Hart Mountain: Sunstones, Wildlife and Petroglyphs

[@f0rtitude]

As an Oregonian, your videos make me wanna get out and visit Oregon far more than I do.

[@MattCookOregon]

Awesome. I hope you do that. I like to make some goal and follow through.

[@davidtate166]

Glorious beautiful high mountain desert.👍of Oregon.

[@MattCookOregon]

Agreed! Hope it doesn't get included in these big eastern Oregon fires.

[@BangkokRiverboat]

GOOD JOB!!! Vivid, informative, splendid......

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much!

[@ArielleViking]

Amazing landscapes and beautiful gemstones. Another wonderful video 👍🏻❤️

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks Arielle. I felt extra good about this one.

[@CWS-h5z]

Beautiful photography and excellent narration - quiet spoken, not overly chatty and very informative. Thanks!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. Narration was a struggle for me early on so that is nice to hear.

[@insaynbcr]

Matt, that was awesome. Hart Mt area has been my go to location in the fall to get away from city life, work, traffic, etc. So diverse, and wide open that it soothes the soul. Great video! ❤

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. It was a soothing trip to us too. Fall would be nice with those aspen trees changing color.

[@insaynbcr]

@@MattCookOregon The Aspens really pop vibrant gold against the greenish sage.

[@melissabeyer7826]

As always, great video. I love all the detail that you discuss about places.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much. This video really felt complete with all the place had to offer.

[@Moutain_Hunter101]

Very pretty

[@MattCookOregon]

Agreed. That is what happens when you leave the land wild.

[@TrailriderLC]

I really enjoy your videos about Oregon wildlife and places. Thanks for bringing all that the state has to offer. BTW, those people who leave you strange comments, just ignore. 😅

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much. I have a blast doing these. I only get the strange comments on certain topics, like bigfoot or politics.

[@cynergy4]

Ah, where the deer and the antelope play! I came for the Sunstone and stayed for the spectacular scenery. One thing that I've noticed with petroglyphs and pictographs, there always seem to be spirals. You have a very tranquil voice and way of speaking. Thanks for sharing!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much. Most of what I have read is those spirals represent lifecycles. Lots more places around here to find the pictographs, maybe more videos to come on that?

[@joshsmith3650]

Another great video. Thank you Matt.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much.

[@michaelgpartridge2384]

Another excellent installment! Lake County is awesome, I love living here.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. We actually had a good time at the city park in Lake View. Fountains, built in BBQs, clean, very nice park.

[@Clark42EoC]

I grew up in Jackson county...my earliest memory is of visiting Hart mountain as a child. I can still feel the hot spring 36 years later.

[@KOrnhOliO1]

Very nicely done! Gonna explore more of your videos... 😎👍 Subscribed

[@MattCookOregon]

Welcome. Let me know what you think!

[@TrailStrider909]

Hello! Makin Oregon look good once again!! Thank you for what you do!! ❤❤❤❤

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. That is an easy job. Except when everything is on fire!

[@johndej]

Another great video! My wife has been wanting to do to sunstone mining area for several years now. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. It is fun for those with patience. My wife ends up with a bucket full if she is there long enough.

[@tomlauritzen9522]

Great Video... It was many years ago that I visited Hart Mountain. Finding sun stones was a lot of fun as a kid.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. Sunstones were going to be their own video but we didn't get to spend much time there and I added it to this one.

[@guaporeturns9472]

Love that region

[@MattCookOregon]

Same. Did another video here like 4 years ago, wanted to do a better one this time.

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@MattCookOregon nice.

[@DanitaReynolds]

Excellent! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful video about a part of Oregon that is on my bucket list to visit.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. I hope you get to visit. September is probably ideal as long as no smoke.

[@TheBobservations]

Well done.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you!

[@jeremymarble6172]

This was one of my favorite sections of the Oregon Desert Trail...beautiful area

[@MattCookOregon]

The desert trail you did?! Thats crazy. I would much rather do that than PCT. I prefer less people.

[@prolificnorthwest]

Well done as always. I love the commenter joke. Well played

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks. I have been having fun with throwing in 1 zinger each video.

[@karif.3950]

Wonderful video from beginning to end!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you! I had a nice feeling about it. There was just so much to experience there. I already want to go back for the Fall colors and Sage grousse.

[@shawnfromportland]

expertly and beautifully made film

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you Shawn. I have been putting extra effort into the scripts lately. They really tie everything together.

[@northcoastoutdoorchannel]

Fantastic work! The production was next level. Sunstone is awesome. I have never had the chance to hound for it but will have always wanted to try! Those were some great shots of Hart Mountain also! I never knew that Pronghorn were not related to deer, great information. I enjoyed the entire episode!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks Northcoast. I had a good feeling about this one. I tend do only do videos if I am really feeling it these days.

[@RafaelIM]

As always, thank you for the lovely video Matt! I love seeing the different sides of Oregon that are hard to get to. The hot spring and sunstone collection areas would be so cool to visit. I'd love to find some sunstone

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. The harder to get the better for me. We had a blast this trip. It seems people really like eastern Oregon videos so I better get out there again.

[@sehr56]

Great job Matey Matty! Wonderful photography great job of editing! Your chops just keep getting better every time!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks Stu. I am having a lot of fun with this. Almost got the little ones trained to hold a camera!

[@shelbymcclung4265]

amazing, stunning video, love to hear your narration

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much!

[@robbergstrom943]

Beautiful one Matt. We need to visit as we’ve only done the neighboring Steens and Alvord. Beer on us.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much Rob. It is difficult to make these videos with kids, so always nice to have people say this is worth something. We actually meant to stay at Steens on this trip originally. With the Steens summit road being closed, we went for Hart instead. It seems people just love Eastern Oregon either way for it's wild land.

[@EricSquires]

Great work. Dust Devil is AWESOME!!!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. We wanted to spend more time on sunstones but the kids were not cooperating.

[@sprintcarfan87]

Great production. I love the cinematography and music. Thanks for posting.

[@KOrnhOliO1]

AGREED! Very Professional! 😎🤘

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you!

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much. It all fit together very well I thought.

[@suzettecalleja3122]

Thank you for another great video. I always look forward to them. As soon as you post I stop what I'm doing to watch them. ❤😊

[@MattCookOregon]

That is awesome. Thank you. Too bad I don't get many out. Quality over Quantity eh.

[@Wes-l2d]

You’re videos are really good, kind of reminds me of the old Oregon Field Guide show although you’re narration is better 👍👍👍😁

[@MattCookOregon]

@@Wes-l2d old? They are still around! Thank you very much for the compliment. I try my best to make it as good as a show.

[@plakor6133]

Cattle grazing was removed about 20 years ago. The vegetation response has been spectacular.

[@MattCookOregon]

Yeah they take a toll on the vegetation don't they. But I sure do like some burgers!

[@davec9244]

Good job, thank you

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks Dave!

[@dkendrafrancesco7270]

I always enjoy your videos. They remind me of places we (family) went to before I was out of my teens. Hart Mountain was one of them. Dad was given a special permit to hunt (not pronghorn); I think it was in the late 1960s. It was an interesting, wild place back then, too. I'd go traipsing off in the opposite direction Dad went for safety reasons; I was about 12 or 13. Mom and my brother stayed by the camper.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much. Cool you think of this as a special place too. Fortunately, I bet it looks pretty similar to how it looked then.

[@dkendrafrancesco7270]

​@@MattCookOregon- It appears so, yes.🙂

[@antonioloredo8800]

Awesome video Matt.....

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you......!!

[@christianbuhlmann7820]

Matt Nicely done. I went out there last October and stayed at the base area to catch the annular eclipse, but did not have enough time to explore further in. I promised I am going back and I would like to do some night sky photography out there. Thanks for showing and describing the area

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. Night sky would be great at Hart. I should have done more of that. By night time we were just exhausted and didn't stay up long. I might do a Steens video soon so will definitely get some there.

[@skyblue-lb9kr]

exquisite! especially the small blonde mammals :)

[@TrailriderLC]

@@skyblue-lb9kr I think they are called sceen stealers! Super cute. 😍

[@MattCookOregon]

I only gave them a couple seconds of screen time and they steal the show!

[@OregonMikeH]

Absolutely Outstanding Matt! I and all others who view this are blown away, Pal. I was so taken back and appreciative of your research and professional narration of extensive detail. Furthermore, I am Subed to many outdoor creators across the globe, no one makes content that hits the A+ category on every level as you do. Rather a person has interest in Oregon or not, your work is consistently a pure pleasure to view. Thank you for bringing me back to the memories of my visit there, you showed so many aspects I was not aware of even after my long visit. There is zero question about it, you are Oregon's Premiere #1 Creator. Thank you so much! What a pleasure it is going to be vigorously promoting this video and sharing it in numerous ways. Blessings to the Family, ... Mike.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you very much Mike! The videos turn out well because making them is one of my favorite things to do. Things come easy when you are truly enjoying yourself. These more wild places always make me feel better, and it seems they make viewers feel the same. Thanks a bunch for the support.

[@OregonMikeH]

@@MattCookOregon YOU'RE VERY WELCOME MATT, THAT EXTRA EFFORT OF SUPPORT IS SOMETHING I'M PROUD TO DO AND ALWAYS WILL BE. BEST TO YA PAL, SWEET CREEK FOLLOWED BY SMITH RIVER REC AREA NIGHT SKY WAS A 2 CAMP AND TRAVEL SUPER SPECIAL TIME. MORE COMING TO IG SOON WITH COMMENTARY OF WHAT MADE THE EXTENDED TRIP SO SPECIAL,. YOU AND I GET IT PAL, WE'RE ON A SAME PLANE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR APPRECIATION AND SPECIAL VIBES FROM GLORIOUS NATURE.

[@soysauce1701]

This video is perfectly timed. I was going to take a trip out to Steens this week and wasn't sure what else there was to do in the betweens. I'm going to add a stop here to my itinerary. Thanks for this. Lovely video. If I could ask, how is cell service out that far? Just for my own preparedness.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thanks. No cell service at all for a very long distance. We actually meant to visit Steens this trip but did Hart instead cause the road to Steens was closed. Looks like the road is still closed, you can get to the top but cant do the big loop.

[@frednorman1]

Thanks for the great video. I was impressed with the Google map, animation, and how you outlined hard Mountain in green. Can you tell me how you do this?

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you for the comment. I am a big fan of google maps and maps in general. I just used the program google earth. In the program you can make shapes/paths or import existing maps. I couldn't find a refuge boundary google earth map file, so I actually drew it myself while looking at the refuge map. Once I had the map drawn, I picked a couple vantage points and told the program to fly to each, while recording my screen. Well thats a quick summary, much more detail I could give. Let me know if you have questions. I have a business email in the description if interested.

[@cmferris1]

Great video, and what a beautiful trout , which stream hold those, I'm assuming they are native redbands?

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. That fish literally just jumped out in front of me when I walked up to the creek. I was shocked and didn't know what to do for a sec.

[@cmferris1]

@@MattCookOregon lol that’s pretty crazy!

[@akanicholascage]

Found you through a much older video. Really like how your videos have improved!

[@MattCookOregon]

Sweet. Thank you. Nice Nick Cage pic too. I have stuck with a similar formula for awhile and try to gradually improve as I go.

[@seastheday2020]

Awesome video! Love that area! Is there gas in Plush or is the closest in Lakeview?

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. They say they have gas in Plush. I haven't used it. I tend to not count on small town gas as they can run out or not always be open.

[@Moutain_Hunter101]

Matt I have a question what are your plans for your next video?

[@MattCookOregon]

Not completely sure. I did film one last week where I kayaked a water trail to a bird sanctuary. I haven't looked at the footage to decide if it would make a good video or not. Would you like that one? have any other ideas?

[@Moutain_Hunter101]

I do have an idea

[@Moutain_Hunter101]

It took me a second to think, but this is the idea I know you skied it before, but this time actually climate it would be mount bachelor I’ve never seen anyone actually climate I have seen people all the time you should do that. You should do that one.

[@MattCookOregon]

Nice one. I have thought about a Bachelor summit video before too. Do you think that mountain is special in any way? Maybe it is special because not many people climb it?

[@Moutain_Hunter101]

The reason I thought of a bachelor is because I have always seen people skied from the top, but no one actually hiking climate and I’ve been trying to find videos of people actually doing that, but I can’t seem to find one so perfect idea also if you can’t do bachelor another another one nearby tumlo you should do that

[@toandfro2377]

Did you guys harvest any sunstones?

[@MattCookOregon]

We got some. Its very easy to get a bunch of little ones. We had a bit of trouble with it getting too hot for our kids, so didn't get as much as we could.

[@toandfro2377]

@@MattCookOregon I plan on getting out there at some point. We love rockhounding. But with little ones you definitely need to watch the heat

[@MattCookOregon]

@@toandfro2377 heat, snakes, giant red ant hills. It was a death trap!

[@Moutain_Hunter101]

I am fast, on these videos

[@MattCookOregon]

1st comment. You are as fast as a pronghorn! Thank you.

[@guaporeturns9472]

⁠@@MattCookOregonYeah but does she grill up as good as a Pronghorn? Probably not

[@Moutain_Hunter101]

I’m boy >:(

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@Moutain_Hunter101 congratulations

[@Moutain_Hunter101]

What

[@sgulden6276]

Did the pioneers not know how to spell "heart" ?

[@MattCookOregon]

That is exactly the case! They were good at ranching, spelling not so much.

[@TorrinR-xv2gc]

what the crap IS my username?

[@MattCookOregon]

@@TorrinR-xv2gc they did that username change thing so you have an @. Had to do something or they give you auto generated.

[@kenwin5845]

Fascinating, looks like a great place to visit. Would love to go hunting sunstones. Thanks for an informative video.

[@MattCookOregon]

Thank you. Sunstones are awesome and so easy to get a bunch of little ones. Well it wasn't so easy with kids cause we had to get outa there.