Now that's real Oregon camping folks! Drip, drizzle, drippy drip... along with my absolute favorite outdoor pastime: Playing "where does that one go?" with old logging roads. Good times Donald!
I like the back to basics feel of this video. It’s a good reminder of how far your channel has come, and a good reminder to the rest of us that overlanding, camping doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive
The forest is always so beautiful when it is raining. The drone shots with the forest and the low clouds were great. Glad to see you out and camping again. You made me hungry with all that cooking you did. Take care and be safe.
Thanks for taking us along on the adventure. This is exactly how it goes when we go exploring. There’s lots of checking out side roads. Some are dead ends while some are winners. People will never know the losers and winners if they don’t do the work to find them. 😊
I bought the gazelle tent and Coleman cot because of your earlier videos. I absolutely love the combo. My best friend followed suit and we did an Arizona adventure mountain biking and camping in Sedona, Flagstaff, and grand canyon with the gear. Complete game changer when it comes to sleep!
Glad to see you out on the trail with just the basics. Great camera/drone work and selection of music. I had to chuckle when that slab of meat hit the dinner platter. 🙂It looked delicious. Thanks, Donald.
I take a cordless leaf blower on trips like this, small one from harbor freight, to dry off tent after rain, works good, same battery fits dewalt chain saw
I have been using the Gazelle T4 now for 2 plus years. I just recently purchased the T3x for my next upcoming trip this month. I upgraded the T4 last year with their overlander package, bigger, waterproof storage bag, footprint and heavy duty stakes. I purchased a new T4 overlander bag for the T3X. Just more room to stuff it in. Makes life a little easier!
Back to basics which is how I did my trip this weekend. I have a go box inspired by LLOD and I keep my basic kit including hammock and all the trimmings. I cooked on the tailgate and didn't even put up my awning. I was hanging on a bluff overlooking the Buffalo river in Tennessee watching people canoe and kayak by occasionally wishing I had my canoe then quickly changing my mind when I though how much work that would be. The weather was beautiful in the 70's and in the 50's at night I like rainy camping but not without cover. I bet this motivated you to work hard on your new system. Cheers.
What a great trip! Not the "perfect" conditions so many people think are necessary to be outdoors. Love the fog, the drizzle, the basics! This one really connects with me.
Love your practical set up and beautiful journey. All those gear show off journey make me stressful instead of relaxing. We have a trailer for our family, hopefully one day I could do a simple solo trip using ground tent just like you .
Man, that's awesome. I'm about 2 hours North of you but I grew up in the Eugene/Springfield area. When you passed Leeburg dam it brought back a lot of memories of swimming there as a kid. Listening to the pitter patter of the rain and seeing the steam from your breath and your food made me jealous that you already have rain. Very peaceful and fulfilling. Thanks for sharing.
New subscriber. I very much enjoy your content. This video, however, reminds me why I didn't make the Army a full career. I'll stick with my Class A RV. I do appreciate the way you respect the enviroments you are in ( including picking up inconsiderate campers trash) and the artifacts you find and leave in place. Thanks for taking the time to share your adventures
What a great night out. I have the same flooring in my Gazelle!! :). The wheels on the Frontier are killer, look g great on it! Thanks again for sharing!!
Awesome, this has an old school softroading the west vibe to it. The rain, the old forest service roads and the simplicity. Excellent. I do have a question, your tent is the gazelle t4? I noticed it slipped right into the back of the truck and wasn’t too long when packed up, I was under the assumption the packed length was longer than a 5ft bed? It’s one of the reasons I opted against it.
Looking forward to seeing how you like the "new thing" but in the meantime back to basics is quite enjoyable. Cooking on the tailgate; so familiar 'cause thats how I do it, too.
Thank you for the content it makes you feel calm and comfortable! One of the reasons for trying to make a solo camping video, thank you for being a motivation, greetings from south celebes, Indonesia🍃
Adding a rolling cover at the back of that pick-up will add cover and protection for the things in the back. Also does not hinder the instalation of a rolling bar or the structure for a roof tent. I have one in my pick up. Best idea ever.
The truck is just in between "campers" at the moment. I have something else coming soon. 🙂 When I bought the Frontier, it had a BAKFlip folding tonneau cover on it and it was great. I could secure my gear out of the weather, but could also haul a load of dirt if I needed to. If I was going to keep camping this way, I absolutely would go back to some kind of bed cover. Mucking about with strapping a tarp over my gear wasn't fun, plus I was afraid to stop at a popular trailhead on my way home from this trip because my stuff wasn't secure. 😏
Love the idea of the moving blanket for the indoor rug.. watching your videos brings so many "aha" moments and me telling myself "brilliant" the way you have a knack for using simple things for simple things.. Thanks again for the content!! Safe travels
The moving-blanket-as-tent-rug idea actually came from a viewer a long time ago, I normally would have said so in the video but I was trying to keep talking to a minimum. 😄
Thanks Donald for getting back to the roots of the channel. I've been watching a lot of Nikki Delventhal videos because she always on an adventure. Meanwhile my old favorites spend most of their air time at expos and moving their rigs. I have to admit what I thought was just a T&A channel turned out to have substance. Great comeback Donald. ( maybe a little less cooking next time). 😳
I would LOVE to travel more and only produce adventure videos but - despite all the nice comments here on this one - they simply do not command the views that the more "practical" videos get, and at the end of the day, I can't afford to only make videos that don't generate decent revenue. I'm essentially supporting a family of four and until the kids (and ex-wife) are more financially independent, I have to maintain some kind of balance to keep the bills paid. Long term, with the kids grown up and gone, I do plan to be on the road MUCH more and hope to survive just making the videos I want to make. For now, there are still some that I "have" to make. 🙂
@@softroadingthewest Thanks for the insight. I was a single parent back in the day and "me time" was few and far between. Kids will always be priority one. As a fan of you and your channel I do feel frustrated that channels like MAV can consistently get near and above 1 million views per video with similar content. But for sure do what keeps the channel that we love so much alive.
That was a really great video Donald, maybe one of your best recently. The solo exploration theme seems to be you forte. Drone footage and production quality was outstanding. BTW, the Frontier looks awesome without the tradie canopy, just sayin. Cheers.
It's really hard to film the way I like to when I'm with other people, no matter how much they reassure me they don't mind waiting. 😆I also just like having the absolute freedom to decide exactly where I will and won't go or completely change my plan on the fly. I enjoy being out with friends and it can make for interesting videos also, but to shoot episodes like this one, I really need to be out by myself. And yeah I completely agree the truck looks MUCH better without that tall canopy. Now I can't get from the truck into the store without looking back at it two or three times, haha. I do have another camper coming soon but it will definitely look nicer than the contractor cap. 👍
Wow! Some great solo time. Heading out next weekend for a over nighter. I however will not be solo, but it should still be fun. See you on the trails! George.
That’s why I went with the Deep Sleep Solo Mats, Goose Gear Tailgate Table, Dometic GO Jug, Wolfwise cabana bathroom and Titian 36L Cooler as it all fit snuggly under my Tuffy Deck Lid. After dinner I just stack the gear on the lid, roll out the mats after pulling the sleeping bags from under the rear seats. Essentially the Jeep is a mobile tent that can be opened to star gaze, entered like an expedition trailer and still be secure when left at trailheads. It’s a 2022 6sp Willys Sport so unlike the traditional Jeep/Trailer Overlanding rigs it also works as a daily driver. I keep it packed with gear, can still use the back seat for grandkids & groceries but whenever I get a chance all I need is gas, food & water. For year I used a Ram Truck with a tonneau cover that flipped both at the cab and tailgate end of the bed. I cooked off the tailgate and then used a rope ladder off the side to climb into bed to sleep. Again when parked at a trailhead it was stealthy!
Preparing to do the same sometime during the holidays. Planning on getting a Shiftpod 3 this winter/spring. I love camping in bad weather, just as long as I can get out of the weather and still have a place to stand up. Fewer people, unless it's hunting season, and I love being so close to whatever nature happens to be doing at the moment.
Out in these backcountry areas of Oregon, the bears are not accustomed to people and tend to stay away. I've spent a LOT of time in the wilderness over the past four years and have only managed to lay eyes on a bear once ever in Oregon...and it was doing all it could to get away from me. :-)
@@softroadingthewest East of Cottage Grove, Oregon, north of Dorena Reservoir, up Rat Creek Road, a black stepped across the logger track in front of us. Approximately the size of a full-grown VolksWagon. From the shrubs on the east bank, one step in the middle of the road, and into the shrubs on the west bank... sixty feet/20m, blink and you missed it. Big animal, incredibly quick. . I was operating a road-grader in that forest, so my eyes were about ten feet above the gravel. My cow-orker was chatting with a Forest Servicer... and three paces away, a black sat in a bush. . To see a bear, look for the place with nothing. In my experience, the fur on a bear absorbs all light, giving the impression of a shadowy nothing. . They are opportunistic scavengers, so cook thoroughly.
It’s great and inspirational to see you out exploring as usual! I’m slightly disappointed that I haven’t seen any guesses in the comments on which camper you’re getting. I’ll put my ticket on Super Pacific! Ha Keep up the great work
Those were some pretty woods! You've had that Gazelle for a while now, so it must be doing OK for you. I'm thinking hard about getting a Gazelle too. As I've gotten older I've gotten in to finding an overgrown patch of replanted woods that needs the dead branches and smaller dead trees cut out. I make it a project and make return trips to get some pretty big areas cleaned up and the wildfire hazard reduced a bit. I really like running my battery chain saws out there and would have had fun clearing those logs out of the roads you found. Point is, I do less traveling and more working on the woods. I find the big wildfires we've had are pretty motivating in that regard. Maybe think about trying a little bit of that altruistic work out there my friend.
Now that's real Oregon camping folks! Drip, drizzle, drippy drip... along with my absolute favorite outdoor pastime: Playing "where does that one go?" with old logging roads. Good times Donald!
totally - "camping in the rain" ... that's just camping in the PNW much of the time :)
Very refreshing to see a back to basics adventure. Loved it 👍
I like the back to basics feel of this video.
It’s a good reminder of how far your channel has come, and a good reminder to the rest of us that overlanding, camping doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive
This is one of your best videos Donald. Great camera work!
The forest is always so beautiful when it is raining. The drone shots with the forest and the low clouds were great. Glad to see you out and camping again. You made me hungry with all that cooking you did. Take care and be safe.
Thanks Frank!
THERE IS NO GIVEAWAY. That is a scambot. Ignore. I'm deleting these as fast as I can. --Donald
Thanks for taking us along on the adventure.
This is exactly how it goes when we go exploring. There’s lots of checking out side roads. Some are dead ends while some are winners. People will never know the losers and winners if they don’t do the work to find them. 😊
I bought the gazelle tent and Coleman cot because of your earlier videos. I absolutely love the combo. My best friend followed suit and we did an Arizona adventure mountain biking and camping in Sedona, Flagstaff, and grand canyon with the gear. Complete game changer when it comes to sleep!
Glad to see you out on the trail with just the basics. Great camera/drone work and selection of music. I had to chuckle when that slab of meat hit the dinner platter. 🙂It looked delicious. Thanks, Donald.
the scene of you driving into the moody woods at 6:49 is amazing !
Love this version of camping. Tent camping and minimal equipment. Best ever
I take a cordless leaf blower on trips like this, small one from harbor freight, to dry off tent after rain, works good, same battery fits dewalt chain saw
Come for the camping adventure story. Stay for the great videography!
Brings back many good memories! Thank you for that video.
Love that drone shot at +/- 5:50 mark - gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing. It’s great to see you getting out camping with a tent and truck. Loved the vid. Take care.
The sound of rain is so relaxing, and your videos are so enjoyable. I'm now inspired to go camping myself. Thank you. 😊🥰
THERE IS NO GIVEAWAY. That is a scambot. Ignore. I'm deleting these as fast as I can. --Donald
@@softroadingthewest thanks!
I have been using the Gazelle T4 now for 2 plus years. I just recently purchased the T3x for my next upcoming trip this month. I upgraded the T4 last year with their overlander package, bigger, waterproof storage bag, footprint and heavy duty stakes. I purchased a new T4 overlander bag for the T3X. Just more room to stuff it in. Makes life a little easier!
Love your "clean" recording and commentary style! Keep on exploring! (filming in the rain is a bonus)!
Back to basics which is how I did my trip this weekend. I have a go box inspired by LLOD and I keep my basic kit including hammock and all the trimmings. I cooked on the tailgate and didn't even put up my awning. I was hanging on a bluff overlooking the Buffalo river in Tennessee watching people canoe and kayak by occasionally wishing I had my canoe then quickly changing my mind when I though how much work that would be. The weather was beautiful in the 70's and in the 50's at night I like rainy camping but not without cover. I bet this motivated you to work hard on your new system. Cheers.
Great videography on this one! So many angles and so well edited 👏
What a great trip! Not the "perfect" conditions so many people think are necessary to be outdoors. Love the fog, the drizzle, the basics! This one really connects with me.
Back to basics! And just as awesome.
Gates are our future. 😢
Excellent video of your adventure, Donald!
Such a great video. Back to basics but perfect.
Amazing. Authentic. Refreshing
Back to the basics... Love it
Love your practical set up and beautiful journey. All those gear show off journey make me stressful instead of relaxing. We have a trailer for our family, hopefully one day I could do a simple solo trip using ground tent just like you .
Nicely pared down, thanks. I set up a tarp for rain and dew. Easy with all those trees.
Great video! You can have a awesome camping adventure with only basic gear!
Well done. Simple and peaceful.
Man, these kinds of adventures are soothing. I wish we could do more of these ourselves. We have a rooftop tent but I really like your pop-up tent.
Beautiful shots, your work with the light has gotten better 👍
Man, that's awesome. I'm about 2 hours North of you but I grew up in the Eugene/Springfield area. When you passed Leeburg dam it brought back a lot of memories of swimming there as a kid. Listening to the pitter patter of the rain and seeing the steam from your breath and your food made me jealous that you already have rain. Very peaceful and fulfilling. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful wake spot!
New subscriber. I very much enjoy your content. This video, however, reminds me why I didn't make the Army a full career. I'll stick with my Class A RV. I do appreciate the way you respect the enviroments you are in ( including picking up inconsiderate campers trash) and the artifacts you find and leave in place. Thanks for taking the time to share your adventures
I love those harbor freight moving blankets, so many uses
Good luck!
Was good to have a 'back to basic's style camp. I've actually missed you doing these.
Throw-back vid...Love it
Frontier looks so much better without the canopy. BTW nice back to the roots Camping. Greetings from North Germany
Great video of camping and half the fun is setting up in the rain. All part of being outdoors. 🙂 Venture On.
If you received a reply about a giveaway, please ignore it. That is a scambot. I'm deleting these as fast as I can. --Donald
I was amused about how you reached for the column shifter. I have the same habit.
Very good video, simple, realistic Reality! ❤👍 will be back to see more.
What a great night out. I have the same flooring in my Gazelle!! :). The wheels on the Frontier are killer, look g great on it! Thanks again for sharing!!
Thank you for the wonderful video. I am always looking forward to it from Japan.
I enjoy all of your videos but love the old school stuff. Thanks for the great video, enjoyed it. 👍
Very well done glad your getting out there thank you for Sharing
Nice set up . And awesome drone shots .
I would have to travel into Northern Calif. To find forest trees like that. We got nothing but hills and mountains in Southern Calif. You the man.
Awesome, this has an old school softroading the west vibe to it. The rain, the old forest service roads and the simplicity. Excellent.
I do have a question, your tent is the gazelle t4? I noticed it slipped right into the back of the truck and wasn’t too long when packed up, I was under the assumption the packed length was longer than a 5ft bed? It’s one of the reasons I opted against it.
It's the original T3. My head hits the ceiling if I stand fully upright anywhere but the very middle peak. 🙂
@@softroadingthewest gotcha, that makes sense.
Looking forward to seeing how you like the "new thing" but in the meantime back to basics is quite enjoyable. Cooking on the tailgate; so familiar 'cause thats how I do it, too.
The aerial footage was fantastic. Very well shot.
THERE IS NO GIVEAWAY. That is a scambot. Ignore. I'm deleting these as fast as I can. --Donald
i can feel the camp. what a solitude
That’s the Oregon I remember. 😁
Nice to see the gazelle being deployed again.
Love the video man, excited for the fall/ winter season this year
Ahh, excellent video. I really missed these vids with views of the gorgeous PNW. Well done!
That highway just isn’t the same since the fires. So much beauty stripped away
I love that highway. Sucks to see how open it is since the fires have hit that area so hard.
Thank you for the content it makes you feel calm and comfortable! One of the reasons for trying to make a solo camping video, thank you for being a motivation, greetings from south celebes, Indonesia🍃
Adding a rolling cover at the back of that pick-up will add cover and protection for the things in the back. Also does not hinder the instalation of a rolling bar or the structure for a roof tent. I have one in my pick up. Best idea ever.
The truck is just in between "campers" at the moment. I have something else coming soon. 🙂
When I bought the Frontier, it had a BAKFlip folding tonneau cover on it and it was great. I could secure my gear out of the weather, but could also haul a load of dirt if I needed to. If I was going to keep camping this way, I absolutely would go back to some kind of bed cover. Mucking about with strapping a tarp over my gear wasn't fun, plus I was afraid to stop at a popular trailhead on my way home from this trip because my stuff wasn't secure. 😏
Still love my Gazzelle tent I bought on your recommendation though I have a large Bell hot tent for the winter these days
Digging the new wheels you got, good wheel n tire combo.
Love the idea of the moving blanket for the indoor rug.. watching your videos brings so many "aha" moments and me telling myself "brilliant" the way you have a knack for using simple things for simple things..
Thanks again for the content!!
Safe travels
The moving-blanket-as-tent-rug idea actually came from a viewer a long time ago, I normally would have said so in the video but I was trying to keep talking to a minimum. 😄
@@softroadingthewest I am going this next weekend for a moving blanket..haha
Great stuff
Thanks Donald for getting back to the roots of the channel. I've been watching a lot of Nikki Delventhal videos because she always on an adventure. Meanwhile my old favorites spend most of their air time at expos and moving their rigs. I have to admit what I thought was just a T&A channel turned out to have substance. Great comeback Donald. ( maybe a little less cooking next time). 😳
I would LOVE to travel more and only produce adventure videos but - despite all the nice comments here on this one - they simply do not command the views that the more "practical" videos get, and at the end of the day, I can't afford to only make videos that don't generate decent revenue. I'm essentially supporting a family of four and until the kids (and ex-wife) are more financially independent, I have to maintain some kind of balance to keep the bills paid. Long term, with the kids grown up and gone, I do plan to be on the road MUCH more and hope to survive just making the videos I want to make. For now, there are still some that I "have" to make. 🙂
@@softroadingthewest Thanks for the insight. I was a single parent back in the day and "me time" was few and far between. Kids will always be priority one. As a fan of you and your channel I do feel frustrated that channels like MAV can consistently get near and above 1 million views per video with similar content. But for sure do what keeps the channel that we love so much alive.
oh!! -- the harbor freight moving blankets -- the best "beater blanket" out there
That was a really great video Donald, maybe one of your best recently. The solo exploration theme seems to be you forte. Drone footage and production quality was outstanding. BTW, the Frontier looks awesome without the tradie canopy, just sayin. Cheers.
It's really hard to film the way I like to when I'm with other people, no matter how much they reassure me they don't mind waiting. 😆I also just like having the absolute freedom to decide exactly where I will and won't go or completely change my plan on the fly. I enjoy being out with friends and it can make for interesting videos also, but to shoot episodes like this one, I really need to be out by myself.
And yeah I completely agree the truck looks MUCH better without that tall canopy. Now I can't get from the truck into the store without looking back at it two or three times, haha. I do have another camper coming soon but it will definitely look nicer than the contractor cap. 👍
@@softroadingthewest Thanks for your reply. Keep on Trucking!
Nice, welcome palate cleanser. We could sure use some rain right now.
Wow! Some great solo time. Heading out next weekend for a over nighter. I however will not be solo, but it should still be fun. See you on the trails! George.
Have a great trip George!
this one the best video, amazing camping.
Great video! Drone shots were outstanding.
Thank You Donald.
stunning videography
I so have to do this in my area now!
Amazing views!
Great video, it's nice to see this type of trip again.
Very nicely done!
Very peaceful 👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸
Excellent as usual♥️
Best adventure 🎉
That’s why I went with the Deep Sleep Solo Mats, Goose Gear Tailgate Table, Dometic GO Jug, Wolfwise cabana bathroom and Titian 36L Cooler as it all fit snuggly under my Tuffy Deck Lid. After dinner I just stack the gear on the lid, roll out the mats after pulling the sleeping bags from under the rear seats. Essentially the Jeep is a mobile tent that can be opened to star gaze, entered like an expedition trailer and still be secure when left at trailheads. It’s a 2022 6sp Willys Sport so unlike the traditional Jeep/Trailer Overlanding rigs it also works as a daily driver. I keep it packed with gear, can still use the back seat for grandkids & groceries but whenever I get a chance all I need is gas, food & water. For year I used a Ram Truck with a tonneau cover that flipped both at the cab and tailgate end of the bed. I cooked off the tailgate and then used a rope ladder off the side to climb into bed to sleep. Again when parked at a trailhead it was stealthy!
Well done Donald
Beautiful drone shots! Well done.
What an incredible shot at 5:50. Your videos are always beautifully done. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
THERE IS NO GIVEAWAY. That is a scambot. Ignore. I'm deleting these as fast as I can. --Donald
Preparing to do the same sometime during the holidays. Planning on getting a Shiftpod 3 this winter/spring. I love camping in bad weather, just as long as I can get out of the weather and still have a place to stand up. Fewer people, unless it's hunting season, and I love being so close to whatever nature happens to be doing at the moment.
Good stuff buddy, KISS 👍👍👍
Best camp with a portable electric fence in bear country. Lightest is 2.4 lbs. Small kit for huge peace of mind
Out in these backcountry areas of Oregon, the bears are not accustomed to people and tend to stay away. I've spent a LOT of time in the wilderness over the past four years and have only managed to lay eyes on a bear once ever in Oregon...and it was doing all it could to get away from me. :-)
@@softroadingthewest
East of Cottage Grove, Oregon, north of Dorena Reservoir, up Rat Creek Road, a black stepped across the logger track in front of us.
Approximately the size of a full-grown VolksWagon.
From the shrubs on the east bank, one step in the middle of the road, and into the shrubs on the west bank... sixty feet/20m, blink and you missed it.
Big animal, incredibly quick.
.
I was operating a road-grader in that forest, so my eyes were about ten feet above the gravel.
My cow-orker was chatting with a Forest Servicer... and three paces away, a black sat in a bush.
.
To see a bear, look for the place with nothing.
In my experience, the fur on a bear absorbs all light, giving the impression of a shadowy nothing.
.
They are opportunistic scavengers, so cook thoroughly.
Back to basics is never a bad thing. No $50K rig needed.
I do the same thing here in colorado during the winter in a hot tent.
Loved this one Donald!
I agree with you all basic camping/overlanding let's just say connecting with nature.
love it. keep it up sir.
Love that area! Gotta have my trees!
New sub. Great video just the right amount of dialogue.
That trail mix on trail is funny.
It’s great and inspirational to see you out exploring as usual!
I’m slightly disappointed that I haven’t seen any guesses in the comments on which camper you’re getting. I’ll put my ticket on Super Pacific! Ha
Keep up the great work
Dude I love your edits man .
Awesome video as always
Love the simple back to basic camp setup. Safe travels
👍👍 great video
Those were some pretty woods! You've had that Gazelle for a while now, so it must be doing OK for you. I'm thinking hard about getting a Gazelle too. As I've gotten older I've gotten in to finding an overgrown patch of replanted woods that needs the dead branches and smaller dead trees cut out. I make it a project and make return trips to get some pretty big areas cleaned up and the wildfire hazard reduced a bit. I really like running my battery chain saws out there and would have had fun clearing those logs out of the roads you found. Point is, I do less traveling and more working on the woods. I find the big wildfires we've had are pretty motivating in that regard. Maybe think about trying a little bit of that altruistic work out there my friend.