In this YouTube vlog, Ryel Kestano documents a multi‑day, 100‑mile segment of the GR5 long‑distance trail across the Vosges Mountains in eastern France, undertaken with his children and friends. The video opens with a brief overview of the GR5’s 1,423‑mile route from the North Sea to the Mediterranean, then follows the family as they travel by train from Paris to Nancy and begin their hike. Over eight days they cover daily mileage ranging from 7 to 17 miles, encounter significant elevation gains (up to 3,000 ft), and face physical challenges such as sore feet and an ant‑infested backpack. Along the way they highlight scenic and historic points like Mount Donon’s summit view and the medieval “Armchair of Saint Quirin.” Interspersed throughout are candid, humorous exchanges among the kids (Cody, Karen) and adults, showcasing group dynamics, motivation, and the joy of slow‑living in nature. The vlog concludes with a recap of the distances covered each day, reflections on the experience, and a promise to return to the GR5 in future summers.
Chapters
It's another year and we're back on the GR5, continuing our multi-year hike on one of Europe's premier long-distance trails. The GR5 begins in Hoek van Holland on the North Sea coast and winds its way 1,423 miles all the way to the Mediterranean coast in Nice, France. We pick up the trail where we left off last year, here just outside of Nancy in eastern France. This year our goal is to hike 100 miles across the beautiful and wild Vosges Mountains, the most significant mountain range since the beginning of the trail and until we get to the Alps in southern France. This is a special time for me and my kids to slow the pace of life down and spend time together in a way that has us appreciate the simple pleasures we often overlook. Our adventure begins here in Paris as we board a train at the Gare de l'Est bound for Nancy in eastern France.
All right, we are back on the GR5. We were here, we ended up near here last year with Nico. Yep, on a farm just over there. That's when he fell out a window and messed up his leg.
Yep, that was pretty funny.
Yeah, that was a whole thing. So he's back home. We're here with Karen this time. Yep, just got dropped off down there on that road. Uh, took a train from Paris here to—
we had our taxi It was a Tesla.
Yep, got a Tesla taxi. So we just got started a moment ago, kicking off 100 miles this summer. Uh, gonna end up near Strasbourg in about 8 days or so. Starting off mellow, got about 7.3 miles today.
Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good.
Feeling good?
Yeah, I'm ready.
Strong. Yeah, good.
Got about, yeah, 7, just over 7 miles today. Gonna be out in the countryside. See what we see. It's a little bit chilly today, but yeah, all right, cool. All right guys, high five! Let's do this!
Yeah! It's good. Mm-hmm. Mm. Oh my God, so far out there. Oh wait, maybe the cows. That was bad. Um, I'll be the driver today.
So, your co-pilot?
Yeah, you're my first officer.
Choo choo! and the sun is shining. Two more days of mellow hiking and then we get to the business.
15, 16, 16 and then 8. This is going to be a long couple of those days and then a short couple and then a short day.
But nice to be out here in the French countryside soaking up the vibes.
July 4th yesterday. That's fun.
Oh my God, come on, I washed my hands.
The nipples were kind of like, like the boob, like the, the boob, Cody. I don't know what he wanted to say. The boob.
No, I'm gonna get first. Let's share, let's share. Get a little butter.
I'm back in the room. All right guys, day 3.
Yep, feeling strong.
We are here in Vix-sur-Seille. And starting day 3, it's gonna be a nice mellow 11 miles today. How are we feeling so far?
Good, good. Yeah, I slept great last night.
Yes, good night's sleep, finally getting used to the time zone. Beautiful day outside, been dealing with a lot of rain lately, but it's looking up.
Yeah, beautiful day today.
Got 2 more days.
Birds are howling. And the sun is, um, shining.
2 more days of mellow hiking and then we get to the business. 15, 16 miles.
15, 16, 16, and then 8. Yeah, this is gonna be a long couple of those days and then a short couple, and then a short day.
But nice to be out here in the French countryside soaking up the vibes. July 4th yesterday, that's fun.
It's 4th of July today. Yeah, 4th of July yesterday.
And I got a balloon, as you can see.
His name's Bradley. Bradley, for sure. We call him Brad or Lee, or Lee, whichever, whichever name we feel like.
Like, I feel like this is important information, you know?
Okay, all right, let's do it. Up and out.
Stop it!
That's like an ape grabbing a baby dog.
They're like sawing. I thought that the car was going to say, "Hey, stop the ambulance." Yeah, I know. I don't think they were. Maybe it was one. Hey, boy. Hi. I pet him.
He's trying to lick me.
Yes, chocolate. Oh, are you Bitch, don't bit. Get away from me.
Toast to the hike! Yeah, the hike!
All right, we just started— we just started our longest day a little while ago. It's a 17-mile day today.
My backpack got infested with ants, and it's a really long story.
And it's an almost 3,000-foot elevation gain. We're going up into the Village Mountains, and we're going to top out at a place called Mount Dono, which is supposed to have an epic view. Yep.
Walking, I feel like personally I feel great. Like usually I would be like kind of dreading it, but I'm just like feeling ready. I'm like so ready.
Yeah, I feel, I feel pretty good. I mean, my leg kind of hurts, but other than that, life is—
I'm just feeling positive and like I'm like ready.
Yeah, I think we can crush this, guys. Yeah. So, and probably tomorrow, hopefully.
We'll see how everybody feels in 15 miles, but at least a mile in, we're all feeling good.
Yep.
Excited for the day.
Yeah.
Spent a lot of time in nature today. And here we go.
All right, bam! There's a window tab. There's a window tab. They, they catch you basically when it's Nice.
So there's a little sign next to this boulder explaining that it's the Armchair of Saint Quirin, who's an old— I don't know, old saint or something. We're walking on a pilgrimage path here, and apparently this is the Armchair of Saint Quirin. Dates back to the 11th century. And it's like carved out for his butt, I guess. And, uh, now it's this monument. It's got this sweet cross on the back.
Dad, it wasn't carved out, it was natural.
Oh, was it?
I think so, like it just formed like that and then he sat down.
Pretty cool living bit of history here, over 1,000 years old, just here in the middle of the forest. I love all this living history.
And there's some mushrooms over there.
Mushrooms?
Pretty cool.
We're just about to make the final push on the longest, hardest day.
It's basically straight up the side of this mountain called Mount Dono, which is one of the great peaks on the entire GR5. We've already walked 15 miles to get here. How are we feeling?
Terrible.
Are we stoked? Absolutely terrible. Are we so excited? Karen's feeling amazing. How about you, Cody?
This is basically the worst pain I've ever felt in my entire life.
I feel fantastic. I'm ready.
Oh my god.
You're gonna be awesome. It's about, it's probably like at least 1,000 feet straight up the side of this mountain behind the camera.
I'm, so my feet hurt like a lot. They're like really painful, but I'm not grumpy or anything like him because, because I'm just glad that like the, this like the hardest day of the entire hike is almost over.
Yeah, but still, it's all about attitude. Still, I feel in your body, man, that croissant was pretty good. Yeah, so we're fueling up for the final push and we're gonna crush it, right guys? All right, see you on the top.
All right, there's Nancy on this map pointing an arrow to where we started way out there on the horizon. Can't even see it, but 70 miles that way.
Look at that wonky tree.
It looks like a lightning bolt. Oh yeah, the, um Hey guys, last day!
Last day!
Last day of our 2024 GR5 hike. We did 100 miles. We will have done 100 miles at the end of today.
The last 2 days my dogs were barking at the end.
Yep, did 16.5 miles yesterday, 17 miles the day before, got a nice leisurely 9 today.
Yeah. The first, like, what was it, 4 days, they were fine. When the last 3 days, they were rough.
Rough.
Last couple of days here in the Vosges Mountains got a lot more up and down.
Yeah, but it's been, it's been really fun.
It's been super awesome. Really proud of these guys. Yeah, I'm really proud of these guys too.
Yeah, I'm also really proud of these guys.
And yeah, it's been another awesome summer. On the GR5. Yeah, be back again someday and keep this party going. Thanks for coming along with us, been fun to share it with you.
Yeah, and I hope you like the video.
Yep, so, um, signing off from—
where are we?
Uh, the Hawwalls, deep in the Polish mountains in Alsace.
We'll see you guys. Wait, so is this gonna be the end of the video? No, not yet. Oh, so there's more of the video.
So we'll see you guys in the next clip. Bye! Go guys, finish it!
