And thank you for watching! I was amazed the first time I visited this area. I'm not terribly familiar with Illinois, but I didn't expect something like this. I hope you get a chance to check it out.
I know it's been 3yrs ago... but extreme caution should be taken there. I had a very good friend lose her life there, climbing tall rocks... she fell to her death. I've been there dozens of times thru 30 years. Fantastic journey you documented. ❤
Thank you! It's a great place that I need to visit more often. Samuel liked it so much he went back and did the whole River to River Trail. Thanks for watching!
Now that my Karening is out of the way, I"m so glad you posted this because I just moved from the NH area to southern Illinois, and I had no idea this existed. Fun photography opportunities!
We ended at a small parking lot just off the road to the Garden of the Gods area/campground. Google maps calls it "Garden of the Gods Backpacking Parking Lot." There's a short trail segment connecting this parking lot to the Garden of the Gods parking area, if I remember correctly. Enjoy your trip! It's a fantastic stretch of trail.
Very well done! I love how you told your adventure in documentary. It just wow'ed me. Been to Garden of the Gods once, but never have I done any hiking in the Shawnee. Heading there this spring. Thanks for such an amazing vid!
Thank you very much! I appreciate the kind words. I was much more impressed with the Shawnee than I expected. It's a great place to hike, with some excellent campsites. I hope your trip goes well!
Just found your channel and subscribed. This was really well done and very internet. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to take us along on your adventure.
You're welcome! I really appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and share your thoughts. It makes the effort worth it when I know that there are people who enjoy these videos. Thanks for the sub too! Take care!
Absolute magnificent video. Poetic narration, breathtaking shots and footage, excellent transitions, beautiful angles and composition, smooth steady pans, and excellent editing.. And a good storyteller. It’s obvious that you are a skilled filmmaker! I am a photographer and filmmaker also - and appreciate well-made film footage. Keep up the great work, you have the gift!
Thank you very much for the kind words and the encouragement! It means a lot to me. Comments like this motivate me to keep improving at my craft. In fact, you inspired me to do some editing on my latest project today! Thanks again and take care!
Great video! You sir, just earned another sub. The Shawnee NF has some truly amazing places . Thru hiked the River to River Trail with my wife in late October early November and this was a great reminder of what we experienced. GOG overlook is one of the best camp spots. Hard to believe you’re in Illinois when you experience the Shawnee. Thanks again for sharing your adventure and well done.
Thank you for the sub and the kind words. October/November seems like it would be the ideal time of year for the thru-hike. I bet you were never bored with all those fall colors around. It is hard to believe that you're in Illinois. That was one of the things we kept saying during our hike. The other thing we kept saying is that we'd like to do the thru-hike ourselves!
Hey you guys didn't happen to find a black limited edition snakes on a plane hat did you? My best friend lost it off the rocks from a gust of wind. We went with our church to check it out and also go when we can
Great video. Shawnee is an amazing beautiful place. Hard to believe you are still in Illinois when in the Shawnee. My favorite place here in Illinois. Garden of the Gods is amazing, no matter what time of the year it is, but especially in the fall, and after a snowfall. It's always worth the visit. Subbed.
Thanks for the sub and for checking out the video! I keep hearing that it's a beautiful place in the fall, so I might have to make a return trip in 6 or 7 months. You're right about it being hard to believe you're still in Illinois!
What another excellent edition of “Beyond the Campfire”. Myself, my wife Hannah, mother, and Uncle Bill and Aunt Becky had several “woah, that’s really cool” moments of the shots you got while we were on trail that were incredibly awesome, including the time lapses of cloud cover moving over the horizon while we were on top of a ridge or bluff, fading sunlight through the treeline, vertical perspective shot of your pitching your rain fly, and all of the candid moments around camp (which gave the essence of a little “home” out in the woods). You really captured the vibe of this trip well, because the entire flood of emotions I experienced from those three days came roaring back as I was watching. Love your artistic and pensive commentary as always, and this will always be a cherished addition to a great memory I had hiking with you in Shawnee. Can’t wait for our next adventure!!
Oh wow, I'm flattered to have had such an audience! Most of my favorite shots are the ones you all picked out, too. I'm glad I finally got that shot of pitching the rainfly from inside the tent, haha. I always think about getting certain shots, and then I forget about them when I'm on the trail. Video editing is always an exercise in making do with what you've got! I'm glad to hear that you feel that I captured the vibe of the trip. That's my goal, and it's always encouraging to hear someone else say that I've done it successfully. Great hike, great memories, and I'm looking forward to our next adventure and to seeing your take on this trip! I'll have a little viewing party of my own when your video goes up.
Just discovered your channel and subscribed. Love nature myself--the deep forests, or the country road less traveled, and the peace it brings to the soul. Thanks for making these vids and sharing them with the rest of us.
You're welcome, and thank you! It's comments like yours that encourage me to keep doing what I'm doing. It sounds like we appreciate a lot of the same things in life. I'll keep seeking the deep forest, the road less traveled, and the peace it brings to the soul.
Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful. I hope your thru hike goes well. It seems like a fantastic trail for a thru hike. We talked about that a lot during this hike.
Haha! As much as I would like to blame it on someone else, I'm pretty sure it was me who got us lost. Twice. Oops... Thanks for checking out the video! I'm glad you liked it!
Just went there last weekend. Missed Noah’s Ark & One Horse Gap. Will have to return for those. Jealous you had the garden apparently to yourselves. Teaming with folks, surprisingly in late February.
We got pretty lucky with the crowds. We went over 24 hours without seeing anyone on the trail, too. Noah's Ark and One Horse Gap are definitely worth checking out. I'll be returning to see some of the stuff I missed too. Thanks for watching!
Hello. I just discovered your channel. I live in Chicago and have always wondered about downstate. Thank you for sharing this video.
And thank you for watching! I was amazed the first time I visited this area. I'm not terribly familiar with Illinois, but I didn't expect something like this. I hope you get a chance to check it out.
I know it's been 3yrs ago... but extreme caution should be taken there. I had a very good friend lose her life there, climbing tall rocks... she fell to her death. I've been there dozens of times thru 30 years. Fantastic journey you documented. ❤
The Shawnee National Forest is one of my favorite places ever! A lot of people don't know about it and that's a good thing. It needs to be protected!
Thank you for sharing
Great video!! Spent many times down there in the woods. Well done gents
Thank you! It's a great place that I need to visit more often. Samuel liked it so much he went back and did the whole River to River Trail. Thanks for watching!
Amazing! Thanks for sharing!
And thank you for watching!
Man, I'd really like to do this someday. I'm 54 and in Southeast Missouri so I'm not far from it. Maybe next year?
Go for it! That's not a bad drive, and there are plenty of trails in the area to adjust your hike to just about any distance. It's worth it.
@@beyondthecampfire I watched the video again last night. I definitely would attempt it during cooler weather as to avoid snakes.
Thanks for sharing.
Of course! Thanks for watching!
Loved the video, well done. Me and a buddy are going to do this when the leaves turn for autumn
Thank you! That sounds like the ideal time to do this hike. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Excellent photography - thoroughly enjoyed!
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Seeing you on the rock's edge like that makes me go all Karen! After the Old Man of the Mountain fell, I couldn't help but be paranoid.
Now that my Karening is out of the way, I"m so glad you posted this because I just moved from the NH area to southern Illinois, and I had no idea this existed. Fun photography opportunities!
I know this video is a couple of years old now, I’d like to know where the trail ended for you guys. I’d like to make this exact trip this fall
We ended at a small parking lot just off the road to the Garden of the Gods area/campground. Google maps calls it "Garden of the Gods Backpacking Parking Lot." There's a short trail segment connecting this parking lot to the Garden of the Gods parking area, if I remember correctly.
Enjoy your trip! It's a fantastic stretch of trail.
I grew up there
Where was the second campsite? I'd love to enjoy it as well!
I loved this. Amazing documentary of my home
Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's a beautiful part of the country, and one that I will explore more in the future.
Very well done! I love how you told your adventure in documentary. It just wow'ed me. Been to Garden of the Gods once, but never have I done any hiking in the Shawnee. Heading there this spring. Thanks for such an amazing vid!
Thank you very much! I appreciate the kind words. I was much more impressed with the Shawnee than I expected. It's a great place to hike, with some excellent campsites. I hope your trip goes well!
Just found your channel and subscribed. This was really well done and very internet. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to take us along on your adventure.
You're welcome! I really appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and share your thoughts. It makes the effort worth it when I know that there are people who enjoy these videos. Thanks for the sub too! Take care!
Found you on Crow's group. Great narration and some really stunning shots. Love the tree silhouette in the sunset.
Thank you! The tree was one of my favorite moments too. I'll check out your channel today and see you around in the group!
This was dope 🤙
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Absolute magnificent video. Poetic narration, breathtaking shots and footage, excellent transitions, beautiful angles and composition, smooth steady pans, and excellent editing.. And a good storyteller. It’s obvious that you are a skilled filmmaker! I am a photographer and filmmaker also - and appreciate well-made film footage. Keep up the great work, you have the gift!
Thank you very much for the kind words and the encouragement! It means a lot to me. Comments like this motivate me to keep improving at my craft. In fact, you inspired me to do some editing on my latest project today! Thanks again and take care!
Absolutely 💯 truth
Did you use topo maps and compass to navigate?
Great video! You sir, just earned another sub. The Shawnee NF has some truly amazing places . Thru hiked the River to River Trail with my wife in late October early November and this was a great reminder of what we experienced. GOG overlook is one of the best camp spots. Hard to believe you’re in Illinois when you experience the Shawnee. Thanks again for sharing your adventure and well done.
Thank you for the sub and the kind words. October/November seems like it would be the ideal time of year for the thru-hike. I bet you were never bored with all those fall colors around. It is hard to believe that you're in Illinois. That was one of the things we kept saying during our hike. The other thing we kept saying is that we'd like to do the thru-hike ourselves!
Hey you guys didn't happen to find a black limited edition snakes on a plane hat did you? My best friend lost it off the rocks from a gust of wind. We went with our church to check it out and also go when we can
Sorry for the late response! Sadly, we did not find your friend's hat. It's a great place to visit, but it does get windy up there!
Great video. Shawnee is an amazing beautiful place. Hard to believe you are still in Illinois when in the Shawnee. My favorite place here in Illinois. Garden of the Gods is amazing, no matter what time of the year it is, but especially in the fall, and after a snowfall. It's always worth the visit. Subbed.
Thanks for the sub and for checking out the video! I keep hearing that it's a beautiful place in the fall, so I might have to make a return trip in 6 or 7 months. You're right about it being hard to believe you're still in Illinois!
What another excellent edition of “Beyond the Campfire”. Myself, my wife Hannah, mother, and Uncle Bill and Aunt Becky had several “woah, that’s really cool” moments of the shots you got while we were on trail that were incredibly awesome, including the time lapses of cloud cover moving over the horizon while we were on top of a ridge or bluff, fading sunlight through the treeline, vertical perspective shot of your pitching your rain fly, and all of the candid moments around camp (which gave the essence of a little “home” out in the woods). You really captured the vibe of this trip well, because the entire flood of emotions I experienced from those three days came roaring back as I was watching. Love your artistic and pensive commentary as always, and this will always be a cherished addition to a great memory I had hiking with you in Shawnee. Can’t wait for our next adventure!!
Oh wow, I'm flattered to have had such an audience! Most of my favorite shots are the ones you all picked out, too. I'm glad I finally got that shot of pitching the rainfly from inside the tent, haha. I always think about getting certain shots, and then I forget about them when I'm on the trail. Video editing is always an exercise in making do with what you've got! I'm glad to hear that you feel that I captured the vibe of the trip. That's my goal, and it's always encouraging to hear someone else say that I've done it successfully. Great hike, great memories, and I'm looking forward to our next adventure and to seeing your take on this trip! I'll have a little viewing party of my own when your video goes up.
Just discovered your channel and subscribed. Love nature myself--the deep forests, or the country road less traveled, and the peace it brings to the soul. Thanks for making these vids and sharing them with the rest of us.
You're welcome, and thank you! It's comments like yours that encourage me to keep doing what I'm doing. It sounds like we appreciate a lot of the same things in life. I'll keep seeking the deep forest, the road less traveled, and the peace it brings to the soul.
Well done! We are hoping to thru hike River to River this May. This was helpful.
Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful. I hope your thru hike goes well. It seems like a fantastic trail for a thru hike. We talked about that a lot during this hike.
Great video! Very poetic! I will assume you got lost because of Samuel 😆! He has a habit of doing that!
Haha! As much as I would like to blame it on someone else, I'm pretty sure it was me who got us lost. Twice. Oops...
Thanks for checking out the video! I'm glad you liked it!
Just went there last weekend. Missed Noah’s Ark & One Horse Gap. Will have to return for those. Jealous you had the garden apparently to yourselves. Teaming with folks, surprisingly in late February.
We got pretty lucky with the crowds. We went over 24 hours without seeing anyone on the trail, too. Noah's Ark and One Horse Gap are definitely worth checking out. I'll be returning to see some of the stuff I missed too. Thanks for watching!
I took my son to Garden of the Gods last summer--it was packed. Wall to wall people. But beautiful.
Great vid sir. Greeting from the Philippines 🇵🇭