Conquering the Allegheny Discovery Route - An Epic Overland Journey Though Virgina and West Virginia

[@Bromedia07]

As a former producer of national television and radio programs, I am thoroughly impressed with the skills Matt Brodie brings to the table with his Simply Must Go series. In this last show, Allegheny Discovery Route, Matt produced an incredible program, acting as talent, producer, writer, audio technician, drone operator and audio and video editor, not to mention his wonderful voice work. Anyone needing someone of his talent and experience should contact him, before he gets bought up. Reading some of the comments, I can see I'm not the only one who recognizes exactly what Matt brings to the table.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@jazumi7798]

Yes. There are some really talented people on KZbin self producing. It’s basically all I watch anymore. Well done guys. I hope to make this trip one day. Gotta get through the next year of major life events!! Bucket list of overlanding trips for sure.

[@JohnSmith-zd8ro]

Almost Heaven West Virginia. Video was top-notch. Commentary was above and beyond = Perfection !!!! Keep it coming.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you! I really means a lot! It took me forever to get this one edited! But I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@trailmixsrc]

Excellent video Matt! Loved the night sky and sunrise segment! Was excited for you as we watched you push yourself. You put in the work on this video. On camera and off. Can’t wait to hear what upgrades come next. 😂🤘🏼👊🏼✌🏼

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that, way more than you know!

[@JohnSmith-zd8ro]

Dolly Sods and Canaan Loop trail is in my back yard. 🚙

[@SimplyMustGo]

Nice! Have you done them?

[@davekpghpa]

My wife and I did the Canaan Loop at Blackwater Falls this year in May 2024 in my '21 Ford Ranger with 32" Mickey Thompsons. Even with my 2.5" front lift/leveling kit, we did a bit of scraping in the ledge section. I found the limits of my rig there! We started at the falls entrance side to do the difficult sections first but about 2/3 to of the way through we came up to a huge fallen tree, had to go in reverse a few hundred yards until we hit a spot just barely wide enough to turn around and went back through all the rough sections all over again! It was quite an adventure.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Wow! That sounds like a crazy trip, but tons of fun!

[@jeephog19751978]

Matt, what a beautiful video man. Production quality is top notch. I’ve had the honor of going on a trail ride with the Spartan crew but not first this sort of trip. They are great people and you guys seemed to mesh well. Can’t wait for your next adventure.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you so much! Yeah, Jesse, Daisy and Kevin with Spartan Overland are awesome. I had a blast with them. No idea where my next trip is going to be, but I’m hoping to maybe do some type of subscriber event next year.

[@mavrikmavrik3032]

Incredible trip, thanks for sharing it with us!!!

[@SimplyMustGo]

You’re very welcome! I’m glad you liked it!

[@richardco.6113]

Awesome video! I feel like I was watching a documentary on National Geographic. Keep up the good work 🇺🇸

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you so much!!

[@jamusmorrison3073]

As a north central West Virginian I’m glad you enjoyed. We have a lot to offer.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thansk! It’s a great area!

[@carolineward9872]

I can't believe how well the Jeep did on some of those rocks! It's crazy what they can do. Amazing video by the way! I loved it!

[@kneadpizza5433]

This was your best trip video yet! Really great story telling and I loved the drone shots!

[@leftystrat62]

Loved seeing you do it in a stock Jeep - it's why I tuned in. Subscribed because of the quality video footage of an average guy out in his Jeep. Best wishes. cheers

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you so much!!

[@StandAloneAdventures]

Watching this video made me feel as if I was there with you guys, by far the most amazing and inspiring video you’ve posted on KZbin my friend, absolutely amazing!!!

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you so much! That really means a lot to me!

[@krashnpa]

Love camping in these areas. About 25 years ago, I remember pulling a guy, his wife, and a couple of kids in their Ford Aerostar off the trail to Little Bald Knob with my 93 Nissan Hardbody with 33's. They had two flats, but luckily, they didn't make it too far back the trail. Gosh, I'm getting old, but happy that the trails are still there. Other fun fact, my wife and I visited a town south of where you were, right off of 81, called Rural Retreat We found that it was once home to Dr. Charles Pepper; Dr. Pepper's namesake.

[@SimplyMustGo]

That’s awesome! I’m not sure what I’m more impressed with, you pulling the guy off the trail or the Dr. pepper info! Thanks!!🙏🏻

[@Longwayaround]

Great video. Nice seeing your rig in mostly stock form tackle the trails. Keep them coming!

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thanks! I have done some upgrades since. I did add a 2.5 inch lift and 35 inch tires. I wanted to be able to do some more challenging trips, but also keep the build very realistic for people.

[@JessicaJBrodie]

This is absolutely beautiful. I wish I could have been there too! I love your videos!!❤

[@WVski77]

The view from Bickle Knob is by far the best in the state. You just hit it with so much fog you couldn't see anything. Definitely worth the trip back next time you are in town.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Haha. Thanks! Guess I was right, best view I’ve ever not seen. 🤣

[@jasonmears4393]

Excellent video. Really enjoyed watching your adventure with all those beautiful views. Looked like so many fun times that will be cherished for many years.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Yeah it was a truly awesome trip!! Thank you.

[@WARLOK813]

Canaan is in my backyard. Great light trails that are stock friendly. Had many a trip through the loop and the canyon rim on motorcycle and fullsize trucks on 31s. Wish there was more public trails around, with some higher level stuff.

[@SimplyMustGo]

It was an awesome place. I really want to get back there and explore more

[@halfcleanjeep3598]

Awesome video Matt! Looks like a trip I would love to do! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thanks man! Yeah it would be awesome to do a trip like that with you. I’d love it.

[@KathyPendergrass-k9w]

Great channel! The videography was outstanding. Great job, Matt!!!

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you!!!🙏🏻

[@Robertslovefor4x4]

This was a great video , the sites and views were spectacular. The song country roads hit the spot. Loved the video. Thank you for sharing

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you I’m really glad you enjoyed it! Hope you’re having a great day!

[@ericawest3029]

What a great adventure!

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you!

[@bryanjohnson5803]

Thank you for sharing your adventure Matt. Another great video. Enjoy your thoughtful narration on these. Been thinking about a WV trip next summer and maybe this video will help convince my wife. The Hatfield-McCoy trails up there look interesting too. Congratulations to your Grandmother on her 100th. I like the fact your jeeps are fairly stock and retain that classic look. Looks like it did just fine.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. I’ll have to check out the Hatfield-McCoy trails! Thanks for sharing those!

[@overland_dadsfl]

Love the video Matt. Spartan couple are awesome. I'm feeling that the Southlander will be growing up pretty soon.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thanks! Yeah we’ll see. Haven’t figured out what I should get or how to pay for it. 🤣

[@jurassicjeepdc]

What beautiful cinematography! I’m rebuilding a 2001 XJ right now and intend to do an over landing trip at some point. Love your videos!

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that. And XJ overlanding would be awesome. That’s what my son wants to build.

[@johnbishop8446]

Thoroughly enjoyed the video as I watched it on a purposely quiet New Years Eve. (I'm subscribed now) I've been numerous times to most of the places in the video, albeit not by doing the Allegheny route, just by going. It's really making me want to get back out there. Veterans Day weekend 2022 a friend and I went the other direction on Union Springs Rd up to Meadow Knob/ Flagpole. The ledge you show at the 1hr mark I had to winch my stock suspension JKU Rubicon over because I simply didn't have the break over clearance. It had really gotten rutted out. First time having to winch after several previous successful runs. Looks like there has been a lot of rock stacking at the base since I was there last.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you! I really appreciate it! Yeah that section was rough but it seems like people must have built up spots since I was able to make it over.

[@HapPap81]

Simply amazing! I’m a new subscriber and I get lost in your videos. I can’t imagine the amount of time you spend editing. Gotta go watch some more! Later!

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you so much! Yeah it can be a lot of work. I really appreciate the kind words!

[@stevenpratt5884]

Great video!

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you!🙏🏻

[@dadventuretv2538]

As entertainment the vid was excellent and so was the cinematography. Love the look of Southlander- very retro. You were in my playground. I run all those trails on the regular (have done in both my Land Rover LR4 and Gladiator) except have yet to do the Dry Fork Cheat River crossing. There is one of the longest downhill mountain bike trails from the top of Reddish Knob on the east coast. If you ever get back up this way feel free to hit me up. Have fun out there and See you on the trails. 🤙

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you!! I really appreciate it! I’d love to get back that way at some point!

[@chrismerced4511]

Great video! New subscriber. Hoping to do this route in a few months for the first time.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you! I hope you have a blast!!

[@northcarolinabound]

I normally don't pick at such small things but you said it numerous times. A tacoma is a midsized truck not fullsize. The tundra is a fullsize truck. Great video though. Gonna hit this trail soon.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thanks! Yes you’re totally right. I don’t know why I said it that way. I know better. But for some reason my brain wasn’t working.

[@bjkess]

Nice video but damn the acid mine drainage at the devils falls was terrible 😭 look at that water

[@romeoroze2357]

Nice to see all this close to NoVa. I wonder if I can take my stock lr3 through this loop.

[@SimplyMustGo]

Probably though you’ll scrape and bump on a few places like I did.

[@JohnSmith-zd8ro]

Spruce Knob, The highest mountain in wv.

[@spinxt]

Was the drama regarding the river crossing really necessary? It seemed like a mild obstacle, nothing more.

[@xavior718]

Great video! I’m really impressed with your videography especially with how clear your mic is. What are you using for audio?

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thanks! It’s a mix of a shure rode mic and the DJI lavs

[@DocWrangler]

definitely time for that lift and bigger tires! lolz, you did great without them tho, fun video!

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thanks man! Yeah. It’s time…. Now the question is what to get.

[@absolut3zr0]

Do you have the gpx files for this trip, or available through a patreon?

[@SimplyMustGo]

Here you go. Added them to the description as well. drive.google.com/file/d/12o31HHRciL1O8C211mF22JFStnPNdGDH/view?usp=drivesdk

[@absolut3zr0]

@@SimplyMustGo You are the man! Thanks so much. My younger brother and I want to grab a buddy and get a nice trip going and after seeing your video, it looks like a must! Thanks for the upload!

[@davidglenn1]

I’ve never heard anybody refer to a Tacoma as “full size” before. The Tacomas are mid size with the Tundra being the full size Toyota truck. I enjoyed the video though. Good job!

[@SimplyMustGo]

You’re correct. I misspoke. But I’m glad you enjoyed the video!

[@harvmac69]

Great video! I coudnt find Spartan Overland's version of this though. :(

[@SimplyMustGo]

That's because they still haven't released it. 🤣 We all need to go bug him to get his editing done. 🤣🤣.

[@andrewgreen475]

Awesome video!! Is there any way or anywhere you could maybe post the trail route so the rest of us could enjoy it as well??🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@SimplyMustGo]

Here you go. Added them to the description as well. drive.google.com/file/d/12o31HHRciL1O8C211mF22JFStnPNdGDH/view?usp=drivesdk

[@andrewgreen475]

@@SimplyMustGo awesome thank you so much and keep up the good work the videos just keep getting better

[@SimplyMustGo]

@@andrewgreen475 Thanks man! I appreciate it!

[@creedskimmer]

Very nice man

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you! I appreciate it! Have you ever done any of it?

[@creedskimmer]

@@SimplyMustGo winter trip here in about a month going to go down to black forest falls, cannan loop Davis WV, go south from there, you were def on some trails I havent heard of, looked amazing

[@SimplyMustGo]

@@creedskimmer that’s awesome! You’ll have a blast!

[@overlander948]

Found my way here from Defiant Offroad. I spend a lot of time in this area. What was your favorite part of the route?

[@SimplyMustGo]

That's awesome!! So glad to have you here! My favorite was probably the stuff on the second to last day heading up to the final campsite. But that river crossing was probably the highlight.

[@overlander948]

@@SimplyMustGo I haven't done the crossing yet. Going to one of these days...

[@earlcharger]

Nice video! I've been offroading down there in West Virginia a few times. The road before the river crossing looks like river road off of rt 72. Cheat River Dry Fork. Where exactly is it? I would love to cross there someday.

[@SimplyMustGo]

It was crossing the Dry fork of the creek at 26 / 43/12

[@michaels226]

So, did you ever get a lift and 35's? LOL. I did the same on my Jeep last year.

[@SimplyMustGo]

I did, I have a could videos talking about it the first was the big changes video and then the full overland jeep walk around.

[@michaels226]

@@SimplyMustGo I'll have to check that out. I'm up just north of Winchester in the EPH. We have a group of guys that go overland and just offroading a lot. Feel free to hit us up if you want to join us on a trail or three.

[@Hypure2wheels]

I'd love to see the route itself. Tried the link you shared. But no matter what I do it won't work. Im local in Shenandoah. So already been wheelin alot of it for yrs. But would love to have full route. Any help with this? Great video👍

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thanks! The link still works. It’s linked to gpx files. You might need to copy and paste the link into your browser but you’ll need to download the gpx files and then import them into your gps app like Gaia.

[@Hypure2wheels]

Downloaded Gaia, & got it. Thank you for the help. All the trails you'll ran in Va is basically my back yard. We have been running them for yrs. Glad you enjoyed them.

[@GPMAX01]

Awesome video. Is there a way to get a copy of the route?

[@SimplyMustGo]

No, the gpx file are definitely not secretly stashed away as a link in the description.

[@GPMAX01]

@ I deserved that! I totally missed the link, too engrossed in the video. My bad. Thanks.

[@SimplyMustGo]

@ haha. No worries.

[@Snapon804]

Is this doable with a trailer?

[@SimplyMustGo]

It would honest really depend on the trailer and how you have it setup and how its connected to your vehicle. If you have a good off road trailer and you're on a max coupler or some type of lock and roll hitch and your trailer is water tight I would think so. For example my little box trailer from Tiny Camper Co could do it. Especially if I had done this after I got my lift and new tires. It might have struggle some doing it while I was the stock height like in this video.

[@ChrisShaferKTM]

You keep saying it’s testing your stock suspension, but you need to work on your driving skills. Stock jeeps do that loop all the time. There is no reason to be in 4hi on the loop. There is a reason you have low range

[@pauldembowski8460]

Its pronounced "Stanton"

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thanks!

[@wildwomendo]

The road to Flagpole Knob is epic! Well done 👍

[@SimplyMustGo]

Thank you! It was really fun!