Dolly Sods Wilderness (West Virginia) Backpacking - May 2017
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2017
- Following my April 2017 Appalachian Trail hike, I had the rare luxury of a second backpacking trip within a month. In mid-May 2017 the dogs and I met up with Travis, who I met via these CZcams videos, and we did a 3-day, 25-mile loop around the Dolly Sods Wilderness in northeast West Virginia.
The Dolly Sods Wilderness had long been on my 'wish list' of possible destinations, and when Travis communicated his plan to hike there in May I basically invited myself along! The Dolly Sods didn't disappoint. It sits on the unique Allegheny Plateau, and is an area of not only rapidly changing weather but also rapidly changing vegetation and geology. Within a distance of less than a mile we experienced everything from high open meadows, to dark pine groves, to rhododenron thickets, to exposed rock scrambles. In our 3 days the weather changed from clear, sunny, and hot to cloudy with thunderstorms, to overnight rain, to dense fog with 50 foot visibilities. The Dolly Sods were certainly never boring!
This was a unique trip for me in that I was simply 'along for the ride' on someone else's trip. Travis had done all the planning in advance, and I was merely a 'tourist' which proved to be very enjoyable. I still had to do a 'bit' of work to hike the trails, but that was about it. Sadly, my primary video camera (Canon Vixia G30) died halfway through the first day, and Travis selflessly loaned me his own Canon Vixia G20 for the remainder of our hike. This video wouldn't have been possible without Travis's generous act. Thank you very much, Travis!
Similar to my other recent backpacking videos, this one has about 35 minutes of video followed by a 10 minute still picture slide show with music at the end. It is meant to be an 'immersive' experience that allows you to come along with me on the trip. If you aren't interested in 'riding along on my shoulder' for a 45 minute video, just skip to the last 10 minutes of still pictures and you'll get a good overview of our trip.
Still Camera: Nikon D810 with Nikkor 20mm f1.8 lens
Video Camera 1: Canon Vixia G30 with Rode Stereo Videomic Pro
Video Camera 2: Nikon D810 video
Video Camera 3: Canon Vixia G20 - internal microphone
Video Editing Software: Sony Vegas Pro 13
HDR Software: SNS-HDR Pro 2
Thanks to Travis for the camera & the trail knowledge. Your dogs seem well behaved and looked like they had just as good a time as you.
Excellent. Thanks for taking us along with you.
Beautiful...
Right on my fellow Hoosier. Love the Dolly Sods. Me and my daughter were there last July. Looking forward to heading back. It's always an incredible and sometimes a spiritual experience.
Happy Trails
thanks again. great video. love it
Another great video. Thanks for sharing your journeys with us. Love the doggies and Travis is a great sport.
Really enjoyed another great video David thanks
Thank you for another great video, and for all of the effort that goes into sharing your adventures with us!
Love them fur babies, great stuff
Love your trips, and those dogs are so well behaved! Thanks again David.
Lovely photos,beautiful place...love the labs.
Thanks for the trip.
Great video! Loved seeing the dogs with you! Great photos at the end! Thanks for the video work!
Loved the trip guys...was well worth watching! Keep on trekkin' on...folks!!!
Hi David, thanks for this amazing video and the beautiful photos. I also enjoyed watching the dogs... 😊❤
Nice job, thanks for sharing. Thank you for respecting the land.
Thanks so much for this video. Doing the same route over Memorial Day weekend and now I'm even more so looking forward to it.
Awesome video!!! I thoroughly enjoy all your videos and have viewed them each multiple times. They always are like actually being there with you. Thanks for the journeys.
Great video as allways, Waiting for you new adventures.
Such a good channel and wealth of information. Thanks David ! Hope to see you on the trail one day.
Thanks for another spectacular video, great company indeed, and happy to see you're beautiful dogs. Looking forward to the next adventure, God Bless.
Wow! What a hike. Lot's of changes and different views -made it so interesting. If only the dogs could tell their story now lol
Dolly Sods really does look like another world! I'm doing this in the spring and after your video I'm even more excited now
great video david. you did it again as always. 5 stars
I'm a WV native but have never been to Dolly Sods. I'm rectifying that next weekend. This video was very helpful (and amusing!). Thanks for the info and the tips, David. We're big fans of yours in our household!
Thank you, Kit. I loved the Dolly Sods and hope to get back there soon. It is an area with such diverse topography and vegetation, and weather, that you never know what you'll get. Fun place! Have a great hike.
Looks like great fun!
What a coincidence. My golden retriever Bailey and I stayed at the Canaan Village Inn for about 10 days in fall 2016 and did a bunch of day hikes around the Davis area: Blackwater Falls State Park, Dolly Sods Wilderness, Seneca Rocks, Smoke Hole Canyon, Canaan Valley NWR and some other spots. We also got down to Cranberry Glades and the waterfalls on Hills Creek. I recognized most of the beginning section of your hike.
Found your channel and I'm glad I did... I have watched quite a few over the past few days. Kind of Like a David Gray Marathon!! I used to live in Vail CO so I of course had back backing in my back yard! Enjoyed the Holly Cross Hike.What a beautiful area that is and of course the High mountain lakes you encounter. Keep up the good work!
I have seen other hikes by other folks and I like this one best.
Nice job on the video editing. Always enjoy your videos.
love seeing the Dolly Sods.. sorrry about your bad luck on the stream, ugh.. great video, big difference between first and last day nice to see it both ways
I think it's awesome you showed those rock scrambles on day one... no one ever shows those and I got to them and was very surprised... same situation on water as you on day 1 didn't pack enough.
Awesome!
I have seen all your videos and love them and I am glad I came across this one today. I always glean something new to think about when hiking. I have never camped out while hiking-trying to convince my husband to do it a least once- and you inspire me to give it a try! We are going back to Glacier National Park for the third year in a row, but only hiking each day. Your Glacier videos have given me some great ideas of trails to do. So thank you for taking the time to record your trips , they have been invaluable to me!
Thank you for watching and the nice feedback. I'm actually heading back to Glacier in September to do a hike in the Two Medicine area (Lake Ellen Wilson, Gunsight Pass, Gunsight Lake) - I can't wait to get back there!
Oh darn, we will be there in August. It would be like meeting a celebrity if our paths crossed with you and Joey Coconato- MyOwnFrontier! But I am trying to convince my husband to do a quick run up to Colorado on a weekend to get some hiking in! We live outside of Houston so it wouldn't be too quick but at least an adventure. Look forward to your trip videos!
great video.
Thanks Dave, Great job on the video. Brought back a lot of great memories. I hike Dolly Sods a couple years ago with Travis. It is such a diverse and wonderful place to hike.
Yes, I agree, and hiking with Travis was great - his knowledge of the area was excellent and really made my experience a special one. The trails aren't that well marked, and there were a few places (e.g. the area on the rocks up high) that would have been very 'interesting' if not for his local knowledge - I'm still not sure how he found the 'trails' in that stretch.
I agree and know exactly where your talking about.
Good stuff as usual. Made my first trip up there last August for the Perseids and can't wait to go back. I made the mistake of taking the muddy section of Dobbin Grade... never again.
Maybe in deep winter if the mud was frozen solid.
Great! I'm enjoying this years crop of PCT hikers....but I'm 62 and yours is also mine, as far as the speed of a traveler. Always love your stills at the end. Thanks.
I meant the Dolly Sods hikes- best so far. Love the terrain and changes.
Another great video David! Sorry about the expensive water crossing, but at least no one was hurt.
great stuff, just did almost the same trip with my father about 2 weeks ago except we did it in 2 days and decided to take the Dobbin Grade trail instead just to cut some time off the loop (which it definitely lives up to the reputation of being a little muddy, but made for some good laughs as well since one of us took a face plant in the mud). Overall its a great place to visit and your video just reminded me to upload my own compilation of photos that I nearly forgot I made, so thanks.
Not the iPhone!!!! Dogs were best part watching these really makes me want to go camping.
Hey Dave love the vid just did the Bear Rock trail this weekend about twelve miles total our first time at the Sods so beautiful there my hams are hurting lol. Stayed at Blackwater Lodge and seen the falls today and headed home to Hancock County WV. Taking my daughter this weekend and do it again will be her first love your vids . Take care see you on the trail.
Nice trip!
Beautiful! I watch other hikers also, like Darwin on the Trail. He did the Appalachian Trail and will do the Pacific Coast Trail. He also has great videos and is very laid back. I like to wear a full brimmed hat for sun protection. I forget it frequently, though.
The mountainous trails are similar to what I had encountered in fairly short hikes in the North Georgia mountains, which is the start of the Appalachian trail.
Awesome! Looks like you had a good crew with ya ;) I'm planning to do 3 nights there in September. This video really has me looking forward to it!
Hey, thank you for your videos! I stayed at Canaan Village Inn and did a two day backpacking trip in the sods in August with my girlfriend. I live in Indianapolis area too. Would love to go backpacking sometime!
Nice shots Dave, dang Travis fell in and you lost your mike, yep that backpacking!..
Another excellent video David. Thanks so much for sharing. I recognized every area you were in for the most part. I hope it was a great hike for your dogs as well, especially Jaden as you mentioned she was getting older. My 3 year old son loves watching your dogs and now wants us to get a "dog backpack" for our dog. My son also found the creek crossing incident to be hilarious and forced me to rewind the video over and over about 20 times for that part. I guess I found it pretty funny myself if you don't mind me saying. Events definitely escalated quickly in that scene. The still shots on your new D810 are excellent as well.
Yes, that creek crossing was like an episode of Keystone Cops! I didn't even include the part with Travis 'racing' down the creek trying to catch his trekking pole. The sad part is I was coincidentally moving the camera almost at the exact moment that Travis fell and only captured a very brief clip (but I was 'lucky' to get that - not sure Travis agrees!). I appreciate your kind words regarding the still pictures. I'm actually still learning the intricacies of the D810 and haven't been completely satisfied with the results yet, especially the HDR shots. The D810 has what is probably the best 'dynamic range'' of any DSLR available today (nearly 15 f-stops!) which essentially means it's capable of HDR range with a single exposure. I'm doing some intense studying and experimenting right now and think I'll have it dialed in much better before my upcoming trip to Smoky Mt. NP in late June. I've also purchased a really high quality neutral density filter that is going to allow me to do some sweet longer exposure stuff in full daylight, which I think will be put to good use in Smoky Mt. NP.
I am just getting into photography so I have a very long way to go. As I start doing more backpacking it would be nice get more proficient with getting photos & video. I have a colleague that has been involved with photography for years who is helping me along and he totally raves about his the photo capabilities of his D810. He actually offered to loan it to me for a day but I am too scared to take him up on the offer in fear that I will break his pride and joy. I actually had the camera on my list of possibilities but was disappointed to hear that you were not very impressed with the video performance of the D810. My friend doesn't use his D810 for video often so he didn't have much to say about the video performance.
Yes, the D810 is a 'beast' for stills but a little clunky for videos. I'll admit that part of that is likely I'm barely a novice when shooting video on the D810. The clips I took at the end of day #1 were the first video I ever shot in it! For an example of the D810 video quality, the clip of me sitting in front of the fire at the end of day #1, "Hi, Welcome to camp...", and the scenes after it up to the beer drinking scene, were all shot on the D810. I didn't have the D810 manual with me so I literally had to sit in front of the fire and try to figure out how to make it even start recording. The 'secret' was you have to put it into 'LiveView' mode (which turns on the back LCD), and I think that is the ONLY way to get it to enable video capture which is really unfortunate because it chews up the battery like crazy! A couple key negative with D810 video capture - (1) no autofocus, and (2) no image stabilization - and those are BIG negatives. I also experienced horribly underexposed video, which I compensated for in Sony Vegas for the scenes you see in this video, but I think that may have been partially my own fault from not having all the D810 video settings dialed in properly. The bottom line is that you can certainly use the D810 for video, but in my opinion that is clearly not it's strength. If you want to learn more there are some good D810 reviews on the internet that discuss the D810 video capabilities (or lack thereof) in detail. But for me, it's strength in still pictures far outweigh any deficiencies in video.
I must admit I could see the difference in video quality when you are using the D810 at the end of Day 1 compared to the video shot with your G30 and the camera you borrowed from Travis. It seems like I read about more limitations with DSLR/Mirrorless Camera video capabilities every day. No autofocus or image stabilization, and poor battery life, would make shooting video on the trail incredibly difficult. I currently use a Canon Vixia HF S10 (2009) for video and will probably continue to do that for 1080 HD video even after I get a new high-end camera. I would just use the new camera for stills and any 4k video I want until I replace my S10 with a new 4k camcorder eventually. By the way, Travis probably thanked you for borrowing his camera after Day 1 since he would have otherwise been carrying it when he fell in the creek on Day 2!
Thanks for your detailed response. Definitely lots to consider there and you definitely know your stuff about video & photography. Since we started this discussion I talked to my friend who has a D810. He actually showed me a video he shot of a Raccoon eating turtle eggs out of the ground. The video quality was excellent. You could practically count the hairs on the Raccoon. There was another video he shot of some tall birds walking in a pond. Again, it was crystal clear and the detail of the waves created by the bird walking in the water was amazing. I am pretty sure he was shooting the video from his tripod since was actually out taking pics and decided to play a little bit with video. I asked him to send me his video settings so I could pass them along to you in case you were interested, but his response was not detailed enough to bother. I am actually heading out to do a 40-48 mile out-and-back of the North Fork Mountain Trail (just across the road from Dolly Sods) in about four hours. When I get back later this week my friend has offered to take me out and let me get my hands dirty on his D810. I will definitely play with some of these settings you mentioned. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks again for all the details about your D810 settings. It is very helpful.
Great vid David. love your labs! let me know if you ever want to hike in VT this summer.
The labs are a little 'high maintenance', especially Bailey, but I love them too. I absolutely love, love, love Vermont, but I'm not going to be able to make it back there this summer. I really want to do a Green Mountain (VT) into White Mountain (NH) hike in the not to distant future, but it's probably going to be a couple years before I can get out there.
Great video David! We missed each other there by about two weeks.
Thank you, David! Great video. I plan to do a solo trip there in May...or maybe June for my birthday. I may have to do some real research to avoid the strenuous elevation changes. At 71 I'll leave The Climb to Miley Cyrus.
18:38 represents a backpackers worst nightmare.
What got wet ?
Everything.
Yeah, that was a costly crossing. I dropped my wireless microphone into the river just before Travis went fully in. My wireless mic continued to work, but only partially (one channel would go in-and-out), and I eventually had to replace it. Travis lost his iPhone, one trekking pole, and, worst of all, his wedding ring (ouch!). The sad part is we realized with the next river crossing that all we had to do was walk through the fairly shallow water, rather than trying to walk across the rocks, and all would have been fine.
New subscriber here. Love your videos and especially the ones with your dogs...they're hilarious! Keep up the great work and keep 'em coming! :)
Aw, the dogs always steal the show! They really are great dogs and it's just pure joy for them when they get to spend some days out with me hiking in the woods. Thank you for watching and subscribing. I do have another trip with Travis coming up in a couple weeks to Smoky Mt. NP but, unfortunately, that one will be without the dogs (Smoky Mt. NP doesn't allow dogs in the backcountry).
Yes, unfortunately none of the NP's I know of allow dogs on most trails, and especially not on backcountry trails. Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures. :)
Hey David glad you enjoyed the Sods that's a great spot we enjoy often!!! In your videos I've noticed you've always got a cheddar spread what brand is it always looking for new snack ideas..
It's from a company called Packit Gourmet (www.packitgourmet.com) and you can find it in their 'spreads' section (smoked cheddar jack cheese spread). It's really expensive ($6.99 each) but I've never found anything else like it. When I do solo trips I divide one package into two using a small vacuum seal bag. A full package was perfect for two adults and two 'starving' dogs (they're labs - they always think they're starving!). If you get it one recommendation I have is to let it re-hydrate MUCH longer than the 10 minutes in the directions. 30 minutes minimum and even longer if possible - otherwise it will be a bit 'chunky', but even then it's great.
Dolly Sods was named after a German family, Dahle, sounds like Dolly.
I think camped at that same spot along red creek in March of 2016.
Another great film production by David Gray. Thank you so much for all your hard work in taking videos, pictures, and editing. I enjoyed seeing your video editing desk a few episodes ago where you perform all your magic as you said. I haven't been to Dolly Sods and it's on my backpacking bucket list. I live not far away from Grayson Highlands and we hike and backpack there often. Your video and pictures were very familiar to me. By the way, what backpacking "green" tent is that? Nemo? I like how you use your hiking poles to prop up the tent. I'm sure that makes it a very light tent. Looking forward to either your summer Colorado or Glacier trip, maybe both but think you didn't have enough vacation time. Happy Trails!
Steve Basset
That green tent is indeed the Nemo Meta 2P. I bought it back in 2009 and it still looks like new. I use it whenever I go with the dogs (I have a 'paw print' extra floor that protects the tent floor against their claws). It's actually not that light compared to my cuben fiber Hexamid Solo Plus (3+ lbs vs. ~1 lb for the Hexamid) but it's perfect for me and the two dogs. It now looks like I'm going to sneak another Smoky Mt. NP trip in with Travis in late June before I start the western portion of my 'season' - sweet!
Did I hear you say something about hiking the Cirque of the Towers? That was my first backpacking trip and its well worth it! I've been wanting to get to Dolly Sods for 2 years, it's only about a 6 hour drive from me in Ohio but every time I plan a trip there it gets cancelled. Great video as usual!!
Thank you! Yes, we were talking Wind River Range at that point. Travis has been there many times and it's still near the top of my near term destination wish list. It was great being able to pick his brain about the Winds. I'm not confident that I'll be able to get there this year, but within the next couple years for sure.
David Gray I have friends that live about 2 hours from the cirque and I've been to Wyoming the last 2 summers. I don't think I'm gonna be able to go back this summer but I am hiking the four pass loop next month.
Dolly Sods can be a muddy, boggy mess on some of the trails there. I sunk in up to my knee one time. We agree with you, it can get really crowded in those popular camping spots. Finding wood to burn is trick too. We just got back from Otter Creek wilderness just about 40 minutes farther west from Dolly Sods. Have you been there yet? May be another option for a future adventure with a lot less crowds. Really fun to follow you guys on this adventure!
That is what I heard, especially about the Dobbin Grade Trail which also happens to be the quickest direct path back to the Bear Rocks trailhead when doing the loop so it 'sucks' people into it, so to speak! Travis had a ton of experience in Dolly Sods so he directed us on the higher, but slightly longer, path we used to get back to the car - I'm glad he did, knee deep mud at the end of a trip could really be a bummer. I'll certainly check out the Otter Creek Wilderness - I loved Dolly Sods, even with a couple crowded areas, so if it's anything like that but with less people it sounds like a great destination.
Otter Creek, depending on where you go can be a nightmare in terms of trail maintenance and conditions. we had to turn back on our recent trip there up on Shaver's mountain because the conditions sucked. However, the creek itself is beautiful and much less crowded than Dolly Sods. Glad to be following your channel, nice work on the video quality too!
Well said. My first backpacking trip was to Dolly Sods a few years back and I did the entire loop starting at Bear Rocks trailhead like you did. I had every intention of skipping Dobbin Grade and simply staying on Raven Ridge back to Bear Rocks trail on the return leg even thought that was farther. By the time I reached that point, I couldn't resist, I got "sucked" into taken Dobbins Grade even though I was fully aware it was known for being a complete slug fest most of the time. It had it's moments, but overall, it wasn't that bad that particular year so I was fine overall. I guess I got lucky.
I have been to Dolly Sods twice now. My first trip was in June of 2014 and I hiked the entire loop during the week and only saw about 3 other people the entire 3 days I was there. I had all the solitude I wanted. The last time I was there was in July of 2015 and I hiked only the upper part of Dolly Sods (not the Wilderness Area) during a weekend and the first major battle was finding a place to park the car. I couldn't believe the difference. People everywhere! I am to the point I completely avoid backpacking during weekends if at all possible regardless of where I am going.
We had the same experience. We've been 3 times - the first time was in 2009 and is was empty. Very few people. Last time we went was 2015 and it was slammed. I think it became the "it" spot for backpackers over a short period of time. It's beautiful there but there are other places with more solitude. We just did Otter Creek and didn't see anyone the whole weekend.
Hey! Hope youre still checking comments. I like the video! I did this back in January of 2017, and yes it was as snowy as it sounds haha.. However would you mind sharing exactly where this parking area was? I couldnt seem to find what trailhead this was for
We started from the Bear Rocks trailhead. I'm not really familiar with the area so I can't tell you exactly how we got there (I was following Travis), but we were coming from Davis, WV which is northwest of that area. Hiking the Dolly Sods in January sounds pretty 'cool'!
Very entertaining! I was hoping to start hiking with my dog when he gets a bit older. How much food do you need to pack in for them for a longer stay? Do you bring dog food as well as human? Just curious! Great videos!
I pack dog food for them. The cheddar cheese spread and crackers you see them eat with us are just appetizers for the dogs, and us humans. I bring two cups of normal 'Taste of the Wild' dog food, per dog, twice per day. Actually Bailey packed all of that in her dog pack on this trip. On longer trips that ends up being a bit too much for her to carry and we'll divvy the extra up among the human packs for longer trips.
Ya have to return because the owner of the property at the end puts up signs that he will shoot trespassers.
As always, another excellent video David! Thanks for being an inspiration for me. FYI, your suggestion of packitgourmet.com came in handy for me last month at Rocky Mountain National Park, my first time ever backpacking. I got backpacking fever now, but unfortunately my schedule's too jammed the rest of the summer due to my wedding in September. But I'm planning trips next year to Banff, North Cascades National Park, and Isle Royale. If you've ever been to any of those places and have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!
Congratulations on your wedding. There aren't many 'distractions' in life that trump backpacking, but that sure is one of them! Good luck - I can imagine it's a very busy time for you. Regarding Banff, North Cascades, and Isle Royale, sadly I've never been to any of them (for backpacking - been to Banff/Canmore multiple times on car vacations - beautiful!) but they are all on my 'wish list' of destinations. And because I've never gotten serious about a trip to those places yet, I've never really done any detailed research. It's probably going to be at least a couple years before I can make it there, so if you get to any of them next summer I'd be very eager to here your reaction and feedback from your trip(s).
How are you getting past the leash laws within the state. Dolly Sods requires all pets to be on a leash?
Loved it. What's next? Have you thought about the Art Loeb Trail or Linville gorge?
Travis and I are heading to Smoky Mt. N.P. in late June. After that I'm planning a Colorado trip in mid-August (still in planning) and then I have a firm trip to Glacier NP in mid-September. Maybe a midwest trip sprinkled in there sometime among all that. Whew... too many places to go and WAY too little vacation.
Wow, you are hard to keep up with. Your videos have truly inspired me (I truly mean that) to not only go on more backpacking trips but to also expand my horizons beyond the Monogehela NF and venture out west for some "Big Mountain" trips. In mid-August I am planning my first Colorado backpacking trip. I was originally thinking about the Holy Cross Wilderness area but have recently decided to do the 40 mile Capital Circuit loop route in the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness area. The Capital Circuit route is considered an excellent alternative to the popular, and crowded, Four Pass Loop trail which you know all about. I am currently planning this trip as a solo trip. If you are looking for a hiking partner for Colorado in August we should talk. I am a university professor with no teaching schedule during the summer so my schedule is completely open through the end of August.
I know about the Capital Circuit route - I think I found it when doing some Google searches on 'best backpacking loops in Colorado'. Your offer to join you is intriguing - I've actually been trying to figure out how to squeeze in another western trip in August. I'm heading back to Glacier in mid-September, and have plans for a family vacation (in Colorado, but probably RVing! - the other end of the camping scale from backpacking) at the beginning of August so anything I could do would probably have to be towards the end of August. I'm afraid I may be too short on vacation to join you but let me do some planning on it and I will be in touch.
That sounds great. I am in Northern Ohio and currently planning on making the drive out to Colorado so the dogs are more than welcome as well. Yes, I also found out about Capital Circuit on "best backpacking loops in Colorado" as well. I also found a pretty detailed blog post about the route (www.denverite.com/look-four-pass-loop-crazy-busy-stop-obsessing-aspen-circuit-instead-13958/). I have purchased some maps and routed the loop on AllTrails.com which gives a pretty good elevation profile of the entire route. The NatGeo "Maroon Bells, Redstone, Marble" map (#128) also includes all of the trails used in this circuit. Looks like an excellent Maroon Bells hike indeed.
Wow, lots of places ! Looking forward to to seeing your bit on Smoky National Park, (we're going with friends in October with 3 toddlers between us). Jealous you get to go back to GNP it is my most favorite place in the world! Which section of GNP are you planning to hike?
Glad to see the hounds. It looks like Baily has gained weight and Jaden has lost some.
Bailey has been pretty steady at 85 pounds for a while - not much fat on her, she's just a 'beast'! Jaden has definitely lost quite a bit of weight, from 88 pounds peak to about 70 pounds now. I think that's primarily old age kicking in, and kidneys starting to go, but even though the weight loss is probably a sign he doesn't have that many more years left it has also been great in terms of his energy level and ability to continue hiking long miles.
Big fan of your work, especially this time of year since I live in Arizona. Cabin fever sets in when it's 115 degrees outside!
Have you ever checked out the peak designs capture pro? I just picked one up and it's an excellent way to carry your camera on your pack strap and uses a nice quick release system to make sure it doesn't disconnect when you don't want it to.
I had never heard of the Capture Pro but I just checked it out. Very interesting! One problem I would have is that the system uses the tripod mount of the camera, and currently I already use the tripod mount on both my cameras to mount the quick change plate I need for the Sirui T-025X tripod I used. The other concern I would have is that the mounting plate, that attaches to your backpack strap, looks like it would create a serious irritation point with all the pressure I have with my straps at that point. They actually sell a pad that appears to be meant to address that very issue, but I'd still be concerned on a long trip with a heavy pack that it could be a problem. But I am intrigued by the system and will do some more research on it. I'd be very interested in your thoughts on whether the mounting plate causes any discomfort issues. Thank you for the heads up!
I just doubled checked and that tripod that you use it arcaswiss compatible so the mount for the Capture Pro should right into it. I just got the MeFoto Roadtrip tripod in and it works perfectly with the Capture Pro plate and I think the two tripods are very similar from my initial research. One thing I noticed though is that you can use the Capture Pro Plate on the tripod but you can't use the tripod plate in the capture pro. So as long as the Capture pro plate stays mounted to the camera you should be good to go. As far as the pressure point goes that's something I hadn't given much thought about until you just mentioned it! I'll actually be heading up to Rocky Mountain National Park in a few weeks (got inspired from your continental divide video) and will be using the system so I'll try to remember to come back and provide you with an update! Just wearing it on my Osprey Aether 70 with about 20-25lbs of gear around the house doesn't feel bad but of course that's nothing compared to putting real miles on the system with a fully loaded pack. Hoping it goes well though and no problem!
Ooh... now you have me really interested. That would be a great system for one or both cameras, plus I'd look really cool with two cameras mounted to the pack! I'm very interested to hear your feedback on how comfortable it is on your RMNP trip. It's a bit of an expensive system to just buy it and give it a try, but if it really works well for you it would be worth the expense.
I couldn't resist, and bought one! Not the 'Pro' version but the basic system, to try it out and see if it will work for me. It just arrived today and I plan to try it on a 10.5 mile test hike, with full pack, this weekend. I'll let you know what I think. By the way, one more big concern of mine is waterproofing. When I carry my cameras in the strap-on bags, I also carry with me two large Aloksaks (waterproof to 200 feet underwater or so - beefy, bomber waterproofing bags!) to put the cameras in if it starts raining heavily. If the cameras were mounted to my straps the waterproofing options would become more of a problem. Yes, I could just pack them in my pack in the Aloksaks (maybe... typically not much room in my pack for cameras) but that would make it a big problem for ongoing video capture and picture taking. Even when in the Aloksaks in my strap-on bags, the cameras are still pretty accessible. What I'm going to try is, if the Capture system works for me, I could use that as my primary method and then carry the strap on bags + Aloksaks in my pack as a backup in case of rain. Yes, WAY too much analysis of this whole thing, but I'm really interested to see if I can make it work. Again, thank you for the tip!
Oh awesome! It looks like you'll be getting to take it out and test it before I do lol. Excited to hear what you think about it! Ah yes the waterproofing can definitely become an issue too. I have a tenba byob insert that I keep in my pack along with a 24-105 lens if i'm somewhere with wildlife so if the rain starts I can put my camera system in there within a trash bag in my pack to pretty much waterproof it all. But for you with needing to film and document everything you're doing along the way that's definitely a whole new obstacle! It sounds like your system might work out for you. I hope it does, and looking forward to finding out!
The video of your friend falling was pretty hilarious but sad how many things paid the price for it!
Yes, it was costly but all the 'stuff' was replaceable. We chalked it up to one of those 'learning experiences' that, eventually, we'll probably laugh about a little more than we did right after the fact! No permanent damage done. It's giving me the opportunity to send Travis a 'care package' with some proper waterproofing stuff.
David - I've read about ways to prep a dog for a backpacking trip. Do you do anything specific before taking your dogs on a trip? Thanks!
No, nothing special. But I walk my dogs 4-5 miles every day, and then typically take them for a 10 mile walk one of the weekend days, so they're pretty 'trail ready' all the time. If you were planning to go with dogs that aren't used to the distance you plan to go I would certainly recommend building them up to it gradually before you go. Having an injured dog in the backcountry will turn a trip 'bad' (to downright scary) in a hurry. And if the plan is to have the dog carry a pack, that is definitely something to train with first - starting with no weight at all and gradually building up to training with the intended full pack weight.
David Gray thanks for the reply. Great advice!
What was that huge tent? What'd you think of the jetboil?
That tent was my Nemo Meta 2P which is my original backpacking tent, purchased in 2009. I take it whenever I go with the dogs. I loved the Jetboil, especially since Travis was carrying it! :-) It's a bit heavier than I prefer for my cooking system but it sure is a nice system. It really did boil a normal load of water in about a minute, which would sure save fuel if you were trying to extend a single canister for a longer trip. I'd never considered one before but I really liked it.
I've enjoyed watching the hikes you've done and I'm impressed with how you recorded Glacier, Dolly Sods, Ansel Adams et al. I'm curious what camera you're using to record the hikes. I also saw you carry your dslr in a chest pouch? Frankly, my movies are awfully boring..I just need to buy a microphone (and I saw the one you dropped) and just make a fool of myself; I'm trying to make them more interesting for future CZcams uploads and perhaps for future grand kids. I'm a fifty something who has a daughter who is no longer interested in hiking with me , so I lug my friend (male protector :-)) along. He is a very tolerant person but I see his heart is not into exploring like mine. So any tips you can pass along will be very much appreciated! Have you found females hiking alone along your treks? Need material to justify hiking alone to my daughter...Not that I would approve of her hiking alone.
Thank you very much for watching all those videos! Regarding the camera, Glacier to Dolly Sods (and now Smoky Mountains NP) actually covered quite a range of cameras. For the 2013 Glacier trip I used a Panasonic HDC-SD9 video camera (one of the first high-definition camcorders, circa 2005 or so) and a Canon point-and-click camera for the stills. The SD9 was a pretty amazing camera for it's day and it captured some great video on that trip, but the rather poor quality of the stills led me to upgrade my cameras for the 2014 Glacier trip. On that trip I carried a Canon Vixia G10 video camera and a Nikon D700 DSLR for the stills. The G10 was/is a great video camera (I still have it) but getting into the Vixia line made me start looking at the Vixia G30, which I ended up buying prior to the 2015 backpacking season, and that it the camera I used for all the 2015 trips including the Ansel Adams Wilderness, and I've used that camera all the way through the Dolly Sods trip this year. Actually, for Dolly Sods the G30 died about halfway through the first day, and Travis let me use his Vixia G20 to capture the rest of the trip. And as a final chapter in that long Vixia 'saga', I ended up buying a Vixia G40 on ebay prior to the recent Smoky Mt. NP trip (G30 was still being repaired), and I used that Vixia G40 to capture the Smoky Mountains trip. Whew... How's that for a really long answer to a simple question?! Oh, and prior to the 2017 season I did purchase a Nikon D810 to upgrade my still photos as well. I do use a Zpacks '4-in-1' bag, which I clip to my pack straps and carry it around my chest area, to hold the DSLR while I'm hiking. The 'pack explosion' video that I did in January 2017 shows that whole system in quite a bit of detail if you're interested. Regarding tips for finding hiking partners, one thing you can do is look for hiking/backpacking clubs (e.g. Meetup groups) in your area - a quick Google search will probably turn up possibilities. I live in central Indiana and there are at least three such Meetup groups around here, and I've gone on hikes with a couple of them, and I even joined a Smoky Mountains NP backpacking Meetup group, though I've never hiked with them (yet!). Regarding females hiking alone, I have met quite a number of single females backpacking alone while on my trips. I understand the concerns with it, but I think generally people backpacking away from 'normal' civilization are respectful and look out for each other, and none of the single females I've met and talked with had any 'bad' experiences, or if they did they didn't mention them. Actually, now that I think of it, one somewhat common 'negative' females on the AT shared is along the lines of what is called 'pink blazing' - when male hikers start tagging along with single females, even when the female doesn't want the 'company'. I didn't hear any situations that were really dangerous or scary, more annoying to perhaps uncomfortable, and I think that is something more likely to happen on high population, 'social' trails like the AT (not so much in remote wilderness areas). I hope some of that helps.
My wife slipped at the same spot in Red Creek. it effectively ended our marriage. She hurt but did not break any bones. She just hated me for taking her to Dolly Sods. But I had taken my fresh fellow engineering graduates from OSU there, too. They did not do well either.
hey Dave I hear you chatting with Travis about the wind river range in the scene at the dinner. I'm planning on hiking this as well. If you would like to join up message me. Lets get a conversation going about the specifics.
Going there on Wednesday. Do you know if we allowed to camp at that trail head?
This response is probably coming too late for your trip, but according to the Dolly Sods backcountry rules there is no camping allowed at the trailheads, or within 300 feet of the main forest roads in the area (FR19 and FR75). Now, having said that I think it would be easy to find a decent campsite just over 300 feet in from the trailhead, in fact I think I recall seeing what looked like previously used campsites just beyond the restricted area.
Did you have enough food for 1 year and two days in the wilderness? 0:05
No, after the first three days the food we packed ran out and we had to forage for food the remaining year. And the camera batteries ran out after three days as well so you only see the first few days in the video! :-) Actually, someone else pointed out that 'typo' to me earlier - it's hard to believe that with the dozens of times I watched that opening title clip in all the editing that I never noticed the mistake. I didn't think it was worth the nearly 30 hours of rendering and uploading to fix it after it was already published - I chalked it up as one of many mistakes!
@@davidgrayin Ive just started creating my own backpacking videos, and enjoy your videos very much! I have had errors in a couple videos of mine and its not worth it to re-upload content. Keep making great stuff! I look forward to next years' adventures. Safe Trails!
Is Travis a Bengals fan? I am not positive but it looks like.
Yes, Travis is quite a Bengals fan. In fact, he is the Video Director for the Bengals. Travis has far more backpacking experience than I do, to some phenomenal locations that I've never visited (Yellowstone, Wind River Range, etc.), so between talking about backpacking trip stories and making videos I doubt we will ever run out of stuff to talk about on these trips.
Hi David. Me and my partner Butch just left the Smoky's the weekend before you and Travis were down there. I absolutely love the Smoky's been visiting since I was a small child. You two were amazing going "over hill over dale" down there. I was breathless watching you two climb to Mt. LeConte. No joke. What a trek. I consider myself a fan of your's because your jokes are corny and very braves. Also, we love your dogs.
My jokes are 'corny'?! - oh, that hurts! :-) I always thought my jokes were 'spot on'. Just kidding! I know I'm not in line for any kind of stand-up comic routine, but just trying to keep it fun. I truly appreciate that you watch us doing all these adventures. And you saying you were out of breath watching us climb up to Le Conte is exactly the effect I'm looking for - I'm doing my best to help people feel that they're along on the hike with us, and I was certainly breathless at times!
Oh yeah. When Travis was holding on to the cable, embedded/hanging on the side of the mountain, I was holding my breath!! It is also very engaging when you share understandable feelings of; "this hill is so steep, I hope I don't have to "brake" every step down", "I got this shot for you before I had my coffee", and showing us the loose shale gravel on a slippy wet slope. You have a way of inviting us in. I really appreciate it all. the still shots are incredible.
how do you do the cheddar spread ?
Thank you ! doing a 50 miler with my son for scouts and that will be a great addition.
What happened to your Vixia Camera?
The record 'start/stop' button stopped working. Everything else seemed to be working fine, and I was hoping to find some secondary method to start recording using the LCD touchscreen but couldn't. Later I found that the zoom lever was also not functioning. I hate to admit it but the poor camera has suffered from more than one 'drop test' (including the painful one documented in last year's RMNP trip), and I think the circuit board controlling those two functions finally hit it's limit. It's in the 'shop' now and I should have it back within a week or so.
hey David, love the vids...looking for a pack r my dog Traky, and wonder what u use for ur guys. jaden never packs ? how much does that pack carry ?
It's a Ruffwear pack, but I just checked their website and they apparently don't make the same model anymore. Their current 'Approach' pack looks almost identical though, other than color. In my early days of backpacking (2010) Jaden did carry a pack but he ran into some rear 'knee' issues, and had to have both rear knees surgically repaired a few years back (like a human ACL surgery) so he no longer carries a pack. My three year old female chocolate lab (Bailey) now carries the pack, with the food for both dogs inside. I didn't weigh Bailey's pack at the start of this hike but I'd guess it was about 8 pounds.
David Gray , thanks !!!. glad Jaden has such a good friend in Bailey and you :) look 4ward 2 more trips!!!
Canaan pronounced "Canayne"
Yes, it took me a while but Travis finally drilled it into me! Never did get it right in the video but if I ever get back I'll have the correct pronunciation nailed.
Is it ok to let pets do their business on the trail or do you need to bring a poopy bag?
I generally bury it if I see them do it, but I can't always keep an eye on them so I'm certain there are times they've gone to the bathroom 'off trail' and I didn't see them go. But if I ever see any poop in the vicinity of the trail, from my dogs or otherwise, I take care of it to keep the trail as nice as possible for everyone.