about ambition, failure, endurance, persistence, and what I learned while hiking alone across America - one step at a time. Make sure you watch to the end, I'm very happy with how this video turned out.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported me on this trip! Thank you to the Trail Angels who help maintain the trail, supply water, arrange rides and make the PCT something really special. Thank you to the wonderful people who went out of their way to give me a ride. Thank you to the Pacific Crest Trail Association for making this possible. And of course thank you to my parents, family and friends for supporting me on this crazy adventure!

Stay tuned for my next project, I don't have any sharable details right now, but I once I do, I will be posting updates on my Instagram.

Support my future projects: https://buymeacoffee.com/tiernanw

Check out my Instagram: ohttps://www.instagram.com/tiernanrw?i...

Thanks for watching!

00:00:00- Intro
00:01:18 - Washington
00:12:34 - Goat Rocks
00:17:11 - Washington
00:19:25 - Oregon
00:21:34 - Racing Fires
00:24:41 - Oregon
00:26:10 - Mental Struggles
00:28:17 - Oregon
00:32:37 - Skipping Ahead
00:33:28 - Sierras
00:40:30 - Yosemite
00:42:01 - Sierras
01:03:09 - Mt. Whitney
01:06:00 - SoCal/Desert
01:08:01 - Getting Rescued
01:10:54 - SoCal/Desert
01:18:36 - End of the line
01:21:25 - Outro

Music in this video was licensed from Epidemic sound.
All exceptions will be listed below the description.

Video clips used in this video:
1. Butte Creek Fire, Oregon's first big blaze...
2. Oregon’s wildfire season has cost the stat...
3. Four active large fires currently burning ...
4. Central Oregon's Flat Fire estimated at 18...
5. Flat Fire burns nearly 22,000 acres, destr...

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20 Comments

@TiernanW Creator 5 months ago Pinned

I hope you enjoyed this project! Every bit of support I get means the world to me. If you enjoyed, please leave your thoughts in the comments, subscribe, like the video, etc. It really helps me out! If you wish to support my next project directly you can check out this page: https://buymeacoffee.com/tiernanw

The support I've gotten has been incredible, so thank you!

@Sandra-w1j4y 3 months ago

I am so proud of you. I am 82 and used to hike with my husband.

@raulmedina6223 2 months ago

I’m 43 years old and man I don’t know you, but I’m proud of your accomplishments, and congratulations! You have a wild bright future ahead of you!

@meemeezong1827 2 months ago

I love these PCT or hiker journey documentaries. I especially love to watch the individual meeting people on the trail and forming new friendships and sharing the adventure together. Also watching the videos makes me feel like I’m also on the journey with them. - Thank you for sharing ❤

@nancysmith903 4 months ago

Sometimes dreams, like hiking, have sections. If you choose to you will hike that missing section (s) and fulfill your dream to completion. I think you will. I truly enjoyed your journey. Thank you for taking us with you and know you weren’t alone.

@tomwysocki 2 months ago

Great video! For a guy who was thinking about calling it a day at the end of Washington, you certainly overcame a lot of self doubt and went a lot further.. Don't be so hard on yourself, especially at 18 years old. The only thing that stopped you was an injury. That is not failure at all. Having been a professional long distance runner many, many years ago, sometimes injuries happen and a wise person recognizes that and stops before permanent damage takes place. Keep up your enthusiasm and just hike on. There are a lot of trails and challenges ahead of you!

@MattiSiitonen01 1 month ago

Tiernan, you just walked what I call my dream! Same backpack and all! :) So inspiring the way you hiked such a long way all by yourself and the way you expressed also the difficult emotions, rare thing on these PCT docs. It was a mature decision to quit when you did, not an easy choice I bet. Proud of you buddy!

@danielssweetheart9935 2 months ago

Hello there, Tiernan!
I just watched your beautiful documentary of your PCT hike. And I think you got your trail name already: one step at a time,
yup, that‘s you! And never say never, you are still so young, you can come back to the PCT again if you wish to do the last miles . And you know what’s even better with your situation? You have no pressure to have to do this and this much miles per day any more, now can really take your time and enjoy every minute on it, if you come back. No snow to beat in the Sierras or in WA. Just cruisin’ along at your wish. If you ask me, that is the great aspect of long distance hiking. Happy Trails to you and God’s Speed! Lots of heartfelt greetings from Bavaria, Germany by Alpine Strider (AT GA—ME 2007, ME—GA 2008, PCT Mex-Can 2017)

@SpencerLoufe 5 months ago

I always love watching PCT documentaries as they come out each year, but wow. This was incredible, definitely one of if not my most favorite! I'm 68 and have always dreamed about being able to hike the entire trail. I started last year to hike each section and have now finished Oregon and most of Washington. It's these films that inspire me to keep getting out there. I just wish I had done stuff like this when I was younger. I can't express how impressed I am with this video. At such a young age to get out there, plan this out and make such an inspiring video, its really incredible. I think my favorite part is just how open you were and the way you shared your emotions through the screen. Seriously, keep going, you have something great here! After watching this, I feel inspired to tackle another section, maybe this June. Thanks for sharing and don't give up!

@Daestyx_yt 4 months ago

This might be some of the best video quality ive ever seen, never really watched a full documentary about someones full thruhike because it always gets rlly boring but this was super fun to watch, the amount of effort put into the video aswell as your insane determination put into the thruhike too was rlly inspiring - i would have guessed you had tens of thousands of subscribers - super suprised when i saw 141! Iam 17 rn but planning to take a gap year after finishing college (in the UK) to hike the AT, this was super helpful even if it was a different trail so thanks, keep making quality vids i promise you will blow up dude.

@희영김-d7u 2 weeks ago

Like your video-from korea

@MedusaJellyFish300 4 months ago

Thank you for sharing this amazing nature adventure. You are a brave man, you have stamina, you have endurance. I enjoyed every minute of your life adventure. I wish a long wonderful peaceful life on this wonderful Earth 🪴🌲🌺🌳🌴

@regspittle7622 4 months ago

Your story felt like an honest portrayal of an adventure filled with beauty, hardships, and joys. Your narration was compelling and complemented your video. Your courage and strength are admirable and I hope you find other experiences to share with us. Best wishes from a fellow trekker.

@JH-ku5ge 4 months ago

Beautiful film. You absolutely did not fail. What an epic adventure, 1600 miles of experiences along the PCT. What a great gift to yourself. You can definitely call yourself a PCT hiker 100%. I’d also argue you did not quit, it was just time for that journey to end. Thanks for sharing

@christopherhigginbotham3467 3 months ago

Very inspiring, Tiernan! Proud of you.

@bethoverby1 4 months ago

Beautiful documentary. Great photography.

@22Mikeref 3 months ago (edited)

You can always come back a finish next summer. Don’t look at it as being a quitter, you had to stop due to injury.

@jessene7390 5 months ago (edited)

Thank you for your dedication in documenting this incredible footage! It's great we can follow along with you on this extraordinary adventure ❤

@michelle04258 4 months ago

This was an awesome video! I ended up watching it over 2 days because I started watching late at night and couldn't finish. I am super proud of you! U did so good even without finishing. U are a success in my eyes! U fought hard and u endured a lot. I can only imagine how much we didn't see! U did great!!!! Be proud of yourself!

@mikeh4871 4 months ago (edited)

That was one of the most honest and exposing (couldn't think of a better word 🤔) videos I've ever watched. Well done! I love the way you verbalize the challenges you worked through. At your age, I know the mind runs wild. You're a hero in my mind! Keep trying on! 😎

BTW, I cried with ya...