@giampaolozanetello5064
This is not just a film. It is poetry in motion. Deserves a nomination to the academy award for best cinematography.
@StevenBustos-y2r
CANT IMAGINE all the back and forth to go back for the camera. The commitment is real
@kanishka_malviya
I just want to say — your courage and the quality of the videos you're sharing are truly unmatched and incredibly inspiring!
@bentobiaggio7688
idk if there is something wrong with me, but i cried watching this video. It just is so serene and beautiful. Makes you realise how most our desire are distorted and untrue and are mostly socially constructed but in reality that is not what your soul desires. All these desires of having a career, money and all the other things that come along with it, you realise how vague and insignificant they are in reality. There is very little needed to make a man feel content.
@scottroach2418
For those of us who've spent a lot of time on backcountry adventures, especially off trail adventures, "If you know, you know". And Harmen definitely knows. You can see it in the way he moves thru terrain, in the way he sets up to cross a stream over deadfall, in the way he descends scree slopes. These are my favorite form of youtube outdoor videos because they arent trying to plug any sponsored equipment. They just transport us viewers into the places we want to be with the sounds you would hear. Thanks Harmen! Keep doing what your doing and document it for us.
@adampetriw9224
Thank you for doing such an unbelievable job showcasing the beauty of our beloved Rocky Mountains! I believe you are genuinely the best silent hiking videographer in the world at the moment. The quality of your videos is simply unparalleled. I could dedicate the rest of my life to videography and I would never be able to do what you are doing! This year, late snowfall and a cold spring meant the snowpack persisted well into the early summer months, as you experienced and so beautifully captured in your film. Many trails in Banff and Lake Louise were completely inaccessible until July, especially at higher elevations. I was snowshoeing on most trails in mid June and mountains required ice tools, avalanche awareness, and alpine starts to summit safely. Even at the beginning of July, sections of Lake O’Hara required snowshoes. Parks Canada even canceled and refunded people’s backcountry reservations (which almost never happens) in parts of Banff and Yoho until the beginning of July, as the snow was deep and casual hikers do not understand what is involved and how to negotiate this terrain safely. I believe people had to get rescued from the Assiniboine, Rockwall, and Yoho areas this June. This year, I attempted to complete the entire GDT, from the USA border in Waterton all the way to Kakawa Lake near Prince George. I was only able to finish Sections A, B, and C, ultimately due to fires. We have had a rough year. At the start of July we experienced major heat waves that persisted for several weeks. Snow rapidly melted; trails went from being inaccessible (deep postholing in snow) to completely clearing within days. The heat did not subside and by the end of July, it felt like everything was on fire. GDT hikers had to get airlifted out of Section D, as there was a fire spreading rapidly behind Yoho. Sections E and F were closed as massive fires engulfed nearly the entire town of Jasper; many people lost their homes. Jasper is still closed and will remain closed for the rest of the season. To be honest, choosing to do Section C of the GDT in June is… ambitious. I am curious if you chose to hike our Rockies in June deliberately or if it was somewhat an afterthought? Section C tends to be the most popular, as it traverses through several world renown areas (Northover Ridge, Assiniboine, Egypt Lake, Rockwall). I noticed you did not finish in Field, where Section C ends, and wonder if this was due to Parks Canada canceling your reservations on the Rockwall, or if the snow was too deep there to traverse safely? Regardless, what you achieved, in the amount of time you achieved it, in those conditions, is nothing short of incredible! Very few… I mean very few people experience what you have experienced! While much harder to hike through, snow can make things extremely beautiful. Thank you for giving all of us a rare glimpse of that beauty! You were probably alone most of the time, as most people do not venture out there in those conditions. The GDT can be such an unforgiving trail; from walking on exposed ridge lines with no water during a heat wave in the scorching sun to getting stuck a snow storm on Northover Ridge with ferocious winds at the very end of July that blew apart my tent and didn’t let me sleep. And due to reservations, you must continue, regardless of how exhausted you are, hiking 30-45km with up to 2500m of elevation per day. When attempting the entire trail, you can’t start too early, or finish too late, generally due to snow. It makes it a challenge. In short, the trail is legendary! Difficult, but insanely beautiful. I would love to see you return. I hear Sections F and G are the heart of the GDT; the essence of what the GDT represents. It’s essentially 350-400km of absolute wilderness north of Jasper. It is very reasonable to hike those two sections and never see a single person. This next year, Berg Lake trail will be open (has been closed for the past 3 years due to landslide/washout). This allows Sections F and G to be split up with a resupply by walking the Berg Lake trail to the Mount Robson visitors center. It’s an idea. I would love to see you tackle that; it’s incredibly remote and wild. If you decide to do this, consider walking the Perseverance High Route alternate. I know you had a group trip planned in mid June. I considered going for it, but ultimately couldn’t afford it. I’m curious to know how the group managed in the snow, as you did the Paradise Valley traverse. Sentinel Pass and the valley of ten peaks must have been absolutely glorious! I was there at the end of June, when the trail was mostly snow free. Harmen, you are one of the best film makers in the world… I just want you to know that! We all appreciate the effort you put into these videos and the work you do! Thank you for visiting our beautiful backyard, and showing the rest of the world what a special place this is. Please stay safe on all your future adventures!
@DelosFive
Keep in mind that he has to set the camera up to film Then go back and walk the same bit again toward the camera, or away and go back and fetch the camera. That in itself deserves a like. ❤
@theurbanalgorithm
I completed my first solo 5-day hike in the remote Canadian wilderness last week. If I hadn’t found your channel, I probably would not have started on this path. You are a great inspiration 🙏❤
@andybiker-hiker4343
In the middle to late 1980's I lived and worked as a Ranger in the Canadian Rockies. The Rockies have never lost their grip on me and so i return, every year in september. Your videos are pure joy
@stac
I really like that you were not relying drone shots much. The views from the ground are much more intimate and relatable.
@irinaportugez927
Dear Harmen Hoek! Your films are a holiday for me, I always look forward to them, I always admire them. The nature shots are amazing, but when you walk through icy water, through snow, I understand that you accept nature as it is, but it doesn’t make you any warmer. That’s why when you relax in a house, I rejoice as if I had completed such a difficult and cold trail, I enjoy every minute when you warm yourself by the fire and cook hot food for yourself. Thank you for everything.
@nicklang7670
Thank you for showing Canada we love our trails and wilderness. Thank you for respecting the land, and air, and water, with these magical views and for the distance and patience you gave those animals. I hope I am recommended this more than once for I will remember these peaceful feelings it brought me.
@DuskGuy217
What a feast for the senses. The music, ambient sounds, color grading, composition of the shots (especially those wide shots of the mountains). What an incredible experience. Well done!
@mawo-jmj
breathtaking as always- I'd be terrified of the bears though. I admire the serenity of your work. Angelic peace, in a most troubled world. Thank you for reminding us of the beauty around us!
@sallysando8307
Thank you for sharing this beautiful film and your journey through this magical place. I'm 71 and don't anticipate that I'll be experiencing this place first hand this time around. You have given me a glimpse. Thank you!
@garrypaton2763
I'm speechless. This is incredible. You deserve recognition. I could watch this a dozen times...and never get bored. WELL DONE. RESPECT.
@DP11LLP
Working my way through your videos again Harmen. It brings me peace !
@ThibVergTybobbMusic
You are such an amazing person. There is no word to describe your work. 2 years ago i was 27, and i went to the Canadian Rockies with my ex-wife. We had the best travel of our life. Since, i have a lot of trouble remembering all of this without suffering, even if it was an incredible journey. I also have a Canadian beer, which has been watching me in a shelf for 2 years now. I just couldnt find the strength to open it. Your film arrives just on point, as always with the others before this one. It helped me realise a lot of things throught the peace it brings to my mind. In two weeks, i'm moving closer to my family in South West of France, and i will start a new job related to my passion in music. Tonight i found the strength, i opened that beer. Thanks for all.
@mervyfaith4876
There was never a dull moment watching this 42-min video. It's healing me. The sound of nature is so therapeutic. Best regards from the Philippines! 😊
@bfein-jk7np