Owyhee 2022 Part 2: I leave the guys behind & roam solo

In this episode, recovery gear is required, and the decision is made to go our separate ways...for now. Join me, along with Jason of @Primal Outdoors - Camping and Overlanding and Shi of @Out and Back Oregon for part two of our Owyhee adventure.
Watch the first episode of this series:
• Owyhee 2022 Part 1: Wi...
Watch the 2020 and 2021 series for a more complete backstory:
Bend to Alvord 2020 playlist (6 episodes):
• Epic Expedition Across...
Alvord to Owyhee 2021 playlist (5 episodes + outtakes video):
• Owyhee 2021
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Some of the gear I use:
Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro power station:
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Alldogs Offroad/Koni 2" lift kit:
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Alldogs Offroad wheels for Frontier/Xterra:
www.alldogsoff...
ASFIR 4x4 skid plates:
www.asfir.com/...
Yankum Ropes:
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In this video, I used Yankum's 7/8" "Python" kinetic recovery rope. Other rope thicknesses are available...be sure to select the rope that is appropriate to your vehicle. These are the same kinetic ropes used by Casey Ladelle and Matt's Offroad Recovery (they just make Matt's yellow instead).
Use code SOFTROADINGTHEWEST for a discount off your purchase at yankum.com
Warn winch:
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(I bought this steel cable version and swapped in synthetic winch line from Yankum Ropes)
MAXTRAX MKII recovery boards:
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LED CoLight driving lights (my large round lights)
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Breakfast thanks to Grizzlies:
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(use code SOFTROADING for a discount off your purchase)
My 12V fridge:
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Diode Dynamics SS3 LED pods (my amber pods)
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Claymore 3 Face camp light:
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Midland 105 GMRS radio (works with handheld FRS walkie-talkies)
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My Oregon license plate frame:
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MUSIC CREDITS All music fully licensed via artlist.io
In The End - by Michael Ellery
Timeless - by Landon Austin
Willow Wood - by Alon Peretz
Wave of Emotions - by Beneath the Mountain
Orange - by Marc Robillard
Hunt You Down - by Tyler Ashley
Year 2020 - by NRTHRN

[@OutandBackOregon]

Great job capturing how beautiful that spot was! I wondered what you were up to all day, out discovering previously unknown ranches and stuff... 🤣 Oh, and thanks for getting me unstuck!

[@softroadingthewest]

Call me Donald the (Deluded) Discoverer 😂

[@patricialacey6049]

That rock spire at the beginning is called the pink lady! We love camping out there!

[@softroadingthewest]

The pink lady is a beauty! 😍

[@PrimalOutdoors]

Really great edit Donald. Particularly enjoyed the ranch you discovered😂. Jason

[@vadrifter3200]

Beautiful views and smart choices on the routes. Better safe than sorry. I’m no expert, but I think your video quality is right up there with the “professionals”. I also am enjoying your music selections. Looking forward to the next episode. Thanks so much to you guys for showing us this beautiful area!

[@andy_an_outdoors_guy]

wow -- fantastic, dream-like footage of Jason fishing.

[@billsexton8073]

Myy dog can't stand those squeaky brakes. Makes me laugh hard! Thank you.

[@garybraach100]

Wise decision to not tackle that stretch of road. In 2017, an ATV rider rolled and was trapped under his ATV for a couple of hours at that location. He was eventually Life Flighted out of there after a several hour delay due to thunderstorms in the area. Luckily a group of river rafters camped down below. One of them was a doctor.

[@lessmith9835]

You know. I realize that you are a guy that loves the over landing part of you r life. I also appreciate that you give the realization of doing this as a regular American. That actually has a job to shop your adventures. I am from central Alabama and wish I could do what you do. I guess in short. I appreciate that you show the real life challenges that everyone faces yo make it happen. Keep it up cause I like watching it.

[@lessmith9835]

I’d like to talk to you about what it takes to take the leap to do some of the things you do.

[@veralhines6237]

Grew up here in south west idaho. Canyon and Owyhee County. Beautiful country and as yet still undeveloped enough to keep the minivan murauders away. God help us if the state ever paves a road out to it

[@softroadingthewest]

Heh, it's funny, when I was out there this year and reflecting on all of the amazing beauty and history of this place, I started thinking to myself, maybe this should be a national park in order to make sure it stays protected. But then I envisioned paved roads, visitor centers, and tourists, and I realized...no. No it shouldn't. LOL.

[@veralhines6237]

@@softroadingthewest Edward Abbey had the right idea about our national treasures like this. He said they should never have been developed. If a person has their entire lives to see the world they live in and they choose to wait till they need a wheel chair ramp and a shopping mall to buy Chinese made trinkets to commemorate their visit then they screwed the pooch. When you go out adventuring into wild places...take a chain saw with you and take down every damn billboard and sign you see that advertises the place. Its the only way to keep them wild. When EVERYTHING is available to EVERYONE then things stop being special. And what I have learned o er a few decades of enjoying this countries last wild places is this. ...many say they want to see it....then inevitably they think it needs to be changed....there in lies the problem.....

[@BentNotBroken1970]

Every new video I see of this area makes me want to explore it more. I'm impressed with your sensibility when encountering some of those challenges like the off camber trail. Discretion is the better part of valor out there :)

[@scottymac5174]

That rock formation kind of remined me of the Statue of Liberty from the original Planet of the Apes. Very cool!

[@swidahooverlanding2867]

Yup! I just about slid off the road in that stretch a few years back. Actually it was the road that gave away under my passenger rear wheel. I thought we were going over, but it hung on the axle. It was all I could do to get back into the Jeep to try and get it back on the road. Locked low range got me back on the road luckily. Then the scary part number two was to turn around and drive the road again to get out of there. Good times! Thanks for sharing, George.

[@fwdadventuresza254]

Super inspiring! Beautiful drone footage and love those water crossings man! Thanks for taking us along Donald 👍🏻

[@mojavedesertsonorandesert9531]

That's a nice view looking back across the river at your rig and background!

[@0sirius]

It is a long haul from the Eug but it has been well worth it for me every time I have made the journey. Can't wait to get back over there next summer.

[@frankansley7941]

Great job Donald! That was a cool old ranch. I hope you show us the sign that was on the old house in Part 2. Thanks so much for what you do. I wish I was younger and was as brave as you to go out on your own like that. Even though I take care of my vehicle I am always afraid of a serious mechanical problem in the middle of nowhere. Looking forward to part 2. Take care and be safe. 🛻

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks Frank!

[@TheCabrooster11]

What a truly beautiful place that river canyon is thank you for taking us along with you

[@westhovland4189]

Another great adventure! I've been through that area on dualsports and camped at that ranch. Very treacherous area.

[@Bikepro4x]

Donald I love seeing your Frontier! It’s so refreshing in a sea of jeeps and tacos. It makes me feel so proud to be Fronty owner as well.

[@elflordsjourneys]

Me too.

[@CW6691.]

Thanks for sharing, blessings from upstate SC

[@prolificnorthwest]

Another great episode! Really enjoying this series. Cheers!

[@Ravenwood82]

Another fine video, Donald. That looked like the Hattie Harrel ranch, one of my next goals out there. Will

[@NarleyAdventures]

👍👍👍👍👍, great drone footage of the spire !

[@scanfan]

Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@uritaub5441]

Fantastic Donald. Another great vid!

[@prairieschooner2599]

Always stunning cinematography from you all. Thank you for taking us along via KZbin. Skol!

[@LyfeUndead]

Really awesome channel, I just got a 2015 pro4x frontier last year and it's motivating to see you just getting out there, I have yet to have the time but a couple weeks more and ill finally set wheels on trails. Keep it up!

[@BackroadExploration]

This series has just been incredible. Something so unique and special about this area. I think I’m drawn to it so much because there is nothing really like it around me. I’m always drawn to old ranching, mining and farming as well which this is chalk full of.

[@michaelpellegrino3220]

Fantastic video. Super enjoying this series. Well done to all 3 of you!

[@VidadeAP]

You should come to Arizona and explore !!

[@robertoperezjr.1119]

I was thinking that you should name your truck Donkey. Its grey and kind of sounds like a donkey when you are going over rocks. hehehee

[@underthelibertytree712]

Love this channel. 😀

[@henrywit6147]

Great video. Especially the drone work, and the safe usage of a kinetic recovery rope.

[@campoutwestus]

What an incredible area! That ranch was so cool! I love the wallpaper that remains. Beautiful drone shots too. We so look forward to your videos!

[@agentorange1556]

Lol, oh man you guys are the epitome of having a farmers tan 😂

[@softroadingthewest]

It's no accident I was trying to keep only my head above water on camera. I'm the whitest of the three of us and it literally looks like I'm wearing an actual t-shirt in the water. 😆

[@warrenscorner]

Awesome drone video! You accomplish what I can only dream about.

[@tegucigalpa2]

I enjoy how you film your videos and the narration. And what a spectacular place!

[@dlansburg2673]

Glad you found that crossing,I was watching another group on you tube and they were in the area and crossed the river a couple times

[@xavierdavidson9293]

Awesome video as always! These mini series keep me coming back for more!

[@CraigG21]

Such beautiful scenery 🤯

[@mikemorgan4670]

Bravo Sir. What a great episode, most enjoyable.

[@louiskudlak2241]

So love your style of video, relaxing and your voice is chilled and calming

[@izrador2264]

You know, when I was watching the last episode I was thinking to myself and wondering if there might be a fordable spot on that river to bypass the bottleneck!

[@pala4833]

Fun. Thanks buddy.

[@IcyReaper]

Another beautiful area. Going to be in that are next year in early summer for fun. BTW, have you thought about upgrading your radio to one of the new 50W ones from Midland? I'm going with the MXT 575 to get max range in case we need it. The barrens of southern Idaho and eastern OR is a lot of empty area.

[@softroadingthewest]

I use the Midland for vehicle-to-vehicle coms and carry a satellite device for emergency coms (or, well, I did, before I lost it in Utah, which reminds me I need to get a new one 😆).

[@IcyReaper]

@@softroadingthewest Are you going to do a vid on the new sat comms. Would be real interested in that. Thats my next comm item. Maybe compare a few?

[@softroadingthewest]

@@IcyReaper I probably won't, it's already very well covered on KZbin by people more experienced with these than me. I had a Garmin InReach Mini previously. If I go in another direction, I may at least mention on the channel what I got and why. But I can't really do a fair comparison video without having multiple units in my hands. 🙂

[@Otrwego]

Have any of you tried using your drones to see what’s in front of you?

[@softroadingthewest]

It's ultimately not super effective for judging road width, how off-camber it may be, or how crumbly the edge of the road may be...sometimes you just gotta get eyes on it. With a drone, that road probably would have looked perfectly viable all the way to the ranch, as it did in Google Earth. 😏

[@Otrwego]

Makes since. I wanted to compliment you on the quality of your film making/editing. It really shows your effort to continually explanding your knowledge and commitment to quality content production! Keep it up!

[@redarmysoja]

Another awesome video, great work.

[@gr8outdoors]

Why don’t you replace your gas tank with a larger one? Like a 30 gallon tank. I think the added piece of mind knowing you have enough fuel would justify the price.

[@bobby350z]

Really nice video. Thanks.

[@jenb.6440]

Beautiful video work!

[@johndej]

Another great video!

[@gringo3009]

Good stuff!

[@Realtor_eliot_portland]

Hell to the yeah!

[@gonynadler]

Love it!

[@johnalveus]

solid vid . thanks for sharing . rather regret the click-bait thumbnail “STUCK , with a truck in the river” but i guess it’s par for the course . cheers .

[@bertkelly7650]

Nap? There's no napping while over landing! Come on man! ; - )

[@softroadingthewest]

People who roll with me for the first time quickly learn that the nap *always* gets squeezed in somehow 😆

[@odys3803]

I know you liked that canopy and it served you well, but the truck looks better without it.

[@softroadingthewest]

I agree, I love the way it looks. Function is gonna win out over form however...I MUCH prefer camping in the canopy. I hope this is the last weeklong trip I have to do with the tent. 😄

[@odys3803]

@@softroadingthewest I think the same way, function over looks and gazelle tent isn't built for heavy weather. Roof top tent on some bed cage would look and probably work the best on a pickup.

[@dennisharvey4499]

Enjoyed the video. I get fuzzy bits. I think it is caused by image stabilisation when it fails. Do you use image stabilisation?

[@hermiesmit1]

I totally love all your videos and have been following you for over 2 years now and thank you for all the great content. I was wondering, what drone do you use, or would recommend for someone starting out on a budget?

[@softroadingthewest]

I use the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, which I bought used off eBay. I'm not familiar enough with DJI's current line to make a recommendation. I'm always on a budget myself so I buy almost all my camera gear used. :-) If you know what you're willing to spend, you could just see what that'll get you on eBay. Otherwise I believe DJI's current budget model is supposed to be a pretty nice little drone.

[@darrylk808]

While you were in the water you should've washed the truck.😁

[@softroadingthewest]

🤣 Hey, I wash the truck regularly! Every six months without fail. 😂

[@IcyReaper]

Do your brakes always make noise like that when you are out in the wilds?

[@softroadingthewest]

They're noisy when they're dusty. Goes away when they're clean. I was out on the trail today, it's been wet here, zero noise from the brakes. 🤷‍♂

[@sierramantrvlnus]

Yay

[@cwevan6433]

Colin says hi.

[@softroadingthewest]

LOL :-) Hey guys

[@commonsense592]

Your camera work looks really good. What is the drone you use?

[@softroadingthewest]

DJI Mavic 2 Pro

[@b97209]

Nice job. We have done a couple of tours in the area withour team. What month did you record this trip?

[@softroadingthewest]

This was mid-October.

[@johngeorge2317]

Did your truck come with all that armor?

[@softroadingthewest]

No. Well, the Pro-4x Frontier does comes with thin steel skid plates, but I've swapped them out for 1/4" aluminum plates from ASFIR 4x4.

[@BoomyTheGoblin]

Where did you get those headrest pouches?

[@softroadingthewest]

Those are prototypes made by OBR ADV Gear. They make products like this for motorcycles and side-by-sides, but the owner used to drive a Frontier and had designed these for himself, so he sent me a set to try out, but I don't think they've ever put these into actual production. I talk about them briefly in my walkaround video from this summer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/paXRlnuspZuUhLs

[@nutthrower4415]

Nice adventure, I’m not sure what year your rig is but know your running the 4.0 L engine What kind of Mileage are you getting, say on the highway? I realize it’s gotta be terrible out at where you are now 😊 Thanks, great stuff Also how do you like the Gaia?

[@M21zen]

73 W7PRV de KE7CCQ.