u/M_Joey18

Après ma randonnée de 600 km sur l'E8 en Irlande le mois dernier, j'avais envie de quelque chose qui ne demande presque aucune préparation ni temps de trajet.

La semaine dernière, j'ai donc parcouru 166 km à travers les montagnes des Vosges, dans l'est de la France. Je suis parti directement de chez moi et j'ai traversé des forêts où se sont déroulées certaines des batailles les plus brutales de la Première Guerre mondiale.

En chemin, je suis passé par de magnifiques lacs de montagne et des sommets comme le Hohneck, le Grand Ballon (avec son radar de contrôle aérien et le mémorial des Diables Bleus) et le Petit Ballon (où se trouve une station météorologique).

J'ai tracé cet itinéraire moi-même l'hiver dernier et je me suis dit que c'était le moment idéal pour enfin le parcourir. Le sentier suit principalement les GR531 et GR5. Il m'a fallu 4 jours et 3 nuits pour le terminer, et il s'est révélé bien plus exigeant que je ne l'avais imaginé. La vague de chaleur qui a traversé la France n'a certainement pas arrangé les choses.

J'ai rencontré beaucoup de randonneurs allemands ainsi que quelques personnes d'autres nationalités. Comme d'habitude, j'ai filmé toute l'aventure, et la vidéo sera disponible sur ma chaîne YouTube (le lien est dans mon profil) le 21 août.

En attendant, profitez des photos !

Après ma randonnée de 600 km sur l'E8 en Irlande le mois dernier, j'avais envie de quelque chose qui ne demande presque aucune préparation ni temps de trajet.

La semaine dernière, j'ai donc parcouru 166 km à travers les montagnes des Vosges, dans l'est de la France. Je suis parti directement de chez moi et j'ai traversé des forêts où se sont déroulées certaines des batailles les plus brutales de la Première Guerre mondiale.

En chemin, je suis passé par de magnifiques lacs de montagne et des sommets comme le Hohneck, le Grand Ballon (avec son radar de contrôle aérien et le mémorial des Diables Bleus) et le Petit Ballon (où se trouve une station météorologique).

J'ai tracé cet itinéraire moi-même l'hiver dernier et je me suis dit que c'était le moment idéal pour enfin le parcourir. Le sentier suit principalement les GR531 et GR5. Il m'a fallu 4 jours et 3 nuits pour le terminer, et il s'est révélé bien plus exigeant que je ne l'avais imaginé. La vague de chaleur qui a traversé la France n'a certainement pas arrangé les choses.

J'ai rencontré beaucoup de randonneurs allemands ainsi que quelques personnes d'autres nationalités. Comme d'habitude, j'ai filmé toute l'aventure, et la vidéo sera disponible sur ma chaîne YouTube (le lien est dans mon profil) le 21 août.

En attendant, profitez des photos !

After my 600 km hike along the E8 in Ireland last month, I wanted something that required almost no planning or travel.

So last week, I hiked 166 km through the Vosges Mountains in eastern France. I started right from my front door and walked through forests where some of the most brutal battles of World War I took place.

Along the way, I passed beautiful mountain lakes and summits such as Hohneck, Le Grand Ballon (with its air traffic control radar and the Blue Devils memorial), and Petit Ballon (home to a weather station).

I mapped out this route myself last winter and felt this was the perfect time to finally hike it. The trail mainly follows the GR531 and GR5. It took me 4 days and 3 nights to complete, and it was much more demanding than I expected. The heatwave that hit France certainly didn't make things any easier.

I met plenty of German hikers and a few people from other countries along the way. As always, I filmed the entire adventure, and the video will be available on my YT (in my profile)on 21 August.

In the meantime, enjoy the photos!

This is the result of one year of posting long-distance hiking videos. I've been trying to maintain a schedule of one video per month.

I started with a series about the Shikoku Pilgrimage in Japan, which is still the most-viewed series on my channel. Sadly, none of my later adventures have come close to the same level of success. The first episode of that series is approaching 10,000 views.

Every time I release a new video, it gets around 100–150 views and then dies. There are probably many reasons for that, but my Japan videos keep getting views—around 20 a day. It's almost as if they continue attracting attention no matter what I upload.

It's a bit frustrating because it feels like my channel is stuck somewhere. The algorithm doesn't seem to know where to put me, even though my niche is pretty clear: long-distance hiking and travel. It's a niche with a huge audience, yet it feels like I just can't reach it for whatever reason.

I'm sure time will do its job, so I'm not too worried or desperately looking for some secret trick to break through the artificial walls the algorithm seems to put between me and my audience. And yes, I know about thumbnails, SEO, titles, retention, and all the usual advice.

I just wanted to share my numbers after one year of uploading videos ranging from 20 to 55 minutes. Also, my channel never really recovered from the big drop in views that happened last August and affected so many channels, both small and large.

Everything was filmed during my 600 km hike along the European E8 trail last June, from Dublin to Dursey Island. This is a short teaser for my long-form video.

If you needed a reason to visit this wonderful country and hike across it, now you have one!

Ps: I didn't find the Leprechaun maybe you'll get luckier.

En juin dernier, je me suis lancé sur l'E8 en Irlande, de Dublin jusqu'à Dursey Island. J'étais déjà venu plusieurs fois en Irlande il y a quelques années, et je savais que je voulais revenir pour une nouvelle aventure. J'ai parcouru la Wicklow Way, la South Leinster Way, la Heritage Way, la Blackwater Way et bien d'autres sentiers. J'ai dormi exclusivement sous ma tente et campé tout au long du parcours.

J'ai toujours adoré ce pays, et les gens y ont toujours été d'une grande gentillesse avec moi.

C'était mon plus grand projet de randonnée de 2026 et, une fois de plus, ce fut une réussite. J'ai rencontré certaines des personnes les plus bienveillantes que l'on puisse imaginer. Certaines m'ont offert de la nourriture, d'autres m'ont laissé remplir mes bouteilles d'eau lorsque j'en avais besoin. J'ai eu de très bonnes conversations avec des Irlandais vivant dans la campagne, même si je n'ai probablement compris qu'environ 40 % de ce qu'ils disaient. C'était un bon test pour moi.

J'ai découvert des paysages à couper le souffle, mais malheureusement, je n'ai jamais croisé le légendaire leprechaun.

J'ai réalisé une vidéo de cette aventure, que vous pouvez retrouver sur mon profil si cela vous intéresse.

J'espère que ces photos et le film que j'ai réalisé rendent justice à ce magnifique pays qu'est l'Irlande. 🇮🇪

Last June, I hiked the 600 km Irish section of the E8 from Dublin to Dursey Island. I spent all 14 (-1 hut) nights in my tent and decided to rate every campsite I stayed at.

My "vibe" rating is based on how I felt when I arrived there, as well as the surroundings. One of my biggest priorities is staying well hidden—out of sight and away from the trail—which wasn't always easy. Finding a good wild camping spot in Ireland is actually much harder than it looks.

I obviously avoided fields and never camped on private property.

I also got super lucky with the weather.

Last June, I set out to hike the E8 in Ireland, from Dublin to Dursey Island. I'd been to Ireland several times a couple of years ago, and I knew I wanted to come back for another adventure. I've hiked through the Wicklow way, South Leinster way, Heritage way, Blackwater way and many other. I used exclusively my tent and camped all the way.

I've always loved this country, and the people have always been so kind to me.

It was my biggest hiking project of 2026, and once again, it was a success. I met some of the kindest people, who shared food with me or let me refill my water when I needed it. I had great conversations with Irish people from the side country although I may have understood 40% of what they were saying. That was a good test for me.

I saw breathtaking landscapes, but unfortunately, I never met the legendary leprechaun.

I made a video of my adventure, which you can find on my profile if you're interested.

I hope these pictures and the film I made do justice to this beautiful country that is Ireland. 🇮🇪

Last June, I set out to hike the E8 in Ireland, from Dublin to Dursey Island. I'd been to Ireland several times a couple of years ago, and I knew I wanted to come back for another adventure. I've hiked through the Wicklow way, South Leinster way, Heritage way, Blackwater way and many other.

I've always loved this country, and the people have always been so kind to me.

It was my biggest hiking project of 2026, and once again, it was a success. I met some of the kindest people, who shared food with me or let me refill my water when I needed it. I had great conversations with Irish people from the side country although I may have understood 40% of what they were saying. That was a good test for me.

I saw breathtaking landscapes, but unfortunately, I never met the legendary leprechaun.

I made a video of my adventure, which you can find on my profile if you're interested. I hope these pictures and the film I made do justice to this beautiful country that is Ireland.

Consider this my little love letter to Ireland from a fellow French lad 🇫🇷x🇮🇪.

At the end of May, I hiked 164 km on the Westweg in Germany, from Basel to Hausach. It's not a trail that gets a lot of attention online, which has the advantage of being relatively quiet and uncrowded.

It's a wonderful trail if you're looking for solitude in nature and the mountains. It offers just the right amount of challenge without being overly difficult. Along the way, you'll find plenty of huts for overnight stays and numerous water sources.

I think it's a great trail for beginners. It's not as easy as many of the Caminos in Spain, but if you're looking for some alone time on the trail, you'll definitely find it here.

Thank you, Germany, for this beautiful month of May. Now it's time for my next hiking adventure in Ireland 🇮🇪 on the Beara Way.

See you on the trail, hikers 🥾

J'ai commencé à Bâle et j'ai marché jusqu'à Hausach. Ce qui devait être une randonnée plutôt tranquille pour moi s'est finalement transformé en l'une des plus difficiles que j'ai réalisées. Non pas à cause du terrain ou de la difficulté du sentier, mais parce que mon matériel a décidé de me lâcher.

Mon matelas a eu un trou dès la première nuit. Comme j'étais trop confiant, je n'avais emporté ni kit de réparation ni tapis de sol pour le protéger. Résultat : pendant trois nuits, je me suis réveillé toutes les 45 minutes pour le regonfler.

J'ai décidé de m'arrêter à Hausach, principalement à cause des prévisions météorologiques. Un ami vivant en Allemagne m'a informé que de violents orages étaient attendus dans la Forêt-Noire. Avec un matelas qui fuyait, j'ai estimé qu'il était plus raisonnable de mettre fin à la randonnée à ce moment-là. J'ai tout ce qu'il faut à la maison pour le réparer, et j'ai également un autre matelas.

Malgré cela, j'ai quand même réussi deux journées de 47 km. Les paysages étaient magnifiques et les Allemands que j'ai rencontrés en chemin ont été d'une grande gentillesse.

Pour ceux qui suivent mes aventures, j'ai publié une vidéo longue format de mon aventure. Vous trouverez le lien sur mon profil.

Hey hikers,

Since this subreddit really liked my pictures from last weekend on the Westweg in Germany, I thought I'd share this small teaser from my long-form video.

I walked 164 km from Basel to Hausach in 4 days, with my sleeping pad getting a hole on the first night.

The beauty of the trail really surprised me. I'd consider it quite easy compared to some of my previous adventures in Portugal, Romania, and Mallorca.

The long-form video is now online. You can find it through my profile.

See you on the trail. 🥾

Ps: can you guess where the song is from?

I started in Basel and hiked to Hausach. What was supposed to be a relatively easy hike for me turned out to be one of the most challenging trips I've done, not because of the terrain or the difficulty of the trail, but because my gear decided to let me down.

My sleeping pad developed a hole on the first night. Because I was overconfident, I didn't bring a repair kit or a groundsheet to protect it. As a result, I spent three nights waking up every 45 minutes to inflate it again.

I decided to stop in Hausach, mainly because of the weather forecast. A friend who lives in Germany told me that severe thunderstorms, and possibly even a tornado, were expected in the Black Forest. With a leaking sleeping pad, I felt it was the smarter option to end the hike there. I have everything I need at home to repair it, and I also have a spare pad.

Despite that, I still managed two 47 km days. The views were amazing, and the German people I met along the way were incredibly kind.

For those who follow my adventures, I'll be releasing a video about this trip soon, you can find the link to my channel in my profile.

May 2026 was all about Germany for me: Heidelberg, Würzburg, and now the Westweg.

I started in Basel and hiked to Hausach. What was supposed to be a relatively easy hike for me turned out to be one of the most challenging trips I've done, not because of the terrain or the difficulty of the trail, but because my gear decided to let me down.

My sleeping pad developed a hole on the first night. Because I was overconfident, I didn't bring a repair kit or a groundsheet to protect it. As a result, I spent three nights waking up every 45 minutes to inflate it again.

I decided to stop in Hausach, mainly because of the weather forecast. A friend who lives in Germany told me that severe thunderstorms, and possibly even a tornado, were expected in the Black Forest. With a leaking sleeping pad, I felt it was the smarter option to end the hike there. I have everything I need at home to repair it, and I also have a spare pad.

Despite that, I still managed two 47 km days. The views were amazing, and the German people I met along the way were incredibly kind.

For those who follow my adventures, I'll be releasing a video about this trip soon, you can find the link to my channel in my profile.

May 2026 was all about Germany for me: Heidelberg, Würzburg, and now the Westweg.

Earlier this month, I visited Heidelberg and its surroundings and posted about it here. This weekend, I went to Würzburg and Rothenburg, and it was amazing!

Without knowing it beforehand, we happened to visit Rothenburg during the historical festival Der Meistertrunk, which reenacts how the city was supposedly saved during the Thirty Years' War. The town was full of people in historical costumes, parades, and reenactments, which made the visit even more memorable.

Würzburg was also very interesting. It felt like a smaller version of Heidelberg, especially around the bridge where people gather to have a drink and enjoy the view. The local white wine was nice, although the rosé wasn't really my style.

The restaurants were also more affordable and, in my opinion, better quality than the ones I tried in Heidelberg, although maybe I just got unlucky there. Overall, Würzburg felt less touristy and a bit more relaxed.

I'll be back in Germany this Wednesday to hike the Westweg from south to north (around 280 km) and film the adventure. Looking forward to discovering another part of the country!

This journey truly changed my life. Over the month of May 2025, I walked 1,300 km across Shikoku, pushing my limits and exploring the island on foot.

I made a film about the experience, and since then, I’ve continued traveling, hiking long distances, and creating meaningful memories.

Since that journey, I no longer feel alone when I walk. I wouldn’t say I believe in any conventional religion, but it does feel like there’s something out there something we don’t fully understand yet.

If you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend walking this pilgrimage and discovering the 88 temples for yourself.

The people are incredibly welcoming and will help you if you struggle.

I wanted to share this to mark the one-year anniversary of my pilgrimage.

A charming town to visit if you get the chance. It can be a bit touristy, especially in the center, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you can escape the crowds and explore nearby villages like Ladenburg (just 15 minutes away) or Schriesheim if you’re up for a bit of forest hiking. You’ll find castles, medieval vibes, and ruins along the way. A great destination for a 2–3 day trip.

I made a short teaser from my hike on the Fishermen’s Trail in southern Portugal. It gives a glimpse of the kind of scenery you can expect along the way.

I walked about 230 km, with only a few underwhelming sections, maybe two or three at most.

If you’re looking for a more social experience, it’s better to walk from north to south, where most people are. If you prefer more solitude, going from south to north is a better option.

I have always loved Porto; it’s my third time there. I never had the opportunity to really take my time and fully visit the city.

I went to Porto after finishing the Fishermen’s Trail in the south of Portugal.

I love everything about this city, and more generally about the country and its people. They have always been good to me. These pictures are a sort of love letter from me to Portugal.

The prices in general increased as for everywhere else in the world but its still affordable, especially if you go away from the tourists spots.