A little thing I learned on a nice trip to Australia: when you're cutting fallen trees to clear the road, cut them wider than necessary. There might be a fire one day and the fire crews with the big trucks will appreciate it when they don't have to stop to cut an extra 2 feet off that trunk to make it through. Never thought of that before that trip.
the wind swept spot at the end, that is called West Hang Launch, the road up there was built by Hang glider pilots in the late 70's early 80's, If you camp there, do not camp in the trees, as they are needed for the hang glider pilots to set up and prepare. Gret seeing a vid of my back yard.
The tree in the road, cut to chopped end and cars going by, then sleet starts to fall . . . so cool! The outakes were funny. Rock in the brakes is annoying haha. Excellent video as always!
Haha, while I wasn't thrilled at the time with the sleet suddenly hammering my camera & microphone, I was very pleasantly surprised by how nice that clip turned out, almost looking planned. Thanks Matthew!
Another great video. I'm so envious of your treks outdoors, exploring, camping, wheeling. Thank you again for all the tedious recording and editing. It makes my weekend. Someday I'll get out there myself.
Good way to start the 4th of July with a softroading episode. Thanks for the mention of proper gate etiquette. We are loosing access to areas because of peoples disregard of this simple back country rule. Thanks, George.
Talk about envy, all I got around here for a view in ATL today is a humid pollen infused hazy smog. You get snow and I'm praying for a hurricane to blow this crap out of here. Keep it up as I'm feeding off these videos for the motivation to get out and burn a few weeks of vacation days.
I agree... great videography. Beautiful places, thanks for taking us along! The under shot of t e new muffler... looooking goood. Outtakes were fun. Some TH-camry sprinting sessions as well. What you guys have to do for these shots... Thanks! Happy 4th of July!
Haha, at the time I was just annoyed it started dumping on my camera, but then I was thrilled when I reviewed the footage...looked like some sort of cinematic planned symbolic shot from a movie, timing could not have been any better. :-)
Donald , have you thought about putting together a video on how you plan your trips and mark sites for dispersed camping? Would be interested in your approach.. Editing is off there hook my man, keep up the great work!
Yes, it's by far the most requested topic. I actually tried to pull this together a couple of months ago while also out shooting an adventure with some friends, but I wasn't happy with what I got so I scrapped it. I will have to just make a dedicated trek focused on creating this video. I'm fairly backlogged at this point but this is at the top of my list when I can get to it!
God god man you have a great cinematic eye for some of these shots, in the beginning with that cut stump and the rain falling, beauty. Cant wait for more
Hey, we we’re wondering if on one of your adventures, you could bring a fishing pole and do a little fishing? We would really love to see your adventures including some fishing in some of the secluded areas that you go! Thank you
I'm not really much of a fisherman and I can barely squeeze the travel, camp stuff, and filming into my day, let alone finding time to stop and fish. :-) And I'm not really a fan of eating fish in the first place. I *do* enjoy some fresh-caught pan fried trout on occasion, but I don't even have my fishing license so far this year. At most I was thinking about maybe experimenting with tenkara someday, since that compact, simplified approach makes the most sense for my limited time and space. No promises, but not completely ruled out either. :-)
Great video. Music and editing on point. I had this same issue in the Deschutes while practicing emergency communications. I lost all feeling in my hands trying to throw an antenna in the trees, and the sleet and snow and wind started, and it was just not enjoyable. More like December than June. And thanks for the gate psa. I learned early in cattle country to close gates, or else. Let’s all be mindful, so these gates don’t start growing locks. 👍
Another great video, you just keep getting better at this. It was nice to see a few landmarks that I used to see all the time. My great grandfather supposedly guarded that railroad bridge over the highway during WW2. I have heard stories that there used to be a black settlement between there and Oakridge along the tracks somewhere and I have seen a lot of interesting stuff on the maps following the tracks but never got the chance to explore it yet.
@@softroadingthewest Thank you for the information. I value your experience and talents. I will check into the Rhino and Scaparo. I would like a 2” lift for my 2012 Forester, any recommendations? Thank you so much in advance . Tim in Florida
Great video with a good bunch of folks. That's the nice thing about overlanding... if you don't like the place or weather, just keep moving. Nice that you were able to capture that in this video. Roof tent vs ground tent: I still prefer my ground tent... and, I'm looking at a new Gazelle T4 to replace it. The tent is cheap (compared to a RTT) and we like the roominess inside where I can also stand up in it. Either way, so many options (vehicles, tents, cooking, etc) and I'm just glad to see people using them and getting outdoors. Take care! Pete - KI7LIL
Yeah, being able to stand up is a nice advantage over the RTT. I'd probably still consider doing an RTT one day, at least for a while, just to see what it's like. Seems pleasant to be up off the ground like that. In the meantime, I'm extremely happy with my Gazelle!
DUDE! I had the exact noise happen to my forester in the woods last year (21:04)! I was so scared, but it eventually just snapped out and was fine. Not sure if mine was a break, but it was all up in the wheel well. Glad to know it wasn't just me, lol!
It happens pretty regularly to me when out on the trail. All it takes is the tiniest pebble to get stuck in the brakes to create an insane racket. Usually a bit of driving reverse and forward a few times will dislodge it, though one time I had to stop, remove the wheel and fish the stone out because I just couldn't shake it loose and the noise was intolerable.
@@softroadingthewest Thanks for the insight. It's good to be aware fo this sort of thing so as to not improperly diagnose issues on the trail. I'm not the biggest car guy, but I definitely would now know to remove the wheel in the worst case scenario. Thanks, man! Keep it up. Love the videos.
Great video, yet again! Editing always impresses me, though I have a few questions about video etiquette while on a group trip like this. Your friends seem very accommodating and understanding, and I'm just wrapping my head around what you had to do/say to get some of these shots. Take 4:33 for instance. I'm imagining it went something like this. Mitsubishi Driver: "Hey Donald, we got a tree up here that's blocking the road." You: "Awesome. That would make for a great approach shot. Let's have everyone back up about 30 yards, let me go set up my camera, and then we'll all drive up to it." That was just an example. There are many more shots where you need to set up your camera to get the shot, direct the others, and then have everyone wait while you go back to get your camera. And repeat at a different location. Is this a realistic portrayal of what happens when you film? How do you get the shot you want without feeling like a burden on the group? Thanks!
That's pretty much exactly how it goes down. And yeah, I do feel like a burden, but for the most part the people I go out with are patient and accommodating because they enjoy seeing the video afterwards and understand it requires a few delays. That said, I do far less setting up of drive-by shots when I'm out with a crew than when I'm out by myself. That's one of the reasons I do enjoy getting out solo fairly often, as I can stop whenever I like without worrying about everyone sitting and waiting for me.
@@softroadingthewest Eventually there might be a Drone you can launch from your moving car and have it return and park back on the moving car, heck they are doing it with Rockets and boosters,,,,,
I know a certain TH-camr who films driving shots precisely in that way, but he's got a much better drone than me. Mine is hypersensitive to electromagnetic interference and has to be launched a certain distance from the car for its internal compass to be properly calibrated. Ultimately, I spend nearly all of my week sitting in front of the computer doing day job work or video editing, so it's probably good for me to get out and do some running. :-)
I actually have been running a drone, but didn't bring it on this trip because I keep getting into trouble flying it when there are trees around, LOL. There will be some drone footage in the upcoming series of episodes from eastern Oregon...where there are no trees, heh. :-)
softroadingthewest yea I watched your video earlier about the one trying to go back to its take off spot and ended up in a tree 🤦🏻♂️ that would have sucked
Sweet video D as usual we need to get together at some point I drive an outback and by buddies have rubicon’s I am only an hour from Eugene love seeing all your videos in areas I hang out we need to do a overland camp⛺️
I don't recall the name of the song/artist. All the music in my videos is licensed from artlist.io. I use (almost entirely) new music for every new video...I handle about 5-7 new pieces of music per week and couldn't tell you the names of any of them, heh. Sorry about that. :-)
I think it was Erik and/or Aaron who were tracking the weather and I'm not sure if they were using Gaia for that or something else. I didn't even know about that layer on Gaia...not sure how that works once you're away from internet service? How does it update?
Hi Don, Happy Fourth. Enjoy your adventures as always, and have a question or two. When you show your car driving past the camera, is someone else taking the shot, or do you set the scene, drive by, then go back and retrieve you camera? If the latter, does your group wait for you to catch back up, or do have to speed up to catch them? Also, approx how many off road miles do you think you have put on the subie, any problems? Safe travels. Thanks, Jim Williston
Unless I have one of the kids along - in which case I send them out to shoot - I set up the shot, I/we drive past, I retrieve the camera. This is easier by myself because I can basically drive to where I want to put the camera, then back up far enough to drive through the scene, then drive back to the camera, but with a group I have to do a lot more running (I also hoof it by myself when it's a tricky stretch of road I don't really want to back up along). As I spend so much of my week either doing day job work in front of the computer or editing video in front of the computer, I generally need the exercise so having to run to set up shots and retrieve the camera doesn't bother me. We always have radios when traveling in groups, so it's easy to get everyone to stop. Whatever crew I'm with waits until I radio that I'm ready to roll before moving forward. I do fewer of these types of shots when I'm with a group just because I don't like constantly making people stop, though for the most part the people I've rolled with have been patient with the process, as they like to see the video results later on. :-) No idea on off-pavement miles. I've not tracked it. It's pretty easy to be on dirt all day but only travel about 20-30 miles, depending on how much filming I do and how bad the roads are. On any given weekend, I certainly log a LOT more miles just getting to and from the area I'm going to explore than I log during the actual exploring. Over the past three years, it's got to be somewhere in the thousands but I would say still less than 10,000. No issues of any sort so far after three years of doing this very regularly.
@@softroadingthewest thanks for getting back Don. I enjoy your adventures and vlog. You make me think 40 years younger. I really admire your values. Jim Williston
Your friends with the Crosstreks, did they lift their vehicles at all, or do they just have really good offroad tires? Curious because I have a Crosstrek and I've always been curious if it could handle some of these more boulder covered roads.
They are both lifted...pretty sure 1.5" lifts on both. The white Crosstrek has upgraded springs as well. Plus yes slightly oversize AT tires. Ground clearance is still pretty good on a stock Crosstrek, though the approach angle is sort of the weak point I think, with that long low nose. Best way to know is to just get out there and see what it'll do stock, and if it won't go where you want, you'll at least gain a better feel for what mods make sense to get you where you want to go. :-) I did this kind of exploring for a year before making any mods to the Forester.
Just bought my first Forrester...will replacing the stock tires with AT Falken wildpeak be enough for me to start taking my car on the beach? Or will I need a lift and/or new wheels...will be using the stock 17inch wheels.
What makes the most difference on the beach is airing down. If you are able to on your Foresters, moving to a smaller wheel with a taller tire will give you more leeway to air down. A 17" wheel only leaves room for a lower profile tire, which can't be aired down as much. That's why you see so many offroad Subaru builds with 15" wheels...it makes it possible to fit a tire with a taller sidewall. Whatever direction you go, enjoy the Forester! :-)
@@softroadingthewest Thanks! Love your videos. I also have an SH forester with a 1" ADF lift. I know the roof limit is 150lbs, but how much weight have you successfully put up there?
Haha, I am SO used to being the odd man out. :-) Either I'm the only car among a bunch of 4x4s or the only one not sleeping in an RTT...heh. Of course, I was also the only one here who could sit down normally on the edge of my cot to remove my shoes, and stand up to get dressed in the morning. That said, I have to admit, RTT life looks kinda nice...I wouldn't mind moving to an RTT setup one day, if it was one of those sleek GoFast style triangular clamshell versions. That would require a lot of reconfiguring for carrying the stuff that's on my roof, but I could see evolving in that direction one day. There's definitely something that appeals to me about being up off the ground.
I hear you. Beyond the cost however, I also have the reality that I park in an underground, and I don’t think it would fit. Years ago, we used to have a slide-in truck camper, which was great and convenient. But whenever you wanted to drive somewhere, you had to pack everything up. That got old quickly when we would stay in one place for longer than a night.
I was trying to catch up on your videos on my big screen but I had to switch a lesser setup because the low end rumble made this video unwatchable. A low end filter is a must. A good dead cat on the mic too. I think venture4wd spoiled me with his gold standard audio. I really enjoy your channel. Now back to watching your videos.
To butcher Robert Burns, “...the best laid plans of mice and men and softroaders oft go awry...” good ol’ Oregon weather🙄 Still looks like a fun adventure and the bloopers at the end were a treat. Thanks my friend🙏 Happy Fourth of July 🇺🇸💥 Adventure on👍🚙🏕🍻
You can go to the nearest area of National Forest or BLM land and just start driving up roads. I usually do some pre-scouting on maps & satellite pics - looking specifically at areas of public lands - to get ideas of which roads I want to check out, but a lot of it is just poking up roads I find when I'm out there. It's helpful to use a navigation system which is able to display public lands (such as Gaia GPS), but a stop at the nearest ranger station for maps is another way to find legit, explorable areas.
@@softroadingthewest I have a 2012 Forester and I would like to do a lift kit from Primitive racing out of Colorado with Subaru XV Crosstrek Machined w/ Dark Charcoal Pockets 17" OEM Wheels. What are your thoughts? Do you think this would work? Thank you in advance
@@timothyrobles8777 Pretty sure those wheels will bolt up onto the Forester just fine, however if hitting the trails is your goal, I would always advise moving to a smaller wheel rather than a larger wheel. That way, you can fit a tire with a taller sidewall. A 17" wheel doesn't leave room for very much sidewall, which means you can't air down as much, and have far less cushion between rocks and the rim. Most of us run 15" wheels from Method, Motegi, Black Rhino, Sparco, or a handful of other manufacturers who make 15" wheels designed to fit over the brakes on Subarus, because the smaller wheel means more room for a taller tire...let me know if I can clarify any of that. :-)
A little thing I learned on a nice trip to Australia: when you're cutting fallen trees to clear the road, cut them wider than necessary. There might be a fire one day and the fire crews with the big trucks will appreciate it when they don't have to stop to cut an extra 2 feet off that trunk to make it through. Never thought of that before that trip.
Thank you! Definitely going to start doing that!
Your editing has gotten to another level, Donald. Great video. The outtakes at the end were great. You should include more.
Haha i second that! Loved the outakes.
Every now and then he'll add some drama like this snow for a little razzle dazzle 🤘🏼
the wind swept spot at the end, that is called West Hang Launch, the road up there was built by Hang glider pilots in the late 70's early 80's, If you camp there, do not camp in the trees, as they are needed for the hang glider pilots to set up and prepare. Gret seeing a vid of my back yard.
The tree in the road, cut to chopped end and cars going by, then sleet starts to fall . . . so cool! The outakes were funny. Rock in the brakes is annoying haha. Excellent video as always!
Haha, while I wasn't thrilled at the time with the sleet suddenly hammering my camera & microphone, I was very pleasantly surprised by how nice that clip turned out, almost looking planned. Thanks Matthew!
8:58 "Moo" - I lol'd. Haha, it's the simple things in life!
Thanks for LOLing at that. It still makes me laugh. :-)
Another great video. I'm so envious of your treks outdoors, exploring, camping, wheeling. Thank you again for all the tedious recording and editing. It makes my weekend. Someday I'll get out there myself.
5:14 was perfect foreshadowing! Beautiful!
wow what great filming! Thankyou for your time and effort. always enjoy your content
The Subaru Crew! Great video, as always! I hope you and the family have a great 4th of July weekend, Donald!
Good way to start the 4th of July with a softroading episode.
Thanks for the mention of proper gate etiquette. We are loosing access to areas because of peoples disregard of this simple back country rule. Thanks, George.
Thanks George! Happy 4th!
@@softroadingthewest Happy 4th to you too.
Nice video. Love the outtakes - gives people a sense of just how much work it is to make a good video.
Talk about envy, all I got around here for a view in ATL today is a humid pollen infused hazy smog. You get snow and I'm praying for a hurricane to blow this crap out of here.
Keep it up as I'm feeding off these videos for the motivation to get out and burn a few weeks of vacation days.
Those scenic shots are something else. Fantastic! You found some really cool spots. This was a fun trip.
Thanks Ruth, it was super fun, great to see everyone and a really neat area to explore.
STAND BY: Subaru will be in touch with you to buy portions of your vid. Great shots. Great Audio. Great Music. Great Edit. Thank you.
Thanks!
Thank you!! :-)
I agree... great videography. Beautiful places, thanks for taking us along! The under shot of t e new muffler... looooking goood. Outtakes were fun. Some TH-camry sprinting sessions as well. What you guys have to do for these shots... Thanks! Happy 4th of July!
Another great video! Some really awesome views and some of the best sunset scenes I've seen. Thanks!
The scene with the sawed up tree was perfect 👌! The snow started falling at just the right moment. As always, good video Donald!
Haha, at the time I was just annoyed it started dumping on my camera, but then I was thrilled when I reviewed the footage...looked like some sort of cinematic planned symbolic shot from a movie, timing could not have been any better. :-)
Donald , have you thought about putting together a video on how you plan your trips and mark sites for dispersed camping? Would be interested in your approach.. Editing is off there hook my man, keep up the great work!
Yes, it's by far the most requested topic. I actually tried to pull this together a couple of months ago while also out shooting an adventure with some friends, but I wasn't happy with what I got so I scrapped it. I will have to just make a dedicated trek focused on creating this video. I'm fairly backlogged at this point but this is at the top of my list when I can get to it!
Awesome editing and great quality! Really stepped it up recently, keep it up mate
An other fantastic and inspiring video. Thanks for sharing.
God god man you have a great cinematic eye for some of these shots, in the beginning with that cut stump and the rain falling, beauty. Cant wait for more
Another great video. Glad you added the bloopers.
The video production has really been on the up and up lately!
Composition, Editing, pace, its getting great!
This was like watching Oregon Field Guide! Nice.
And this is why I want to move closer to mountains. Imagine having access to a city, lakes, rivers, beaches and snowy mountains during the summer?
PNW!
Snow in June, just to add to the craziness. Always good to be flexible. Loved the outtakes. ATB.
As always, thanks for the great content👍🏻
Beautiful scenery and great company.... Can't be beaten.
Big improvements in your video! Enjoyed it! Thank you!😎🇺🇸
Hey, we we’re wondering if on one of your adventures, you could bring a fishing pole and do a little fishing? We would really love to see your adventures including some fishing in some of the secluded areas that you go! Thank you
I'm not really much of a fisherman and I can barely squeeze the travel, camp stuff, and filming into my day, let alone finding time to stop and fish. :-) And I'm not really a fan of eating fish in the first place. I *do* enjoy some fresh-caught pan fried trout on occasion, but I don't even have my fishing license so far this year. At most I was thinking about maybe experimenting with tenkara someday, since that compact, simplified approach makes the most sense for my limited time and space. No promises, but not completely ruled out either. :-)
Guy in the beige pants must watch soccer with that roll back 😂😂😂 I love the bloopers.
Great video. Music and editing on point. I had this same issue in the Deschutes while practicing emergency communications. I lost all feeling in my hands trying to throw an antenna in the trees, and the sleet and snow and wind started, and it was just not enjoyable. More like December than June. And thanks for the gate psa. I learned early in cattle country to close gates, or else. Let’s all be mindful, so these gates don’t start growing locks. 👍
Enjoyed this. Your videography skills have improved tremendously.
Quel plaisir de visiter l'Oregon avec vous tous ! Merci Don, tu nous manques. Miss you, love you! Christine et Alain
Merci! Vous me manquez aussi, j'espère vraiment continuer mes aventures jusqu'à en France un jour! J'ai hâte de revoir tout le monde. Gros bisous!
Beautiful areas! Thanks for running!
Jam packed with beautiful views!
I need to find people in VA ready to adventure like this.... great video
Awesome kitchen set up...
Excellent video! You truly live in a beautiful part of the world!
Thanks! We are definitely fortunate here to have so much wilderness available to explore. I'll never manage to see it all.
Just started following your work. I absolutely love your style and what what you do. Also, I just saw you leaving town, have a great trip!
Those Subaru’s are so cool , and Capable, great video 👍
Every time I log in for a new episode I see your subscriber count has gone up considerably and that makes me happy.
I love the outtakes at the end thank you😎🇺🇸🧨🌭🍺
Very very pretty! And nice blooper reel !
New to the channel. But been watching for a few days now.. great job!! Really enjoying the content.!!
One thing I enjoy every week, or whenever you post a new vid, is watching the subscriber count grow.
Awesome!! Seeing a Montero there. I don't see too many. And I own one too!
Another great video! Thank!
Look at all those rooftop tents!
Another great video, you just keep getting better at this. It was nice to see a few landmarks that I used to see all the time. My great grandfather supposedly guarded that railroad bridge over the highway during WW2. I have heard stories that there used to be a black settlement between there and Oakridge along the tracks somewhere and I have seen a lot of interesting stuff on the maps following the tracks but never got the chance to explore it yet.
Ha, no way, that's very cool. I've done a little but not a lot of exploring in that area. There are some nice spots though.
Great video. Always fun watching your stuff. How do you go about in finding potential campsites? Google Earth? Forums? Maps? All the above? Thanks.
Maps & satellite imagery, plus sometimes just sniffing things out on the ground once I'm out there.
@@softroadingthewest
Thank you for the information. I value your experience and talents. I will check into the Rhino and Scaparo. I would like a 2” lift for my 2012 Forester, any recommendations? Thank you so much in advance . Tim in Florida
I love the bloopers at the end. Haha!
Can always count on Erik to make a blooper reel worthwhile, LOL
Great video with a good bunch of folks. That's the nice thing about overlanding... if you don't like the place or weather, just keep moving. Nice that you were able to capture that in this video. Roof tent vs ground tent: I still prefer my ground tent... and, I'm looking at a new Gazelle T4 to replace it. The tent is cheap (compared to a RTT) and we like the roominess inside where I can also stand up in it. Either way, so many options (vehicles, tents, cooking, etc) and I'm just glad to see people using them and getting outdoors. Take care! Pete - KI7LIL
Yeah, being able to stand up is a nice advantage over the RTT. I'd probably still consider doing an RTT one day, at least for a while, just to see what it's like. Seems pleasant to be up off the ground like that. In the meantime, I'm extremely happy with my Gazelle!
Love your content Donald. Keep up the great work👌
I’d love to get in on one of these trips. Safety in numbers. I’m always looking for mellow likeminded people to overland with.
Blaaaaaa snow😳😳😳😳. It’s super hot the next 10 days in north east ❤️. Will watch video later❤️
Being from southeastern Alabama I would really love to make it out to the Pacific Northwest sometime. Oregon looks beautiful!
Where are you at? I am down in Baldwin. Moving out to eastern Oregon soon. Tired of this swampy weather.
Enterprise/ Dothan / Ft Rucker.
DUDE! I had the exact noise happen to my forester in the woods last year (21:04)! I was so scared, but it eventually just snapped out and was fine. Not sure if mine was a break, but it was all up in the wheel well. Glad to know it wasn't just me, lol!
It happens pretty regularly to me when out on the trail. All it takes is the tiniest pebble to get stuck in the brakes to create an insane racket. Usually a bit of driving reverse and forward a few times will dislodge it, though one time I had to stop, remove the wheel and fish the stone out because I just couldn't shake it loose and the noise was intolerable.
@@softroadingthewest Thanks for the insight. It's good to be aware fo this sort of thing so as to not improperly diagnose issues on the trail. I'm not the biggest car guy, but I definitely would now know to remove the wheel in the worst case scenario. Thanks, man! Keep it up. Love the videos.
Great video as always
Nothing like waking up to see a new srtw video!
Moo. I appreciated that.
:-)
love the camera work!!!
Great video, yet again! Editing always impresses me, though I have a few questions about video etiquette while on a group trip like this. Your friends seem very accommodating and understanding, and I'm just wrapping my head around what you had to do/say to get some of these shots. Take 4:33 for instance. I'm imagining it went something like this.
Mitsubishi Driver: "Hey Donald, we got a tree up here that's blocking the road."
You: "Awesome. That would make for a great approach shot. Let's have everyone back up about 30 yards, let me go set up my camera, and then we'll all drive up to it."
That was just an example. There are many more shots where you need to set up your camera to get the shot, direct the others, and then have everyone wait while you go back to get your camera. And repeat at a different location. Is this a realistic portrayal of what happens when you film? How do you get the shot you want without feeling like a burden on the group? Thanks!
I was literally just wondering this. It's crazy how good his production quality is. One man film crew.
That's pretty much exactly how it goes down. And yeah, I do feel like a burden, but for the most part the people I go out with are patient and accommodating because they enjoy seeing the video afterwards and understand it requires a few delays.
That said, I do far less setting up of drive-by shots when I'm out with a crew than when I'm out by myself. That's one of the reasons I do enjoy getting out solo fairly often, as I can stop whenever I like without worrying about everyone sitting and waiting for me.
@@softroadingthewest Eventually there might be a Drone you can launch from your moving car and have it return and park back on the moving car, heck they are doing it with Rockets and boosters,,,,,
I know a certain TH-camr who films driving shots precisely in that way, but he's got a much better drone than me. Mine is hypersensitive to electromagnetic interference and has to be launched a certain distance from the car for its internal compass to be properly calibrated. Ultimately, I spend nearly all of my week sitting in front of the computer doing day job work or video editing, so it's probably good for me to get out and do some running. :-)
@@softroadingthewest You are right to get the exercise, It is easy to gain a lot of extra weight by driving and camping with fantastic meals.
This has been the weirdest "summer"!
Ouch still see that window
Haha nice. Out of the group I know Justin with the crosstrek. Looks like fun as always. You reminded me again how much I need to get a chainsaw lol
You need a drone and a landing pad on top of your Subaru lol. I enjoy your videos. wish there was country like that here
I actually have been running a drone, but didn't bring it on this trip because I keep getting into trouble flying it when there are trees around, LOL. There will be some drone footage in the upcoming series of episodes from eastern Oregon...where there are no trees, heh. :-)
softroadingthewest yea I watched your video earlier about the one trying to go back to its take off spot and ended up in a tree 🤦🏻♂️ that would have sucked
Camping at Crater Lake we woke up to 12 inches of snow July 4 th !
Whoa! I know that's extra high elevation and wouldn't be surprised by some snow that late, but 12" !? Wow!!
@9:02, thats where i paraglide and speed fly regularly.
That’s Oregon snow when it wants to just like in March the week before spring break Portland got snowed in
Sweet video D as usual we need to get together at some point I drive an outback and by buddies have rubicon’s I am only an hour from Eugene love seeing all your videos in areas I hang out we need to do a overland camp⛺️
If you wouldn't mind me asking, what's the name of the song at around 9:45 and where can I find it?
I don't recall the name of the song/artist. All the music in my videos is licensed from artlist.io. I use (almost entirely) new music for every new video...I handle about 5-7 new pieces of music per week and couldn't tell you the names of any of them, heh. Sorry about that. :-)
Great video and narration. Did you use gaia precipitations layer to determined your reason to move further east to get away from the weather?
I think it was Erik and/or Aaron who were tracking the weather and I'm not sure if they were using Gaia for that or something else. I didn't even know about that layer on Gaia...not sure how that works once you're away from internet service? How does it update?
Very nice video thanks. Is your forester lifted?
1" lift, yes. It helps. I wish I had done the 2" lift though.
Hi Don,
Happy Fourth. Enjoy your adventures as always, and have a question or two. When you show your car driving past the camera, is someone else taking the shot, or do you set the scene, drive by, then go back and retrieve you camera? If the latter, does your group wait for you to catch back up, or do have to speed up to catch them?
Also, approx how many off road miles do you think you have put on the subie, any problems? Safe travels. Thanks,
Jim Williston
Unless I have one of the kids along - in which case I send them out to shoot - I set up the shot, I/we drive past, I retrieve the camera. This is easier by myself because I can basically drive to where I want to put the camera, then back up far enough to drive through the scene, then drive back to the camera, but with a group I have to do a lot more running (I also hoof it by myself when it's a tricky stretch of road I don't really want to back up along). As I spend so much of my week either doing day job work in front of the computer or editing video in front of the computer, I generally need the exercise so having to run to set up shots and retrieve the camera doesn't bother me.
We always have radios when traveling in groups, so it's easy to get everyone to stop. Whatever crew I'm with waits until I radio that I'm ready to roll before moving forward. I do fewer of these types of shots when I'm with a group just because I don't like constantly making people stop, though for the most part the people I've rolled with have been patient with the process, as they like to see the video results later on. :-)
No idea on off-pavement miles. I've not tracked it. It's pretty easy to be on dirt all day but only travel about 20-30 miles, depending on how much filming I do and how bad the roads are. On any given weekend, I certainly log a LOT more miles just getting to and from the area I'm going to explore than I log during the actual exploring. Over the past three years, it's got to be somewhere in the thousands but I would say still less than 10,000. No issues of any sort so far after three years of doing this very regularly.
@@softroadingthewest thanks for getting back Don. I enjoy your adventures and vlog. You make me think 40 years younger. I really admire your values.
Jim Williston
Just curious, how much has this car clocked?
It's at about 67,000 miles at the moment, if that's what you meant.
Yep that’s what I meant,
Thanks.
Your friends with the Crosstreks, did they lift their vehicles at all, or do they just have really good offroad tires? Curious because I have a Crosstrek and I've always been curious if it could handle some of these more boulder covered roads.
They are both lifted...pretty sure 1.5" lifts on both. The white Crosstrek has upgraded springs as well. Plus yes slightly oversize AT tires. Ground clearance is still pretty good on a stock Crosstrek, though the approach angle is sort of the weak point I think, with that long low nose. Best way to know is to just get out there and see what it'll do stock, and if it won't go where you want, you'll at least gain a better feel for what mods make sense to get you where you want to go. :-) I did this kind of exploring for a year before making any mods to the Forester.
Yes, having a stealth machine with no muffler is noise pollution......Aaron!
Just bought my first Forrester...will replacing the stock tires with AT Falken wildpeak be enough for me to start taking my car on the beach? Or will I need a lift and/or new wheels...will be using the stock 17inch wheels.
Love the content as well! Hit that subscribe the second I bought my car.
What makes the most difference on the beach is airing down. If you are able to on your Foresters, moving to a smaller wheel with a taller tire will give you more leeway to air down. A 17" wheel only leaves room for a lower profile tire, which can't be aired down as much. That's why you see so many offroad Subaru builds with 15" wheels...it makes it possible to fit a tire with a taller sidewall. Whatever direction you go, enjoy the Forester! :-)
Was that the weekend of the 12th? If so I got stuck up there too very nearby :)
No, previous weekend actually. :-)
What rims and wheels are those Crosstreks driving on?
Method Racing 502 15x7 I believe. And both running the same tire as me, BFGoodrich T/A KO2, I believe both are at 215/75R15.
Great video! What length is that chainsaw bar? I've been looking at a 9" but am wondering if that will be enough. Yours looks more than adequate.
Mine is a 12" and for what I do out there, it's proven entirely adequate...really happy with this saw.
@@softroadingthewest Thanks! Love your videos. I also have an SH forester with a 1" ADF lift. I know the roof limit is 150lbs, but how much weight have you successfully put up there?
Awesome. Those vistas are amazing.
How did it feel to be the only old school ground tenter? No RTT envy?
Haha, I am SO used to being the odd man out. :-) Either I'm the only car among a bunch of 4x4s or the only one not sleeping in an RTT...heh. Of course, I was also the only one here who could sit down normally on the edge of my cot to remove my shoes, and stand up to get dressed in the morning. That said, I have to admit, RTT life looks kinda nice...I wouldn't mind moving to an RTT setup one day, if it was one of those sleek GoFast style triangular clamshell versions. That would require a lot of reconfiguring for carrying the stuff that's on my roof, but I could see evolving in that direction one day. There's definitely something that appeals to me about being up off the ground.
I hear you. Beyond the cost however, I also have the reality that I park in an underground, and I don’t think it would fit.
Years ago, we used to have a slide-in truck camper, which was great and convenient. But whenever you wanted to drive somewhere, you had to pack everything up. That got old quickly when we would stay in one place for longer than a night.
I was trying to catch up on your videos on my big screen but I had to switch a lesser setup because the low end rumble made this video unwatchable. A low end filter is a must. A good dead cat on the mic too. I think venture4wd spoiled me with his gold standard audio. I really enjoy your channel. Now back to watching your videos.
Awesome video! Can I go hangout with you in the summer??
To butcher Robert Burns, “...the best laid plans of mice and men and softroaders oft go awry...” good ol’ Oregon weather🙄 Still looks like a fun adventure and the bloopers at the end were a treat. Thanks my friend🙏 Happy Fourth of July 🇺🇸💥 Adventure on👍🚙🏕🍻
LOLOL I should have that quote emblazoned on my car somewhere. :-)
Where is this at?
Oregon, usa. Heading east
How do people just find these places. I have no clue where to start
You can go to the nearest area of National Forest or BLM land and just start driving up roads. I usually do some pre-scouting on maps & satellite pics - looking specifically at areas of public lands - to get ideas of which roads I want to check out, but a lot of it is just poking up roads I find when I'm out there. It's helpful to use a navigation system which is able to display public lands (such as Gaia GPS), but a stop at the nearest ranger station for maps is another way to find legit, explorable areas.
@@softroadingthewest Thanks I'm just north of the ozarks and ouchita national forest so it's time for some recon!
21:02 More Cow Bell !!!!!
LOL :-)
@@softroadingthewest I have a 2012 Forester and I would like to do a lift kit from Primitive racing out of Colorado with
Subaru XV Crosstrek Machined w/ Dark Charcoal Pockets 17" OEM Wheels. What are your thoughts? Do you think this would work? Thank you in advance
@@timothyrobles8777 Pretty sure those wheels will bolt up onto the Forester just fine, however if hitting the trails is your goal, I would always advise moving to a smaller wheel rather than a larger wheel. That way, you can fit a tire with a taller sidewall. A 17" wheel doesn't leave room for very much sidewall, which means you can't air down as much, and have far less cushion between rocks and the rim. Most of us run 15" wheels from Method, Motegi, Black Rhino, Sparco, or a handful of other manufacturers who make 15" wheels designed to fit over the brakes on Subarus, because the smaller wheel means more room for a taller tire...let me know if I can clarify any of that. :-)
if you leave the gate open the cattle will mix and violently explodes
At 5:14 you left your camera behind.
Ooohh THAT'S where it is!! Been looking for it.
You gotta get that windshield replaced man. Because of how you broke it (ha) you really put yourself at risk in an accident.
For sure. I ran out of time prepping for my eastern Oregon trip but it will get replaced soon!
You will dull your chainsaw blade if you let it dig into the ground.