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Tail Gunner Hikes
United States
Приєднався 4 жов 2020
"Tail Gunner" refers to my role in scouts of always staying behind slowest scout. Involved with scouts for almost 20 years and youngest son Eagled. Along the way, Assistant Scout Master and pre-pandemic Backpacking Merit Badge counselor. The Olympics have been my playground for the last four decades. I am old enough to have pictures in photo albums sitting on the self; this on-line sharing medium is still new. However, join me as hike and re-document old favorite trails and explore new ones. And have some patience as my videoing skills improve.
New Year 2025
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
A quick recap of 2024 highlights and a few ideas for 2025.
A quick recap of 2024 highlights and a few ideas for 2025.
Переглядів: 15
Відео
Elk on Quinault, 2023/2024
Переглядів 168Місяць тому
Re-edit of 2023 video with similar name with inclusion of 2024 footage. Two trips up East Quinault River, Olympic National Park, in September 2023 and November 2024 encountering elk. No new footage not already published on this channel is included., although 2023 video is now unlisted. ONP elk have a game called “hide-n-seek”, but during the fall rut the rules (and hormones) dictate the males h...
Opt Outside 2024, Big Quilcene River, Bark Shanty Camp
Переглядів 155Місяць тому
Day hike up Lower Big Quilcene River, Olympic National Forest on Black Friday, Nov. 29th to Bark Shany camp. Bending Willow's - channel: www.youtube.com/@hikingwithbendingwillow9646 video from same trail: ua-cam.com/video/f-smQ_Om_fQ/v-deo.htmlsi=XQppVcsVWuQGkGQb
Fall shoulder season hike with elk (and confirming there is no "donkey" or "elephant" in ONP)
Переглядів 1,1 тис.Місяць тому
Fall shoulder season hike up East Quinault River the first week of November to escape US election madness. Ran into a herd of elk. while coming down river. Challenges included trail being sloppy from recent heavy rain. short days, and cooler temperatures. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 6:13 Pony Bridge under fog 8:17 Low lands at dusk 10:45 Fire Creek camp 12:55 Animal tracks 14:07 Trail re-route...
Halloween Short 2024
Переглядів 362 місяці тому
A fall walk to an abandoned cabin deep in the woods. Autumn / Halloween themed video created from re-edit and new voice over of existing video clips. Timestamps 0:00 Fall trail with crunchy leaves 0:34 Abandoned, near apocalyptic, campground 1:36 Unseen wild animal(s) in the forest 2:38 Abandoned cabin, deep in the forest
Season wrap up video
Переглядів 493 місяці тому
Quick wrap up video to 2024 hiking season. Day hike on last 70 degree day of the year and a few random comments looking toward the future.
Dosewallips To Grey Wolf, ONP, Extended Version
Переглядів 2723 місяці тому
Extended version of our nine-day backpacking trip heading up Dosewallips River, crossing over Grey Wolf Pass, and exiting down the Grey Wolf River within Olympic National Park. This version contains footage shot by both of us so we each appear in the other's clips. Most of the scenery is after we leave Dosewallips River and one could be forgiven for skipping to 15;06 in the video where we leave...
Facing fears on West Dosewallips
Переглядів 2996 місяців тому
A five-day backpack trip up West Fork of Dosewallips River over long Memorial Day weekend to once again face my fear of crossing the log over the Dosewallips River just past Diamond Meadow. Two years ago, both fellow UA-camr “Bending Willow” and myself turned around at that point and this year, we joined together with two other friends to once again make that trek. First and fourth nights were ...
Trail hike, 1st person POV ASMR
Переглядів 757 місяців тому
A forty Eight (48) minute video, 1st person POV walking down a forest trail, natural sounds only after introduction. Shot in Olympic National Park, West Fork of Dosewallips River, between Diamond Meadow and Big Timber Camp. (Spoiler: nothing exciting happens; no large wildlife.) Video partly proof-of-concept to see how long micro-SD card and battery pack would last. Leave comment if you like th...
East Quinault River Campsites Leading to Enchanted Valley
Переглядів 13210 місяців тому
This video focuses on all the campsites between Graves Creek Trailhead and Enchanted Valley, and includes camping options within the valley. In the last three years, I have hiked up East Quinault River Trail four times, making it to Enchanted Valley on three occasions. During that process, I have camped at virtually all established campgrounds along the trail. And while most of those are featur...
Enchanted Valley Chalet Margin of Safety
Переглядів 48Рік тому
Given that we just had an atmospheric river come through the PNW, how much river bank and margin of safety is left before Enchanted Valley Chalet falls into the river. This video uses footage shot in September 2023 not previously included in prior video to answer that question. While the administrative process continues to disassemble the chalet (see documents list below), the Quinault River ma...
Dosewallips Washout Bypass (#Optoutside 2023)
Переглядів 60Рік тому
Can one mountain bike the trail around washout on Dosewallips Road? You decide (and optional comment). A hike along the quarter mile bypass trail around washout on Dosewallips Road in Olympic National Park. Video idea prompted by one commenter asking about mountain biking from trailhead to Dosewallips Campground. Mountain bikes are allowed on first 6 miles of what was the old road and the washo...
Enchanted Valley Chalet, 2023 update
Переглядів 108Рік тому
An update to my 2022 video about National Park Service decision to disassemble the Enchanted Valley Chalet before it falls into Quinault river, rejecting option of moving again. Video focuses on "Alternative C' (moving it another 200 feet) and compares stated impact on trees verses current on-site conditions. See official NPS document "Final Disposition of Enchanted Valley Chalet Environmental ...
Coming out of "hibernation", first hike 2023
Переглядів 40Рік тому
Coming out of "hibernation", first hike 2023
Enchanted Valley Chalet - Endangered by river, congressional act restrictions, and finances
Переглядів 1742 роки тому
Enchanted Valley Chalet - Endangered by river, congressional act restrictions, and finances
Happy New Year 🥳
Great content! One quick thing I noticed is that adding more targeted keywords in your video tags can help it rank better. If you want, I can share a few more simple strategies that could help your videos get more views. Feel free to reach out if you're interested!
Your video was truly beautiful and inspiring. As a fellow creator, I appreciate the effort you put into it. Sub and 👍3
Thank you
Good choice to be away from the shopping centers on Black Friday. Wishing you a great day.
I need to get out more on that side. If your looking for a new headlamp, the NU20 classic is a USB-C rechargeable, good bang for the buck.
Thank you for the headlamp suggestion.
Great video. Loved the sights. You showed sound judgement when deciding which trail to take and when to leave. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for watching and being a new subscriber. The weather forecast kept changing and it was the morning that I was leaving that they increased amount of rain expected during final 36 hours of my permit period.
Nice video 👍 😊
VERY cool video. Especially love the narrative.
Thank you. Of course hitting the places mentioned in a single hike would be a long trip; we should do it some future autumn.
Nice hike and video. Have a great Halloween 😊
Looks awesome! Keep it up man.👍
Thank you. In addition to Quinault, Bending Willow (who I did Grey Wolf Pass with) wants to do a joint trip on Olympic Skyline trail as soon as it re-opens from 2023 fire damage.
Nice to see it again. I solo backpacked the Olympics in the 1970's. Few people. I never signed in, or had a permit. Sometimes I didn't even know where I was going, or ended up. No cell phones/radios. No real light weight fancy gear. It was wool cloths and real Goose down. My first pack was a Trapper Nelson. One of my favorite places was up the Dosewallips to Haden Pass to Thousand Acre Meadows, Silt creek and Mt. Anderson. Lost Pass is nice and less visited. If you really want to get away from people, the Skyline Trail.
Thanks for watching and commenting. We have an itinerary laid out for counter-clockwise on Skyline Trail (Low Divide to Lk Beauty and then back to 3 Prunes) but area is closed due to wild fire damage from last year. We will do it next year if it opens up.
Nice hike in a great park!
Awesome video, I live in Port Ludlow and would love to go sometime. Can you bring your dog? Have you ever seen or heard a sasquatch?😊
Dogs are allowed in Olympic National Forest, but not in Olympic National Park. 'Bending Willow' claims to have seen a Sasquatch.
Comments at 40;00 are incorrect. Peak mentioned is not Sentinel Peak and trail continues to left, not right at that point.
Nice trip. Thank you for sharing 😊Take care 😊
Very well done, Tail Gunner!
Queets River Trail? More like "Sweet adventure, oh yeah!" 👍
Yep, this is a primitive trail. I had plans to go into 2015 Paradise Creek Fire burn zone over this past Labor Day weekend, but work commitments of hiking partner caused cancelation. And burn zone is too remote for my comfort level solo.
@@tailgunnerhikes4703 Oh that's cool! I don't consider myself too much of a real hiker. The most I've done is hike a few miles around state parks on the weekend. But it's cool to watch these kinds of videos, and I hope you and your partner can get out there soon!
Cute pic of you all.
Is that a light night strike on the tree??
Not sure which tree you are referring to. The tree impaled through old road bed most likely just from wind. The log over the river looks that way because it has been cut to make halfway flat/smooth walking tread. But if you want to see a lightning strike tree, go to "Sol Duc, Mistakes were made" video. At 4:14 point, Will and I found a downed tree off trail that was exploded at base and following into forest, found the top burnt. Only the accompanying rain prevented a major forest fire.
@@tailgunnerhikes4703 there was a huge black mark on it, you were examining it.
Checking this one out too
Looks like quite a view!! “It will be fun, she said!” 😂
Notice that the video is muted immediately after, taking out her retort. However, it may remain in the long form.
Good video of ur backpack trip! Better to know ur limits and comfort level with that log crossing. Hopefully u get a chance to get across that river in the fall! Btw, was that a WTA trail crew working out there?
No, fairly certain it was a national park trail crew.
Nice! Looking forward to the long form video of this trip.
A beautiful hike. Thank you for sharing 😊
Great video, TailGunner! I am looking forward to the next adventure, and to watching your upcoming videos.
Nice hike and video. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful week 👍
Thanks for showing us what upper queets valley is like. I have camped at smith place twice but I really want to go farther on the trail one day. Its an amazing place!
Thank you for your comment. I’ve heard third hand that NPS will be doing official trail maintenance on Queets River Trail this summer (2024) for first time since 2015 Paradise Creek Fire, although volunteers have done some work recently. As seen, there are several blowdown areas and washouts where hikers have improvised multiple by-pass routes. I thought it unwise to go into fire zone solo but have now found someone crazy enough to go with me. We will be out there in a few weeks as she is working on book on all 33 shelters built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s and wants to reach site of Pelton Shelter for documentation even though it burned in the 2015 fire.
Thank you sir! Setting off to see the area and your videos have been great information ! :)
Thank you for the kind video!
I love not only the soothing sounds of the river that you captured, but the trilling calls of the thrushes in the forest. ❤
I had not noticed. Amazing what you can pick up when you don't talk over half your video. I am guilty of sometimes being oblivious to background scenery or audio when focusing on a subject.
Nice day to be out and about. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching and the comment. Saturday coming in we had light rain, but Sunday morning when this was filmed was beautiful. Our tent site was just out of view in the woods.
A post on Washington Trails Association (WTA.Org) by Mike Groenewegen of his 2/4/2024 trip into Enchanted Valley shows the chalet has survived the winter.
A post on Washington Trails Association (WTA.Org) by Mike Groenewegen of his 2/4/2024 trip into Enchanted Valley shows the chalet has survived the winter.
Stealth site included as illustrative example. I have nearly half dozen stealth sites marked on my Garmin. While I am not disclosing where any are to avoid overuse, a keen eye can usually find a place to camp. If you see a game trail going toward water, there is probably a stealth site there too. On a summer holiday weekend, every NPS documented site will be full, yet shoulder season mid-week, I’ve had entire campgrounds to myself.
Very helpful intel for those who are new to the area!
Nice Video...huff n puff
Nice hike 👍
Nicely done. I can’t believe you were able to still talk on the way up - I am usually too winded. I always do the official route as well - it’s safer. Although stairs would be nice, you have to admit that those switchbacks are much easier on the knees.
We're usually winded because we are packing a full gear load out and food for 5 days, not a day pack and two candy bars.
I love this trail I have stayed at smith place 2 different times. It was nice to see what it looks like further up the trail I would like to go back one day.
Thank you for comment. I had planned to go into the 2015 Paradise fire zone as far as Pelton shelter, which burned, last month with someone else but joint trip fell through and that is too remote for me to go solo. No known trail maintenance within fire sone so it would be bush whacking or river travel.
Nice video. Thank you for sharing. Wishing you a great day
Very informative, as always. Nicely done.
On the project website, NPS is on step 13 of 15 step process. (Step 13. Meet with NHPA Section 106 Consulting Parties *) Unsure what NHPA Section 106 is, but appears to have something to do with National Historic Building status. Spring of 2023 river shifted from west channel to center channel per WTA post. Center channel silted in and river shifted back to west channel, rather than continuing east toward chalet. Once river shifts to east channel, there likely will be more erosion. Of course, the week after I was there we had continuous rain for that week so no idea where river is as of first of October 2023.