My $.02: I wouldn't change anything to be honest. When you get out, bring us along if you can while still keeping it fun for you. I think most of us watch for a little outdoor adventure inspiration when we're unable to be out there too. You do such a great job doing that via your cinematography, editing, and chemistry. It's rad seeing people enjoy the stuff you do as well. So if it's Tahoe, the Sierras, or Mexico, it doesn't really matter. We're just psyched because you are too and for a few minutes we can share a sliver of that.
My husband and I started climbing this year and have slowly been moving outside, which can be pretty intimidating, especially if you don’t have a coach/mentor to learn from. We’d love to see more videos on transitioning from indoor to outdoor climbing, like setting top ropes. We’d also love to learn more about how you both train for your climbing and backpacking trips. Excited for the future of your channel!
I think this video was more along the lines of you guys moving onto the next chapter than quitting van life which is so great. Both of you are authentic and so is your relationship, so keep making videos around YOU. You are the secret sauce, not the van, not the camera, not anything else but YOU. So as long as you guys keep documenting and telling us stories, the views shall keep rolling. Having said that, I'd love to learn from you guys more on how to plan and execute shorter weekend trips. Day hikes and such too. Anyway, good to see you guys feel a bit more at peace with this new change and I wish you the best on the next chapter!
Thanks so much for the support 🙏🏼 I’ll admit, feeling like we are the secret sauce is tough for us 😅 but we’re trying to embrace it a little more, be ourselves, and continue doing the things we want to do. We just want to add a tiny bit more value from time to time and give ourselves a little more direction. Preciate ya Ronny!
I was nomadic 85% of the time for 40 years, all over the world, and it takes a specific personality to live that way. I am now 65 years old and I am becoming sedentary, something that freaks me out. We are who we are... As far as having a purpose on the road, mine was simple: humanitarian work and documentary photography. I loved my life as a nomad even though it could be dangerous and I was attacked a few times ( a person can be attacked even if they are sedentary). Embrace change and enjoy this next chapter!
When you put together an adventure video, consider spending about 2 minutes giving insights to cool towns/cafes/friendly businesses you encounter. Your 6 hour radius has a lot of great gems in it, and some quick shout outs can really help the rest of us find/support these places. Just a community oriented thought.
The vibes and music is always spot on with your videos, and I think your followers are here for the two of you and your personalities just as much as the outdoors. People might appreciate some content that shows how you go about research and planning for your adventures too. Of course, we have to balance helping people find ways to access and enjoy the backcountry without encouraging overcrowding in the vein of the instagram effect, but I think y'all can find that sweet spot and encourage people to responsible. Always good to catch up with you when you post something!
Enjoyed the intro and the van life perspective! I think you bought the van right when gas prices surged to nearly $8? Remember those Lee Vining prices?! Enjoy watching you guys and we’ll done - looking forward to the next installment! Best outdoor video: just bring yourselves and having fun! Don’t change the format. Keep having fun outdoors and bringing the audience along. Take care!
First, I totally resonated with your reasons for making the change: there's an amazing amount of solace to be had in stability with regular friends, having an home base...and knowing where to, uh, you know. Love, love, love the idea of videos that cover the nitty gritty of some of your travels! Tracking expenses, planning stops, and avoiding some of those, "oh you must be new to this" type of lessons most of us learn the hard way. Y'all are so natural on camera and tell a great story with each video - excited to see you start this new chapter!
Reason #4 ... wow! Its so obvious now that you mention it! I did it the old school way: college, job, career, wife, house, kids, retire at 55. House paid off, empty nest! Now we travel in a van but love going home. Van life, for me, will never be better than home sweet home. But, as they say, variety is the spice of life!
Great analysis. We are semi-retired and just spent 40 days in our van. Thankful for home base. Decision fatigue is a real thing. Did a ton of planning, but some of the free spirit we wanted was tiring. We love our van and use it often, but full time was never our plan. Younare wise young people.
The reason why I follow you is those amazing backpacking videos that you guys do once in a while. You guys always make those so special, I love them. ❤
Thank you for saying Hazel is not just a dog. She is family. We treat our pets like kids. Enjoy the next part of your journey together. Excited to watch if you want to keep sharing with all of us!
not to mention Hazel is a beautiful heeler, and I understand when they say she is special, the heeler breed is a special take on dogs. so focused and intense but also loyal and very loving to a small crowd usually.
Hey Guys, it is well understood. Your decision is important when you guys are looking to be close to love one or trying to have your own house. In any case, you guys had a bit of an adventure in your personal life that was definitely worth it. And by the way, you can always go back to van life if you find your self wanting to do it again. A++ for this video.
Glad you guys are excited about the future of the channel and I think showing how you plan trips behind the scenes and doing gear reviews is a pretty good idea! Good luck!
I agree with your point about not buying too much van. I have $110k into mine at this point and realize that a less-bougie rig would have honestly worked just as well.
First and foremost, we all appreciate the honesty. You both showed not only the best side of living in a van but also the down side. Nothing like being raw & real. I’ve been a long time and all I can say is that you both always put on such great quality to your videos. I am looking forward to your new adventures. I like that you mentioned the Sierras because there is a ton of outdoor things to do. My suggestion for future videos would be some hiking (day hike or backpacking) trip report. There are bunch of 14ers in the Sierras. Definitely some climbing videos and even camping too. With these in mind, a gear video would also be a good idea. Since yall back in Lake Tahoe, maybe a daily vlog would be cool. I’ve also been a huge fan of Victoria’s cooking so that’s a fun idea. I’m just super stoked for your future.
Love all of these ideas! And glad we can be honest with the community here - makes it much easier to keep making these videos with a little less pressure.
first of all - best of luck to you guys. Secondly, as to the direction maybe you can do some videos about survival? What to have, what to do and how to do it?
Excited to see this next phase in your lives. You all are fairly established in backcountry skiiing/split boarding. Give us a few videos detailing how you got there! It can be overwhelming from someone that came from a flat state to embark on something like that. Looking forward to your future content
The trip reviews/guides sound extremely helpful! I can't tell you how many times the barrier to getting out for a weekend can be lack of time to plan, etc etc. With a video from our fav outdoor power couple reviewing a camping trip that also summarizes the logistics of it would be A+ in my book! Thank you guys!
I love that you guys are so open to everyone about your changes and I think everyone really appreciate it. I love the idea of trip reports on like what you ate what kit you used how you planned it that kinda thing. But to be honest my favourite videos are the ones of your adventures themselves like the 2 night winter camping in Lake Tahoe or bike packing with hazel. Can't wait for what's to come!
Love your honesty. We are retired and getting ready to go to Alaska with our new Van for 5 weeks to try out Van life, but I'm sure we will want to get back to family after that, then look to our next trip.
I could see this coming for a year. Y'all were trudging around with a resignation and mood as if y'all weren't enjoying it. I hope you find more enjoyment in your future endeavors.
Dogs and cats or other pet companions are family so your decision is justified 😊 Me I always make plans around my animals and they are always my top priority 😉
4 and 5 hitting home for me. Always appreciate these videos showing your realities and that they can be our realities too. I like the ideas you talked about coming up and looking forward even more to your channel. Been following along forever and super excited for you two (three). Ideal videos? The exact things you talked about. The usual edits, but gear reviews, trip reports, etc. I missed the tech stuff you used to do.
Just found you guys today and have quickly fallen in love with your vibe/ general nature! Most of your videos are something I've wanted to get out and do but feel like I don't know where to start. Super glad to come along as a fly on the wall!
Thank you for your honesty and 5 very understandable reasons for stopping full time van life. Glad to know you have a home to move home to! And a community and friends. I enjoy traveling and camping but I would never do it full time. I have to have goals and direction in my life. Family, friends and community are very important to me. Giving and receiving from each other. Loving and helping others. I know I would not do well emotionally being away from family and friends. I look forward to your upcoming videos on camping and adventures. Also I like you both so much and would love to know about the next chapter in your life. Blessings to you both and Hazel.
Whatever you guys decide to go along with future content, I’ll still be here to enjoy your ride. It’s your channel and it’s your journey! That is the reason many of us have followed you guys along. Though I do understand the need for guidance on what to make. Honestly, the one thing I’d love to see is more OUT OF THE COUNTRY trips. Some wild outdoor/landscape outside of the States would be awesome to see. I loved the Mexico trip you guys had. Maybe have that once in awhile would be such a treat! But anyways, thank you for still putting out the best content out here and still giving us inspiration to go out and enjoy the world more.
I bought a van for weekend travel and did so after reading "10 Years a Nomad" and he said a lot of the things you said, so weekend trips appealed to me. I started a garden (a job in itself) and work part time. Then, when the desire hits me I take off for a few days to reset my emotional clock. I find it the best of BOTH worlds!! Good luck to you!!
Never stop sharing!! I absolutely love your guy's videos. The way you film, the honesty, the music, all of your adventures. Thank you so much. I'm excited to see what videos you guys come out with along with seeing gear videos and whatnot. :)
The videos you made before you moved into the van of the local Tahoe adventures were some of my favorites!! I'm stoked to see whatever you do moving forward, but that previous genre of adventure videos really felt like you were in your element & loving what you were making & doing!
The idea of tutorials and trip recaps would be so dope. As my boyfriend and I are getting started on traveling and bigger trips, we would love to hear the details and how to plan! I love where the channel is headed, so excited to see where it goes! ❤
When it comes to the outdoors, there's always something to learn! Glad you and your boyfriend and planning bigger adventures! It can be fun to push yourself and experience some type 2 fun🤣 Thanks for stickin around and watching our videos! -V
Your favorites: 1. Top 5 backpacking destination in CA 2. Top 10 trails to day hike in Tahoe 3. What to pack for 1-2 nights backpacking 4. Backpacking clothes/gear suggestions 5. I hope I run into you guys in Tahoe someday!!!! I’m a fannnnnn🤘🏾😎
I started watching your channel years ago when you were just filming the really exciting powder days in Tahoe. I’m glad you two support each other, I’m sure this was a scary decision to make. I watch your channel for the sierra content! Show us those awesome places in the sierras! Show us the difference in ski resorts up there. More ideas too: Reno in Reno, show us you building your house up that you’re going to nest in. Make sure you don’t have kids because it’ll be something to do for 18 years. Thank you three for the wonderful content. Come say hi if you’re in SF 😄
You guy's made the right decision for yourselves which is awesome! I did vanlife for 4 yrs in South Lake Tahoe and it really weighed on me at time's. Other time's I felt super rich and very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place. I had a nearly run down minivan that became strictly my home only moving it from parking lot to parking lot. I'm glad now to not have to own a pee cup anymore or needing to make sure I have grocery store bag for those time's I knew I couldn't make it to a restroom for #2. It's nice to have stability and certainty in life. I'm excited for you two in your next chapter. After all, life is merely a collection of our experiences.
Love that you guys are changing to make sure YOU guys are happy and still excited with what you do! I would LOVE to see some fishing? I haven't seen you guys fish? Maybe you aren't into it, but that would be so fun. Maybe a catch and cook/camp video. That would be so fun. Some good video tutorials like the old days would be awesome too. Or keep doing what you're doing! Camping and backpacking videos. You are amazing! And yes, making these videos IS making the world a better place :)
Hi! I love the idea of travel logs. I also just really enjoy watching you have fun (sometimes type 2) in the outdoors/around Tahoe. Watching you do a really fun adventure always inspires me to start planning one of my own, even if it's not necessarily the same hike/climb or even in the same state. The excitement is contagious. I also feel like there's a lot of decision-making that goes into picking a route to climb/ a hike and sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you expected. I'd love to hear more about why you chose to do a certain thing and if it met expectations (am I the only one that often runs into 1000x little dilemmas when trying something new?). Glad you are feeling a little more stable and excited about new things to come.
Glad you like to see us suffer with type 2 fun😅 lol jk we like the struggle sometimes! But YES! There is a lot of pre planning when it comes to outdoor adventures. If we miss a step in the pre planning process, that's when something goes wrong. Of course, there are some uncontrollables but we're looking forward to sharing our process and all the things we've learned over the years☺️ -V
I REALLY enjoyed your Mexico City video where you were people watching and trying some food. I know you guys don't consider yourselves city folk but your style of video applied to that setting really was great. Visiting a city through your eyes was a lot of fun. Not too much narration, just good vibes. More please.
Thanks for your honesty. I just discovered your videos and really enjoy them. I'm glad you did the van life, but it's realistic to get to a point where you want a change.
I would like to see more videos of people making themselves happy and fulfilled and not worried about likes and subscriptions, it’s called adding substance by forming boundaries, it’s called self reliant and passion.
Would love to see backpacking/hiking videos around Norcal, especially in the Sierras. Thank you for always sharing great content and inspiring us for new adventures!
Glad you all are doing well and happy. I remember painting Hazel in watercolor and sending it to you years ago, when life was uncertain at that time. Hope you and yours stay happy and healthy!
I’m really excited with the new direction!! I would personally love both of you to plan a day or weekend itinerary in a park or location for each other. Make it a surprise and compare and contrast! What was the price difference? What took too long? What did you wish you spent more time at? Best time of year to visit? Etc. Again, super stoked for tutorials and experience videos!!!! Especially ones that are shot beautifully!
Your first A6000 video was something that I watched when I was first looking for a camera. Looking back on it today, the quality video you were able to produce was incredible. I still like watching it - especially the tips at the end. You have a lot of talent to share, and combining tech knowledge with outdoorsy stuff is a great combination.
I think it would be cool to see how to plan weekend camping trips. I just moved out to the PNW from Texas and it’s a bit overwhelming seeing all the different options out here. I’m excited to follow along y’all’s journey! Best of luck!
To anyone researching van life, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND looking into travel trailers. It mitigates many of pain points of van life and our truck+trailer rig was ~$72k. We have a place to shower every night if we want, our own bathroom to use, and air conditioning for the warmer days. We go off grid sometimes for about a week to get close to adventures, but a lot of times we’ll stay at rv parks for a month at a time. It’s pretty comforting knowing exactly where you’ll sleep at night. As for where the channel should go, just keep making the stuff you enjoy! Those are the best videos
Sounds like you both have made the right decision. You've done van life, ticked that box. Excited to see the new content, been watching the channel since I started filmmaking in 2018 and your style has always been my reference point for my own channel. See you on the next video! :D
Hey guys, I forgot about your channel for a while and I just stumbled on it again, and I am super glad I did. Love the content, I'll keep watching. Thanks!
So excited for this next adventure! So glad I DM’ed Victoria about my questions for my trip to Ansel Adams wilderness this summer, seems like you’re already starting to cater your content for people like me. I just started indoor climbing and I have my top rope belay cert, so the best video for me right now would to go from indoor, to outdoor. What that looks like, what gear and safety precautions I should have, what skills I should learn, etc. Thank you both for your wonderful videos that we all love.
Hey girl! So glad I was able to help answer some questions! Can't wait for you to see Thousand Island Lake! Seriously so beautiful:) Stoked to hear that you want to learn how to transition from indoor climbing to outdoor. We definitely plan on doing a video like that soon so be on the look out! Thanks for following along! -V
Thanks for a great video. The points you make about Hazel and how much you love her really hit me. My dog is the main reason that I am not traveling now. I applaud that you care so much for her, and put her happiness and needs on your list. Good luck and God bless.
Hello, first thanks for all those videos about van life, it was a great pleasure to watch, kind of the freedom we need sometimes when we can't go out! And really happy that you're glad with your décision. I'd love to see more videos about adventures like vlogs, maybe with some tips, real immersion that gives us ideas and goals, and the kind of videos you were alrdy making while you are out for a trip, as long as you enjoy at the same time! Thank you for all the quality work you're doing! Full support ;)
Love seeing your adventure vlog/recaps as it brings inspiration to others. I like the idea of doing a follow up video on how that trip was done/made - from planning all the way to returning home
The music in your videos is always such a vibe! It was a surprise to hear the van is gone but happy for you guys and wish you the best in this next step! I'll be watching your videos regardless of the adventure. I always enjoy how authentic and personable you guys are!
I love y’all’s content! Excited for y’all’s future! Reviewing gear, definitely “how to do this “videos are fun to watch, how to get started doing something.
Enjoy your videos and glad you recognize what's important. Living out of a van full time is not for everyone! We use our van for weekend or extended trips as a gear hauler with a place to sleep, the rest of the time we live in our home. Look forward to what y'all are going to do next! Adventure on!!
I lived on the road for the last two years and recently decided to plant my roots in Seattle at the beginning of 2023 for a lot of the same reasons you guys listed. I felt like I have lost a sense of community even though I have met some wonderful people on the road. And having to figure out where I was going to sleep, poop :D, and go next ended up taking more time and money than I was hoping to use. You guys make great adventure content whether its out of the van or back home. Best of luck to you both :D
I occasionally sleep in my 4runner and love camping beachside San Diego! I've always owned a home and feel for peeps who cannot afford to buy one now. Love your channel. Keep having fun! Timmy C Arizona
A van is always too small for a couple to live in fulltime. It's just simply too small for two humans and all of the stuff necessary to live in a way that is sustainable. I think you had to learn that lesson the hard way. For couples, I would always recommend a larger RV that has a toilet and a solid door for the bedroom and a tow vehicle. That or go truck and trailer. People also don't realize that the larger RVs are actually much cheaper than the vans, and way more liveable.
Trip reviews and tips would be great! Like where and how to get permits and how much stuff is, maybe some stuff on leave no trace. Keep up the good work yall I would love to see you guys on some dope Sierra alpine climbs.
As always, love your content! Lived in the Sierra’s off and on for years between Mammoth and Tahoe. Moved back to the outer Bay Area 18 years ago. Thank you for keeping me connected to my second home! Between my trips there and your content, it fills my cup! Would love to see a backpacking, what’s in my camera bag video. The sound in this video is awesome! Keep it coming! You’re awesome 🤩
You'll never go wrong following your hearts, so pivot this channel however it works for you. Trent and Allie went from #vanlife to building their own home in the mountains of Utah, and much of their audience followed. So if you want to remodel your house, plant a food forest and get some chickens to become more self-sufficient, I'd be totally down for that. I'm not into climbing, so I'll likely skip those videos, but I love your backpacking and camping adventures around Tahoe. The Sierras are AMAZING, and your videography and storytelling are truly an inspiration, so I'll always be checking in! Heck, we're practically neighbors. Maybe I'll see you at Trader Joe's sometime... :)
note to myself: it's so obvious that we need a community for some reason. being a nomad cool but even being a hippi or something has it's own community. we're belong to somewhere. it could be an idea or religious group or some book club. you guys express yourself so good about it. looking forward to see new videos. thanks.
Thanks for the update. You guys are still a big inspiration for me to get outside and be more adventurous. Loved/love the backpacking, camping, overlanding type videos. Those have been my favorite, by far. The mountain biking videos have been pretty great, too.
Good advice based on experience. So many folks live life wondering "what if" and inertia prevents them from trying something new. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for you and and your active life style. Your adventures and photography are spectacular. Love to Hazel!
Really like your decision. ofc I liked your van life content but to be honest my favorite chapter of videos was you two with pickup on the daytrips or short adventures. Mainly because that was something closest what I can do in my life. Looking forward for more :)
Love your cattle dog ( I have one too). My husband and I are retired so our girl is with us 24/7 but I can’t imagine living full time in an RV. Just discovered your channel while scrolling. Good luck as you’ve changed direction in your life.
Love the idea of tutorials and trip reviews. Help inspire and educate others to do the same trips y’all did and make a guide for it. Would love a guide video about van life and tips and tricks and stuff of that nature. Keep up the great work - love the videos
Ideal outdoor video: multiple adventure day ... I picture ya'll starting with a morning climb, followed by paddle boarding/kayaking/something around Tahoe to the start of a hike and summiting a peak or doing a walk around an easy trail, setting up a tent and going to sleep. Love those completely FULL days. I also think adding tons of value at the end of the video where one -- if not both -- of you talk about the adventure you just did. If it's a hike, talk about the mileage, show us the terrain on All Trails or the GPS app you used, how much the gear you wore costs, etc. The possibilities are immense here but some kind of 4-10 minute talking segment at the end of each video explaining the adventure and behind the scenes of the production. That would be so helpful and provide a ton of insight! Love you both!!
@@codyandvictoria Oh I'm so down to be the very first team member of the updated Cody and Victoria channel moving forward if ya'll ever really want one. 😂
Thank you for sharing your experience, it’s great to hear what are the hardships of this lifestyle, especially for someone contemplating this kind of travel. Many of these sound like the reasons for which I limit my camping trips to 2-3 days, after which I choose the convenience of a hotel room. I like the hipster style of the current videos with long montages with music, La La Land style. I believe Drew Simms said that he was asked to include more such moments in his videos and he also has some nice cooking as a side moment. I live in SoCal so whatever you film from Tahoe to Baja is relevant to my vacation plans. I enjoy seeing outdoor views more than gear reviews, you should aim for your videos to be motivational.
Hey! Love the channel, I recently found your channel through a friend. I decided to pretty much binge watch the whole channel. I think you all should stay away from gear related videos because the market on UA-cam is saturated with these videos because they’re easy to make and they lack creativity. I think you all shine in adventures combined with your cinematography and outdoor skills. For example, I really enjoyed your recent Tahoe video showcasing the beauty of Tahoe with snowboarding, climbing, and adventuring. I’m actually surprised your view counts for some of your recent videos don’t get that “many views.” I think if you consistently push out videos like these, word of mouth will get out. Also, marketing on the climbing subreddit is huge. I saw you recently posted a picture on there and that got a lot of traction.
Hey! Welcome to the channel! Thank you for the feedback. We definitely plan on keeping the channel "adventure" focused because well... that's what we like to do lol but we also want to bring a little more value to the channel. So every so often we'll add an educational type video to the mix. Thanks for watching our videos🤘 -V
Love you guys! I would love to see a video over how y'all got started doing this and how you are able to make it into successful content for UA-cam, such as your process in planning, shooting, and editing videos.
Just go adventure and take vids and pics. Camping vids are my fav. I’ll keep watching for sure. You guys have a great vibe so just do whatever you want👍🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
Would love to see your transition out of van life and trying to find community! Community has been hard to find and would love to see how y’all do it ❤️
Thanks for watching! Let us know what videos you want to see 🙏🏼👇🏼 Also we always forget to ask… but maybe click that subscribe button? 😬
Climbing all the way! Keep it up.
what font do you use for the sections? (the white text)
My $.02: I wouldn't change anything to be honest. When you get out, bring us along if you can while still keeping it fun for you. I think most of us watch for a little outdoor adventure inspiration when we're unable to be out there too. You do such a great job doing that via your cinematography, editing, and chemistry. It's rad seeing people enjoy the stuff you do as well. So if it's Tahoe, the Sierras, or Mexico, it doesn't really matter. We're just psyched because you are too and for a few minutes we can share a sliver of that.
My husband and I started climbing this year and have slowly been moving outside, which can be pretty intimidating, especially if you don’t have a coach/mentor to learn from. We’d love to see more videos on transitioning from indoor to outdoor climbing, like setting top ropes. We’d also love to learn more about how you both train for your climbing and backpacking trips. Excited for the future of your channel!
Yes! Really want to do a top rope video sometime soon 🙌🏼
I think this video was more along the lines of you guys moving onto the next chapter than quitting van life which is so great. Both of you are authentic and so is your relationship, so keep making videos around YOU. You are the secret sauce, not the van, not the camera, not anything else but YOU. So as long as you guys keep documenting and telling us stories, the views shall keep rolling. Having said that, I'd love to learn from you guys more on how to plan and execute shorter weekend trips. Day hikes and such too. Anyway, good to see you guys feel a bit more at peace with this new change and I wish you the best on the next chapter!
Thanks so much for the support 🙏🏼 I’ll admit, feeling like we are the secret sauce is tough for us 😅 but we’re trying to embrace it a little more, be ourselves, and continue doing the things we want to do. We just want to add a tiny bit more value from time to time and give ourselves a little more direction. Preciate ya Ronny!
I was nomadic 85% of the time for 40 years, all over the world, and it takes a specific personality to live that way. I am now 65 years old and I am becoming sedentary, something that freaks me out. We are who we are... As far as having a purpose on the road, mine was simple: humanitarian work and documentary photography. I loved my life as a nomad even though it could be dangerous and I was attacked a few times ( a person can be attacked even if they are sedentary). Embrace change and enjoy this next chapter!
When you put together an adventure video, consider spending about 2 minutes giving insights to cool towns/cafes/friendly businesses you encounter. Your 6 hour radius has a lot of great gems in it, and some quick shout outs can really help the rest of us find/support these places. Just a community oriented thought.
The vibes and music is always spot on with your videos, and I think your followers are here for the two of you and your personalities just as much as the outdoors. People might appreciate some content that shows how you go about research and planning for your adventures too. Of course, we have to balance helping people find ways to access and enjoy the backcountry without encouraging overcrowding in the vein of the instagram effect, but I think y'all can find that sweet spot and encourage people to responsible. Always good to catch up with you when you post something!
Enjoyed the intro and the van life perspective! I think you bought the van right when gas prices surged to nearly $8? Remember those Lee Vining prices?! Enjoy watching you guys and we’ll done - looking forward to the next installment!
Best outdoor video: just bring yourselves and having fun! Don’t change the format. Keep having fun outdoors and bringing the audience along. Take care!
Our wallets remember those gas prices very well😅 thanks for following along!
I love traveling but I always love coming home…I will never give up my home base. Great video thanks for sharing
First, I totally resonated with your reasons for making the change: there's an amazing amount of solace to be had in stability with regular friends, having an home base...and knowing where to, uh, you know.
Love, love, love the idea of videos that cover the nitty gritty of some of your travels! Tracking expenses, planning stops, and avoiding some of those, "oh you must be new to this" type of lessons most of us learn the hard way. Y'all are so natural on camera and tell a great story with each video - excited to see you start this new chapter!
Thanks for the feedback! We’re very much looking forward to stability in “regular” life and chaos on our adventures 😅
Reason #4 ... wow! Its so obvious now that you mention it! I did it the old school way: college, job, career, wife, house, kids, retire at 55. House paid off, empty nest! Now we travel in a van but love going home. Van life, for me, will never be better than home sweet home. But, as they say, variety is the spice of life!
I’ll be tuning in for all the climbing lingo videos. And also the adventures. And also Hazel 🤓
Great analysis. We are semi-retired and just spent 40 days in our van. Thankful for home base. Decision fatigue is a real thing. Did a ton of planning, but some of the free spirit we wanted was tiring. We love our van and use it often, but full time was never our plan. Younare wise young people.
We’re currently working on a part time setup and couldn’t be more excited to have the best of both
The reason why I follow you is those amazing backpacking videos that you guys do once in a while. You guys always make those so special, I love them. ❤
Many more to come!
Thank you for saying Hazel is not just a dog. She is family. We treat our pets like kids. Enjoy the next part of your journey together. Excited to watch if you want to keep sharing with all of us!
not to mention Hazel is a beautiful heeler, and I understand when they say she is special, the heeler breed is a special take on dogs. so focused and intense but also loyal and very loving to a small crowd usually.
Hey Guys, it is well understood. Your decision is important when you guys are looking to be close to love one or trying to have your own house. In any case, you guys had a bit of an adventure in your personal life that was definitely worth it. And by the way, you can always go back to van life if you find your self wanting to do it again. A++ for this video.
Glad you guys are excited about the future of the channel and I think showing how you plan trips behind the scenes and doing gear reviews is a pretty good idea! Good luck!
I agree with your point about not buying too much van. I have $110k into mine at this point and realize that a less-bougie rig would have honestly worked just as well.
First and foremost, we all appreciate the honesty. You both showed not only the best side of living in a van but also the down side. Nothing like being raw & real. I’ve been a long time and all I can say is that you both always put on such great quality to your videos. I am looking forward to your new adventures. I like that you mentioned the Sierras because there is a ton of outdoor things to do. My suggestion for future videos would be some hiking (day hike or backpacking) trip report. There are bunch of 14ers in the Sierras. Definitely some climbing videos and even camping too. With these in mind, a gear video would also be a good idea. Since yall back in Lake Tahoe, maybe a daily vlog would be cool. I’ve also been a huge fan of Victoria’s cooking so that’s a fun idea. I’m just super stoked for your future.
Love all of these ideas! And glad we can be honest with the community here - makes it much easier to keep making these videos with a little less pressure.
first of all - best of luck to you guys. Secondly, as to the direction maybe you can do some videos about survival? What to have, what to do and how to do it?
Excited to see this next phase in your lives. You all are fairly established in backcountry skiiing/split boarding. Give us a few videos detailing how you got there! It can be overwhelming from someone that came from a flat state to embark on something like that. Looking forward to your future content
The trip reviews/guides sound extremely helpful! I can't tell you how many times the barrier to getting out for a weekend can be lack of time to plan, etc etc. With a video from our fav outdoor power couple reviewing a camping trip that also summarizes the logistics of it would be A+ in my book! Thank you guys!
I love that you guys are so open to everyone about your changes and I think everyone really appreciate it. I love the idea of trip reports on like what you ate what kit you used how you planned it that kinda thing. But to be honest my favourite videos are the ones of your adventures themselves like the 2 night winter camping in Lake Tahoe or bike packing with hazel. Can't wait for what's to come!
Love your honesty. We are retired and getting ready to go to Alaska with our new Van for 5 weeks to try out Van life, but I'm sure we will want to get back to family after that, then look to our next trip.
Alaska sounds amazing tho…. 😍 enjoy it out there
Home sweet home. Can never beat that.
I really appreciate your honesty! I think you should do what ever makes you happy! Thank you for sharing 😊❤
Right on yeah just kick back in the house and go on adventures every now and then never stop exploring
I could see this coming for a year. Y'all were trudging around with a resignation and mood as if y'all weren't enjoying it. I hope you find more enjoyment in your future endeavors.
i love that idea for the channel! getting into the details on how to make a trip happen. i for sure would love that!
Good planning is the key to a successful adventure! Looking forward to sharing a bit of our process💪
-V
Dogs and cats or other pet companions are family so your decision is justified 😊 Me I always make plans around my animals and they are always my top priority 😉
4 and 5 hitting home for me. Always appreciate these videos showing your realities and that they can be our realities too. I like the ideas you talked about coming up and looking forward even more to your channel. Been following along forever and super excited for you two (three).
Ideal videos? The exact things you talked about. The usual edits, but gear reviews, trip reports, etc. I missed the tech stuff you used to do.
Just found you guys today and have quickly fallen in love with your vibe/ general nature! Most of your videos are something I've wanted to get out and do but feel like I don't know where to start. Super glad to come along as a fly on the wall!
Hey something like 4 years ago we didn’t know where to start either. You can get there! Thanks for hanging out 🤘🏼
Thank you for your honesty and 5 very understandable reasons for stopping full time van life. Glad to know you have a home to move home to! And a community and friends. I enjoy traveling and camping but I would never do it full time. I have to have goals and direction in my life. Family, friends and community are very important to me. Giving and receiving from each other. Loving and helping others. I know I would not do well emotionally being away from family and friends. I look forward to your upcoming videos on camping and adventures. Also I like you both so much and would love to know about the next chapter in your life. Blessings to you both and Hazel.
Whatever you guys decide to go along with future content, I’ll still be here to enjoy your ride.
It’s your channel and it’s your journey!
That is the reason many of us have followed you guys along.
Though I do understand the need for guidance on what to make.
Honestly, the one thing I’d love to see is more OUT OF THE COUNTRY trips.
Some wild outdoor/landscape outside of the States would be awesome to see.
I loved the Mexico trip you guys had.
Maybe have that once in awhile would be such a treat!
But anyways, thank you for still putting out the best content out here and still giving us inspiration to go out and enjoy the world more.
I bought a van for weekend travel and did so after reading "10 Years a Nomad" and he said a lot of the things you said, so weekend trips appealed to me. I started a garden (a job in itself) and work part time. Then, when the desire hits me I take off for a few days to reset my emotional clock. I find it the best of BOTH worlds!! Good luck to you!!
100% this is the way to live 🙌🏼
Never stop sharing!!
I absolutely love your guy's videos. The way you film, the honesty, the music, all of your adventures. Thank you so much. I'm excited to see what videos you guys come out with along with seeing gear videos and whatnot. :)
Thanks as always Alissa. We won’t stop anytime soon 😋
The videos you made before you moved into the van of the local Tahoe adventures were some of my favorites!! I'm stoked to see whatever you do moving forward, but that previous genre of adventure videos really felt like you were in your element & loving what you were making & doing!
I think that IS our element and we got sucked into van life with rose colored glasses. Stoked to get back to our roots here soon
Vanlife is best to do maybe a couple months a year. In a new section of the US each year. To see the places in each State
Looking forward to the new direction this is going. Travel, gear, costs, planning. Keep up the great work guys!
The idea of tutorials and trip recaps would be so dope. As my boyfriend and I are getting started on traveling and bigger trips, we would love to hear the details and how to plan! I love where the channel is headed, so excited to see where it goes! ❤
When it comes to the outdoors, there's always something to learn! Glad you and your boyfriend and planning bigger adventures! It can be fun to push yourself and experience some type 2 fun🤣 Thanks for stickin around and watching our videos!
-V
Your favorites:
1. Top 5 backpacking destination in CA
2. Top 10 trails to day hike in Tahoe
3. What to pack for 1-2 nights backpacking
4. Backpacking clothes/gear suggestions
5. I hope I run into you guys in Tahoe someday!!!! I’m a fannnnnn🤘🏾😎
I started watching your channel years ago when you were just filming the really exciting powder days in Tahoe. I’m glad you two support each other, I’m sure this was a scary decision to make. I watch your channel for the sierra content!
Show us those awesome places in the sierras! Show us the difference in ski resorts up there. More ideas too: Reno in Reno, show us you building your house up that you’re going to nest in. Make sure you don’t have kids because it’ll be something to do for 18 years. Thank you three for the wonderful content. Come say hi if you’re in SF 😄
You guy's made the right decision for yourselves which is awesome! I did vanlife for 4 yrs in South Lake Tahoe and it really weighed on me at time's. Other time's I felt super rich and very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place.
I had a nearly run down minivan that became strictly my home only moving it from parking lot to parking lot. I'm glad now to not have to own a pee cup anymore or needing to make sure I have grocery store bag for those time's I knew I couldn't make it to a restroom for #2.
It's nice to have stability and certainty in life. I'm excited for you two in your next chapter. After all, life is merely a collection of our experiences.
Exactly. It’s all about the experience and trying new things. Some things will stick and some will pass.
Thank you for your honesty 🙋♀️🙋♀️
Love that you guys are changing to make sure YOU guys are happy and still excited with what you do! I would LOVE to see some fishing? I haven't seen you guys fish? Maybe you aren't into it, but that would be so fun. Maybe a catch and cook/camp video. That would be so fun. Some good video tutorials like the old days would be awesome too. Or keep doing what you're doing! Camping and backpacking videos. You are amazing! And yes, making these videos IS making the world a better place :)
This all rings so true to my wife and I. 1. Pooping 2. Uncertainty of camping location 3. Traveling with a dog…YES! All of this. We get it.
Congratulations! Best of luck on your new beginnings. Happy for you all! Thank you for sharing great content.
Hi! I love the idea of travel logs. I also just really enjoy watching you have fun (sometimes type 2) in the outdoors/around Tahoe. Watching you do a really fun adventure always inspires me to start planning one of my own, even if it's not necessarily the same hike/climb or even in the same state. The excitement is contagious. I also feel like there's a lot of decision-making that goes into picking a route to climb/ a hike and sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you expected. I'd love to hear more about why you chose to do a certain thing and if it met expectations (am I the only one that often runs into 1000x little dilemmas when trying something new?). Glad you are feeling a little more stable and excited about new things to come.
Glad you like to see us suffer with type 2 fun😅 lol jk we like the struggle sometimes!
But YES! There is a lot of pre planning when it comes to outdoor adventures. If we miss a step in the pre planning process, that's when something goes wrong. Of course, there are some uncontrollables but we're looking forward to sharing our process and all the things we've learned over the years☺️
-V
I REALLY enjoyed your Mexico City video where you were people watching and trying some food. I know you guys don't consider yourselves city folk but your style of video applied to that setting really was great. Visiting a city through your eyes was a lot of fun. Not too much narration, just good vibes. More please.
Thanks for your honesty. I just discovered your videos and really enjoy them. I'm glad you did the van life, but it's realistic to get to a point where you want a change.
Thanks so much for watching Colin 🙏🏼🙏🏼
I would like to see more videos of people making themselves happy and fulfilled and not worried about likes and subscriptions, it’s called adding substance by forming boundaries, it’s called self reliant and passion.
Would love to see backpacking/hiking videos around Norcal, especially in the Sierras. Thank you for always sharing great content and inspiring us for new adventures!
Backpacking in the Sierra is the one thing we plan on doing a bunch of! Wonder if the snow will ever melt out in the backcountry this summer🤣
-V
Glad you all are doing well and happy. I remember painting Hazel in watercolor and sending it to you years ago, when life was uncertain at that time. Hope you and yours stay happy and healthy!
Ha we still love that painting! Crazy times…
I’m really excited with the new direction!! I would personally love both of you to plan a day or weekend itinerary in a park or location for each other. Make it a surprise and compare and contrast! What was the price difference? What took too long? What did you wish you spent more time at? Best time of year to visit? Etc.
Again, super stoked for tutorials and experience videos!!!! Especially ones that are shot beautifully!
Atleast you tried. Most things in life are that way. Experience Is The Best Teacher when it does
Your first A6000 video was something that I watched when I was first looking for a camera. Looking back on it today, the quality video you were able to produce was incredible. I still like watching it - especially the tips at the end. You have a lot of talent to share, and combining tech knowledge with outdoorsy stuff is a great combination.
I think it would be cool to see how to plan weekend camping trips. I just moved out to the PNW from Texas and it’s a bit overwhelming seeing all the different options out here. I’m excited to follow along y’all’s journey! Best of luck!
To anyone researching van life, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND looking into travel trailers. It mitigates many of pain points of van life and our truck+trailer rig was ~$72k. We have a place to shower every night if we want, our own bathroom to use, and air conditioning for the warmer days. We go off grid sometimes for about a week to get close to adventures, but a lot of times we’ll stay at rv parks for a month at a time. It’s pretty comforting knowing exactly where you’ll sleep at night.
As for where the channel should go, just keep making the stuff you enjoy! Those are the best videos
I’d love a video on how to get started with backpacking/ any recommended training for a total newbie! Can’t wait to see more of your adventures.
This is as real as it gets. Thank you for sharing your story.
Sounds like you both have made the right decision. You've done van life, ticked that box. Excited to see the new content, been watching the channel since I started filmmaking in 2018 and your style has always been my reference point for my own channel. See you on the next video! :D
Happy for you guys. I could already tell from the start of the video you guys were already more relaxed. Excited for everything new coming
Hey guys, I forgot about your channel for a while and I just stumbled on it again, and I am super glad I did. Love the content, I'll keep watching. Thanks!
Ah so glad you’re back! Hope you stick around 🤙🏼
So excited for this next adventure! So glad I DM’ed Victoria about my questions for my trip to Ansel Adams wilderness this summer, seems like you’re already starting to cater your content for people like me. I just started indoor climbing and I have my top rope belay cert, so the best video for me right now would to go from indoor, to outdoor. What that looks like, what gear and safety precautions I should have, what skills I should learn, etc.
Thank you both for your wonderful videos that we all love.
Hey girl! So glad I was able to help answer some questions! Can't wait for you to see Thousand Island Lake! Seriously so beautiful:)
Stoked to hear that you want to learn how to transition from indoor climbing to outdoor. We definitely plan on doing a video like that soon so be on the look out! Thanks for following along!
-V
Thanks for a great video. The points you make about Hazel and how much you love her really hit me. My dog is the main reason that I am not traveling now. I applaud that you care so much for her, and put her happiness and needs on your list. Good luck and God bless.
Hello, first thanks for all those videos about van life, it was a great pleasure to watch, kind of the freedom we need sometimes when we can't go out! And really happy that you're glad with your décision. I'd love to see more videos about adventures like vlogs, maybe with some tips, real immersion that gives us ideas and goals, and the kind of videos you were alrdy making while you are out for a trip, as long as you enjoy at the same time! Thank you for all the quality work you're doing! Full support ;)
Love seeing your adventure vlog/recaps as it brings inspiration to others. I like the idea of doing a follow up video on how that trip was done/made - from planning all the way to returning home
The music in your videos is always such a vibe! It was a surprise to hear the van is gone but happy for you guys and wish you the best in this next step! I'll be watching your videos regardless of the adventure. I always enjoy how authentic and personable you guys are!
Always a vibe 🎵🎷
I was surprised to hear that you sold your van. But I'm looking forward to your other adventures. It's a lot of courage.
I love y’all’s content! Excited for y’all’s future! Reviewing gear, definitely “how to do this “videos are fun to watch, how to get started doing something.
Love the trip report idea! Especially the focus on how we can replicate trips with the focus on logistics.
Enjoy your videos and glad you recognize what's important. Living out of a van full time is not for everyone! We use our van for weekend or extended trips as a gear hauler with a place to sleep, the rest of the time we live in our home.
Look forward to what y'all are going to do next! Adventure on!!
Please spotlight all of the various mountain bike trails in the area. Wishing you the best next chapter!!
I lived on the road for the last two years and recently decided to plant my roots in Seattle at the beginning of 2023 for a lot of the same reasons you guys listed. I felt like I have lost a sense of community even though I have met some wonderful people on the road. And having to figure out where I was going to sleep, poop :D, and go next ended up taking more time and money than I was hoping to use. You guys make great adventure content whether its out of the van or back home. Best of luck to you both :D
I occasionally sleep in my 4runner and love camping beachside San Diego! I've always owned a home and feel for peeps who cannot afford to buy one now. Love your channel. Keep having fun! Timmy C Arizona
A van is always too small for a couple to live in fulltime. It's just simply too small for two humans and all of the stuff necessary to live in a way that is sustainable. I think you had to learn that lesson the hard way. For couples, I would always recommend a larger RV that has a toilet and a solid door for the bedroom and a tow vehicle. That or go truck and trailer. People also don't realize that the larger RVs are actually much cheaper than the vans, and way more liveable.
Trip reviews and tips would be great! Like where and how to get permits and how much stuff is, maybe some stuff on leave no trace. Keep up the good work yall I would love to see you guys on some dope Sierra alpine climbs.
As always, love your content! Lived in the Sierra’s off and on for years between Mammoth and Tahoe. Moved back to the outer Bay Area 18 years ago. Thank you for keeping me connected to my second home! Between my trips there and your content, it fills my cup! Would love to see a backpacking, what’s in my camera bag video. The sound in this video is awesome! Keep it coming! You’re awesome 🤩
You'll never go wrong following your hearts, so pivot this channel however it works for you. Trent and Allie went from #vanlife to building their own home in the mountains of Utah, and much of their audience followed. So if you want to remodel your house, plant a food forest and get some chickens to become more self-sufficient, I'd be totally down for that. I'm not into climbing, so I'll likely skip those videos, but I love your backpacking and camping adventures around Tahoe. The Sierras are AMAZING, and your videography and storytelling are truly an inspiration, so I'll always be checking in! Heck, we're practically neighbors. Maybe I'll see you at Trader Joe's sometime... :)
note to myself: it's so obvious that we need a community for some reason. being a nomad cool but even being a hippi or something has it's own community. we're belong to somewhere. it could be an idea or religious group or some book club. you guys express yourself so good about it. looking forward to see new videos. thanks.
Definitely. No matter what it is - being alone out there isn’t it.
Tutorials on travel planning sounds sickkk. As someone who has goals to travel more that would be extremely helpful!
Backpacking, climbing, peak bagging. Also interested in trail running, mountain biking, paddleboarding. Just a few ideas. Enjoy your videos!
Thanks for the update. You guys are still a big inspiration for me to get outside and be more adventurous. Loved/love the backpacking, camping, overlanding type videos. Those have been my favorite, by far. The mountain biking videos have been pretty great, too.
Ah yes biking would be great too. We miss our bikes and riding the local trails.
Good advice based on experience. So many folks live life wondering "what if" and inertia prevents them from trying something new. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for you and and your active life style. Your adventures and photography are spectacular. Love to Hazel!
Really like your decision. ofc I liked your van life content but to be honest my favorite chapter of videos was you two with pickup on the daytrips or short adventures. Mainly because that was something closest what I can do in my life. Looking forward for more :)
Backpacking and climbing videos!! Excited for this new change for y’all 🏔️
Everyone loves backpacking it seems 😍 We definitely want to do more of it this year
Love your cattle dog ( I have one too). My husband and I are retired so our girl is with us 24/7 but I can’t imagine living full time in an RV. Just discovered your channel while scrolling. Good luck as you’ve changed direction in your life.
Thanks so much! Hope you stick around 🙏🏼
@@codyandvictoria yes, I subscribed 👍
Happy to see the shift back to Tahoe. I found you pre van life videos more relatable. I look forward to seeing more adventures in the Sierra’s!
Yeah we really miss the old stuff too. It’s coming back ASAP
Love the idea of tutorials and trip reviews. Help inspire and educate others to do the same trips y’all did and make a guide for it. Would love a guide video about van life and tips and tricks and stuff of that nature. Keep up the great work - love the videos
Ideal outdoor video: multiple adventure day ... I picture ya'll starting with a morning climb, followed by paddle boarding/kayaking/something around Tahoe to the start of a hike and summiting a peak or doing a walk around an easy trail, setting up a tent and going to sleep. Love those completely FULL days.
I also think adding tons of value at the end of the video where one -- if not both -- of you talk about the adventure you just did. If it's a hike, talk about the mileage, show us the terrain on All Trails or the GPS app you used, how much the gear you wore costs, etc. The possibilities are immense here but some kind of 4-10 minute talking segment at the end of each video explaining the adventure and behind the scenes of the production. That would be so helpful and provide a ton of insight! Love you both!!
That's quite the adventure! Might need to hire you for some trip ideas🤣 Also glad that you have that much confidence in us! lol
-V
@@codyandvictoria Oh I'm so down to be the very first team member of the updated Cody and Victoria channel moving forward if ya'll ever really want one. 😂
Thank you for sharing your experience, it’s great to hear what are the hardships of this lifestyle, especially for someone contemplating this kind of travel. Many of these sound like the reasons for which I limit my camping trips to 2-3 days, after which I choose the convenience of a hotel room.
I like the hipster style of the current videos with long montages with music, La La Land style. I believe Drew Simms said that he was asked to include more such moments in his videos and he also has some nice cooking as a side moment.
I live in SoCal so whatever you film from Tahoe to Baja is relevant to my vacation plans. I enjoy seeing outdoor views more than gear reviews, you should aim for your videos to be motivational.
Really looking forward to see what you make out of it. Love that you live life like it feels right for you.
Hey! Love the channel, I recently found your channel through a friend. I decided to pretty much binge watch the whole channel.
I think you all should stay away from gear related videos because the market on UA-cam is saturated with these videos because they’re easy to make and they lack creativity.
I think you all shine in adventures combined with your cinematography and outdoor skills. For example, I really enjoyed your recent Tahoe video showcasing the beauty of Tahoe with snowboarding, climbing, and adventuring.
I’m actually surprised your view counts for some of your recent videos don’t get that “many views.” I think if you consistently push out videos like these, word of mouth will get out. Also, marketing on the climbing subreddit is huge. I saw you recently posted a picture on there and that got a lot of traction.
Hey! Welcome to the channel!
Thank you for the feedback. We definitely plan on keeping the channel "adventure" focused because well... that's what we like to do lol but we also want to bring a little more value to the channel. So every so often we'll add an educational type video to the mix. Thanks for watching our videos🤘
-V
Love you guys! I would love to see a video over how y'all got started doing this and how you are able to make it into successful content for UA-cam, such as your process in planning, shooting, and editing videos.
Just go adventure and take vids and pics. Camping vids are my fav. I’ll keep watching for sure. You guys have a great vibe so just do whatever you want👍🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
Would love to see your transition out of van life and trying to find community! Community has been hard to find and would love to see how y’all do it ❤️
Definitely some outdoor climbing tutorials/gear recommendations for people getting into climbing outside.
Praying for you all !
Yes! Adventure edits are a great idea!
so happy to see you guys following your heart and intuition! i could stare at this setting forever btw! take me here haha hope to see more of guys xo