Troubles in the Desert Touring Oregon's Geological Oddities

Overview of a two-day softroading & dispersed camping adventure touring some of central Oregon's geological oddities in my Subaru Forester. We visit Fort Rock and the Homestead Village Museum, Hole in the Ground, Crack in the Ground, and lots of Oregon outback desert in between.
Relevant links from this video:
Softroading The West website
www.softroading...
Softroading The West Instagram featuring excursions across the west
/ softroadingthewest
Fort Rock Homestead Village Museum
www.fortrockore...
The awesome Coleman Butane Stove:
amzn.to/2Snkbcc
Colin's Kamp-Rite one-man integrated tent/cot
amzn.to/2XMcJNz
The Oregon Outback Map (BLM + USFS)
amzn.to/2JN9qfk
Informative & Entertaining KZbin Channels I follow:
JonDZ Adventuring
/ @jondz_adventuring
ALNSM Overland
/ sxstactical
SUV RVing
/ @suvrving
4WD Action
/ 4wdaction
4x Overland
/ 4xforum
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Special thanks to my son Colin for assisting with photo & video capture
Music courtesy of:
bensound www.bensound.com
Jay Man www.ourmusicbox.com
Audiobinger www.freemusicarchive.org

[@ralphchristensen3805]

About 35 or so years ago our family went to Pine Mtn with friends to enjoy the Persiad(?) meteor shower, the one in August. The wind was blowing hard that night, what a surprise, so up on top the Mtn behind the observatory we built little low wall shelters from the wind out of the abundant rocks. Only about 2-3 feet high, and some 8 feet or so across to protect us from the wind. There were no other such structures there before us. It looks like they have been added to since then.

[@softroadingthewest]

Whoa, that's amazing! Yes, there's now almost an entire enclosed room walled in (albeit short walls) and if I remember right I think there were some other smaller stacks besides the one shown in my video. Thanks for watching, I'm glad you ran across my video!

[@ralphchristensen3805]

Well, thanks for putting up the video, I about fell out of my chair when I saw the structures there on the Mtn. How cool is that to run across that. Back then the U of O astronomers were doing ground breaking work on variable stars as I recall, and they graciously gave us a tour of the telescopes. @@softroadingthewest

[@cameronb1907]

That’s so cool to hear the origin of the shelters! I’ve been up there many times by motorcycle and by truck, and shared it with my kids. We always walk up to the shelters.

[@GPosner8]

Fort Rock is glorious. I recommend catching the sunrise from there, it’s inspiring.

[@hadynmcloughlin4661]

Enjoying checking out the older series thanks for sharing Donald hope all is well. Sending great exploring vibes from AUS

[@armaniusmaximus]

Best video yet!! I just can't get enough of your videos!

[@monkeypig8379]

Outside of seeing such well made and fun video, I see family in your video. It's great to see you taking your daughter and your son to these trips. Thanks

[@joycehaines34]

Thank you for sharing, a rainy day here makes videos a great staycation. Very enjoyable

[@Dutch1951x]

Another great video. Loved exploring these areas in high school in the late 60's, looking forward to doing it again.

[@broinsocali]

You take great trips. Keep on having fun my friend.

[@hackonefouryou]

I have the exact stove in the shed. Good to know there is still butane for them. I thought they went out of style. I can't believe how much I am learning from you. Thanks!

[@danhohman]

Another fantastic video Donald! Thanks for sharing a bit of my stomping grounds!

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks Dan! Check out Atlas Overland's video that dropped yesterday, also trekking down into this area. He even stumbles across an abandoned building... kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5O6lHZsq5morqs

[@MattCookOregon]

Had to check this out after our chat. Sweet Jesus this video covers a lot. I really like all the maps used here, don't forget to keep doing that!

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha, these days I'd make two or three episodes out of this trip! I think this was the first video I ever toyed with filming any sort of "hiking" and camping experience instead of just the Subaru on the trail. I've had to mostly stop being so specific with maps & such. KZbinrs already ruined our hidden gem, Clear Lake. Not gonna be that guy. ;-)

[@herdfan697278]

Love watching the soft road travel!

[@pala4833]

Oh man I'm diggin' watching some of these old episodes I've never watched.

[@softroadingthewest]

Hooooboy you're digging deep into the archives there, haha.

[@pala4833]

@@softroadingthewest Enjoying the contrast. Also, I see now I should have put my SRTW sticker on with an "uphill" orientation. My bad.

[@alexmay5860]

I really enjoy watching these videos! It reminds me of watching Oregon Field Guide growing up, but a cool overland version.Its giving me so much inspiration for my build!

[@seattlejeeper5220]

Love the shout out to Shauno and Graham, 4WD Action was my guide to many adventures while I was living down under. Great channel, gives me great ideas for my own trips now that I am back in the PNW. See you on the trails.

[@kfrownley]

"It was used as a navigation landmark for wagon travelers back when.. well, people traveled by wagon." I loved this video so much. Beautiful shots of the Foz and landscape as usual. Keep them coming!

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha, one of those rare moments when too-lazy-to-fully-research-the-facts and halfhearted-attempt-at-being-funny align. 8^D Thanks for the kind words Kristen, much appreciated. I've just started editing the next video this evening!

[@consentofthegoverned5145]

I drove our Sequoia into Hole In The Ground a couple of years ago (June of '18) and was shocked to discover I couldn't find a video of anyone else doing it. I felt a fool for not filming the adventure, but now I see you've beat be to first to post! Love your channel!

[@toxictabasco]

Great video shots. Those are some amazing landscapes you have there in Oregon.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thank you! We are lucky here with an interesting variety of climates and terrains. Still so much more I haven't seen yet. Thanks for watching!

[@mikeoldham]

Awesome trip. Keep up the good work.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks Mike, much appreciated! Hope you guys will be back out on a trail soon, your adventures are a huge inspiration!

[@ALNSMOVERLAND]

What a nice episode ! It's awesome to explore Oregon through your nicely made videos ! (and btw, thanks for the Fahrenheit to Celsuis conversion I really appreciate that !) That hole is HUGE ! It must have been a massive explosion ! And I totally understand the weirdness of camping in the middle of it ahaha I also loved the cooking part and the 4WD Action references ahaha. Oh ! And MANY MANY thanks for the shoutout at the end of the video ! Remembered me to put your channel in my channel's suggestion list ;)

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks for watching! Haha, I'm glad someone caught my little 4WDAction joke 8^) Thanks for the support and encouragement - your videos have been a significant inspiration and influence on trying to improve my own productions. Merci!!

[@buggsy5]

@@softroadingthewest There are also a couple of ice caves in the area. The easiest way to find Crack in the Ground is to take the main highway into Christmas Valley and turn North on the road fairly close to the airport runway that is located by the South side of the highway. There are probably signs pointing the way and if I recall directly the drive is about 7 miles. Even if there are no signs there, just drive until you get to the Southwestern corner of the lava flow. That is the furthest Northern end of the crack. If you have multiple vehicles, leave one where the road takes a sharp 90 degree left hand turn. You will then be able to avoid the roughly 2 mile walk back to the Northern end in the hot sun.

[@H.pylori]

Another well produced video. The rock pile tradition is in many areas. There is one large pile on a portion of the Mojave Road in the Mojave Preserve in California...called TRAVELERS ROCK. For those completing the 130 mile desert road it is customary to bring a special rock to add to the pile.

[@postxtito]

pretty cool trip = its the kind of stuff I like to do .....glad to see others doing as well. :)

[@softroadingthewest]

I only wish I could do more of it! Thanks for watching!

[@fleshrocker]

Cant believe these vids dont have more views. This is good stuff.

[@matthewnasholm]

Great video. I’m excited to start doing this with my son soon.

[@softroadingthewest]

It's really been an enjoyable way to spend time with the kids. Often most harmoniously keeping them on separate trips, LOL. Thanks for watching!

[@marge3157]

Just stumbled on to your video. Great job! Always fun to see what my backyard looks like through a tourists eyes. So a couple things to know before you come back or others come out. Driving into the Hole is a big no no. After our USFS range con contacted us about a recent "festival" attendees driving around the Hole, I learned it was "closed". A local told me they closed it in the 80's. Cow Cave, which was not featured, is closed to the public. To see it a person needs to contact LaPine State Park office for a guided tour. It is in my backyard and I don't let anyone through. Doesn't matter how much money is offered, how far one has traveled or when someone did it the last time. Lastly, I take it you have run into a cranky rancher? My husband would fit into that category. People who shoot water tanks, leave gates open and steal generators from water sets have ruined it for a lot of people. It's definitely a vinegar and honey thing. My husband is straight up vinegar. I prefer the honey method by talking to people that I run into. As long as people shut gates they are good. We have had people get lost on the BLM and think they are still on it until they see our place. Problem is they drive fast right through our yard. Here comes Mr Vinegar. So if people come out to North Lake County, Fort Rock currently does not have a store. Restaurant and bar both have decent food. Watering Hole has hamburgers with local beef. Christmas Valley has food, motels, gas and gift stores! Silver Lake has the Cowboy Dinner Tree which is an awesome experience. Just like welcome folks to North Lake.

[@jodielindakeahey5214]

Fascinating trip. Thank you.

[@prepperjonpnw6482]

I was blessed to have a job that paid me to travel all over that area for years. I learned that a road isn’t always a road and sometimes you just take what’s in front of you lol

[@eej902]

I really like your video. It's very well made! Nice work I think a person could easily spend their whole life being entertained by exploring the Pacific Northwest!! *I'm glad ur video was sent to my feed. I live in Sacramento CA, Southside Cascades 🙂

[@LTDunltd]

Great video, I've been to all the places except Derrick Cave. Which is now on my summer tour of Central Oregon. Pine Mountain is a great place to camp. The south road views are awesome. Both of my dog's ashes are scattered on top the "false peak" near the rock wall cairn.

[@craigmccann1028]

I watched and found inspiration. Travel ideas I have had can be done. Thanks.

[@tyefighter2005]

Great video, the only thing that I would have added is some of the history of each of the landmarks you visited. Fort Rock is a great place to explore. I had the good fortune to visit there years ago with a group of about 30 teens and we got a private tour of the cave they found the 12,000 year old sandals. Our family makes the trip down there every couple years to explore more. You did miss the hang glider launch area at the Northwest side of Pine Mountain, always a fun place to visit. Keep up the great videos.

[@john-okc450]

Thanks, this was a great mini vacation for my mind, I really liked the photography in the Old Town.

[@davejuergens294]

Please tread lightly, a definite natural, national Treasure

[@tomzeman5964]

Many a West-bound pilgrims perished in this part of the Great Basin desert!

[@terratrodder]

Glad I found this video! I am going out that way at the end of the summer and this will be a fascinating area to explore.

[@softroadingthewest]

Perfect time of year and such a great area for sure. Even with our mishaps, we adored this trip.

[@electricfoot]

Just a minor warning of wildlife in the area. I've camped and hunted in the area near 'hole in the ground' and 'big hole', and the past few years we have had more and more encounters with Bear, Cougar, and of late, Wolves. Be very careful, especially at night. 2016 we had 3 Wolves in camp and they wouldn't leave, even after 'warning' shots into the ground near them. At the time ODFW said there were no Wolves in the area that they had trackers on, or knew of. This such a great part of Oregon and I've been spending time in the area for almost 30 years, thanks for the cool video.

[@mtnboy6201]

Very well presented, thank you, my first view of your channel.

[@patricksheehan8157]

You seem like a great Dad! Can't wait to do thing like this with my kid's. God Bless you!

[@eej902]

I know a few people who deserve parents like this 💚

[@kennethprice3978]

Enjoy your videos, like Coyote Works, bought one of those stoves, ty😊

[@richr7604]

Ok, now i'm hooked!! Gonna go out solo and see what I can find here in the Bay area/ Northern California!! Thanks for theinspiration on soft roading! Proof you don't need a rock crawler to have an adventure!!👍 Thanks!!✌

[@softroadingthewest]

Rich R I was recently down in the Napa area and discovered there are some OHV areas (Knoxville and Cow Mountain if I remember right) though I find most of my adventures just exploring National Forest and BLM lands. Good luck and thanks for watching!

[@Coyotethumper5]

There’s a cave just east of Fort rock monument a very small cave that they found some Indian sandals in that date back 10,000 years or something I have to re-read the article but they found it some years back early 2000s I think. You can’t go to the cave unless you’re guided by I think a forest service person you just can’t freely go back there whenever you want or unless they have changed that here in the last couple years

[@marge3157]

Anyone interested in seeing Cow Cave needs to call LaPine State Park office for a guided tour.

[@shughes911]

Nice! Thx for sharing

[@dvonehrlich]

Great video. I have been to all these locations except for the adventurous trip down that side road. I really recommend taking the trip back to Derrick Cave. If you come from the north it is easy navigation and a regular passenger car can make it. Take a stop at fox Butte's abandoned lookout for some great views.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thank you! And yep, we absolutely want to get back here to complete our originally planned tour, including Derrick Cave and Lava Cast Forest. I wasn't familiar with Fox Butte but looking at the map, I realized we saw that lookout tower at some point. That looks like a fun stop for next time!

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

Thanks for all the info! I need to get out that way this summer.

[@alexanderweaver9182]

I love your adventurous spirit! Totally agree with you regarding the single burner Coleman stove. Rather than buying the two burner model I bought two of the single burner ones as I like to boil water on one and cook on the other. Or have two different dishes cooking at the same time. I noticed your tent cot is domed. Mine is flat on top and wish I had found the domed one first. It's been raining lately here in Virginia so I rigged an Aqua Quest 10X10 from the rear of my Jeep Compass with two telescopic tent poles supporting the starboard side of the tarp, placed the tent cot towards the rear (which eliminates the use for the tent cot rainfly) then staked down the two rear corners of the tarp giving me a good sized awning for a table and my Helinox chairs. Plus I can cook without fear of getting wet. I place a privacy tent on the port side of the Jeep to hide my porta-potti and have direct access from the cover of the tarp After 63 years, old age has taken me from backpacking into car camping so I watch videos like yours to learn as many tricks of the trade..

[@davidshanaman4647]

Just recently discovered your channel. I must say I love it. Coincidentally, I own two Subaru foresters, one of which is similar to yours a 2010 limited. Also coincidentally, I live near you in Portland I intend to outfit my Subaru with some of the same accessories you have and tires like yours. My wife and I are looking forward to retracing some of your routes here in our beautiful state.

[@cameronb1907]

Great video! These features are on my list to see this year. Not sure if it will be by motorcycle or truck, but thanks for the tour. Also took the route you filmed from Waldo Lake to Cultus last weekend, by motorcycle. It was the best part of the trip! Really enjoying your content.

[@softroadingthewest]

Nice! That is a fun little road for sure. You'll certainly enjoy the spots seen in this video. One other feature we didn't hit on this trip that is also nearby is the Christmas Valley dunes. I finally checked it out in November of last year and it's a really interesting area as well that's worth exploring if you have time on that trip. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZ7PeXejhLB4i7M

[@JonDZ_Adventuring]

Another good one Donald! There's so much information in this video, and so many things I want to comment on, I don't know where to begin. Welp, first, the drive into the giant hole looked fun. Those Whoopdedoo's were massive, I think they should be called Whoopdedoo dooda's! The cooking segment reminded me of an episode of 4XPedition with Luke. He's always cooking something, he also films himself eating. I don't know why I'm entertained by a dude chomping on his food, but I can't explain it, it works! In my latest video about Subiefest I ask my friend if I could record him munching on this gourmet donut snack, and I have to say, it made for good video, hahaha! Keep up the great work! I look forward to your next video!

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks Jon! Haha, one day I should film how we always make lunch for Day 1 of any excursion: stop at Subway on the way out of town. 8^D

[@TwoFeet.FourWheels]

Amazing video, as always!!!

[@andreschapman]

Great vid guys! Shauno and Graham?! LMAO!😂😂

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks for catching that! :-)

[@henrikm4657]

Awesome footage. Loved the 4wd action references at the first campsite 😂

[@softroadingthewest]

Thank you for catching that! :-)

[@4x4overlandingandotheradve28]

Great videos thanks. I am based in New Zealand and drive a Forester on some of my overloading trips (and an FJ on others). I also note that you watch Andrew St Pierre Whites videos... he and I filmed documentaries in Namibia and the Northern part of South Africa. Overlanding makes the world a small place. Best regards

[@softroadingthewest]

Thank you! I'm an accidental KZbinr, but now that I'm doing it, I have found Andrew's work to be the pinnacle of inspiration for me. I took a peek at your channel and watched your channel intro...some serious adventuring you've undertaken over the years! I wish you the best with your channel and look forward to checking out more of it!

[@davidmedeiros7572]

Been slowly going through some of your videos as I'm researching a possible Outback purchase for backcountry travel (moving away from dedicated trucks like my current double cabTacoma). Great videos and narration. Especially love that you're highlighting a lot of Oregon, one of my favorite states! In some of your videos you are inserting pics you're shooting at some of the POIs and they are great. I'd love to see more, but seems like your instagram channel is just about Subarus. Do you have another channel for your pictures?

[@softroadingthewest]

No, I don't actually. I mean, I do have another Instagram account where I used to post random personal "art" photos, but I just didn't have time to keep it up as softroadingthewest got rolling, so I ended up converting it to use to support my business (I do freelance graphic design and commercial photography) - which ultimately is not nearly as artistic or interesting, but at least if it can help keep me afloat I'll be able to afford taking more excursions and making videos. 8^)

[@davidmedeiros7572]

@@softroadingthewest Makes sense, and not surprising that you're in design work and pro photography. You have some great pics in your videos. I think you may have all the pieces for a decent side gig running backcountry landscape photo workshops if you wanted!

[@foresterboy2011]

Thanks to DavidT Medeiros I now know what your career path is. I had a idea it was something along the artistic photography lines because your vlogs were too professional. Earning the big bucks isn't everything but it does make life easier. Doing what you do(workwise) and softroading especially with your two children with you is worth more than to you than any paycheck I'm sure. I can relate to you in some ways in the fact that if there's a cheaper way of doing things to save a buck or two then I'm the same. The fact that you haven't got the hi-tech rig out in your forester (to me) makes it more wholesome because you did it your way. You've certainly got my support.

[@Deetroiter]

The camping clips around the 10:00 section are giving me flashbacks of back home, camping in northern Michigan. So gentle, so pristine...I can almost smell the trees and the brush from your video. Also, I never thought about boiling the noodles beforehand so they're ready to go..thank you for that insight! Sidenote, have you been to Crater Lake before? If so, do you recommend it for a weekend trip? I've never been there before and been thinking a lot about it.

[@softroadingthewest]

Yes, been there numerous times going back to my childhood. It's totally worth a visit, there's nothing quite like it. It's a small enough national park that you can get the gist of it in a day, but there's enough interesting stuff to check out for a 3-day visit as well (assuming you go late enough in the year). It's very high elevation and most of it is inaccessible due to snow until...not sure, probably well into June at least and possibly July. Right now, you can only drive up the south entrance, and then there's only a small bit of the south rim that is accessible (unless you're a motivated snowshoer or cross country skier.). It's absolutely gorgeous in the snow, but given the choice I'd recommend going when the entire park is open so you can drive all the way around the rim, hike down to the lake and take a boat to Wizard Island (if you're really motivated...it's a daunting hike back up afterwards, heh) and see some of the other features along the flanks of the mountain.

[@buggsy5]

Make it at least an overnight, two day adventure. Once this pandemic is over, you can take a guided boat tour - but the hike in/out is long and fairly steep. There are campsites at another close by attraction, the Spires. I don't recall if there are fire pits/grates.

[@timburton1715]

Thanks 🙏🏻 for sharing... hoping to visit in person but can't handle the cold due to neuropathy pain that pants cause... always in shorts... I'll manage... thanks 🙏🏻 again

[@cowboygeologist7772]

Fun video.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks! It was certainly a fun little adventure!

[@shayne109]

cool little video guys and a beautiful part of the world! love the shauno & Graham reference (wonder how many viewers will ger it?) i hope you sent them a link!

[@lowellpearson8782]

I live out near FT Rock still lot's too see but if it raining do not go off road . Glass buttes is a cool spot.

[@JJKHaywood]

My dog would barf on the roller coaster Road. 🙊 But we like Acoustic Guitar, it fills our heart 💜.

[@curtdrahn8522]

It was a nice video, but you seem awfully relaxed in rattlesnake country. I live in the area and have made the same trips, but got lost in other areas of the High Desert. A great place to start this trip is at the top of Paulina Peak, it gives you a great view of all the area you traveled. Enjoyed making the trip from my easy chair rather than a 4x4 I used the past.

[@btarr8561]

"Not Exactly....." Outstanding! ' It doesn't get much better then this I reckon."

[@softroadingthewest]

:-)

[@Borders14]

Just watched this video and a new subscriber. If you are still looking at these comments, what type of GPS are you using in this video? Is it a Garmin or something else? Thanks!

[@softroadingthewest]

It's an older Garmin I picked up for cheap off Craigslist. It's imperfect but has been worth having. Even though I now run Gaia GPS on an iPad mini, I still run the Garmin as well, it has proven itself useful many times.

[@trakyboy5128]

Nice chow 👍. Isn't the east side of the Cascades bizarre in comparison to the west side ???

[@604rioso]

Where do u get those maps that outline BLM land... Also do u know of any app for that?

[@softroadingthewest]

I purchased both maps seen in this video at the local ranger station (local to that area I mean...it's often worth taking a few moments to stop at the nearest ranger station, they're always helpful and have up to date local information and advice). The map with the colored areas showing BLM land isn't a standard Forest Service map however, which generally only cover National Forest lands - it's "The Oregon Outback" map which is a collaboration between BLM, Forest Service, NPS, and USDFW. I think they made it because this whole area sort of logically "goes together" as an overall destination but it falls under multiple jurisdictions. Other Forest Service maps I have don't demarcate BLM lands even though they are present. For the purpose of research (from home on my desktop computer) I frequently refer to publiclands.org, though it only covers the western U.S. It allows you to toggle on or off overlays showing BLM, NF, NPS, National Wildlife Refuges, and other categories of lands - very useful. The full subscription version of the GAIA GPS app offers a "Public Lands" layer you can overlay onto any other map/satellite/etc they have so you can see if you're on public lands or where some is near. If you're going to be out of cell range you can pre-download map files of just the area you will be exploring so you can see them on your device even with no internet connection. I've only just started using GAIA myself but so far it's very very impressive for planning and navigation on the trail. I'm still a fan of paper maps though...it can be very useful to get a bigger picture than can be viewed on a screen. I am often frustrated that when I zoom out for a wider overview, the roads I need to see disappear. The nice Forest Service maps are $14 each and that starts adding up (plus, the Willamette National Forest near me requires at least three separate maps to cover it all...ka-ching) but when I'm out on the trail and need to refer to them, I'm very happy with the investment. 8^)

[@lukechapman3701]

Get S1 mobile mapper app

[@collinneuhauser9655]

Avenza Maps allows you to buy visitor maps that are georeferenced so it will show where you currently are. Each map is usually $5

[@sarahblue1914]

Started with Fort Rock 👍

[@RVingwithG]

WOW, I so had the whole route plotted out and then the news came.. 7:02 and then off to the PINE...

[@markelliott9523]

"Trouble" isn't a closed road. Trouble is a hole in your oil pan or two flat tires or a leaking radiator hose. The term "road" is used loosely by the BLM. A high-ground-clearance 4x4 would have no trouble. An AWD car with 6" of ground clearance will high center or lose an oil pan.

[@volcanowb]

Seems like the width of the smaller SUV allows good access to those, what appear to be, ATV trails. This is considered to be "high-desert"? Good work.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks! And that is just how the roads are here. We weren't in or near any dedicated OHV areas with ATV trails. Once you get off the maintained forest service roads, the old primitive routes are generally narrow, single-lane two-tracks. Out in the desert, many of these roads were originally wagon trails which have continued to be used over the decades. And yes, this is high desert. Most of what you see here is at probably ~4,000 - 5,000 feet. For this September trek, it was hot, t-shirt & shorts weather during the day, but well below freezing at night. Thanks for watching!

[@volcanowb]

@@softroadingthewest So interesting! I have a 2009 forester base model manual transmission. New transmission. Need to replace the head gaskets. Thinking about taking a trip to the Upper-Peninsula someday, perhaps.

[@jordoneaton7083]

I'm genuinely surprised that Hell Hole wasn't on your itinerary. Think Crack in The Ground times 3 on a Tuesday. Lots of fun.

[@softroadingthewest]

Hell Hole is a long long ways from the area we were exploring here. Don't think I would take either of my kids down into that anyway. :-)

[@jordoneaton7083]

@@softroadingthewest Yes, that's true - wouldn't take my dog, either. I'm looking at the Middle Fork Complex fire right now and I'm thinking I may have dodged a bullet having left there just this last Sunday.

[@swidahooverlanding2867]

Spoiler Alert!!!! Too late, I am heading out that way next Memorial Day weekend! Looks like a great place to visit. I think we are also planning a visit to a aircraft crash site that is around there somewhere..... Funny that you mentioned the rock thing. I thought that as soon as I saw it and then you talked about placing the rocks there. I learned that one from a Ronny Dahl video. Great video. Thanks, George.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks George! Yeah, there are a few more sites on my list to check out in this area, including tracking down the crash site which just seems like an interesting navigational challenge. And still need to get back to Derrick Cave!

[@swidahooverlanding2867]

@@softroadingthewest I have been using Gaia GPS for the last year and it has been working out great. Lots of maps to choose from. Check it out.

[@softroadingthewest]

@@swidahooverlanding2867 That's absolutely on my list. I want to get a device larger than my phone though, like a small tablet. Are you using the premium Gaia plan or the more basic deal?

[@swidahooverlanding2867]

@@softroadingthewest I am using the premium plan. For as much as I use, it and what it offers, I think it is a great deal. I have not used the basic, so I can not compare the two plans for your needs. I am using it on my phone and surprisingly it works quite well even on a small screen. I have no issues with navigating with it. In some of my videos you can see it sitting on the dash.

[@softroadingthewest]

@@swidahooverlanding2867 I think that makes a lot of sense. I'm looking forward to giving it a go, I think it's going to be a big step forward for my nav game. Thanks George!

[@terryjackson9055]

enjoyed your video, I have heard though many folks getting into dangerous situations with GPS . Consult local folks and Gazeteer maps which are really good to show roads down to trails. Keep in mind cardinal directions and local weather. One stray spark could send that grass and Ponderosa into a fire hurricane, also cataclytic converters start fires , so be aware please all. Interior of Washington state has lots to see also

[@billkennedy8869]

bill in phoenix. i am a arm char KZbin wotcher and loved your show. thanks'

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks for watching Bill! :-)

[@Coyotethumper5]

Oh and just outside of the town Christmas Valley there is a fossil bed which is not too far from the Sandune‘s that whole area who used to be a great lake huge lake back in some odd hundred thousand or years ago but there’s a fossil bed out there that has camels ancient beaver pink flamingo and I think a couple other fossilized critters. And if you keep going east had a Christmas alley there is a pass called picture rock pass which have hieroglyphics. That whole area is just chock-full of great things to go see and out I think going towards Burns café out in the middle of nowhere that serves a huge steak salad and I hear it’s really good and they’re always booked you have to call in advance to make reservations I can’t remember the name of the restaurant.

[@bryanclark3739]

Back in the day, I ate a lot of “Hamburger Helper”. Seems similar to your dinner.

[@Kefoo_]

-- Thank you.

[@sabrstravels6815]

gotta wonder if my little puddle jumper could make it to crack in the ground and hole in the ground, I know that a lot of what you showed would be way beyond the ability of a car made for highway gas mileage but I still have to wonder if the roads in the early part of this video were easy enough for most any vehicle, the later stuff was clearly 4WD/high clearance

[@softroadingthewest]

Crack in the Ground is an easy drive on basic gravel road. Hole in the Ground takes you on some more primitive dirt roads but with 4WD/AWD and decent clearance should be accessible. There were a lot of fine ashy roads which can turn pretty mucky when wet, but in the dry season it was pretty tame.

[@sabrstravels6815]

@@softroadingthewest not the kind of road to take my honda civic hybrid on, so I can see one but the other will be out of reach unless the road is short enough for a day hike

[@softroadingthewest]

@@sabrstravels6815 Aaah yeah...I didn't know quite what you meant by "puddle jumper" but no, I wouldn't take a Civic to Hole In The Ground. It's not a huge distance away from the highway though, and you could probably get partway in at least. I seem to recall some fairly flat dirt roads at first with some pullouts/campsites, so you could probably get at least partway in. Looks like the western rim of the hole is less than a mile from Hwy 31.

[@sabrstravels6815]

@@softroadingthewest Yup, that I can handle and I'm planning on returning to the Bend OR area again this summer, along with smith rock and some other places I didn't see last year so I can add these two to my list of things to see, I can get close enough to hike to them and hiking is a key part of my travels as to "puddle jumper" it's an old slang reference to a little car but I guess it just isn't used anymore

[@guyh.4553]

Wasn't really sure what to expect from your video. Kinda ticked off at myself for NOT doing these kinds of trips when I lived in OREGON. And hey! You missed a spot that I saw, GRASS AND TREES! Ha ha ha ha. Hey! I know a similar stroganoff recipe! Like your camp kitchen, nice design. Your reliance on GPS is way too dependant. And yes, it looks very much like south-central Oregon. As for the BLM Nat'l Resource/Range Specialist, he purposely sent you for a ride which is too hilarious!

[@Dutch1951x]

What time of year did you make this trip?

[@softroadingthewest]

It was ~ mid-September if I remember correctly.

[@PeaceOverHate55]

I'm so homesick 😔

[@redneckindustries]

If they sold BLM land to a private owner, there should still be an access road for public use available to the park destination point. Something sounds illegal.. Love the video.. Great narrative!

[@Sylvan_dB]

I've seen this situation several times, and it has never been because of selling BLM land, but almost always because of selling private land and the new owner doesn't want to allow the traditional access. Sometimes this is legal, sometimes not. But trying to get it enforced is a major problem. Often it is an absentee landowner with hired hands on the property so if it is "just you" asking they will often make the decision. If it is the authorities, "you'll have to talk to the owner." The few times it wasn't simply private land changing hands and subsequently changing permission, it was state owned land (not federal). In Idaho they don't sell it, but they have done some swaps which is effectively the same as selling when it comes to access.

[@buggsy5]

@@Sylvan_dB I believe that in Oregon, if the only reasonable access to public land is through someone's property, then the land owner is required to allow access. No idea what the penalties are if that access is denied. It is also possible that if it is BLM land, that the law does not apply.

[@Sylvan_dB]

@@buggsy5 That is nice for the landlocked parcel. I wonder how common that is... Around me the access has to be deeded or it doesn't exist.

[@rossthoma4152]

HA, Not exactly Sooty and or the D-Max either... Subies are still awesome though I have an '17' Outback and my other car is modded 03 Discovery.

[@softroadingthewest]

Ha! Thanks for catching the reference. :-) I'd love to be out adventuring in Sooty or the D-Max or the Dirty 30, but for now the Forester is getting the job done. :-) Thanks for watching!

[@dominicwilkerson]

That beef stroggonauf? looks good.

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha...well, I've had better, but it was passable at least. Seems like just about any hot food goes down pretty well on a chilly night in camp though. Thanks for watching!

[@dominicwilkerson]

@@softroadingthewest Oh for sure. Love how you do your videos. Commentary on top of footage, but still cuts into camera commentary. It's refreshing.

[@buggsy5]

It's not stroganoff without sour cream. If you don't have the cream, plain yogurt makes an acceptable substitute.

[@rogerhector8323]

is your GPS a garmin i have one and sometimes its gives me roads that arent there

[@softroadingthewest]

It's a Garmin, but it's old, purchased used off Craigslist, and I've never updated it. The road data (especially in backcountry/national forest/BLM land etc) is not always accurate...I definitely take what it says with a grain of salt. :-) I now primarily use Gaia GPS, but I do still run the old Garmin as well, because it does sometimes provide insights that are harder to capture in Gaia.

[@rogerhector8323]

@@softroadingthewest I was in the bush with mine and it lost all contact with the statellites. so that l was unsure of where i was going for half a minute. l have to check mine each time l update it sometimes it wipes all the maps off and you have to reinstall them again but not sure if thats a garmin fault or computor fault Well suppose could even be my fault.

[@bohemian46]

Hot catalytic converter and dry vegetation ?

[@jetstreamer3]

I'm kinda surprised Derrick Cave isn't called "Tunnel in the Ground". Also what a shame BLM land is being sold. :(

[@softroadingthewest]

LOLOL, that is brilliant - I think I may start referring to it that way! 8^D It IS disturbing to see public lands get sold off (and undoubtedly exploited in some way). In fact on a trip to southwestern Oregon last week I encountered a confusing inconsistency between what my (somewhat dated) GPS device and the (presumably more current and accurate) GAIA GPS app indicated for the boundary of the national forest I was trying to enter. I finally understood once I entered the swath of land in question: the forest had been entirely razed. I'm not against logging - we all need wood and it's got to come from somewhere - and I'm not even against logging on public lands, assuming sustainable forestry practices are in use (which is easy to observe on BLM lands in my area). But it is troubling to see lands that belonged to us all end up in private ownership...that land will never again be accessible to us as it once was. Public lands are in limited supply (especially those which are richly forested) and they can't keep selling off chunks of it forever. Plus, when that happens, up come the gates, and suddenly it becomes more complicated to travel through the backcountry to the public lands that remain...an issue that's very fresh in my mind after last week's excursion...video coming soon. 8^) So that was a long-winded reply, but thanks for watching!

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

Ya, next time stay off my land !!! Just kidding, my land is farther east from where you were, LOL. I am remote though. People don't understand just how remote Oregon can get. For me, its a 140 drive (one way) to get to a town that's big enough for cloths shopping. We stock up on food, cloths, fuel, etc.....

[@smde1]

Imagine a course in : "When to turn around ."

[@softroadingthewest]

LOL, indeed.

[@imbwildrd3693]

You should have called this video "geographical" oddities. You never mentioned that Fort Rock is an extinct volcanic crater, THAT would be the geological part. But since you told a *story* about the rock, that's more geographical. Just sayin'

[@TheDouglasmayer1]

How do you get the Gaia maps to display the orv roads?

[@softroadingthewest]

Well, we didn't use Gaia on this trip (I didn't have it yet) and none of these are technically ORV roads, they're just National Forest and BLM roads that are unpaved. Those roads generally show up in the map data. If you're referring to my Cline Buttes OHV video, I manually created routes in Gaia by referring to the BLM's trail map of the OHV area and cross-referencing satellite view in Gaia to figure out where the Jeep-accessible trails were.

[@TheDouglasmayer1]

Oh ok, I have been playing with several apps, but I’m not having a easy time finding any “good” roads. I do live in Virginia Sooooo. ??

[@softroadingthewest]

​@@TheDouglasmayer1 I'm not familiar with that area at all and can't really advise specifically. I know that there is far less public land out your way and it's probably a bit more work and planning to find trails. If you're using Gaia, definitely enable the Public Lands layer, it's super helpful. National Forest and BLM lands generally have a network of dirt roads which are generally accessible to the public. If you haven't already, join the Facebook page for your local(ish) Mountain Roo chapter. You also might want to check out two Subaru channels that are sort of down your way (I think...that corner of the country is all pretty hazy in my head): Power of your Brains kzbin.info and bruceyyyyy kzbin.info as they get out on trail runs regularly and you might find some clues in their vids. Good luck!

[@OdeeOz]

*LOLS! It's all fun and games exploring the woodlands of Oregon. Until a Ponderosa or Sequoia drops a pine cone on your head. People have gotten concussions from them things.* 👀😲👍

[@thesarge1969]

You should have gone to Cowboy Dinner tree

[@OdeeOz]

*Little known factoid about Crack in the Ground. **_Klamath Indians used those cracks, and the terrain in the Lava Beds to evade troops trying to stop their uprising back in the 1800s. If they hadn't run out of ammunition, the indians would have won._*

[@housetopranch]

You are a bit north of the actual location. The lava beds that the natives used in that uprising were on the California/oregon border.

[@buggsy5]

@@housetopranch Correct. Odee is thinking of the place called Captain Jack's Stronghold. The indians would not have won, but they would have been able to hold out a lot longer.

[@karljackley4423]

That hole in the ground. There is another a little bit bigger 5.87 miles due west. Look on google earth, you can see it clearly.

[@softroadingthewest]

Yes, I believe it's called "Big Hole." You can see it in satellite pics, but on the ground, it's fairly heavily treed, so you can't really see the contours of the crater like you can at Hole In The Ground.

[@buggsy5]

@@softroadingthewest Big Hole is MUCH larger, but far less impressive.

[@ladraode9dedos409]

Wanna do something like this with my boy, and my girls if the want to...

[@gerrycoleman7290]

You are not describing the geologic characteristics of each site.

[@j-max]

Wish the music wasn’t loaded so loudly.

[@softroadingthewest]

Sorry about that, this is a fairly old production, I still keep trying to refine everything. :-)

[@AECRADIO1]

I will trade 112° temps for your cold..

[@rogerhector8323]

Hope the officer wasnt laughing as he drove off

[@softroadingthewest]

One of the nicest, most sincere rangers I've ever crossed paths with. I've generally had nothing but positive experiences with both BLM and National Forest employees.

[@ThatgirlinSeattle]

Very “original” names out there. Hole in the ground, crack in the ground. They need better names, like Pine Crater and Cathedral Fissure.

[@softroadingthewest]

Ha! Those names are perfect!!

[@TM-lw8wn]

nope, those names are perfect the way they are . my wife was looking at the map trying to find some interesting places to see. she found hole in the ground and then crack in the ground. i had 2 or 3 months of teasing her about taking her out to find her hole and her crack.

[@buggsy5]

How about Big Hole in the Ground, which is there but you cannot see it because there are too many trees blocking the view? As far as I know Hole in the Ground is the largest relatively uneroded maar in the United States.

[@keithgus4947]

Treason grass sounds bad .

[@softroadingthewest]

LOL

[@tomastylecek7209]

rangers are the sh..

[@softroadingthewest]

They are! I frequently stop at ranger stations and always receive friendly, helpful advice. How very handy it was to have one out in the field right when we needed him! 8^) Thanks for watching!