Those of you with eagle eyes and photographic memories may have noticed that the shot at 5:42 is identical to the shot at 2:35 ...that was an editing error on my part. It underscores how much these trails all look the same no matter where you are in western Oregon forestlands...I inserted the wrong clip at one of those moments (I'm not even sure which one is incorrect) and didn't catch it despite repeated viewings over the course of editing the video. Ultimately you didn't miss anything...it was just another very similar narrow tree-lined trail. 😆
AFR, AFT, AFB, AFC. Another f*!ng road, another f*!ng tree, another f*!ng bridge, another f*!ng creek. An occupational hazard when you spend that much time in the backcountry.
Others: there’s nothing good on TV. Me: I enjoy watching people driving their vehicles in the woods, making a fire, cooking supper. I could watch that all the time.
I personally like videos when there is some type of weather to go along with them. I know I'm probably kinda the strange one, but rainy days are the best. Thanks for bringing us along Donald. Take care fella.
Loved this one! This type video with a bit of camping, bit of cooking, bit of gear use, bit of driving and campsite exploring--the best! Loved the footage on fire starting issue, stove use issue, and 270 awning use and stowage issue, these teach me things and are more valuable to me than endless mountains. Love how you provide content for everyone's likes, thanks for following up the Idaho mountains with this nice camp issues one!
Growing up in western Oregon constantly surrounded by trees and wet, the desert always feels like an exotic change of pace and I love that I can see further than 10 feet away. 😆 But I absolutely love being in our temperate rainforests - nothing feels more like home - and there's that smell, especially this time of year. Thanks for watching!
Yes! I actually commented along those lines a couple of times while I was out filming this, but ultimately ended up cutting those bits in the edit. But yes, I was very much transported to my early Forester pre-Gaia GPS days of just poking up forest roads (and having a Subway for lunch!).
Haha, yeah it totally reminded me of those early uploads. I’ve said in the past but I hope your channel continues to grow, the quality is just awesome Donald. Yours and Jason’s channel are the only ones I look forward to. Speaking of which, when do you guys do another collaboration?
Another great clip Donald, thoroughly enjoyed it. So relaxing your clips, they help calm me right down for bed after a long day so thank you my friend. One thing you could try for the fire lighting, dip the end of a stick in the alcohol, light the stick then light the cross cross thing with the stick 😉👍🇦🇺🇦🇺
Just got back from 2 days on the Owyhee front. Very windy, cold as heck, with beautiful clear skies Saturday night with a full moon. Woke up this morning to wet, sticky snow and temps just below freezing. Good times! 😲 Tip: When the weather gets cold, replace the denatured alcohol with HEET from the auto parts section at Bi-Mart. Get the stuff in the yellow bottle. It's methanol and burns much easier in the cold. It also won't soot up your pots and pans when you use it.
This video was much better, than the one with the mountains devode of life ,in the back ground yes they the mountains are majestic but they are devode of life . I love the environment you were in , even with the rain , H2O provides life and it's amazing. Thank you.
Yes! That was different from your last one but variety is good. A little less wet would be better but hey, if you wait around for good weather you may never go. Thanks for sharing
@@softroadingthewest I have a whisperlite backpacking stove that I always carry in my kit. It's so small, even counting a bottle of fuel. Great for cooking inside the camper if its windy or wet outside. A quick hot bowl of soup, cup of coffee or tea. I still need to get some type of awning for my camper. This winters project.
Love your videos! I was born and raised on the Oregon Coast (Seaside and Tillamook). As a youth in the '60s, I spent every free moment, exploring and camping in what back then was the "Tillamook burn". More times then not it was rain and mud. The old Chevy pickup was equipped with a metal bed rack. A large tarp thrown over it and tied dowm served as our protection from the elements (we still got a little wet). Many memories!. I am in my mid 70s now, but still get out and explore and camp the backroads of our GREAT PNW. Like you it is mostly by my self, and nothing fancy(2004 Subaru Outback and minimal equipment). Just like when I was a youth. Thank you for sharing all your travels!
We haven't had any measurable rain here in the northeast for 2 months now (it's *really* bad), and this video made me super happy, Donald. The sight and sound and feel of rain is something you viscerally long for when it's been gone so long.
Great video. I really enjoyed the sounds of the water over the slow drone footage. Very serene indeed. Nice way to spend a night. Thanks for sharing with us.
Beautiful. I grew up in Southern Oregon, and that just brought me back to many excursions up sketchy logging roads. I'm still of two minds about the installed awning. It's clearly useful in the wet, though, even though the water runs up your sleeve. Thanks!
Here on the North coast, it is just straight up wet and cold and doesn’t seem to get any dryer. My tiny camper trailer is damp every morning. They’re starting to close all the forest gates in my normal winter spots. I might have to go over the mountain for better winter spots.
Hey there - you may know this but denatured alcohol lights quickly and is more efficient than alcohol you might find at the drug or grocery store. Love the videos and your rig!
I did not know denatured alcohol lights more easily, nor that it's more efficient. I didn't have any on hand anyway so I just grabbed the alcohol from the medicine cabinet at home, but I'll pick up a gallon of denatured next time I'm at my home improvement store. This was the first time I used that little starter thingy to make an actual campfire and I was happy with how well it worked overall, so I'll certainly keep using it. Thanks!
@@softroadingthewest Another option is getting a big old jug of Everclear, Donald. It burns like mad but doesn't have any methanol in it like denatured does, so it's safer to cook over (for those cases where you planned on having a fire for both warmth and food).
Nice video and edit. You’re going to have to do an episode two on this Track, People deserve to see the view from the fire lookout at the top. Might have to chain up or go in the spring.
Great trip Donald, thanks for taking us along. Loved the drone shot above the fog in particular. Love the rain, I'm the introvert of introverts. I'll take rain over people ANY day. For lighting your fire starter, try dipping a stick in the alcohol and then lighting the alcohol on the stick, then using the lit stick to light the alcohol in the basin. I'm a long time Trangia stove user and that's the trick we use. Or if the seal is good on the Trangia, keep it in an inside pocket for a few minutes to warm the alcohol up above the alcohol's flashpoint.
i love exploring the coast range. Took the oregon coast to sea line caves trail recently. Highly recommended. Gonna repeat a trip i took last year the weekend after thanksgiving and follow the ridge line from HWY 126 to hwy 34.
That fog-filled valley from the drone is just spectacular! We do t get scenery like that here in northern Ohio. 🤪 I’ve been going to ask before, but this video reminded me; what’s the light gray jacket you’re wearing in the first part of the video? My lightweight jackets all seem to have shrunken, and I like the style and apparent weight of that one. Thanks!
That is a basic fleece from Eddie Bauer from at least 15 years ago, maybe closer to 20. I wear it all the time and it has held up incredibly well with no pilling. I have to doubt they have this same thing all these years later, but what a good value it turned out to be.
@ Thanks! My favorite similar jacket is from long gone Early Winters, that I got in the ‘80s. My daughter, who is about six years older than Lucie, wears it now.
Another great video. I know it's not overlander approved, but go to the hardware store and get a Benzomatic utility torch( like plumbers use) . Buy a spare propane tank for it. You'll never have issues living a fire again. Even when wet.
I can empathize with the fire. I have fought matches trying to light a fire more times than I want to admit. Christine and I don’t know what is worse. Setting up or tearing down in the rain.
Hmm. That alcohol fire starter X just got me thinking. I have a Lavabox and I was thinking of getting a Snow Peak for when I want a wood fire, like you. If you fabbed something similar that would hold your ammo can fire pit, the wood fire pit would double as a riser for your gas fire pit.
I think if I were to fab something, I'd probably just fab some kind of little stand for the ammo can. I generally don't carry both at all times in my rather compact rig. 😄 The propane pit goes in the truck when the campfire ban goes into effect, then it comes out and the Snow Peak goes in when the rains return. 🙂 But you have given me an idea for a little fab project. Could probably come up with a stand that the ammo can would sort of nest into for travel, that I would remove and flip over to hold it up at camp. Might fiddle with that this winter - thanks!
Donald...What are your thoughts on the Skottle for cooking...I was never really interested until a couple months ago I was at Leslie Gulch and a family in a Jeep pulled up, whipped out a Skottle... cooked.. ate lunch and was packed and gone in what seemed like no time....super easy cleanup.
No real opinion as I've never cooked with one. I can certainly see the appeal; I've probably veered away from it in part because I saw it SO much on other channels and I have a knee-jerk tendency to avoid doing what everyone else is doing. 😆 Might be worth a second look for me though as I haven't been satisfied with my tire table/stove hybrid, but I have become accustomed to cooking on a single burner. I guess one would still need to carry some other type of stove in order to make coffee though.
@@softroadingthewest yeah the Tembo Tusk not a good fit for the DIY theme on your channel maybe but with a trip to the grocery store so high these days $400 is not really so much for it now on something you’re only buying once in a lifetime …
My favorite shot was around 3:30 with your tires creating the waterfalls in the tire tracks. What brand of rear view mirror back up camera is that? Gotta love liquid sunshine 😊
My mirror is "Vantop" although I'm pretty sure that "brand" no longer exists. It's pretty much the same as the numerous other made-in-China brands of various oddball names you can find on Amazon. It has worked well to be be able see out the rear, but the system itself as a dashcam is far from stellar. The footage it captures is awful. I do have a video about it which includes a bunch of footage from the front & rear cams: ua-cam.com/video/NgI44eqPDbQ/v-deo.html
Nice video Donald. I see that you’re trying some new techniques. Inspired by Van Camping maybe? I like it. I do have a question regarding ambient noise like the stream in the background: Is it possible to isolate the ambient noise from a vocal track? Would you have to wear a mic and have two separate audio tracks? I love the sound of the running water in the background, but sometimes it’s hard to hear other sounds and inputs. I guess in that sense it’s just like camping by the river. LOL. Just curious.
Yeah you could wear a lavalier mic which generally does a decent job of isolating the voice from everything else. I have a single DJI Mic 2 which I actually use as a standalone audio recorder (rather than wirelessly connecting it to my camera) since it has built-in storage. I use it to record my voice as a separate audio track from whatever my camera is capturing when noise is an issue - usually driving or outside in windy conditions. I didn't use it when I was talking along the creek here, though I probably should have just in case. I DID actually use it to capture some cooking and campfire audio when the camera was at a distance because I figured the creek would drown that out completely.
@ Oh that’s a good point. Your serene campfire scene was captured nicely. I really appreciate your effort put into these videos. I had a professor who use to say “Great design goes unnoticed.” Your videos certainly contain lots of well thought out scenes and elements. Thank you for sharing and safe travels!
I just purchased a Snowpeak Fireplace (medium). Does the fire being "up" in the fire pit impact how much heat the fire creates? Let me know what you think.
I didn't really notice anything one way or another, although this is my first "real" campfire of the season so it's been a while since I've used the Snow Peak in its normal configuration. An unplanned benefit of the little alcohol burner is that I didn't need to shorten any of my wood...I used normal length firewood & kindling.
I guess I never realized you had a nissan. I have been strongly considering a Titan to replace my gladiator. (3 kids is TIGHT). I presume you like it but how has it been long term for you? Totally dig your camera work btw, very nice!
Mine is a 2011 and I bought it used in 2021. It has reliably taken me everywhere I've wanted to go and climbed trails I never would have thought possible back in my Forester days. I've never had a breakdown, been stranded, or needed a tow (knock on wood LOL). The Check Engine Light codes I have occasionally encountered have all been minor issues generally related to DIY-serviceable peripherals like sensors. I don't know about the Titan, but the Frontier has a weakness at the front passenger side bed mount (where the bed section of the body is bolted to the frame). For some reason that corner is bolted through one thin layer of metal and tends to crack - indeed mine has failed completely and I'm currently only bolted on in the three other corners (which are all much more solid). My friends at Alldogs Offroad (Nissan specialists) recently became aware of this and are developing a reinforcement which I will be installing. I don't know if it's the case on the Titan but it's really the only sort of long term issue I've encountered with my Frontier. I would highly recommend checking out forum sites dedicated to the Titan. I found Forester forums and then Frontier forums to be extremely valuable sources of information while I was shopping for those vehicles, to know what to look for and to know which model years to avoid.
@@softroadingthewest thanks for the input! Yes I am in the Titan forums and I dont see too many issues with anything in particular. I am also on the Tundra forums and the engine issue is actually super common. Ill have to follow your channel a bit more closely! Thanks for taking time to reply!
One thing that I can't recall seeing is your solar charging system. I'm guessing you have some type of portable system like Jackerys. On some trips we do a lot of base camp type camping. Staying in the same place for several days. Basically, I am just running my fridge, but if its overcast/foggy/rainy/shade from tree cover even a 1500 Amp battery will only last a couple of days with no input. I have now got several long solar extension cords and fittings to run up to three portable panels. Being able to move them around to get the max input .(The panels all need to be identical in output). Quick and fast on a sunny day, but still enough juice to keep a healthy charge on an overcast day if you're parked. You have all of your camera/drone gear above and beyond.
As I am typically on the move each day, I don't generally use solar. I do have a portable 200-watt panel I throw in the truck when I know I'll be sitting in one spot for a few days (e.g. Expo, Patreon campout, etc) and I've found I can array that across the roof of my camper before I pop it up and it keeps me topped up.
Just curious, without giving location away, Coast Range or west side of the Cascades? Seems like Coast Range to me. Basically, did you go west or east?
I just got to 15 minutes in, probably Coast Range, but that actually looks a little miserable, even well equipped! This is why I always do my exploring in the summer, and always head east! Since I'm in Gresham, on the east side of the PDX metro east is just that much easier as well.
@@WiltWa This was western slope of the Cascades. I generally don't bother with the coast range anymore. I don't know about further north, but around here the coast range is an insane checkerboard of BLM and private, and for some reason I always stumble into more sketchy scenes in the coast range, not to mention locked gates. I try to always get into large contiguous swaths of national forest so I know for sure I can wander and camp at will. 🙂
Everyplace I've been in western Oregon forested hills looks just like this. This could've been filmed near the McKenzie or the Willamette or the Santiam or the Siuslaw or the Umpqua or many other streams. Same trees, same undergrowth, same ferns, same moss...😄
Just the nearest grocery store to me, Market of Choice. They have these smallish boneless sirloin cuts that are a perfect meal for one, tasty & tender.
I carry that in summer/fall months when actual campfires are prohibited. Once the rains come, I go back to real fire for the rest of fall/winter/spring. 🙂
I've only used two ever. I started with a DJI Spark, then for the past almost three years now I've been using a Mavic 2 Pro, which is far far superior to the Spark. I don't know how it compares to other models though. Even buying it used as I did, it's not a cheap piece of gear, so I'll certainly keep running it until I destroy it in a crash or lose it completely. 😆
Aww Matt Cook, even if you were second, you'll always be first in my book. 🤗 I don't think you ever saw this from a few months ago: ua-cam.com/video/thZp7RF25J0/v-deo.htmlsi=GiDuAG-Mf_G9zAfB&t=368
Enjoyed the fire lighting sequence LOL. As another backcountry explorer, I understand the draw; I just got home from a month-long trip in the Utah desert, the love of my life. 😍 A minor mechanical failure in the SxS sent me home early (couldn't be fixed without garage tools that I can't carry, like a floor jack). 😥
On GIA I use the draw a section and then do the entire state (in my case Washington) and save that to a SD on my tablet. So even if you forget to update that file you have the entire state on your tablet so you can record where you are going and see the road trails etc.! Learned that the hard way when google quit working while we were traveling from home to Bryce Canyon in Utah! I also always have two different GPX apps with me both on the tablet and phone. My second and used the most is GPX Viewer PRO which allows the storing of any entire state your going to be in and it is as accurate off road as GIA. Worth considering! Mike
Those of you with eagle eyes and photographic memories may have noticed that the shot at 5:42 is identical to the shot at 2:35 ...that was an editing error on my part. It underscores how much these trails all look the same no matter where you are in western Oregon forestlands...I inserted the wrong clip at one of those moments (I'm not even sure which one is incorrect) and didn't catch it despite repeated viewings over the course of editing the video. Ultimately you didn't miss anything...it was just another very similar narrow tree-lined trail. 😆
Lol you're all good bro
AFR, AFT, AFB, AFC.
Another f*!ng road, another f*!ng tree, another f*!ng bridge, another f*!ng creek. An occupational hazard when you spend that much time in the backcountry.
@@thomasquigley7040 LOLOL
Others: there’s nothing good on TV.
Me: I enjoy watching people driving their vehicles in the woods, making a fire, cooking supper. I could watch that all the time.
I personally like videos when there is some type of weather to go along with them. I know I'm probably kinda the strange one, but rainy days are the best. Thanks for bringing us along Donald. Take care fella.
Na, I agree. Rainy days are the absolute best.
I feel like Jason from Primal Outdoors is laughing his butt off at the fire shenanigans....LOL
It's clear that my main purpose on this planet is to provide Jason with someone to make fun of. 🤣
Loved this one! This type video with a bit of camping, bit of cooking, bit of gear use, bit of driving and campsite exploring--the best! Loved the footage on fire starting issue, stove use issue, and 270 awning use and stowage issue, these teach me things and are more valuable to me than endless mountains. Love how you provide content for everyone's likes, thanks for following up the Idaho mountains with this nice camp issues one!
Personally, growing up on the Pacific Northwest I like your videos in the trees. Much better than the barren desert.
Growing up in western Oregon constantly surrounded by trees and wet, the desert always feels like an exotic change of pace and I love that I can see further than 10 feet away. 😆 But I absolutely love being in our temperate rainforests - nothing feels more like home - and there's that smell, especially this time of year. Thanks for watching!
Some vintage Soft roading the west here. Love it.
Yes! I actually commented along those lines a couple of times while I was out filming this, but ultimately ended up cutting those bits in the edit. But yes, I was very much transported to my early Forester pre-Gaia GPS days of just poking up forest roads (and having a Subway for lunch!).
Haha, yeah it totally reminded me of those early uploads.
I’ve said in the past but I hope your channel continues to grow, the quality is just awesome Donald. Yours and Jason’s channel are the only ones I look forward to. Speaking of which, when do you guys do another collaboration?
Water, water everywhere. Lovely by the little river.
For me it does compare to mountain scenery. The incredible greens, fall color and water combinations. Awesome.
The exact same things I’d consider as a perfect campsite.
Thanks for sharing those things that don’t work, as well as those that do. We learn by the experiences of others.
Drier lint makes a good fire starter. Keep some in plastic ziplock bag.
Add a little bit of Vaseline and it’s even better
Another great clip Donald, thoroughly enjoyed it. So relaxing your clips, they help calm me right down for bed after a long day so thank you my friend.
One thing you could try for the fire lighting, dip the end of a stick in the alcohol, light the stick then light the cross cross thing with the stick 😉👍🇦🇺🇦🇺
At least you didn't burn your face off! 😅
Every video you make is enjoyable. All about camping, preparing equipment, mapping, exploring, basically......THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY! ❤❤❤❤🎉
I sure am glad I’m not tough enough to live where it rains all the time,Thanks for all your effort in inclement weather!
Just got back from 2 days on the Owyhee front. Very windy, cold as heck, with beautiful clear skies Saturday night with a full moon. Woke up this morning to wet, sticky snow and temps just below freezing. Good times! 😲 Tip: When the weather gets cold, replace the denatured alcohol with HEET from the auto parts section at Bi-Mart. Get the stuff in the yellow bottle. It's methanol and burns much easier in the cold. It also won't soot up your pots and pans when you use it.
You almost had it right. Stick a small piece of the paper towel in the IPA to act as a wick, then light the wick. Great vid as always.
Ohhhhh derrrr sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees, so to speak. 😆 Definitely gonna remember that for next time!
This video was much better, than the one with the mountains devode of life ,in the back ground yes they the mountains are majestic but they are devode of life .
I love the environment you were in , even with the rain , H2O provides life and it's amazing.
Thank you.
Your “B” role shots are great
Being a former PNW resident now living in the dry ass desert of AZ, I appreciate seeing this and hearing the rain. I used to love rain camping.
Yes! That was different from your last one but variety is good. A little less wet would be better but hey, if you wait around for good weather you may never go. Thanks for sharing
Nice video. I was laughing at your fire segment. That was really funny, good job.
My thumb wasn't laughing after all that 😂
nothing wrong with a back-pack stove when in weekend warrior mode. :) especially if it has decent heat control .
I've come to really appreciate that little stove, although it's a bit precarious with a skillet balanced on top. 😆
@@softroadingthewest I have a whisperlite backpacking stove that I always carry in my kit. It's so small, even counting a bottle of fuel. Great for cooking inside the camper if its windy or wet outside. A quick hot bowl of soup, cup of coffee or tea. I still need to get some type of awning for my camper. This winters project.
Love your videos! I was born and raised on the Oregon Coast (Seaside and Tillamook). As a youth in the '60s, I spent every free moment, exploring and camping in what back then was the "Tillamook burn". More times then not it was rain and mud. The old Chevy pickup was equipped with a metal bed rack. A large tarp thrown over it and tied dowm served as our protection from the elements (we still got a little wet). Many memories!. I am in my mid 70s now, but still get out and explore and camp the backroads of our GREAT PNW. Like you it is mostly by my self, and nothing fancy(2004 Subaru Outback and minimal equipment). Just like when I was a youth. Thank you for sharing all your travels!
petroleum jelly on cotton wool buds- light them and then you have longer lasting match equivalent.
We haven't had any measurable rain here in the northeast for 2 months now (it's *really* bad), and this video made me super happy, Donald. The sight and sound and feel of rain is something you viscerally long for when it's been gone so long.
I appreciate the smaller process videos a lot. I don't watch for the views as much as for your kit and how you problem solve. Thanks for sharing.
Wow what a warrior! While much of my work is on the westside, I moved east 23 years ago and love the winter sun (and snow!)
I made one of those little DIY cat food alcohol stoves and learned the hard way that it's almost impossible to get started when the weather is cold. 😅
I really enjoyed this video. As an Oregonian, rain or sun, I like it all
Great video. I really enjoyed the sounds of the water over the slow drone footage. Very serene indeed. Nice way to spend a night. Thanks for sharing with us.
Beautiful. I grew up in Southern Oregon, and that just brought me back to many excursions up sketchy logging roads. I'm still of two minds about the installed awning. It's clearly useful in the wet, though, even though the water runs up your sleeve. Thanks!
Fun getting out even if it is for only a day... and it is raining. Thanks for sharing! George.
Another way to light the fire, splinter dipped on one end, light long match. Myself I'm using BBQ fluid.
Here on the North coast, it is just straight up wet and cold and doesn’t seem to get any dryer. My tiny camper trailer is damp every morning. They’re starting to close all the forest gates in my normal winter spots. I might have to go over the mountain for better winter spots.
that was a really good one. Nice balance between driving/talking and camping. I haven't skipped a scene ;)
Hey there - you may know this but denatured alcohol lights quickly and is more efficient than alcohol you might find at the drug or grocery store. Love the videos and your rig!
I did not know denatured alcohol lights more easily, nor that it's more efficient. I didn't have any on hand anyway so I just grabbed the alcohol from the medicine cabinet at home, but I'll pick up a gallon of denatured next time I'm at my home improvement store. This was the first time I used that little starter thingy to make an actual campfire and I was happy with how well it worked overall, so I'll certainly keep using it. Thanks!
@@softroadingthewest Another option is getting a big old jug of Everclear, Donald. It burns like mad but doesn't have any methanol in it like denatured does, so it's safer to cook over (for those cases where you planned on having a fire for both warmth and food).
Nice video and edit. You’re going to have to do an episode two on this Track, People deserve to see the view from the fire lookout at the top. Might have to chain up or go in the spring.
Great trip Donald, thanks for taking us along. Loved the drone shot above the fog in particular. Love the rain, I'm the introvert of introverts. I'll take rain over people ANY day.
For lighting your fire starter, try dipping a stick in the alcohol and then lighting the alcohol on the stick, then using the lit stick to light the alcohol in the basin. I'm a long time Trangia stove user and that's the trick we use. Or if the seal is good on the Trangia, keep it in an inside pocket for a few minutes to warm the alcohol up above the alcohol's flashpoint.
That's a great tip (no pun intended 😆)
Serene fire building moment… 😂
Thanks for keeping it real 👊
i love exploring the coast range. Took the oregon coast to sea line caves trail recently. Highly recommended. Gonna repeat a trip i took last year the weekend after thanksgiving and follow the ridge line from HWY 126 to hwy 34.
Loved the video! You stated it well many times "That's the reality of it"!!
Great video as usual!
“Whoa Nelly”
Your drone footage was really, really stunning on this trip!!
Enjoyed it so much!! What a lovely campsite!
Love that area to explore and camp
Awesome audio of all the water. Definitely jealous
Beautiful brother , least with rainy weather there’s less people out & about
Recently discovering Detroit on up to Santiam Pass. Lots of good weekend poking around. Take care! BTW, the recent Nevada stuff is killer! Thanks.
Beautiful, serene video.
I forget to sync my road devices sometimes too. So disappointing. Fun video. Thanks.
Nice trials, great campsite. You helped me decide if I should get a beer, cheers.
🍺
Looks like you had a nice, quiet campout - except for the fire starting of course. 😄
😆
Love your videos
That fog-filled valley from the drone is just spectacular! We do t get scenery like that here in northern Ohio. 🤪
I’ve been going to ask before, but this video reminded me; what’s the light gray jacket you’re wearing in the first part of the video? My lightweight jackets all seem to have shrunken, and I like the style and apparent weight of that one. Thanks!
That is a basic fleece from Eddie Bauer from at least 15 years ago, maybe closer to 20. I wear it all the time and it has held up incredibly well with no pilling. I have to doubt they have this same thing all these years later, but what a good value it turned out to be.
@ Thanks! My favorite similar jacket is from long gone Early Winters, that I got in the ‘80s. My daughter, who is about six years older than Lucie, wears it now.
Good stuff!
Another great video. I know it's not overlander approved, but go to the hardware store and get a Benzomatic utility torch( like plumbers use) . Buy a spare propane tank for it. You'll never have issues living a fire again. Even when wet.
Oh I have one, it rides in the truck permanently. It has definitely started a few rainy night campfires!
I can empathize with the fire. I have fought matches trying to light a fire more times than I want to admit. Christine and I don’t know what is worse. Setting up or tearing down in the rain.
Now I have to go warm up
I think your videos help to lower my blood pressure.😁
Subway sandwich! No lunch prep video?😂
Hmm. That alcohol fire starter X just got me thinking. I have a Lavabox and I was thinking of getting a Snow Peak for when I want a wood fire, like you. If you fabbed something similar that would hold your ammo can fire pit, the wood fire pit would double as a riser for your gas fire pit.
I think if I were to fab something, I'd probably just fab some kind of little stand for the ammo can. I generally don't carry both at all times in my rather compact rig. 😄 The propane pit goes in the truck when the campfire ban goes into effect, then it comes out and the Snow Peak goes in when the rains return. 🙂 But you have given me an idea for a little fab project. Could probably come up with a stand that the ammo can would sort of nest into for travel, that I would remove and flip over to hold it up at camp. Might fiddle with that this winter - thanks!
Donald...What are your thoughts on the Skottle for cooking...I was never really interested until a couple months ago I was at Leslie Gulch and a family in a Jeep pulled up, whipped out a Skottle... cooked.. ate lunch and was packed and gone in what seemed like no time....super easy cleanup.
No real opinion as I've never cooked with one. I can certainly see the appeal; I've probably veered away from it in part because I saw it SO much on other channels and I have a knee-jerk tendency to avoid doing what everyone else is doing. 😆 Might be worth a second look for me though as I haven't been satisfied with my tire table/stove hybrid, but I have become accustomed to cooking on a single burner. I guess one would still need to carry some other type of stove in order to make coffee though.
Ohhh...$400. I forgot it was that expensive. That's probably another big reason I veered away from it. 😄
@@softroadingthewest I made my own version. It’s a little big but manageable. Made my own discada and use it on a Turkey fryer burner
@@softroadingthewest yeah the Tembo Tusk not a good fit for the DIY theme on your channel maybe but with a trip to the grocery store so high these days $400 is not really so much for it now on something you’re only buying once in a lifetime …
My favorite shot was around 3:30 with your tires creating the waterfalls in the tire tracks. What brand of rear view mirror back up camera is that? Gotta love liquid sunshine 😊
My mirror is "Vantop" although I'm pretty sure that "brand" no longer exists. It's pretty much the same as the numerous other made-in-China brands of various oddball names you can find on Amazon. It has worked well to be be able see out the rear, but the system itself as a dashcam is far from stellar. The footage it captures is awful. I do have a video about it which includes a bunch of footage from the front & rear cams: ua-cam.com/video/NgI44eqPDbQ/v-deo.html
@softroadingthewest thanks for the info, appreciate it 😀
Love your vids.
Camping in the rain? Not for me!
Nice video Donald. I see that you’re trying some new techniques. Inspired by Van Camping maybe? I like it. I do have a question regarding ambient noise like the stream in the background: Is it possible to isolate the ambient noise from a vocal track? Would you have to wear a mic and have two separate audio tracks? I love the sound of the running water in the background, but sometimes it’s hard to hear other sounds and inputs. I guess in that sense it’s just like camping by the river. LOL. Just curious.
Yeah you could wear a lavalier mic which generally does a decent job of isolating the voice from everything else. I have a single DJI Mic 2 which I actually use as a standalone audio recorder (rather than wirelessly connecting it to my camera) since it has built-in storage. I use it to record my voice as a separate audio track from whatever my camera is capturing when noise is an issue - usually driving or outside in windy conditions. I didn't use it when I was talking along the creek here, though I probably should have just in case. I DID actually use it to capture some cooking and campfire audio when the camera was at a distance because I figured the creek would drown that out completely.
@ Oh that’s a good point. Your serene campfire scene was captured nicely. I really appreciate your effort put into these videos. I had a professor who use to say “Great design goes unnoticed.” Your videos certainly contain lots of well thought out scenes and elements. Thank you for sharing and safe travels!
I just purchased a Snowpeak Fireplace (medium). Does the fire being "up" in the fire pit impact how much heat the fire creates? Let me know what you think.
I didn't really notice anything one way or another, although this is my first "real" campfire of the season so it's been a while since I've used the Snow Peak in its normal configuration. An unplanned benefit of the little alcohol burner is that I didn't need to shorten any of my wood...I used normal length firewood & kindling.
@@softroadingthewest Your wood is short enough already... ... ...
@@pala4833 🤣 Jason would be proud.
I guess I never realized you had a nissan. I have been strongly considering a Titan to replace my gladiator. (3 kids is TIGHT). I presume you like it but how has it been long term for you? Totally dig your camera work btw, very nice!
Mine is a 2011 and I bought it used in 2021. It has reliably taken me everywhere I've wanted to go and climbed trails I never would have thought possible back in my Forester days. I've never had a breakdown, been stranded, or needed a tow (knock on wood LOL). The Check Engine Light codes I have occasionally encountered have all been minor issues generally related to DIY-serviceable peripherals like sensors.
I don't know about the Titan, but the Frontier has a weakness at the front passenger side bed mount (where the bed section of the body is bolted to the frame). For some reason that corner is bolted through one thin layer of metal and tends to crack - indeed mine has failed completely and I'm currently only bolted on in the three other corners (which are all much more solid). My friends at Alldogs Offroad (Nissan specialists) recently became aware of this and are developing a reinforcement which I will be installing. I don't know if it's the case on the Titan but it's really the only sort of long term issue I've encountered with my Frontier. I would highly recommend checking out forum sites dedicated to the Titan. I found Forester forums and then Frontier forums to be extremely valuable sources of information while I was shopping for those vehicles, to know what to look for and to know which model years to avoid.
@@softroadingthewest thanks for the input! Yes I am in the Titan forums and I dont see too many issues with anything in particular. I am also on the Tundra forums and the engine issue is actually super common. Ill have to follow your channel a bit more closely! Thanks for taking time to reply!
One thing that I can't recall seeing is your solar charging system. I'm guessing you have some type of portable system like Jackerys. On some trips we do a lot of base camp type camping. Staying in the same place for several days. Basically, I am just running my fridge, but if its overcast/foggy/rainy/shade from tree cover even a 1500 Amp battery will only last a couple of days with no input. I have now got several long solar extension cords and fittings to run up to three portable panels. Being able to move them around to get the max input .(The panels all need to be identical in output). Quick and fast on a sunny day, but still enough juice to keep a healthy charge on an overcast day if you're parked. You have all of your camera/drone gear above and beyond.
As I am typically on the move each day, I don't generally use solar. I do have a portable 200-watt panel I throw in the truck when I know I'll be sitting in one spot for a few days (e.g. Expo, Patreon campout, etc) and I've found I can array that across the roof of my camper before I pop it up and it keeps me topped up.
Just curious, without giving location away, Coast Range or west side of the Cascades? Seems like Coast Range to me. Basically, did you go west or east?
I just got to 15 minutes in, probably Coast Range, but that actually looks a little miserable, even well equipped! This is why I always do my exploring in the summer, and always head east! Since I'm in Gresham, on the east side of the PDX metro east is just that much easier as well.
@@WiltWa This was western slope of the Cascades. I generally don't bother with the coast range anymore. I don't know about further north, but around here the coast range is an insane checkerboard of BLM and private, and for some reason I always stumble into more sketchy scenes in the coast range, not to mention locked gates. I try to always get into large contiguous swaths of national forest so I know for sure I can wander and camp at will. 🙂
overland Scout is talking about you today
I don't know who that is but I hope he's saying nice things 😆
The MacKenzie River area looks a lot like this, especially in the rain. Coincidence?
Everyplace I've been in western Oregon forested hills looks just like this. This could've been filmed near the McKenzie or the Willamette or the Santiam or the Siuslaw or the Umpqua or many other streams. Same trees, same undergrowth, same ferns, same moss...😄
using matches to start the fire😬it s more secure
Where do you buy your beef?
Just the nearest grocery store to me, Market of Choice. They have these smallish boneless sirloin cuts that are a perfect meal for one, tasty & tender.
@ Tasty is right! Sirloin is so underrated! Enjoyed your video!!
What’s up with the yellow ferns?
I think they spray the roads to keep vegetation from growing over.
@@Coppersaguaro Those are bracken ferns, which are deciduous. They change color in fall and die back, then shoot up new fronds in spring.
What happened to the propane firepit?
I carry that in summer/fall months when actual campfires are prohibited. Once the rains come, I go back to real fire for the rest of fall/winter/spring. 🙂
Do you have a favorite camera drone you like?
I've only used two ever. I started with a DJI Spark, then for the past almost three years now I've been using a Mavic 2 Pro, which is far far superior to the Spark. I don't know how it compares to other models though. Even buying it used as I did, it's not a cheap piece of gear, so I'll certainly keep running it until I destroy it in a crash or lose it completely. 😆
FIRST
Aww Matt Cook, even if you were second, you'll always be first in my book. 🤗
I don't think you ever saw this from a few months ago: ua-cam.com/video/thZp7RF25J0/v-deo.htmlsi=GiDuAG-Mf_G9zAfB&t=368
Watch out for Nofoot. OutBH.
Enjoyed the fire lighting sequence LOL. As another backcountry explorer, I understand the draw; I just got home from a month-long trip in the Utah desert, the love of my life. 😍 A minor mechanical failure in the SxS sent me home early (couldn't be fixed without garage tools that I can't carry, like a floor jack). 😥
On GIA I use the draw a section and then do the entire state (in my case Washington) and save that to a SD on my tablet. So even if you forget to update that file you have the entire state on your tablet so you can record where you are going and see the road trails etc.! Learned that the hard way when google quit working while we were traveling from home to Bryce Canyon in Utah! I also always have two different GPX apps with me both on the tablet and phone. My second and used the most is GPX Viewer PRO which allows the storing of any entire state your going to be in and it is as accurate off road as GIA. Worth considering! Mike
Misery at its best.
Haha :-)