Backpacking provides the opportunity to get lost in nature and find yourself. Music creates the presence to feel emotions deeply. It is not often they come together, enhancing each other. On my hike of the Pacific Crest Trail they did, thanks to my travel companion, a small plastic Outdoor Ukulele. Whatever emotions I felt, I could play out: Homesick, “Home” by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zero’s. Blissful, Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Inspired, “One Day” by Matisyahu. Contemplative, “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel.
On the trail I had a lot of time to practice and learn new songs. After a day of hiking with my trail family, Tikimon and Will, showing off my newly learned ukulele skills, they gave me a great idea; about every hundred miles or so I should take a video of myself playing a snippet of a song, all the way to Mexico. I took their advice. 14 videos, several strings, and 1465 miles later, I came up with this:
Behind “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” is the most commonly covered song on the ukulele. Although my song of choice for the video may look like an attempt to be as generic as possible, I assure you the reason is another.
When I started my trek I knew two songs, this was the less somber of the two (the first is “Jerusalem” by Matisyahu) I choose “I’m Yours” because I knew it, next time around I will have a wider array to choose from.
Hope you enjoy,
Slug
My mile 228 PCT mile 2208 Mt. Adams, WA
My mile 292 PCT mile 2169 South Gifford Pinchot NF, WA
My mile 356 PCT mile 2094 Mt. Hood, OR
My mile 422 PCT mile 1720 Pilot Rock, OR
My mile 449 PCT mile 1061 Little Indian Valley, CA
My mile 556 PCT mile 960 Yosemite NP, CA
My mile 661 PCT mile 857 Kings Canyon NP, CA
My mile 804 PCT mile 741 Diaz Creek, CA
My mile 900 PCT mile 622 Pinyon Mountain, CA
My mile 989 PCT mile 548 Covington Mt. CA
My mile 1045 PCT mile 449 Vasquez Rocks, CA
My mile 1146 PCT mile 349 San Bernardino NF, CA
My mile 1319 PCT mile 145 Anza County, CA
My mile 1409 PCT mile 55 Oriflamme Canyon, CA
I loved the way you spliced that song together over all those miles and, at the last mile, pack your ukulele away. Very unique and really nicely done – some credit must got to Tikimon and Will. Did you notice the bear appearing from behind the rock @ mile 661? Wow!! Must have been going for the peanut butter wraps or beef jerky :)) Okay, no bear, but the music and scenes flow so well together that a little wild excitement would have been fun.
Todah, that bear didn’t stop following me for a good 127 miles…