Before we dive into the main questions, could you start by telling our readers a bit about yourself?
I am Ignacio, creator of lopezexplora on YouTube. I am 53 years old. My most important thing in life is my wife and 2 kids. Like many others, I also struggle with everyday life of this modern world and its problems.
01) What inspired you to start exploring California’s trails and sharing your adventures on YouTube?
During the Covid-19 period my head was always spinning on how to survive and pay for my bills and had plenty of time to watch videos on YouTube , mostly about nature and hiking since it gave me peace of mind and that’s what inspired me to go out and hike more and share my adventures with the world.
02) What’s been your most challenging hike so far, and how did you push through it?
Even though I’ve been lucky enough to hike Mt. Whitney twice , the tallest mountain in the lower contiguous United States my most challenging hike so far was Mt. San Antonio aka “ Baldy” because I did it with snow waist deep and it was brutal!! I don’t have a video of this because I didn’t have the channel yet, however I made one of the same place one year later going through the infamous and dangerous “Devil’s Backbone trail”
03) Southern California is known for its diverse landscapes — mountains, deserts, and beaches. Which environment do you enjoy exploring the most, and why?
We are so lucky to live in California because we have just about every environment and micro climate, snow, desert, mountains, creeks, lakes, forests, wildlife, wildflowers, ocean and more!! If I only have to choose one environment to be my favorite that would be a place with a waterfall and a rock pool so I can jump in it after a long hike!! ( Matillija Wilderness )
04) How do you balance enjoying the moment with capturing great content for your YouTube videos?
I go hiking once a week, usually Thursdays and edit my videos in English and Spanish ( my first language ) the following days and also continue with my everyday routine to keep balance from work, family and hiking ( me time!! )
05) What advice would you give to someone who wants to start exploring the outdoors but doesn’t know where to begin?
My advice to first time explorers is baby steps, find a buddy to go hike with and start with short trails and work your way up. You’ll be surprised how far you’ll make it in the long run!
06) What’s one thing you wish more people understood about creating outdoor content on YouTube?
I wish people would understand that having a hiking YouTube channel is not that easy and requires a lot of effort, editing, and countless hours behind the scenes. So please consider subscribing!!
07) Where do you see your channel going in the next few years? Do you have any big goals or dream adventures you want to film?
My future goals on my channel is to make enough money for retirement and being able of exploring, Grand Canyon, Angels Landing, Yellow Stone, Alaska, Dolomites, Patagonia and why not the world!!
