this is easily the best 'travel doc' i've seen in years and years and years. love the unassuming flourishes of lo-fi style/aesthetics, the laidback vibe of just two dudes enjoying nature and stillness, the actually informative/historical bits that go into juuust the right amount of detail. so refreshing from all the obnoxious & over-polished influencer/vlog/big-personality type BS that inundates the travel/exploration corner of YT. well done. i know it's five years old, but you should still be super proud of this. i'm also a filmmaker/editor and 1000% would've attempted to make something in a similar vein, if given the opportunity. especially love the radio montage around 23:00 + that 'seamless' hand-over-lens transition at 26:26. incredible work all around.
On December 26, 1991, I camped at the hot spring located on the SW side of the Alvord Desert. The hot spring wasn't yet infested with hippies. It was a bitterly cold, absolutely silent place. I turned on the shortwave radio, only to discover the Soviet Union had fallen. I had the strangest feeling about how meaningless one human life can be in the vastness of time.
Just teasin' about the hot spring bein' infested with hippies! Them boys appear to be genuine, bona fide entrprenoors, and them hippie girls in the hot tubs without their bikini tops are a puredee sight for these ol' eyes to see!
@@chrisackerley1842 It is a belittling part of the world. Empty but full of game beautiful and frightening. Is there really a bunch of hippies and their entitled stupidity at the hot springs.
Not many would undertake the hiking clear across the desert. There's a small, alkali lake there that has one type of life, the brine shrimp. Some birds come in to feed on them and one person has a franchise to net and dry them for fish food. You caught some good perspectives of the desert and the majestic, snow-capped line of peaks of the mountain. I spent part of a summer there, working on a botanical survey team. We camped out on open cots and sleeping bags, with sub-freezing nights and 90+degree days. We walked transects all over the hills within 20 miles of the desert, identifying and measuring all the plants. It was like a personal visit to a favorite old area for me to watch your video.
I grew up in Saint Helens Oregon, about an hour (38 miles) west of Portland. I have always wanted to visit the Alvord Desert! I cant wait to! I hope you guys can make it up to Portland and make some videos!
Do it! This Summer or Fall--just do it! There's a nice B&B in Frenchglen...and motels along the way. Amazing country! Tarp, pad, sleeping-bag...and stars and quiet you wouldn't believe!
Thanks man! I’ve watched a number of your videos as well, I love em. I hope we can all get back to exploring the state this summer. We had plans to shoot a new film in June but now, who knows.
@@UsAsWeAre Very nice you got some style. Someone mentioned Wes Anderson, a hero of mine, I see that too. Times are tough! I have one more video left to edit from an eastern Oregon trip. This place actually, that is what brought me to this video, looking for inspiration.
Having discovered earlier today Oregon is not all trees, I came across your documentary. This is superb and highly informatative viewing....also the music mix should be made available for purchase...Incidentally keegan is some shots looks very much like the actor David Patrick Kelly who was in the 1979 movie 'The Warriors'.
Most of Oregon is not trees. That is the coastal mountains where Oregon got its reputation of being covered with trees. Most of Oregon is a high, dry desert, as is Northern California and Nevada
I was camped a few years ago in the middle of the Alvord and shot an arrow in the air too. It was at night with a glow stick attached to it. In the morning I went out to retrieve it and laying a foot from my arrow was a stone arrowhead. I often wondered if an Indian had done the same with his bow years ago.....
Dad told me several times how when we got to the top of the Steen's Mountains (~1970) and I got out of the car. The stars were so bright it scared me and I started crying. We did a few more trips out there over the years. Intensely beautiful country! Great video!
Eastern Oregon is full of so many hidden gems like this. I only live 4 hours from Steens and the Alvord Desert in North East Oregon so a trip down south is definitely in order. Great video, you got me sold.
@@hazrsn7985 I don't know much about earth science but if I'm not mistaken I think a desert is pretty much just an area that receives no more than 10 inches of rainfall per year, which the Alvord Desert only receives about 7 inches per year. It seems pretty dry, especially since the ground is cracking and everything. It's also the driest spot in all of Oregon, which much of Eastern Oregon where it's located is considered a desert.
Nice one! I've contemplating taking my camera there in the near future because it seems quite removed from the pandemic and super easy to social distance from EVERYTHING.
This was more interesting than most movies I have seen in the theaters in the past few years. Certainly on the rain shadowed leeward side of Marvel and DC, but that’s only because they have a bigger marketing budget.
Thanks for the educational part of this video I earned something new today. The closest place that looks very similar to this place is the Black Rock in Gerlach and starting to get busy due to the Burning man.
Trying to get a sense of the size of the area that was used to the rocket car speed test last year. About how many miles Long was the stretch was used would you know it? 3-4 miles maybe?
You feel lost driving down gravel roads, then you come over a hill and catch a glimpse and the second hill boom you see the big flat. On the flat even driving at 70 or 80 the other side draws close slowly. I was there in the 90's , went there with a buddy to look for geodes and what not but a storm came in with high winds and we split. Some minor caves got explored on the hill but that was it.
Really interesting how in all that vastness, there’s only ONE bird. That’s right ladies and gentlemen...ONE BIRD. you know why there’s only one bird? Because the GOVERNMENT DOESNT NEED DRONES THERE. That said, you guys do a really great job capturing the energy of the desert. My boyfriend and I went on vacation once and we had a great time.
I would recommend background music/voice over for all your shots. It keeps my ears stimulated personally. Remember, HALF of a film is audio! Good luck making more!
That part of oregon is interesting. I still wish someone could do a documentary of Freemont national forest about the plants and animals that is in that area of oregon. To actually get video of whatever animal or plants that is there. Even the insects. What kind is there? Any insects or animals that are a mix between desert and forest creatures? Seems like a unique area with little information about it.
I have spent many months exploring the Steens as well as Foster Flat, Jackass and some of the Alvord. I was looking forward to the video until the avocado burger was exposed without meat! That was it, I shut it down!
Emptiest Place in Oregon!!!! it is now 2024 and even 4 years ago it was anything but empty. TH-cam videos and other media have made it known world wide. I fear this once pristine area will be forever ruined by the increasing use. Use to travel the length of highway 205 without seeing another vehicle. Not now. Also we stopped at Fields on our way through there recently. Been having a hamburger and malt there since it was a tiny store with sparsely stocked shelves and a grill at one end. Décor has gone upscale. Meal quality down, and the price for hamburgers, fries, and malts for two plus a tip which was actually for, was way up - $50. Service was no where near what it was before becoming known world wide. Last time for us.
I first visited in 1979, and several times subsequently. We were told the pools and shelter were constructed illegally by a group from OSU. The changing room appears to have fallen down and what was all that development on the way in? No fees then either. Out on the desert itself we visited a borax lake that was a murky blue cone disappearing into hazy depths. No one wanted to go in, but I did. It was a little creepy in there. There is a smaller mystery pool at Ruby Hotsprings in Nevada. I looked for the borax lake on Google Earth but was unable to find it. It was on the old USGS topo maps. Is it still there?.
I don't like it when people give wrong information in their videos. Oregon definitely was a state BEFORE the Civil War. Oregon became a state in 1859. The Civil War started in 1861. Do your research before making a video!!
The natives would Harass the traveling settlers???? Logic alone would suggest you reconsider the words... We should all be considerate of the truth and perpetuate non truths.
Mr R I hear you, but in my defense, I want to point out that in the previous sentence I say that the tension was caused by white settlers encroaching on the land. The natives did not make the first aggression.
Why do hipsters have a recurve bow instead of a compound. They should run steam engines in their soobroos whatever it takes to increase their d.b. status.
this is easily the best 'travel doc' i've seen in years and years and years. love the unassuming flourishes of lo-fi style/aesthetics, the laidback vibe of just two dudes enjoying nature and stillness, the actually informative/historical bits that go into juuust the right amount of detail. so refreshing from all the obnoxious & over-polished influencer/vlog/big-personality type BS that inundates the travel/exploration corner of YT. well done. i know it's five years old, but you should still be super proud of this. i'm also a filmmaker/editor and 1000% would've attempted to make something in a similar vein, if given the opportunity. especially love the radio montage around 23:00 + that 'seamless' hand-over-lens transition at 26:26. incredible work all around.
This is great. Was searching for good Oregon videos and this is a diamond in the rough of silly generic travel vids. Thanks dudes!!
This is F@#$#ing wonderful. You can’t ever stop making videos.
On December 26, 1991, I camped at the hot spring located on the SW side of the Alvord Desert. The hot spring wasn't yet infested with hippies. It was a bitterly cold, absolutely silent place. I turned on the shortwave radio, only to discover the Soviet Union had fallen. I had the strangest feeling about how meaningless one human life can be in the vastness of time.
Just teasin' about the hot spring bein' infested with hippies! Them boys appear to be genuine, bona fide entrprenoors, and them hippie girls in the hot tubs without their bikini tops are a puredee sight for these ol' eyes to see!
@@chrisackerley1842 It is a belittling part of the world. Empty but full of game beautiful and frightening. Is there really a bunch of hippies and their entitled stupidity at the hot springs.
Wow what a story, that is an experience that sticks a life time, thanks for sharing!
@@chrisackerley1842Love it, I bet we could have a cold one and share some awesome stories sir!!
Awesome video. Couldn't ask for anything better 👍👍
I could watch your documentary style for days. Amazing stuff. Going to check out more of your videos!
SmartFlight Weddings thank you for watching! I’m really glad you enjoyed it so much.
Clicked in to take a dip, ended up taking a 28-minute bath. Really good work guys, love the mood and the info segments. Subscribed.
Thanks for tuning in. We really appreciate your support.
Not many would undertake the hiking clear across the desert. There's a small, alkali lake there that has one type of life, the brine shrimp. Some birds come in to feed on them and one person has a franchise to net and dry them for fish food. You caught some good perspectives of the desert and the majestic, snow-capped line of peaks of the mountain. I spent part of a summer there, working on a botanical survey team. We camped out on open cots and sleeping bags, with sub-freezing nights and 90+degree days. We walked transects all over the hills within 20 miles of the desert, identifying and measuring all the plants. It was like a personal visit to a favorite old area for me to watch your video.
I grew up in Saint Helens Oregon, about an hour (38 miles) west of Portland. I have always wanted to visit the Alvord Desert! I cant wait to! I hope you guys can make it up to Portland and make some videos!
Do it! This Summer or Fall--just do it! There's a nice B&B in Frenchglen...and motels along the way. Amazing country! Tarp, pad, sleeping-bag...and stars and quiet you wouldn't believe!
Really interesting and i really enjoyed Keegan & Louis!
Very nice! Love the variety, presentation, info.
Thanks man! I’ve watched a number of your videos as well, I love em. I hope we can all get back to exploring the state this summer. We had plans to shoot a new film in June but now, who knows.
@@UsAsWeAre Very nice you got some style. Someone mentioned Wes Anderson, a hero of mine, I see that too. Times are tough! I have one more video left to edit from an eastern Oregon trip. This place actually, that is what brought me to this video, looking for inspiration.
Oh nice, can’t wait to see it.
You guys are cool. Loved your sense of humor and dorkiness!
great video keep up the good work
Having discovered earlier today Oregon is not all trees, I came across your documentary. This is superb and highly informatative
viewing....also the music mix should be made available for purchase...Incidentally keegan is some shots looks very much like the
actor David Patrick Kelly who was in the 1979 movie 'The Warriors'.
How funny! I thought the same thing, that he looked like a Warriors character.
Most of Oregon is not trees. That is the coastal mountains where Oregon got its reputation of being covered with trees. Most of Oregon is a high, dry desert, as is Northern California and Nevada
Joe Walsh and Billie Gibbons… great video guys!
I really liked this. Nice work.
I was camped a few years ago in the middle of the Alvord and shot an arrow in the air too. It was at night with a glow stick attached to it. In the morning I went out to retrieve it and laying a foot from my arrow was a stone arrowhead. I often wondered if an Indian had done the same with his bow years ago.....
Dad told me several times how when we got to the top of the Steen's Mountains (~1970) and I got out of the car. The stars were so bright it scared me and I started crying. We did a few more trips out there over the years. Intensely beautiful country! Great video!
Eastern Oregon is full of so many hidden gems like this. I only live 4 hours from Steens and the Alvord Desert in North East Oregon so a trip down south is definitely in order. Great video, you got me sold.
I don't understand if it's a true desert or not?
The place doesn't seem that dry.
@@hazrsn7985 I don't know much about earth science but if I'm not mistaken I think a desert is pretty much just an area that receives no more than 10 inches of rainfall per year, which the Alvord Desert only receives about 7 inches per year. It seems pretty dry, especially since the ground is cracking and everything. It's also the driest spot in all of Oregon, which much of Eastern Oregon where it's located is considered a desert.
Cool documentary!
Brilliant.
Great video, I love the style.
Crazy beautiful 👍 great video 🙏
Seriously top five videos I've seen on TH-cam!
im proud of you guys for doing this, dad. Go Beavs!
Loved it
I remember seeing this close to when it initially came out, now i'm living in Idaho temporarily so i'm hoping we hit up this spot shortly.
Nice one! I've contemplating taking my camera there in the near future because it seems quite removed from the pandemic and super easy to social distance from EVERYTHING.
You would probably be safe if you're wearing your mask.
@@northwexpressgo smoke a dick!!
This was more interesting than most movies I have seen in the theaters in the past few years. Certainly on the rain shadowed leeward side of Marvel and DC, but that’s only because they have a bigger marketing budget.
Thanks for the educational part of this video I earned something new today. The closest place that looks very similar to this place is the Black Rock in Gerlach and starting to get busy due to the Burning man.
Nicely done
Fine work
I once bicycled to the top of Steens Mountain (about 9600 feet). Eight and a half hours up, two hours down.
nice hats guys!
Yo this good
Where exactly did you camp? That looked nice and protected from the wind
Just about the whole east side has formations like this, tghere is miles na dmiles of it, good luck!
Trying to get a sense of the size of the area that was used to the rocket car speed test last year. About how many miles Long was the stretch was used would you know it?
3-4 miles maybe?
Ash qelon 14 miles wide and 7 across. We camp there every year to ride motorcycles.
Nice job
You feel lost driving down gravel roads, then you come over a hill and catch a glimpse and the second hill boom you see the big flat. On the flat even driving at 70 or 80 the other side draws close slowly. I was there in the 90's , went there with a buddy to look for geodes and what not but a storm came in with high winds and we split. Some minor caves got explored on the hill but that was it.
Really interesting how in all that vastness, there’s only ONE bird. That’s right ladies and gentlemen...ONE BIRD. you know why there’s only one bird? Because the GOVERNMENT DOESNT NEED DRONES THERE.
That said, you guys do a really great job capturing the energy of the desert. My boyfriend and I went on vacation once and we had a great time.
I would recommend background music/voice over for all your shots. It keeps my ears stimulated personally. Remember, HALF of a film is audio!
Good luck making more!
having been there 4 times i definately see why they left out music, its the most unbelievably quiet place ever, its hard to even describe
The silence out there is why I feel they left very little sound.
It’s fitting.
That part of oregon is interesting. I still wish someone could do a documentary of Freemont national forest about the plants and animals that is in that area of oregon. To actually get video of whatever animal or plants that is there. Even the insects. What kind is there? Any insects or animals that are a mix between desert and forest creatures? Seems like a unique area with little information about it.
I have spent many months exploring the Steens as well as Foster Flat, Jackass and some of the Alvord. I was looking forward to the video until the avocado burger was exposed without meat! That was it, I shut it down!
Rightfully so. We deeply apologize for our crimes against food.
There used to be fish in Mann Lake that tasted much like the local vegetation, you might try one of them on a bun! (TIC)@@UsAsWeAre
Emptiest Place in Oregon!!!! it is now 2024 and even 4 years ago it was anything but empty. TH-cam videos and other media have made it known world wide. I fear this once pristine area will be forever ruined by the increasing use. Use to travel the length of highway 205 without seeing another vehicle. Not now.
Also we stopped at Fields on our way through there recently. Been having a hamburger and malt there since it was a tiny store with sparsely stocked shelves and a grill at one end. Décor has gone upscale. Meal quality down, and the price for hamburgers, fries, and malts for two plus a tip which was actually for, was way up - $50. Service was no where near what it was before becoming known world wide. Last time for us.
The north end of the playa tends to stay wetter.
I believe it’s because of the prevailing winds.
Very good.. Great!
I first visited in 1979, and several times subsequently. We were told the pools and shelter were constructed illegally by a group from OSU. The changing room appears to have fallen down and what was all that development on the way in? No fees then either. Out on the desert itself we visited a borax lake that was a murky blue cone disappearing into hazy depths. No one wanted to go in, but I did. It was a little creepy in there. There is a smaller mystery pool at Ruby Hotsprings in Nevada. I looked for the borax lake on Google Earth but was unable to find it. It was on the old USGS topo maps. Is it still there?.
Very science museum feel to it
I'm shocked by the fact that there's a desert in Oregon!
A rather large percentage of the state is arid.
Actually considered a desert state
Never new Oregon had a desert
Half of it is high desert
i need a date of travel please
It's as if Wes Anderson and Ken Burns had a baby.
Wow, I think that’s the best compliment I could ever be given. Thank you!
I don't like it when people give wrong information in their videos. Oregon definitely was a state BEFORE the Civil War. Oregon became a state in 1859. The Civil War started in 1861. Do your research before making a video!!
The natives would Harass the traveling settlers???? Logic alone would suggest you reconsider the words... We should all be considerate of the truth and perpetuate non truths.
Mr R I hear you, but in my defense, I want to point out that in the previous sentence I say that the tension was caused by white settlers encroaching on the land. The natives did not make the first aggression.
Why are you shooting with bow and arrow? Don't shoot animals.
Why do hipsters insist on calling dry lakes "playas"?
Why do hipsters have a recurve bow instead of a compound. They should run steam engines in their soobroos whatever it takes to increase their d.b. status.
Because the technical geological term is playa.
Why do you want to assist on calling yourself death striker 6666?
@@mrblaxto I don't, I call myself deathstr1ker6666.
I hear they are moving Burning Man to the Alvord in 2026.