Why THE SENATOR HIGHWAY Is the BEST FIRST OVERLAND TRAIL In Arizona!

I finally got the opportunity to take my 3rd Gen 4Runner and our Pitbull, CeCe, on an off road adventure on The Senator Highway, a dirt overlanding and off road route between Crown King and Prescott, Arizona. This is an adventure that can easily be done in a single day, but we opted to make it an overnight trip and do a little exploration on a few off road side trails.
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[@TerraFirmaX]

Switch Back, I never knew. Thanks for the vid.

[@nimajnebrm]

2:15 Never knew the origin story of switchbacks... very nice!

[@chadjacobsen1]

So, I was just going to like and sub because you're a member of the 4Runner Outsiders group with us. But I actually really liked the way you did the history or the trail. Great job man!!! kudos!!! keep it up!

[@MattKester]

Thanks for watching, and thanks for the kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@gino_colucci]

You learn something new everyday! I would have never guessed that is why they were called switchbacks.

[@MattKester]

I had no idea until I was reading a book getting ready for this trip and the author mentioned it. This particular switchback made it so apparent, I had to talk about it!

[@jamesandreadventures2284]

You missed the one little gas pump in front of the general store in CK. Good for emergencies because when gas was still around 3ish it was 7ish a gallon. Might e 12ish now. But if you’re running on empty it is what it is. Great video.

[@enzo1317]

I live in the Prescott area and have done that trip lots of times but didn't know the story behind Battle Flats. Thanks for the history lesson and the great vid!

[@MattKester]

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the video! I had no idea on the Battle Flat thing either. I just saw the feature on the map and figured there had to be a story behind it so I googled it. It’s crazy what you happen across some days!

[@tortugalisa4748]

​@@MattKester Thank you so much for answering Wonder Bikes questions. As a new KZbinr, I always wondered what equipment and editing apps were used to make such great videos🤙 And I loved the animations of why these areas were called switchbacks. I knew er knew this before💯 🌟New Subscriber🌟 out of Prescott, Arizona🏜️💚

[@NickyTBeats]

I LOVE that trail! CK to Prescott. so many great camp spots with epic views. Alot of litter unfortunately past few times I went.

[@MattKester]

It was a great drive. It did start noticing more trash as I got closer to Prescott. It’s hard escape that anywhere now, it seems.

[@NickyTBeats]

@@MattKester maybe we need to start a trend of picking up litter around the bush like the aussies from 4WD 24/7

[@MattKester]

Word... you I know the guys over at Kingdom Overlanding have been out doing some cleanup stuff, at least that’s what I’ve seen on their Instagram. Not sure what part of the state they were working in. I think it would be great if we could get t off-roading community to at least just try to fill up their trasharoo every time they go out, it would surely make a dent!

[@camerons2763]

Fantastic video. Loved the little history lessons haha! Keep it up!!

[@michaeljsergio2023]

Looks fun! Will have to look into it!

[@paulezk]

Great stuff, your videography and story telling is entertaining!

[@walkonwaterwalkon]

Fantastic vid again man.

[@frasiec]

Subscribed. Thanks for making this. I’m amazed at the quality of videos regular people make nowadays. I’ve pretty much watched all the videos that kid in the old red Cherokee has made. So, I’m glad I found your channel

[@americonoffroadadventures8132]

Nice information.

[@ScrambleNorth]

I’ll be... switchback! Great video!

[@MattKester]

Thank you! Thanks for watching!

[@jeep4dirt]

Loved your use of animation in explaining switchbacks and your mixture of go pro and drone footage. How much extra time did it take for the drone footage? Can u reveal in a video some personal info. I would be particularly interested in knowing how u learned to make your videos. Did u learn the skills from work or just self taught? Also how do u go about making your videos and your equipment and what do u use for editing? Your videos r interesting and fun. Congratulations.

[@MattKester]

Thank you! I’m so sorry for the delayed response, it’s been a hectic week around here. So, short version of the story, there are a few KZbinrs I got into a little over a year ago and I’d dabbled with photo editing, and some very basic video editing with iMovie over the years. Over the last year or two, my wife and I started making some big life changes, getting outdoors more, exercising, etc. I also went back to school to finish a bachelors degree (political science) that had eluded me my entire adult life. I realized that I got a huge discount on Adobe creative cloud for being a student, so I just started dabbling with Premiere Pro and realized I liked it and it came kinda natural. I went on a binge of KZbin how to’s for a while and also just take some inspiration from stuff I’ve seen other people do and riff with it. So as far as the production end of things, for the first few months, up until my first video with my buddy John, I shot everything on an iPhone 11pro and had a DJI Osmo gimbal. After that, I added a Mavic Air Drone, a Cannon M50 mirrorless camera that I use an adapter to shoot stills with some old Minolta SLR lenses that were my moms. The gimbal and iPhone has been largely replaced with a GoPro Hero 8 black, but since it’s always in my pocket, my phone still gets a lot of use. For videos about a particular adventure, I bring everything home, lay out the timeline and start scripting the voiceover around that. I lay down the voiceover onto Adobe Audtion, then mix it all up in Premiere. For music and effects, I use Soundstripe. The shooting is fun, but the real work is in the editing, it’s a huge time suck... sometimes, especially earlier on or if I have to add a lot of effects in After Effects, like that animation describing the switchbacks, there’s over an hour spent editing for every finished minute of video. I guess I could make a whole video talking about this, because a few people have asked, and I probably should have a good “trailer” video on the landing page! Lol.

[@peverill64]

Great video....loved it and learned somethings about switchbacks....and history...

[@MattKester]

Thanks Laurence!

[@outbackwack368]

Found your channel, like and subbed from Phoenix! Thanks!

[@PLUTON9475]

Always your videos are very nice. Regards. 🖒😄

[@MattKester]

Thank you, Miguel! How are things in Costa Rica?

[@PLUTON9475]

@@MattKester things in my country evolve in an unusual way. The economy is a disaster, the rain causes damage everywhere and the pandemic has us partially scared, every day there are more deaths and infections. I would have liked to bring you good news but ... that is our reality right now. I do the same as you, I like to travel alone to the mountains and beaches.

[@MattKester]

I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m glad that you are doing okay, and that you still are getting to go out and enjoy what you can. Hopefully we can all get through this and get back to our lives in the next year or two. I would really love for us to be able to head your direction sometime in the future!

[@tibtb658]

Did cece man the drone while you drove ?

[@MattKester]

Doubtful I'd have ever gotten her to fly it. She absolutely hated drones. It was literally about the only time you'd ever see her bark and growl at something. When I first started, I had a Mavic Air 1, which sounded like a swarm of African Killer Bees from the seventh level of hell, nothing irritated her more. It got a little better when I got the Mini 2, but she still wasn't gonna be BFF's with it, that's for sure! Thanks for the comment and allowing me to relive a fun memory of my dearly-missed friend.

[@impromptuexplorer7149]

Absolutely great watch! BUT hear me out, Would you contiue to fight the dude that just said "screw it imma eat my horse!''

[@MattKester]

Probably not, it takes a special kind of bad-ass to grill a horse in the middle of a battle!

[@impromptuexplorer7149]

@@MattKester HANGRY! ive seen my wife turn straight gangster when shes hasnt had her meal.

[@walkonwaterwalkon]

You are pointing out all these locations I now want to go... bone stock Tacoma...

[@jeep4dirt]

Oops I see some of info is in your comments.