As a central Oregon resident, I love seeing sights from my neck of the woods!

Flat top has a great view of Silver Lake and surrounding area. There's a Geocache on top, my first find and then found a camera down between the rocks. Figured it out that it belonged to a guy in Carson City Nevada..... mailed it back to him.... tons of grand child picture on the card. He sure was happy to have those back after the 16 months it was lost.

I've traveled and camped many times in Central Oregon and enjoyed being able to recognize almost every part of your journey. I've camped and stopped for lunch several times at your camp site. Likewise there are many places that I have not taken the time to explore but many more that I have. I love to spend my free time in this area. One of my favorites is the top of Winter Rim. But you can't up there until the snow melts.

Drone footage and music along with editing just amazing!

Nice to see you out and enjoying your TopoTopper! looking forward to see the evolution of that build!

Great trip, sir. Thank you for taking us along.

Very cool locations! We hope to get out to Oregon for some exploring. Thanks for sharing your adventures!

Hole in the Ground! It's a staple of the overlanding event Descend on Bend, been fortunate to drive down into the hole a few times. It feels like moon dust down there!

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

It's so hard to capture how cool this place is in video...the first time I came here, I knew what to expect, but I was still blown away when I physically saw this thing in three dimensions.

❤I love watching your adventures. I have a terminal illness, and even though I my Dad and would do every other weekend together. I'm too weak for this, so thank you for sharing!!¡🎉❤

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching, and take care. 🙂

Need to add that to my places to go when I get back to Oregon

First comment today! I thought that power line road looked a bit familiar. We drove that a few years back. I often find power line roads to be more interesting than other roads. Thanks for the video! George.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

It's funny, I was literally thinking about that while driving this one. I used to generally avoid powerline roads just because of scenery being sort of marred by the towers, but when I think back over the years, I've had some really interesting drives on powerline roads. Here in western Oregon they are more often than not gated off, but in central and eastern Oregon, segments on powerline roads have often been critical to a route getting me from point A to point B and I've been grateful they are usually accessible. Thanks George!

Thanks for the Hole in the ground @MattCookOregon

@MattCookOregon

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I don't know how the roads and trees survived that explosion.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

@@MattCookOregon LOLOL

@Oregontrailblazin

Жыл бұрын

Me too ! lololol

Good flick, story telling is on point.

Great video you’re storytelling is really good you have a great way of describing the adventure an scenery, cool drone shots on top of the bluff as always stay safe stay humble my friend 👍👍👍

really enjoyed your video, was fun seeing you exploring

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Cindy!

That flattop mountain was cool. Probably a bunch of wind up there; but, it looked like it could be a decent place to camp. That road up to the top probably exists because of the power lines and radio/cell/microwave tower up there. Of course you have to go over to Megan’s and Jason’s. How are you two going to give each other a hard time? 😀😀🤪🤪

I'm jealous. The Dinner Tree has been on my bucket list for a long time. Central Oregon is almost endless. You could spend your whole life exploring it and not get it all. Heck, I've been nosing around Owyhee County here in Idaho for more than forty years and it still surprises me when I'm out there.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

I know, I'm constantly eyeing destinations in other states, but each time I go out in Oregon I can always find something I haven't seen yet. 🙂

Have enjoyed your videos for a long time great content 😊😊

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, I appreciate your support!

Interesting and relaxing in equal measure. Nicely narrated, too.

Not me brother, lol!! Thanks for taking the climb for us. Breathtaking for sure.

Another beautiful tale of exploration. I am fascinated by the step stool/ladder you use with your tailgate. I have toyed with many ideas on how to make entry and exit easier.

@acoupleofscrewsloose

Жыл бұрын

I’m interested in that ladder too. I’ve been researching for something like this. What I learned so far is that the ones that hook onto the hitch don’t fold up, which though they are cool looking, are very impractical to store away.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

It's this: amzn.to/3LgszWx but I can't recommend it for this purpose. I liked that it folds super thin - less than 2" thick folded - and had three steps, but it's a little too steep and each lower step is tucked too far beneath the one above. I've found myself just using the top step, which is a little too far off the ground. I'm probably more likely to hurt myself now than when I didn't have it. 😆 I'll definitely be looking for another solution and this will become the little around-the-house stepladder. 🙂

Great view! And great music choice!

awesome video!!

Nicely done - especially with regards to the drone footage.

Your truck looks good with the new shell.

I hope that one day my videos will be as good as yours! Great story telling as always.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Aww thank you, but your work has really evolved lately. I know you've been tied up with the camper build but you've woven that story together really well, and I'm eager to see what emerges on your channel once you're actually out adventuring in that beauty!

Great video! You do such an amazing job narrating! Funny story-my dad (who lives in Spokane and loves central Oregon camping) had this as a recommend video and he watched it. As soon as he saw our 4Runner and trailer he texted me. He was quite surprised to randomly see his daughter’s 4Runner. 😂 Can’t wait to hang out again! We always enjoy it.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Ha! That's awesome. Was great to spend some time with you guys and look forward to the next opportunity!

That’s a beautiful country down there. I remember seeing your geologic oddities of Oregon video and wanting to see some of those sights for myself.

Great video again Donald. Thank u

Grew up out in that area. Have some fun memories of driving up that flat topped butte in a 1976 Toyota pickup as a high schooler about 30 years ago lol.

Great video! Some of my best memories are of exploring Lake County with my husband before he passed away, and there's still so much more of the Oregon Outback are I want to see. Your videos allow me an opportunity to satisfy some of that desire. Love what you do!

Very cool to see some often overlooked sights in Oregon. Thank you for sharing.

Beautiful video; thank you for sharing

I needed this. Great seeing you out & about again.

So wonderful to see so many amazing places. Thank you for taking us along. The Topo Topper looks so good on the Nissan. I'm sure every trip makes you wonder why you didn't do this sooner. 😂 Nice to see you not rushing to do a build out and just understand how you'd like too. Happy Camping 🛻+⛺️≈🙂 Mark (& Teresa) Hampstead Maryland Ford Ranger - GFC Camper V2 #1919

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Haha, well, Topo didn't offer a camper for the Frontier before building the one that's on my truck. :-) Even with the camper not yet built out, this is already my favorite way I've ever camped, but I have no regrets. I've enjoyed the journey of experiencing various approaches - from sleeping in the back of my Subaru to the ground tent to the Leer shell to this - and sharing that with viewers. I do have to agree that camper looks really good on my truck! :-)

@OutOfOfficeCamping

Жыл бұрын

@@softroadingthewest ❤️

You the man! Still working my way up to camping outside a camp site. Good stuff.

Another Great job!

Great video! After watching your first video on Hole in the Ground, I moved out to Central Oregon and love it. Lots of things to find and explore everywhere I go, not always dramatic but usually interesting!

Awesome drone footage!

Great adventure.

I was in Bend last weekend and was keeping an eye out for the primal van and the Donald truck!!! We even talked about going to the Dinner Tree which has been one of the things I've long wanted to do. Maybe next time. I look forward to your videos! Thank you!

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Definitely worth experiencing at least once! That was my second visit and it did not disappoint. 🙂 Thanks for watching!

Beautiful Donald 😍

Another great video. Your channel has become one of my favorite. I had asked you about removing your roof rack was wondering if you still plan on making that video. Pro4x owner myself. Greetings from Florida.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Yep, for sure, I have all the footage, I just need to put it together. I expect I'll probably do that in the next few weeks, I'm pretty much out of content otherwise. 😄

Gorgeous. Also some nice wordsmithing.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Like a blacksmith shaping iron, I heat those words to a red-hot glow in the fiery forge of contemplation, and hammer them over the anvil of my psyche to form the perfectly curved horseshoe that is my voiceover. (I mean, clearly, I actually wanted to be a blacksmith but I'm not very strong and don't like to sweat. 😂)

Adventure time. My kind of video. I have noticed that butte a few times when researching the area. Table rock, a tuff cone. I know you mentioned being in this area but my 1 and 2 year old had other ideas.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I'll see you in about 16 years. 😆

We were watching and just commenting that you and Matt Cook should get together and do a video. When you stopped at the outcropping in the beginning of the video we said “Donald could drive there, park, run the stone as Matt climbed that outcrop!” 🤪

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

We have talked about it for years but never seem to get our schedules lined up. One day!

Wish I could figure out where some of these places are. Great video!

Great video! Hole in the Ground is on my list of places to visit soon. I'm hoping to be able to drive to the bottom as well but I need to do more research on the roads there.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Aside from that freshly-graveled powerline road, the area is mostly silty dirt roads. These roads can erode to reveal rocks, especially on slopes. I drove down into the hole 5 years ago in my Subaru with no issue, but I can't speak to the current condition. High clearance and 4WD or AWD is certainly recommended, and I wouldn't try it wet...that fine silt can become really greasy mud.

@johndej

Жыл бұрын

@@softroadingthewest Thanks! I've got a Tundra 4x4 so that should be okay. Appreciate the mud tip too.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

@@johndej Oh yeah for sure

Donald, still love your videos, even after a couple years subbing

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and sticking around!

I think you could have a whole video on just the drone footage of the flat top butte.... WOW

That is a giant tree stump from Days of old.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Haha!

Leveling tips... I just ordered a GFC.

That was a great edit Jason

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jason, was great to have a chill weekend hanging out without needing to log miles on the trail.

Great seeing you my friend! I promise I'll do my best not to talk shit anymore 😆

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

LOL 🤣 I was maybe gonna put together an outtakes segment at the end of this, but just ran out of time this week. Might show up on Patreon one of these days. 😄 It was awesome to spend some quality time hanging out!

Exploring BLM and Forrest roads in Tillamook county tomorrow. Feel free to reach out if you ever in the area!

Quick draw on the IPA after stopping, lol

Hi Donald, could you share what stepstool you used? That looks perfect for my GFC setup.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

It's this: amzn.to/3LgszWx but I can't recommend it for this purpose. I liked that it folds super thin - less than 2" thick folded - and had three steps, but it's a little too steep and each lower step is tucked too far beneath the one above. I've found myself just using the top step, which is a little too far off the ground. I'm probably more likely to hurt myself now than when I didn't have it. 😆 I'll definitely be looking for another solution and this will become the little around-the-house stepladder. 🙂

12:30 Nice….pull up get out and crack open a cold one 👍🍺

Talk about a perfect place to set up a telescope!

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Definitely some beautiful night skies out there. Alas the clouds followed me into usually sunny central Oregon and we even got rained on. 😆

Those 'No Vehicles' signs are a good example of interest groups like the Sierra Club get areas designated like that, keeping everyone out except backcountry backpackers like themselves. They use their political influence to reallocate public property for themselves. It's your land, but you can't access it.

Hey question Donald. When you put ur king springs on the subaru did it feel like a bouncy ride? I just got some king springs on with a 2" lift and the ride is quite bouncy. Mind you I don't have it loaded down with a ton of gear or passengers right now.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

For sure, it definitely stiffened up the rear, most noticeable empty, but to me it had always felt too squishy, so even riding empty, it felt like an improvement to me. A stiffer ride is unavoidable with a heavier duty spring. Loaded down, it made all the difference. If I were to build another Forester, I would do those springs again without hesitation, my only regret was that I hadn't done it much much sooner.

@jmichaelmilton

Жыл бұрын

I added King Springs to my 2010 Forester XT after getting a recommendation from Donald. They took care of the sag the Subie had developed after 100K, and improved the ride and handling.

Not the Bedrug.. Just a simple throwdown pad. If I have to trim it to spec....

Where was that flat top butte? It seems like Christmas valley area but I can’t find it in the map

Nice rear bumper!! What exhaust do you have..seems a little throatier than stock?

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Nah it's just the stock exhaust. I think sometimes if the camera is positioned right, it seems to capture a more grumbly tone. :-)

Do you happen to have the coordinates of that flat top?

Anyone happen to know the make and model of the tear drop trailer attached to the red Toyota at 13:51 ? My wife and I are toying with getting one and that might be the perfect size!

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

It's TeardropsNW, but I don't know which model. You can find Cory & Julie on Instagram: instagram.com/cjadventureoregon/ and also here on KZread: www.youtube.com/@CoosBayCory

😊👍🏼

What's the name of the flat topped butte in this video?

Crawling back into the back of a camper shell with with a poly bedliner. Your kneecaps..

Could the Forester make it up there?

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Yes.

Did you pop a beer within 5 seconds of stopping? Take my subscription 😂

Do you know the make/model of the small trailers? (Or the social media of the owners?)

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

The silver one is made by TeardropsNW. That is Cory & Julie and they are on Instagram: @cjadventureoregon and here on KZread as well: www.youtube.com/@CoosBayCory I've messaged Julie to ask about the brand of their friends' trailer and for their IG, I will reply again when I hear back. :-)

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Okay, so Cory & Julie's silver teardrop is a 2018 TeardropsNW "Scout." The green one is a 2022 TeardropsNW "Ranger."

@thewiredfox2691

Жыл бұрын

@@softroadingthewest Thanks. I appreciate the info and will check them out.

I want some kind of knee friendly environment. Carpet, rubber mats, pads....

A lot of tear drop campers their

A chainsaw.. You need one.

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

I have one. :-)

poor video quality over my high speed fiber input

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Looks fine here on my computer, tablet, and TV box, cable internet. KZread will go to any length to keep a video playing, so if there's any sort of delivery bottleneck slowing the data stream, it will automatically switch to a lower res, highly compressed image. It happens to me sometimes watching other people's videos, and it's usually because my computer is running some kind of automated software update download in the background or my kids are both also doing data-heavy internet activities. Rather than allow the stream to pause or buffer, KZread just compresses it further and it can look awful regardless of the original quality of the posted video.

Awesome footage! Spectacular presentation of drone filming. Thanks for yet another fine episode!

@softroadingthewest

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Abby Gale, I'm glad you enjoyed it. ;-)