Overlanding NE Oregon 2: Can We Get Over This Pass?
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- In Part Two of my northeastern Oregon overland adventure, some things go right and some things go wrong. The story unfolds in a non-linear, non-chronological presentation as my cousin and I attempt to traverse a remote mountain range.
Part One, if you haven't seen it:
• Overlanding NE Oregon ...
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MUSIC CREDITS
All music licensed via artlist.io Many thanks to the excellent artists producing these pieces.
0:10 Cold Night - by Bennett Sullivan
2:38 Pictures from the Past - by Aleksey Chistilin
6:08 Voyager - by Vis Major
11:48 Deep Sky Blue - by Elad Perez
13:39 Martha - by Swirling Ship
14:23 Cowboy Tears - by Ilya Truhanov
What a great adventure Donald, really enjoying this series.
Jason
Thanks Jason!
And again… we just passed each other. And we ran into the same exact issues with closed roads. We were going in different directions on that mountain pass road. Too funny, our last video had that same patch of snow in it haha.
Ha, that's awesome! Really neat little mountain range! There were a few other corners I wanted to explore in that area but I got completely de-motivated by the heat. I'll have to revisit in a different season. :-)
Usually if you call the contact number they can be pretty good at allowing access. We have a decent amount of active logging sites here in Ontario. Still a barrier to public lands that shouldn't be there. But hey, they are the reason a lot of these roads are out there. Good with the bad.
Donald great video as usual brother 👍. I just got home from a trip. Went to Moab. It was a great father son Trip. We had a blast. Keep the awesome videos coming brother.
I put a '08 Busa RAD fan on my trans cooler wired to my aux switch panel.
Yay, non-linear story telling.
The editing in these videos is insane! Thank you!
Love your videos! I have been camping around Oregon for over 20years.
gates are becoming a very common thing unfortunately! I live down here in Roseburg about everything been gated off around here!
Great video, Donald! I just I'd leave a Subaru Forester comment... I'm not 100% sure, but if I had to guess, your 2013 Forester did not have X-Mode. When you talked about riding your brakes and 4-low, I just wanted to mention that newer Subarus with X-Mode can handle such descents without the need to ride the brakes. I just wanted to let any [potential] Subaru folk know, in case that is how they found the channel.
You are correct, no X-mode in my Forester. Using the sport-shift mode, I could manually put it in first gear or second gear to minimize braking going downhill, and that helped a lot, but it would not have been adequate on this particular descent.
You did a great job capturing the steepness of that grade you climbed. Beautiful scenery, well done.
Great video. I appreciate you showing that sometimes things don't go as planned.
Stay safe and be well!
Nice video Donald...as usual the early morning shots are my favorite part. Thanks for sharing!
Gorgeous views and loving the Frontier. Looking forward to the rest of the trip.
Looks like I am going to need to come back to this area and do some more exploring. 2 days was not nearly enough to see all there is to see out there. Great video man!
Thanks! I had some flexibility in my schedule and I would've spent more time exploring all the areas I went through, but it was just so so hot. Definitely need to get back at some point!
Oregonian here. I think I was at the pass once, going up the side with the “ghost” town then done the east side. What a great trip you had!
Great content, very well put together. Thanks for sharing your adventures. Looking forward to the next episode.
Can't beat that scenery 👍🏻
Enjoying the series so much 👍🏻😉
Really good video again Donald. Thank you
Thanks!
Great video Donald, you might've seen my comments on some of your other videos but I'd really like to help you out with your truck because I also own a Frontier myself. If you haven't come across the forums about the inlet and outlet connections for your heater core I'd highly recommend replacing them with aluminum connections because the stock plastic ones are prone to breaking causing your truck to lose radiator fluid and overheat which you wouldn't want on your adventures especially if you're going solo. Z1 makes one for the inlet and Dorman makes one for the outlet. At most it'll take you probably an hour to change both parts. Just something to give you a little peace in mind when you're out in the woods.
Another great episode! Beautiful country for sure!
Thanks Dan! Yes, really amazing area!
That’s a truly beautiful location in this video.
Love your posts
Great stuff as usual, Don! Can't wait for Ep.3!
Thanks!
Routes can be tricky sometimes. I try to make alternate routes that are available throughout the main route just in case. So far so good. Looks like a fun day anyway though. George.
LOL oohhhh yeeaaaahhhh
Oops...that reply was supposed to be on a different comment, LOL. That makes absolutely no sense here, sorry about that George! :-)
Your editing seems to really have taken off these last few videos. Keep it up Donald!
What a beautiful area you were in!
Good video. 😎👍🏻 Looks like you picked up a hitch hiker in the next video. 🐶
Haha, pretty much!
Absolutely gorgeous area would say that view made up for it good stuff as always be safe 👍👍👍👍
Incredible mountain roads! It seems I can’t do a trip without some kind of rerouting. Sometimes it can get frustrating so I agree I often have to wait and think. Man what an awesome issue to have to call annoying
Haha, indeed!
Great video...👍
We always enjoy following you. This episode had some particularly nice music. Any chance you could add links or info to artists and music in your descriptions?
All the music is sourced via artlist.io where I have a subscription. In the rush to get each week's episode edited and posted, it generally doesn't occur to me to track which pieces of music I've used; off the top of my head I couldn't tell you what I used here. I do get this question often enough that I should just make it part of my process to indicate the artists & titles somewhere. I've written myself a reminder note for part 3...I'll try to get in the habit, it wouldn't be difficult at all if I would remember to do it while I'm still in the editing process. :-) Thanks for watching!
Okay so I went back and dug up the music for this episode. I've noted it along with timestamps at the bottom of the Description. I'll *try* to keep doing this going forward. :-)
@@softroadingthewest Thanks Donald. Wasn't trying to make your editing more difficult for you, but as a musician I'd certainly appreciate the info. Either way , as always, we'll be enjoying your videos!
@@farnorthpicker56 Oh it's actually VERY easy if I just remember to do it at the right moment! :-) I'm gonna try to stay on top of it, because I do get asked about the music regularly. I'm actually a musician as well (too busy, alas, to produce my own soundtrack music) and I would also simply like to give a nod to the artists whose work does so much to complete mine. :-)
local subscribers! that's too awesome
my 'go to' camping coffee has become double strength cold brew.. make a gallon and take with,when you want a coffee just boil water and mix 1/2 coffee 'juice' 1/2 boiling water in your cup.. easy-peasy
forester (any automatic) put it in LOW and give it just a 'little' parking brake. Stop from time to time to enjoy scenery and let everything cool down
I'll be getting my Subie back in a week or two, Woods..... Here I come.......
You're the first overlanding video I've seen where someone actually knows how to make REAL cowboy coffee
Credit where due, I learned about cowboy coffee from watching Primal Outdoors. Ironically he now uses some kind of French press thing, but I've found that I like cowboy coffee so much, I often make it at home too. :-)
@@softroadingthewest The true test for cowboy coffee is to throw in a horseshoe and if it sinks to the bottom, add more coffee!
Haha! Sounds good to me! :-)
Oregon is surely blessed with diverse ecosystems, and public land availability. I definitely have some PNW envy 😉
We are fortunate indeed. I try to remind myself that not everyone has such easy access to so much amazing wilderness.
i really need to invest in a drone so i can film some places i go here in Idaho. Again thanks for another great video! look forward to the next!
Thanks for the tip about the gas cans expanding. Cowboy coffee is the best!
nice trip,i m waiting for part3.For your coffee you need an "italian coffee maker",cheap,easy to use and very good coffee
I have a moka pot I use at home actually. Makes superb coffee, yes. I actually used to bring it camping, but its relatively small footprint captures heat from camp stove burners inefficiently, and the thing takes a ridiculous amount of time to brew. I can make cowboy coffee with far less propane consumption. Plus my little teapot nests perfectly into one of my cooking pans so it takes no extra space in my kitchen drawer. :-)
After being confronted by the Beef Patrol, you got some amazing shots at altitude. Being above the tree-line would offer great panoramic views at a campsite. Of course, at 6:37 am your confined sleeping area of choice would start to heat-up.
On the more broken-rock roads: did you air-down?
As it turned out, there were some extra camping restrictions in these mountains to protect the watershed which supplies drinking water to a town below. The (gated) area I wanted to go I believe was outside the restricted area (and was going to potentially be an above-the-treeline campsite) but I guess we'll never know now. :-) Yes, I was aired down for the trek over the pass.
@@softroadingthewest Some day when you get the Personal Hover Craft 8000, gates and washouts won’t be a problem. :-)
greetings from germany, good one!! lookong forward to the next episode.
Im not the only German here anymore? haha
Jason from Maryland here.
Love all the vids you do, my ONLY complaint is that they are too short! Lol! Toss in an extra 5-10 minutes!
🍻👍👌
Agreed! Normally this would've been at least a 20-minute episode, but I just did a lot less filming overall because it was so miserably hot during the day and I was so demolished by the heat by the time I would get to camp. 20-25 minute episodes are my favorites, but there was a really natural "chapter break" here rather than starting into the next leg of my journey within this episode. I haven't yet looked closely at the episode #3 footage but I *think* it's going to result in a longer video. :-)
@@softroadingthewest
Totally understand the heat being a factor! Maryland is getting blasted too, like a lot if places are right now.
Will stay tuned for sure!
🍻
Get yourself an aeropress sir donald. It's unbreakable, cleanup is nothing more than a quick rinse, and it takes up no more space than a coffee cup. You'll thank yourself if for no other reason you'll never have to deal with cleaning up that teapot. While your at it, get a new teapot as well. No matter what you put in that thing, it's gonna come out tasting like watered down old coffee
Haha, my cowboy coffee tastes nothing like watered down old coffee. Believe me, I wouldn't keep making it if I didn't like it...in fact I like so much that I now make coffee this way at home more often than any other method. Cleaning the teapot is a breeze, just a quick rinse out, and this little pot nests perfectly into one of my cooking pans so it effectively consumes no space in my kitchen drawer. This is actually one of the few bits of my whole camping approach that I am completely satisfied with...SO many other details more in need of improving or upgrading. :-)
If your trans is overheating due to slow speeds (< 25mph), keep it in 4Lo, it lowers the temperature considerably.
Part 2 of the series. I'm working on my second bag of popcorn. I'm beginning to see a pattern here...
Really nice video. Mellow vie
Your cousin Craig has gone on adventures with you before, hasn't he learned yet? Lol
It looks beatiful there. Another great series, but that's not a suprise coming from you. Maybe Craig could benefit from a trans cooler if he is going to adventure with you more? From Grand Island, NY,
You have a great speaking voice!
Relaxation!!!
Cowboy coffee is the way to go☕️👍😊
Perhaps a lock-picking kit would make a nice, yet unexpected overlanding tool.
LOL :-)
Great video. I am a huge fan of the Nissan.
Awesome 👏
cows are so cute
did your Forester not have any low gear? my 2016 has one which I find invaluable for decelerating in the snow.
They did not offer dual-range transmissions in U.S. Foresters after the first-gen models. I could manually put my Forester in its first gear (and often would when going downhill), but it would not have been enough to slow the descent on this particular hill.
The Cowboy Coffee is called Turkish Coffee in other parts of the world.
Nothing can really beat the confidence of having a low range transfer case. It's kind of a mind blowing experience that 1st time you use it.
It's called turkish coffee. They did it that way much long before there were cowboys in the west. ;)
How often do you come across other vehicles going in the opposite direction? It would be interesting to see some footage on that since some of these roads are extremely tight.
Aside from Roy & Jen at the top, we encountered one other truck as we came up the west side. The roads are narrow but you can usually find a wide-ish spot where one of you can get far enough over. *Most* people I encounter are considerate and cooperative and everyone works together to get around each other. I rarely capture it on video because I become immediately focused on us getting past each other. I'll try to remember to grab some footage next time the opportunity presents.
@@softroadingthewest no worries Donald, it was more out of curiosity. Stay safe and keep those eyes on the trail/road. 😉
Just curious what part of NE Oregon this is
No man (or woman) is ever on their own with the company of a dog ; )
Hey don't be selfish with this shade let your cousin have his truck in the shade to help cool it down, just giving you a "ras" lol. Hi from Springfield Oregon
I got 2..5 gallons Jerry cans off of offer up for 30 bucks one new one used
Is there some reason why you don’t supply some specifics about where you are? You mentioned those mountain ranges this road but I’m not sure what area you are in. Some general context would be nice as in the blue mountains or the mountain range to the north east of Ontario Oregon. Thanks
It is likely because he doesn't want to draw too much attention to the places he visits to keep the state wild. If he tells specific (and possibly even only vague) locations, the information could spread and once-remote areas would have an influx of visitors. This is respectable, especially since northeastern Oregon has many hidden gems. For general information, this episode was in the Elkhorns.
Part of an Adventure is Trying to find the places we hear about.
@@westwinde9574 while I think this is a general excuse for gatekeeping the hobby, the only thing UA-camr telling someone exactly where they went is make it slightly easier for folks, I have heard people use this excuse before but then put their gps behind a paywall, thus eliminating any moral grounds for doing so. The MVUM for these areas are public knowledge and with the right research everyone and their mom can go to these places if so desired.
At the end of the vid Donald say he gives location info to his patreon subs…. Soo pay for the info.. lol
That first campsite looks hot
Are you airing down on these back roads?
Yep!
Better to fill the gas cans to a maximum of 70% 👍
I always love any video I see of people out exploring in a non-Jeep/Toyota :)
that is what bolt cutters are for
You should carry some swag in trips in case you meet veiwers out there! stickers or t shirts or something simple would be really neat!
I usually do, but had forgotten to throw some into the truck before this trip. When I got home I mailed some stickers to Roy and Jen. :-)
@@softroadingthewest Solid! I would love to get out to OR one day and meet you, coyote works and Primal outdoors!
Add egg shells to your cowboy coffee before you boil the water.
Why??
@@tomfrengillo it will help take some of the bitterness out of the coffee, the egg shells absorb some of the oils from the coffee beans.
@@leapinlizard9487 Didn’t know that, thanks for the tip.
Hmm, it never tastes bitter to me (or else the bitterness simply tastes good/normal to me? I tend to enjoy bitter flavors in general). I'd be curious though to do side-by-side taste tests with and without eggshell.
@@softroadingthewest Egg shells are alkaline, while coffee is acidic. When added to coffee, the egg shells remove much of the bitterness and mellow out the flavor. Egg shells are also used in making campfire (cowboy) coffee as the shells help keep the grounds in the bottom of the pot. But I believe "bitterness" can also be perceived differently by people. Donald, I really enjoy your videos, you are doing a great job!
I am not a fan of private use of public lands
There really should call it “corporate land with public access until we change our mind”
Do you air down when you drive those roads? Thanks
Yep, absolutely. In this case, less for traction than for comfort, but I'm so used to airing down in general that driving rough roads at street pressure just grates on me. :-)
👍
Directed by Tarantino. Starring Donald.
Haha, maybe next week I'll try to channel David Lynch. :-)
RIP 4.27 ;-)
Haha...the smears live on however LOLOL
@@softroadingthewest Very artistic.
Show us more cooking in these episodes we would absolutely love that!!
I hate gates
Your videos are too short Donald
UA-cam analytics beg to differ. It's extremely difficult to retain viewers for even this long. For every person who tells me the videos should be longer, I have someone tell me they like the content but wish the videos were shorter. Can't win. So I just make videos in chapters/segments that make sense to me and my storytelling. Sometimes that's 12 minutes, sometimes that's 30 minutes. What's clear is that it's impossible to please everyone.
I'm just going to assume they prevent access to keep their activities secret, whether it be clear-cutting beyond allowable acreage, waste issues, or wildlife disturbance (think nesting birds in snags or tree cavities).
Walter White
Please make the volume of your voice audio and the music audio the same. I am constantly turning the volume of my TV up and down as your scenes change. It is very annoying and will lead me to stop watching our videos.
Thank you,
Vince
I strive to keep that all balanced. It sounds perfect played back on my computer through headphones; when I play these on my iPad, my voice is actually annoyingly louder than the music. I've never watched my own videos on a TV, though when we watch movies on the TV, we *constantly* have to adjust the volume for music or for dialog - professional Hollywood studio movies. Different sound systems seem to respond differently or boost/attenuate different frequencies. Technically by the numbers, the sound levels are very even.
where i live its illegal to block public access roads on blm ad forest land that gate would have been torn out after calling