Oregon BackCountry/Alvord Desert PART 2

[@draco_2727]

The RC jeep had me rolling 😂😂😂 also, damn! you guys pack all that cooking gear!

[@GrandExploration]

I didn’t hahaha. With a group that size we will usually delegate who carries what. One person will be cooking/kitchen. Another tools another fuel. Etc. to distribute weight.

[@draco_2727]

Beautiful adventure and beautiful place 💚

[@GrandExploration]

It really is!

[@derrickj.2915]

First thing......Rest in Peace & Love Ms. Jessie ❤ I read about her record breaking story years ago and want to visit that dry bed one day. Braddah!!! You nailed it with the 2nd part video! IT WAS EPIC!!! it's like a movie! Enjoyed it as usual....again would love to hook up with you all on a weekend rendezvous! God willing.......as usual, keep up the Awesome and Amazing Vids! Until next.....Aloha my Braddah

[@GrandExploration]

Planning to head to Tillamook next weekend !

[@jdsrcs8061]

Beautiful area and an amazing adventure!!! RIP Jesse!!!!🤘🤘🤘

[@jaidedowns842]

Please be advised, just because there is no posted speed limit doesn't mean high speeds are safe. As a local, we continually learn of bad accidents on the playa from high speeds and donuts. And April isn't a bad month to visit. The playa is accessible year round as long as it is dry. Please do your due diligence before spreading false or harmful information please.

[@GrandExploration]

I don’t know about any false information. Please elaborate. The month of April it is still wet in areas which can lead to you accidentally getting your vehicle stuck in the mud so how is that false? Whoever said high speeds are safe? I don’t remember saying that. Honestly. I’m a patient person but your message makes absolutely no sense.

[@GrandExploration]

And besides I literally googled best times and worst times to go and April was not the best so……..

[@xeon_overland]

No one crashed so I'd say we were safe enough. If other people have a skill issue that's their own problem they ought to figure out.

[@jaidedowns842]

By jokingly saying there is no posted speed limit encourages your audience who may not know better. We hate to see accidents especially the ones that don't end well. Helping spread knowledge about playa etiquette can literally save a life. We want everyone to be safe and have fun. As for Google, it can be wildly inaccurate when it comes to this area. The north end of the playa can stay wet almost all year. Not every April yields the same results, but in general, the playa is accessible year round

[@GrandExploration]

@@jaidedowns842 l respect what you are saying and the point you are trying to make but I did not give out any mis information as you claim. There is no speed limit which is why they held the Guinness land speed record there. Which is why it is fun. I am not anyone’s parent. speeding will always have its risks no matter where you are driving. It is a fact that certain seasons tend have more unstable ground due to precipitation. I never said the it was closed I simply said it may not be wise to go by yourself. I’m sure you can appreciate the warning. I’m sure you wouldn’t like having to have the fire department driving on the playa to constantly recover people. You could appreciate that correct?

[@sonsoflibertyoverland]

Great filming. Looks like a fun trip. I had a Grand Cherokee for a decade and was an awesome vehicle. It's cool seeing a bunch all built out.

[@GrandExploration]

Thank you. It was a great trip. It’s been fun building it for sure

[@jovesp]

Awesome, editing and video did not disappoint.

[@GrandExploration]

Thank you greatly

[@brucecouch6971]

Hey guys first thank you for your acknowledgement of protecting the playa and trails. That said, I have been out to the playa over 100 times in all seasons. A couple things you should know … When water collects on the playa it is never more than a few inches deep. As you know it can get very windy. Because of how shallow the water is the ‘lake’ out there can get blown around the playa. You can witness how it moves around by standing near the edge of the water and actually see it moving. I have personally witnessed the water move a couple of miles overnight. If you set up camp near water you could very easily find yourself camping in the middle of the lake when you wake up. I have had to pull a few rigs out of it because of this. Second, it seems like the perfect place to do donuts, it’s not. The playa surface varies greatly depending on where you are on it. For example the east side can get very soft where as around Frog Springs it can be firmer. Vehicles have flipped out there because of this. Also donuts out there can create ruts which aside from creating driving hazards for others, when the surface crust is broken it gives grasses a place to grow which negatively affects the playa and reduces the size of the lakebed. It also increases the severity of dust storms. Finally I am guilty of driving too fast out there. What changed my behavior was finding a snowy plover nest out in the middle of the playa. We all look at it and think “there’s nothing out there!”, but there is. Just keep that in mind. I hope this information helps. happy trails, keep the sunny side up!

[@GrandExploration]

@@brucecouch6971 thank you for this. My question to all of this is, no one seems to have an issue with them conducting the land speed record of over 500mph on this playa

[@brucecouch6971]

@@GrandExplorationthey actually did. The first time they did it out there they left a lot of trash, I know… because I picked it up. Also as horrible as Jessi’s crash was there was considerable debris and jet fuel dumped at the north end of the playa. The playa took years to recover from this. A year after the crash the smell of jet fuel was still strong. They paid a considerable amount for the permit. In the end they cleaned up pretty well, but when things go wrong BLM discovered how difficult it was to restore the area. On a side note, as a racing nerd I was cheering this on when they were attempting their runs.

[@brucecouch6971]

Another side note, you guys were well lit up which is smart at night out there. Aside from never driving faster than you can stop in your headlights (some people who don’t understand the danger camp in the middle of the playa and don’t light their camps at night. There are people who drive there specifically for the dark skies especially in summer, like me. Overlanders totally lit up at night can ruin night images and star viewing for others. I doubt it was an issue in April. I was out there then as well in mid April.

[@GrandExploration]

@@brucecouch6971 the night ride was so short it was literally just for the KZbin shot. What we did before hand was send one rig out ahead to about as far as we were going to drive and then we took off.

[@brucecouch6971]

@@GrandExplorationI was just saying that for your viewers.

[@dogins1]

Doughnuts and speeds over 45 mph cause long term damage to the playa. The BLM is currently considering permits to enter the playa. I support that.

[@GrandExploration]

@@dogins1 they held the land speed records here. I’m sure BLM had to approve that right?

[@GrandExploration]

@@dogins1 doesn’t seem like the government has a problem with it. I’m sure they would put multi family homes on it if they could.

[@xeon_overland]

Considering and have implemented are two diff things. The government is also considering banning gasoline cars and yet somehow it's still fine to drive them.

[@fadelibrahim7663]

wow, thats my type of adventure would like to have some day

[@zachdevine871]

Part two did not disappoint 😅

[@GrandExploration]

Glad to hear that

[@GregoryMeekins]

Hello my brother Grand Cherokees owner I have the same year also w/v-6 so I want to lift mine 2" because I'm a UBER driver also and can't lift to high so what tire size can I put on her after my lift keep driving love it wow your boy from Philly PA !!!!!!!!!!

[@GrandExploration]

Hey! Thanks. If you’re doing just a 2” level you could most likely fit a bigger 31 with no rubbing. A 32” with a little bit of trimming.

[@joseenriquez4809]

where are you base from man ?state wise i got a jeep grand Cherokee and would love to off road with you guys

[@GrandExploration]

We are based in Washington.

[@rener44]

Everyone sure gets quiet when mentioning the playa has been used to break speed records many, many times.

[@GrandExploration]

That’s what I’m saying. Not to mention the driver died doing it. But me going 55mph in my heavy jeep gets an uproar. And dangerous. I have a problem believing the government has a problem with it. I’ve seen it where they make the public believe they are shutting a place down because of mis use but in reality they are breaking ground for a housing development and bringing in heavy tractors on tracks to tear the trees down. Now who’s really damaging the land?

[@walkyourbike]

Great video! Thank you for sharing your adventure with other WK2 owners! I hope to make it up to Oregon someday from down here in SoCal, and I’m really looking forward to more adventures in my own WK2.

[@GrandExploration]

@@walkyourbike thank you! Yea I’m glad I finally made it to Oregon. Been wanting to do that trip. You’ll love it. I used to live in LA until 2020.

[@erikaplummer9330]

This video makes my blood boil. This is a WILDERNESS STUDY AREA. Not a playground for speeding and destroying playa surface. We’ve seen horrific accidents at even low speeds. BLM is working to possibly limit access or worse. This is a place to be gently used and enjoyed.

[@GrandExploration]

@@erikaplummer9330 what in the world are you talking about? They held the Guinness land speed record here.

[@GrandExploration]

@@erikaplummer9330 what in the world are you talking about? They held the Guinness land speed record here. They hold huge events here.

[@xeon_overland]

Sounds like a skill issue. We didn't wreck and definitely enjoyed it.