The Video I Thought You'd NEVER See!

*This video is sponsored by LMNT! Try LMNT (I truly love it!) by clicking here: drinklmnt.com/mirandagoesoutside
I thought this video was lost forever! Let me explain - a little over a year ago I headed out on a solo winter backpacking trip to an off-grid cabin in the middle of the woods. This was intended to be my first ever video after taking this channel independent from REI, but it was never uploaded to KZbin. Why? There were technical problems with the footage which forced me to delay putting the video out, and somehow during that delay all the footage was deleted. It felt like such a huge failure. My first attempt to make a video as an independent KZbinr had ended in disaster! But, in a wild twist, it turns out the video was not lost after all! I recently discovered I had a copy of the original edited video stored in my archives! And so I'm sharing this lost video with you today, along with some commentary about what went wrong. I think it's a great winter backpacking adventure worth sharing, and more importantly, a reminder that failing is an essential part of the learning process. Without further ado, the first video I ever filmed for this channel, previously lost and now found, starts now. Enjoy! ❤️
Intro: 00:00
Hiking to an abandoned cabin in the snow: 1:00
Arrival at the cabin: 6:15
Failing to make a fire: 7:30
Making snow ice cream: 9:20
Trying to make a fire again: 10:12
Cozy evening at the cabin: 11:25
Why I love LMNT electrolytes (sponsor): 13:22
Cozy evening at the cabin, continued: 14:21
Gorgeous morning at the cabin with wolves howling: 16:08
Attempting to chop wood again: 20:21
Packing up and leaving the cabin: 23:08
Reflecting on this lost video, and on failure: 25:15
Outro: 26:05
Gear in this video -
*Note: this video was filmed over a year ago and so a lot of my backpacking kit has changed, or some products in this video are now unavailable. Below is some gear from this video that's still available, and that I still love!
REI Flash 55: alnk.to/2uGsFVT
Atlas Access Snowshoes: alnk.to/gVKB7gh
Nemo Fillo Elite Pillow: alnk.to/4fQ2uhg
Sea to Summit X-Pot Kettle: alnk.to/1XWbJuG
Sea to Summit Cool Grip Tumbler: alnk.to/eOLvl3M
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 Down Jacket: alnk.to/60ZCihj
Cotopaxi Fuego Down Vest: alnk.to/apSyOH1
SkyGOAT Fleece: skygoatusa.com/
*Use code miranda20 for 20% off at SkyGOAT!
Gnara Go There Pants: gnara.com/products/gnara-go-t...
MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove: alnk.to/2QvYDCF
DeliciOats Oatmeal (the best!): alnk.to/dprruzQ
The above links are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase something from these links I may earn a small commission. This money goes straight back into making content, and allows me to keep making videos for all of you!
The main reason for the technical issues in this video is that I used an old and outdated camera that I now no longer use. Want to know what I use to film videos now? Check out this video: • The EASY Way to Film H...
Since making this video I have filmed many more solo backpacking adventures! Check them out below:
• Solo Backpacking to th...
• I Recreated My First E...
Miranda Goes Outside stickers, shirts, sweaters and hats are now for sale! Get yours here:
www.mirandagoesoutside.com/
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me on Patreon! 💚 If you'd like to become a Patron and support my channel, click here: / mirandagoesoutside
LMNT is the biggest supporter of my channel and I am thrilled to get to continue to partner with them in 2024 to spread the love for my favorite electrolyte drink mix! To find out more about LMNT, click here: drinklmnt.com/
The Miranda Goes Outside crew:
Director and Producer: Rainer Golden
Sr. Editor and Videographer: Abby Hagan
Videographer and Editor: Chelsea Newton
Videographer and Editor: Kyle Roof
Editor: Katie Van Fleet
Editor: Doug Linstedt
Dog: Tucker
Cat: Oscar
Miranda: Miranda
This video was filmed by Miranda Webster, with additional filming by Kyle Roof. It was originally edited by Chelsea Newton!
Follow me on IG @MirandaGoesOutside: / mirandagoesoutside
Find past Miranda in the Wild videos on REI Co-op's KZbin channel here: / @rei
Like, Subscribe, Comment, and tune in (almost) weekly for more Miranda Goes Outside!
#backpacking #hiking #camping #lostvideo #cabin #offgrid #adventure #mirandagoesoutside #mirandainthewild

[@rivereee]

Low quality video doesn't really matter when the presenter quality is so high!

[@MirandaGoesOutside]

Ahh thank you so much!!

[@musingwithreba9667]

Absolutely! 😊

[@randomrachel1480]

Yeah, I didn’t even notice. I was just having a good time watching the video!

[@melissarawn9604]

Yea I could not even tell that there was poor video quality. It was just so fun to watch. You have such a great spirit.

[@RainerGolden]

Watching this feels like it happened 5 years ago, not 13-14 months ago. It was so gut wrenching to lose all the footage, but so glad this one copy of the original edit gets the light of day finally. Couldn’t believe it was just there in the archives for so long. We were scrambling like crazy when we first went independent, so I have such a muddled memory of those first few weeks and when this video was shot. The excitement and fear is what I remember most! How far we’ve come in just a year, and how far we will go THIS year! Best is yet to come!

[@RainerGolden]

For those wondering - when you edit a video you edit the raw footage, but the video that is uploaded to KZbin is a compressed export of that footage. A copy with all the edits you made and music and graphics and text added, etc. The amazing editor, Chelsea, alerted Miranda and I to the technical problems in the footage for this video last January after we shot it, and she did the best edit she could from what Miranda shot. I think she did a brilliant job. Then she exported that edit that she did, and uploaded it to our file sharing platform where we review videos, called Frame. Then, when we decided to delay the video due to technical problems, the original footage on a hard drive was returned to me and I stored it away to return to at another date. Somehow, I have no memory of doing this, that hard drive was cleared to make space for new footage from a different video, therefore deleting every bit of footage from this first solo winter cabin adventure other than that single exported initial edit uploaded to Frame. When that happened, we figured it was all lost for good and had forgotten about that initial edit. Then, recently, Miranda and I went through some archived edits on Frame, and found this video sitting there. Miracle! Fun to be able to put it out now! The camera Miranda used, which was a very old Sony A7sII, we retired after this shoot, and bought a proper camera that works a lot better. Live and learn!

[@RainerGolden]

Also, Miranda has shot two solo adventures for the channel since this first failed one (which, by the way, I consider my fault for not checking the camera and also deleting the footage) and they’re awesome. Great lessons learned from this first unreleased solo trip went into making those other solo videos awesome, IMO!

[@k79387]

Thanks for the peek behind the producer curtain; it’s really interesting to hear the backstory! To the whole team - thank you and keep up the great work!

[@sandralutz-rodriguez2864]

I can only imagine Rainer!! I love tis channel you guys do such rad videos!!

[@chrismyers46]

Fail = First Attempt In Learning :)

[@jadasakura]

Omg I love that

[@MirandaGoesOutside]

I’ve never heard this!! I love it 🥰

[@naskov5819]

After hiking all day on the first day of a seven day solo backpacking trip in the Wind River range, I discovered I had forgotten my spork and had no other utensils. The prospect of spending seven days eating with my dirty and Deet covered fingers was decidedly unappealing. So I did what any red blooded former Girl Scout would do and carved one. Although I retired the spoon after that trip, I still have it 24 years later. I learned that improvisation and resourcefulness are as important as preparation.

[@mikenealis]

If you never would have mentioned the dust on the sensor, I would have just thought there was schmutz on my screen.

[@jmsantana1987]

Came to literally say the same thing.

[@wenhuang5969]

The use of of the word schmutz. Love it

[@wenhuang5969]

Honestly the woodchopping was my favorite part lol. Would you collab with those lumberjack YTers for a tutorial on how to chop wood? Oh! and fire starting, because man I had that same issue with a woodfire stove this weekend. Thought I was gonna freeze to death

[@fervensmortis]

A colab with Nicole Coenen would be awesome. Ngl, her chopping technique was scaring me

[@LauraRaeRae]

Those morning yips and howls were coyote(s). They are not always in packs and one coyote has the ability to make themselves sounds like two. A wolf’s howl will be consistent and often lower in pitch than a coyote. So. An easy way to tell…if you hear laughs, it’s a Wiley coyote.

[@cgrif81543432]

While it’s great to have high quality standards, remember that most people watch KZbin on mobile devices covered in fingerprints lol. So if there are clips or whole videos with dirty lenses that you want to show anyway, it’s no problem to do so!

[@pgtiyamu]

I didn't even notice till she pointed it out..definitely watching for content over image quality.

[@yogalandawellnessyolandati7654]

Absolutely. I didn’t even notice the focus problems even though she warned me about them 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@eyeseajujubee]

The wood chopping made me feel so much better about how much I’ve struggled before. Thanks for sharing the lost footage!

[@savyjett]

Right. Im a terrible wood chopper. But i can light it!!

[@zaffora]

My mother used a wood burning stove to heat her house when I was young. If you want the fire to burn all night, you want those bigger pieces of wood. The larger pieces burn longer, and when you close the air vents down to just slits the log will burn all night.

[@CoffeeMugTwentyFive]

Miranda's Found Footage sounds like a great horror movie premise.

[@MirandaGoesOutside]

30% of it would be me complaining about the camera being heavy, and the other 70% would be out of focus

[@CoffeeMugTwentyFive]

@@MirandaGoesOutside You mean, the serial killer would just get tired of you and volunteers to be your camera man.

[@musingwithreba9667]

​@CoffeeMugTwentyFive 😂

[@WalkingDevon]

There's always something to learn on every trip, no matter how experienced you are. The video was absolutely fine, you notice these details as an editor but as a viewer we miss most of these and following the story is what we focus on, as long as the audio is clear then all is good! Just to add, as an amateur astronomer. When it's that dark and you see something that bright, close to the moon, it's probably Jupiter.

[@josephowens7425]

Oh my gosh my wife and I love watching you and your crew. We are huge fans and we are both so proud of you. I’m a logger by trade and I was cheering you on as you became a lumberjack in this video. Keep up the amazing work gosh darn!

[@johnm.withersiv4352]

Video Resurrected from the dead on Easter. Nice.

[@Karen-dq8nw]

Nice video that reinforces - you don't know what you don't know, until you try it. And then you learn! No shame in learning. For viewers new to things like starting fires and splitting wood, there are often groups to help - like Washington Outdoor Women (there are similar all over the country).

[@graywulf19]

This was great. I appreciate that you leave your struggles in the video. Also you should get with Nicole Coenen.

[@nicholasrandell2310]

Came here to say this!! That’s a KZbin creator collaboration that would be delightful :)

[@sallys2423]

@NicoleCoenen is THE lesbian lumberjack.

[@britanirae9525]

Would die for this collab

[@yesyacanpelican]

I was just going to say the same thing!! They would vibe so well!

[@johnhavel7685]

No worries Miranda on the firewood splitting it takes time to learn the skill and do it well and it was honestly kinda adorable to watch. If have trouble swinging the maul hard enough sometimes you can just get it to stick in the log and then use another log or mallet to hammer it in to split the log. Once you get the hang of swinging the maul though it makes much quicker work of those small logs doing it that way.

[@MyrandaSmelser]

Miranda, I absolutely adore your bubbly personality. Funny enough my name is also Myranda. 😊 I have been watching your videos for a few years. You helped inspire me to give backpacking a try. My 12 year old daughter now goes on trips with me, too. Getting out on the trails has helped me cope with my depression and anxiety. Thank you for taking us with you on your adventures. And please know that you help so many people just by being you! ❤

[@russelljackman1413]

GREAT video!!!!! I loved the cabin, and I am so glad you got the fire going (Next time, take some fire starters--I make my own from melted paraffin wax mixed with saw dust; smash the warm mixture onto a cookie sheet and cut into small brownie size pieces). Yes, it's best to have friends with you, though I definitely appreciate alone time in the forest. I loved the Hair Braid Jazz Music!!! This video was anything but a failure!!!! It was, in my humble opinion, a wonderful success! And, YES, you were right, Amanda--sorry, Rainer! Thanks for the Joy you always bring to us, Amanda and Rainer! You are the best!

[@RottenlyMoodyChild]

This felt like a lesson in the hero's journey or heroine's journey. From "Bye. Have fun filming poop", to overcoming the fire starting challenges, to defeating the log of wood, etc etc etc. All feels very fitting and emblematic of you and your videos in general. Being brave. Getting outside. Leaving comfort zone. Facing difficulties. Overcoming self doubt. Conquering challenges. Having renewed self belief. Recharging. Returning transformed. Etc etc etc. I could go on. So glad you found this lost edit. Was really fantastic. And you did a great job filming, despite some minor technical hiccups. You and the team have come so far and continue to do such amazing work 💚🌍

[@MariekaJackson]

Not to mention the banter between her and Rainer. Always the best content.

[@menevermind2612]

I’m sure somebody’s already told you, but I find it amazingly fascinating. That star by the moon is actually planet. Stars flicker planets don’t. It is super super cool. Also I love your mushroom shirt. And thank you for letting us all see you. the real uncomfortable you The doesn’t know how to start a fire would you. It’s all important. And it helps normalize all of us. So thank you.

[@MirandaGoesOutside]

Whoa!!! That’s so incredibly cool! I didn’t know that!!

[@TheAlexanka]

Last year i bought a new water filter, the Grayl ultrapress (Yeah yeah ulterlightrers i know but i like it :) ). And i was really excited to try it out and show it of to my scout leader friends. So i got everyone to plan this whole "survival weekend" thing aka backpacking and sleeping in tents. So the night before i put my filter on my table so i wouldn't forget it. And the the next day when we got to the first campground i remembered shit i never took the damned bottle. And i felt soo stupid since it was basically the resons i got everyone out there. But anyway turned out to be a really nice trip anyway and tbh shit happens. If we wanted a completely care free experience we would go to a all-inclusive hotell :) Anyway love your channel and your videos!

[@MissMerghit]

I love this! Especially keeping in the chopping wood. It’s refreshing to see someone who is really good at something be… not so good. 😂 a tip I learned, is that if you get the axe in the log, don’t pull it out, but chop the axe down with the log still in it onto the chopping block.

[@timolheiser7874]

Boiling water by braid timer. You suck at chopping, but you adapted and overcame. I think you did a wonderful job with your first video. I like your honest outlook you bring to your videos. It's the child eye things that you find interesting, and entertaining. It's your character that we as viewers like to see. Thanks for finding, and sharing.

[@singledad1313]

The best and most interesting stories of the outdoors comes from something goes wrong. No one tells stories years later about the trip where everything was perfect.

[@That.Traveling_Couple]

Love the video! It reminded me of a camping trip my husband and I took where we had stopped to get gas, and I gotten in the back of our vehicle to get some stuff and had to move the tent. We got to our campsite a couple hours later to realize that at that gas station, I had set the tent on the ground behind the vehicle and forgot it 🤦🏼‍♀️. We ended up sleeping in a Walmart parking lot until they opened to buy a new tent, but it was still one of the best camping trips we’d taken. We’re looking forward to when we can start backpacking though!

[@rodoutdoors]

Very cool to find lost footage. It's like a time capsule. Thanks for sharing.

[@MirandaGoesOutside]

Thanks for watching!

[@sarahfarrell7957]

Not a failure! It's a great example of a solo trip that will encourage others🙌

[@windeaglemartin1800]

The fire reminded me of my 13 years heating only with wood in a remote cabin in Northern Pennsylvania. It’s a lot of work to gather and split 6 full cords every year but it’s a cherished memory.

[@nenaserafim1774]

Loved this video, to be honest didn't even realise it was that low-res cause I was too busy looking at the beautiful scenery and cabin. Great advice about solo hiking/camping for those of us reluctant to stay overnight alone. Thanks for another awesome adventure!

[@inthehouse1960]

I love Annie Dillard! I read that book in High School because I wanted to be a naturalist. I didn't know what a naturalist was but I was reading Aldo Leopold (A Sand Country Almanac - highly recommend), Rachel Carson, and Thoreau, and just wanted to be in nature... and I named my goldfish Ellery Channing after the less famous transcendentalist. Thanks for the flashback. And it's good to see you out in the wilds of the PNW. I'll be up there next month for some tree-hugging. Stay healthy, Miranda, and enjoy the book.

[@toxikliz9610]

Seems like this finally captures everything I love about backpacking! The sounds, the sky, the warm things in the cold world. 10/10 thank you for rescuing this footage

[@kristymoore7052]

Fantastic! Creepy woodshed is no joke. I raised my son’s in a not so remote, but kind of, in the Sierra. The wood shed was certain to have a bunch of spiders and other creepy crawlers + rodents, and you never knew what else you may encounter when you walked in, in the winter. There was only one way in and out, so if you were the one blocking the exit, well….Skunk, opossum, bobcat, raccoon, coyote, bear, cougar, serial killer, alien? It was too scary for me in the dark so it was my sons’ job to get the wood. 😊

[@andiwinter18]

I literally cheered outloud when you split one log! I needed this reminder today to not take myself so seriously 🥰

[@seccat]

Thanks for taking us out there, with you. The sunrise was so peaceful 17:22

[@jppendleton]

Finding footage you thought was lost forever is a special kind of joy. Even with some janky footage - it's still a great memory to share. Thanks Miranda!

[@MirandaGoesOutside]

It was such a gem to find this a year later!! I'm glad I got to share it 💚 thanks for watching!

[@schulzbrianr]

That was so much better than you set it up to be, I probably wouldn't even have noticed it was "sub par" (to your standards) if you just released it and never said anything. And now I have to go chop some wood to see how embarrassed I am before I make fun of you or brag about how good I would be at it.

[@WanderFreeWithBarb]

Your being way too hard on yourself here. Video is brilliant.

[@Danceswithmushrooms]

It's nice you have so much video of your adventures. I wish I had more videos and pics of the trips I've been on. Thanks for sharing it. Also, I really love your mushroom t-shirt.

[@MirandaGoesOutside]

Thank you!! I think keeping record of trips has made me appreciate them so much more after the fact. As for the tee: It's from an artist called Love With Pride, and I adore it ❤️

[@jpsousa4]

This was a year ago and clearly it didn't end up poorly for you, but I felt the need to say that folks should always be a little careful eating snow that hasn't recently fallen. While backpacking a few years ago in late spring on the TRT, I ended up accidentally eating some living critters. Learned my lesson. 😅

[@teniquawalters6952]

When did you notice?? In your mouth or bowels😂

[@adventuresofaflatlander4188]

This is how I did my very first backcountry trip. In Duck Mountain Provincial Park there’s a network of trails with 4 or 5 cabins that you can overnight in. My favourite is the one on Moose Lake which sits on a peninsula, so you’ve got water on three sides which makes it feel just a little safer!

[@SuziPoozi]

I love this video and that cabin is so cool! I'm really glad you found and shared this with us, it is one of my favorites you've made so far. I honestly didn't notice any issues with the quality, it is just a fun video!

[@pm_davidjones]

I was dying watching the wood chopping. You actually slowed the axe down before hitting the wood. -tink- I'm pretty sure I've seen you chop vegetables with more force. 😅 You can do it!! Maybe Rainer can organize a wood bootcamp weekend for the team. Split 50 logs and start 50 fires. You'll be pros in no time! I was really worried you weren't going to get the stove going in time. So lucky someone left you some miracle wood. Loved the video!

[@BackcountryExposure]

It’s fun finding stuff like this and forgetting what took place and reliving it that way. Awesome!

[@MirandaGoesOutside]

It was so fun!!

[@FieryNikkie]

First, I would have never guessed this video wasn’t high quality! Second, it was like watching myself trying to start a darn fire. Why is it so hard? Even after backpacking and camping by myself multiple times, I still can’t live down my awful fire starting skills. Maybe one day we’ll get it!

[@dyrgewolf]

When chopping wood, put your primary hand up near the head and your off hand down towards the base, line it up where you want to chop, bring it up over your head and as you swing down, slide your primary hand back towards your off hand and let the weight of the head do the work and chop into the wood.

[@ehazard9525]

I love teanaway. It’s my go to dispersed camping spot in Washington. My friends and I keep talking about going snow camping up there as it’s so peaceful. Now that I’ve seen the inside of the cabin we drive by in summer, I’ll suggest that as an alternative to tent camping. Thanks for the info.

[@pbangsund]

"I'm going the heck to bed!" Yes! That's the kind of victorious can-do attitude that I can identify with! I feel the same way every night!

[@vivianepersimmon]

Totes understand the feeling of "now my whole entire purpose is to keep the fire going" 😅 Imo it's one of the best parts of camping. Thanks for sharing this video!!

[@caveatemptor93]

I failed on a solo overnight trip. I took a tent that I hadn’t used in a long time, and when I got to camp, the shock cords in the poles had completely stretched out. I made it through the night using tension from the stakes and rain fly to hold the poles together and the tent up. Fortunately, it wasn’t rainy or windy.

[@aprilatwood4529]

Not a fail--you made it through the night. I have had the same shock cord problem ;-)

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

"if" you don't know... The next time you walk into a trail, as soon as you hit the trail head, look for birch bark or tulip poplar (aka yellow poplar) bark or even cedar bark. Grab as much as you can carry. It doesn't weigh anything and when you need to start a fire, that stuff will burn like it's soaked in kerosene in just about any conditions (high winds, damp out, etc...). Also gather a lot of twigs. A twig bundle is more important than fuel (split logs). About a pillow's worth will ignite just about any split log or the right branches from the right trees (especially conifers like pines). Once you got that goin', stack hardwoods on that especially maples or oaks which will burn a long time and produce little if any sparks while putting out massive BTUs.

[@jenniferjohnson995]

I always love your videos! I can’t believe you heard wolves!!!!! So amazing! Did you have any problems with mice? Oh, and for solo tips: it’s ok to be scared. You can be scared the whole time and still have a great trip.

[@gregreed1044]

Fantastic, bring it on ❤ Keep it real and keep on keeping on … never had a plan work as planed, but always turned out for the best 👍😎 Give us Al ya got 🍎🌺🌸🌺

[@koyapol]

you really need to try bushcraft and unlock fire building skills. it will be a great additional skills that'll be so useful in your solo packing adventures.

[@oldschooljeremy8124]

Your difficulties with the axe stemmed from its not being an axe. That was a splitting maul. Mauls are much better at splitting wood along the grain but are a lot heavier and somewhat harder to use than axes.

[@empressspace8110]

I barely even noticed the problems in the video. I really likes the video. I enjoyed watching you learn your way around cutting wood

[@lindab8774]

Your videos are never failures. I love watching your adventures and your gear reviews. I have learned so much from you.

[@cdk2549]

Such a wholesome video! Deffo one of my favourites. I love it when you go on backpacking trips!

[@sandralutz-rodriguez2864]

Such a rad adventure. Thank you for sharing! And soooo glad you found the footage again!!

[@thecarbonprop]

Love it. ❤ Edit: you know what blows me away is you’ve been doing this for way less time than I thought! You’re a pro.

[@MirandaGoesOutside]

Ahh thank you! It feels like eons ago that we started, but it really isn't that long! I'm so grateful to be where I am now!

[@thecarbonprop]

@@MirandaGoesOutside one of my favourite channels. Your energy is wonderful.

[@RainerGolden]

3 years with REI, and then one year now with our own channel which has been the most challenging and rewarding thing we have ever done. So many lessons learned, so many still to learn! Grateful for every day we get to make videos for y'all. It's truly a privilege! Thank you for your support. It means so much to us!

[@juniper1girl]

You didn't fail a few times. you are a human! things not going to plan is normal. and it's awesome to see a canal showing normal things. Not just the perfect ones. Thank you!

[@metime00]

That book choice during the first video was so cool to me because that was where i first went backpacking!

[@IrrigationGuru]

This video shows just how special you are. You are genuine and vulnerable and absolutely fabulous! I’m so thankful to have found you. Keep on being you!!!!!

[@JCrozier1]

so glad to see this. it looks pretty put together. i think you did a great job.

[@rachaeltownend6872]

I presume you’ve found Nicole Coenen since and lumberjack mode is now fully advanced (albeit a touch less thirsty perhaps 😋)

[@MirandaGoesOutside]

You would be correct 😅

[@gnmatsu]

I love it. Love your continued smiles and enthusiasm. I love your honesty of not being awesome at everything. You are human just like so many of us. Humble. Another great, fun video..

[@neil2809]

Totally enjoyed. Well done ! ! ! We need more like that. You did a Good Job TAKE CARE and ENJOY EVERY YOU CAN ON THE TRAIL

[@glendacrouch1877]

Miranda, This was a great video, I’m glad you found it love the editing. You have always been a pretty camper, but girlfriend in your sponsor part with your hair down you are absolutely beautiful!

[@NonalignedVideos]

nice one! I met people connected to you and your newer WA digs in Kathmandu last fall. I was flabbergasted when they shared their connection. This makes watching your videos even more interesting.

[@raeperonneau4941]

I was totally cheering you when you got that log to split! Thank you for sharing both the highs and the lows.

[@kmetz878]

The advice my dad's given me for chopping wood is to think about it like trying to slam the ax through the wood and into the chopping block underneath, as opposed to hitting the wood with the ax. That being said, it is a skill that requires strength, coordination, and practice, and I am still terrible at it.

[@kdboyle7673]

Love this video!! So glad it wasn’t really lost🎉

[@jbaranowski31]

"I'm done. I hate this." Might be one of my new favorite quotes from one of your videos 😂

[@jdeveau6718]

I would love to see a collaboration with Miranda and Nicole Coenen. Nicole knows how to chop.

[@dianesmigelski5804]

This was a great video! You showed us you are not afraid to try new things. Totally not a fail! You actually did it! It was great watching your excitement after you got your fire started! It looked like you had fun as well. What a beautiful view too! The creek was so peaceful! I loved it. 🥰

[@stattravels8109]

We loved this video! What neck scarf thing are you wearing? You crack us up, thanks!

[@larryhunter8245]

You aint crying you aint trying! Its all about expanding your skills and learning new things. Great video Miranda. Worked in television for yesrs. The geek heads stress about quality but my wife only sees the content.

[@gqmav23]

So cool! Great video! Thanks for it. 👏🏽

[@philsmith2444]

If you’re ever back in NH I recommend staying in Jim Liberty Cabin on Mt Chocorua NH. It’s 1/2 mile below the summit on Liberty Trail, but there’s a much more fun route that starts at Piper Trailhead (the main route up.) Piper>Weetamoo>Hammond>Liberty. Make sure to check out Weetamoo Rock right before you reach Hammond Trail. The cabin has 9 bunks, really just triple-decker lumber & plywood, and no working stove or fireplace so it’s really cold in winter. But with Chocorua having some of the best views in the Whites it’s worth it to go in shoulder seasons so you don’t have to get up too early to make it to the summit in time to catch the sunrise.

[@Alluvial.]

Nobody is born knowing how to split firewood! A little instruction would make a world of difference, and you could totally learn this skill and be a whiz! Also, a splitting maul is not the right tool for creating kindling, so that part was sort of doomed from the start… Nevertheless, you persisted! ❤️ And you get a gold star for tenacity and cheer, as always! (Way out in the woods all alone is… perhaps not the safest situation in which to launch a new career as a newbie spitting maul wielder, tbh. I’m so torn between applauding your tenacity and cheer, and suggesting that others maybe don’t follow this exact plan…) I heated with wood for 15 years in a cabin not much bigger than this one. Your description of the smell of wood and smoke and hot metal made my heart happy. Thanks for this lovely video!

[@ervinslens]

Breathtaking cinematography, you are phenomenal content creator my friend!

[@rungavagairun]

Fun adventure. Glad you opted to share it. I have never built a fire while backpacking, but last year, I bought a used chiminea for the back yard and I've been enjoying evening fires in it. I cheat when I'm building my backyard fires because I often use cardboard or paper to get things going. I need to try to use natural kindling, at least sometimes to practice building a fire in the wilderness. It's definitely a skill worth developing.

[@Andrew_travels_New_Zealand]

Great, honest video. Thank you.

[@edwindeuning2922]

Love that cabin, what a beautiful spot.

[@jazzhiker1]

What a great video Miranda!!!

[@Strawman36]

"People generally make me feel more comfortable." I can't relate.

[@kurtlayman1481]

Real or polished? Both have their place. I vote for more REAL! You pull it off with such grace and joy! Thank you.

[@carolinemallick-wood6810]

Love your channel ! I’m only a beginner hiker, but plan on trekking across Costa Rica next year. I’m gaining lots of wonderful advice.

[@iammckenna]

My friend and I “failed” at our first backpacking trip together-but won at the same time? 😅 Essentially what happened was that neither of us remembered to bring fuel. 🙃 So there we were with an empty fuel cannister and dehyrdrated meals that weren’t going to cook themselves, the sun quickly setting in the background. We quickly scrambled to collect some firewood and tinder, and long story short, we managed to start a fire & actually ate a hot meal that night!! It was harrowing for a few minutes there, but we learned (by trial and error lol!) how to build our own fire and cook over it, which was awesome & a great bonding experience. Yay for learning experiences out in nature with good friends!! 🙌❤️

[@spewie82]

Maybe I’m just too used to seeing cold/tired/outside hiking Miranda, but am I the only one who thought she had a sudden glow-up during the sponsor read? Apparently LMNT is good for more than just hydration! 😂

[@robertcourtemanche9185]

Always bring fire starter granules - super light safe fire starter. Plus you need a fire when it is cold.

[@jsscaone]

That was a great video!!

[@stitch3163]

Glad that you discovered DeliciOats, Miranda. Looked like a fun camp and I enjoyed the video despite the minor technical challenges.

[@megangiroux3082]

Love the video! Have you ever done a horse trail? That is my brother's dream trip.

[@Agile47509chicken]

Location recommendation - Boundary Waters of Minnesota! Probably not suited for a beginner backpacker, but it’s an amazing experience. I did my first solo overnight paddle trip last year and loved it. No cell signal, didn’t see anyone else for three days, and the QUIET. Portaging from lake to lake with a canoe kind of qualifies as “backpacking”, doesn’t it? I know this’d be a huge investment for your channel, involving flights, rental car, outfitting, etc, but it’d be fun to see 😀

[@booklover6963]

I loved this video I don't think it was a fail... Watching you chop was too funny not that I would do any better.... Happy Easter !

[@WagonWheels707]

Awesome video! Next time you have to split wood, choke high on the handle with your dominant hand when you lift it. Then slide your dominant hand to your non dominant hand when you swing it. If you're ever down the coast in northern california raspberry lake and the devils punchbowl are two of my favorites.

[@lakesidepaul3950]

More Miranda splitting firewood now!!!!

[@bkellyphotography1030]

OK ... I am a new subscriber and LOVE your channel ... my daughter's mom is from Utah and Washington, she moved to where I live is in Indiana ... she is the one that got me hiking, but when she moved, she had those huge ass snow shoes, I went and quote, wtf did you bring those for ???? She went ... winter hikes ... I went ... we have freaking corn fields, you won't need them LMAO .... but anywho, I did start a hiking/photography vlog on here to keep the good memories going, because they had to move to Washington and I stayed in Indiana .... and I am going back to Washington to visit and I want to hike at Mt. Rainier !!!! and again ..... love your channel

[@fleetfeet9]

omg the wood chopping! Loved watching this lost video!