Watching this in 2024. I lost my job in Feb and it's been stressful, I have always been an adventure seeker, nature lover. And one of the things that help get my peace back are your videos. I am a firm believer that in today's age there is an immediate viral value of content and then there is slow, patient genuine great content whose value cannot be measured in millions of subscribers and views. This sacred journey that started then and has continued till today is one such entity. Cant imagine what you guys might feel looking back to these days. Let me tell you for me and many others I'm sure, it's a feeling they love to revisit again and again. I hope I find a job again soon and can watch your videos for time to come with peace of mind.
Good luck on the job search! Very well said! These guys are a huge inspiration for me, and looking back at those older videos really makes me appreciate how far they’ve come! But even still, they got off to a great start and I love the style of these videos, way more than TikTok style 😅.
It's cool to see the similarities between the original episodes and the new ones being released now. The focus on respecting nature and appreciation of what you have is amazing. The production value and your backpacking skills have improved so much over the years. Even feathering your sticks has improved! Thanks for continuing your content. It has inspired my boyfriend and I to go on our own backpacking adventures, which has helped us both so much coming out of being stuck inside so much.
Wise and mature beyond your years is certainly an understatement. As a fellow backpacker and fan of time spent in the wilderness, I must say that your videos are so interesting to watch and your comments so true.
Thank you so much, that means a great deal to us! So glad you enjoy the videos, and it's good to know other backpackers get the same thing out of the wilderness as we do. Cheers! -Andrew
Having watched a few of your fine productions, I decided to go back the beginning and, hence, watched this one, as it was the first feature. Not disappointed in the least. Lost of nice John Muir type lectures, the beginnings of plant identification. I love how by example, without saying much, you teach people how to build fires, new things to try and eat over a campfire and how to do it. It's a beautiful and educational experience. I, too, along with @ReeWray Outdoors wasn't expecting to get mooned by Andrew. LOL And I just purchased your beautiful music for this episode. It's my favorite kind of music. Nice soundtrack. Wouldn't have minded if it were a little longer. LOL
Rewatching both this and the Winter episode in preparation for the upcoming one! It's so fun to see how the AA style has evolved and also stayed the same as the years have gone by.
Steven Zhou Thank you so much! Really glad you enjoyed it. Indeed, we put a bit of work into this. We're currently working on our latest episode from Red River Gorge. Hopefully it won't take too long, haha. Thanks again! -Andrew
My snooty review: Visually stunning, poetically indulgent, and keenly observant. Adventure Archives accomplishes what so few nature shows master: a sense of mankind's purpose among the trees, grass, and rivers. That may be a bit over the top, but you guys have seriously raised the bar for the nature/camping/hiking/etc. communities on RU-vid. My hat is off to you gentlemen.
It's nice to come back and look at these early videos of you guys. It's much more about the silliness and the hiking than the merch people send you and sponsors. Done purely for the enjoyment of yourselves
I greatly appreciate how this channel is far from simply a hiking channel. The poetry of the narration, the knowledge on local ecology, and the fun foods offered from subscribers that always seems interesting… you guys have truly figured out how to captivate an audience
+Martin Paryz Thank you so much, really glad you like it! Our latest episode will be out this Thanksgiving day if you wanna see more :) Thanks again for watching! -Andrew
Great video. The soundtrack was light and fun and your narrative was pleasant and very complimentary to that beautiful area. As a proud West Virginian, I want to thank you for this great video!
So I'm a new subscriber in 2020 and watching all your old videos. What I find interesting is this particular video has probably some of the best video editing of all your all of them..even though it's an older one, I have no doubt Robbie put a lot of work into it! Not to diminish from everyone's work on it my understanding is Robby does the editing? Andrew's incredible narration and understanding of plant life is impressive, Very skilled and professional.
I wanted to start with your early video´s today.. Whenever I take pictures of the beautiful places I come to hike, the. I photo´s never portraits the really feeling of Áweness´ I had when I took the picture being there. I know what you mean, even though you guy´s are doing more then an execellent job of capturing the beauty of nature it never comes close to the experience of ´being there´!
Thanks, guys. Dolly Sods truly is a beautiful place. I like how the landscape is always changing - from windswept meadows and hillsides to beautiful conifer forests. Nice.
Wordsmyth8 Thanks for watching! It is beautiful indeed. One of our favorite places by far, and yes, the variety is incredible there! Thanks again. --Andrew P.S., if you're interested, we revisited it again in the winter: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_uLDFy0i8UY.html&lc=z12vvdxz0x2uunik1233vfko2syxzrfnv
Who raised these guys? I want to shake their hands! Amazing video from an amazing area. I've been camping longer than you two guys have been alive (combined i) and I learned a few new tricks from this video. Enjoy your youth and never quit doing what you are doing. Great video!!!!
omg I remember being 15 and hiking 7 miles without water and finally collapsing under THAT tree at 12:16 only for it to start lightning and having to continue to a sheltered area. great video !
I have been enjoying your video adventures. I am not much of a hiker but an avid camper for most of my 57 years of life. I love the narrative learning you give and how things seem heart felt about nature. It makes me relaxed watching. And eager to go for a camping trip. Thank you
Having heard you guys reference this video here and there in the more recent videos, I figured I needed to go back and watch this finally. Super interesting to see how your video and music production has evolved over the past few years! I found myself LOLing quite a few times in this video. I think Robby needs to bring back the Cornholio cameos! LOL And I definitely wasn't expecting to be mooned by Andrew Lin. hahaha I can really appreciate the work that went into this video and the result was very entertaining (per usual!). Now I'm going to have to add this place to my list of future destinations. Thanks guys!
I've honestly never heard anyone hate on WV, having grown up in greater Philly and now living in upstate NY. I hope this video changes the minds of the naysayers you've met, it looks so beautiful
Nice videos. Just some good friends sharing good moments in the wilderness. That's the way I like to go hiking. No big egos trying to eat weird stuff, no competition to climb the highest peak, just nature the way it really is, peaceful and still.
Thanks so much! Definitely. Being out there isn't about trying to be #1, or to outdo other people. It's just about enjoying hte peace with friends. Thanks for watching :) Cheers! -Andrew
I just stumbled onto your videos yesterday. The first video I saw (Wayne National Forest) caught my eye as it was from my home, Ohio. Although the content.... being outdoors and bits of 'bushcrafting' were what led me to find your video, the production values (especially the audio) and thoughtful narration are certainly a draw for anyone who appreciate fine workmanship. In the 2 videos I've watched I've not gained knowledge into your profession or plans for the future, but I'd say you've got a good future doing this kind of work. Keep up the good work and I'll be delving further into your videos!
You guys inspire me so much every season . Especially since I'm from the Midwest you guys are my biggest backpacking inspiration thanks for being who you are .🍁☮
AdventureArchives I'm from Indiana I would love to meet up and go camping with you guys this 2017 season backpacking with you guys is one of my dreams . Viewer adventure special lol .
Fish tacos? What's next....fish jerky? :) *yep, that's a thing in Northern Michigan lol* Dolly Sods looks nice, and looks like you had fun even if only two of you were there this trip!
Came across your Yosemite video and was just amazed. So I decided to watch all your videos from the beginning. And every video is just a masterpiece! This remarkable pleasant, kind and simple atmosphere which brings you warm feelings... I just can't describe this overwhelming experience. And the music... I was astonished to discover that you even write music for these adventures. And it fits so great! You guys are awesome! You're like an oasis amidst the desert. I wish more people were like you. Thank you and I hope you won't stop making new videos.
+ArtsofNatalie Thank you so much for the kind words! It means a lot to know you enjoyed our earlier videos too! We'll definitely keep the videos going :) we've got a spring episode we still need to put together. Thanks again for watching! -Andrew
WOW I am really impressed!! You guys are really talented! I feel like I am watching a new show on the discovery channel. I will have to check out your patron channel. ❤️
Another great video! I had no idea about Dolly Sods. I live in New Jersey so I’m super excited to learn about this wilderness! I started watching your videos because I’m headed to Yellowstone this year. Im going on a solo trip. I won’t be able to hike because I’ll be alone but I’m hoping to make some hiking friends out there before I go. Your friendships inspire me. Thank you so much for these videos!
I can't wait to visit here! A great inspiring video! Always enjoy your videos! This is how camping and hiking should be. Relaxed, enjoying the outdoors, no rushing, nature is a healer!!
i decided to come revisit season 1 on my day off. I cant believe how much better your videos are nowadays. I remember when i first stumbled on these videos over 2 years ago and thinking they were as good as it gets. Now they look so rough in comparison. You guys sure loved that slider back then. haha. Season 1 is literally what introduced me to DSLR filming.
+GreenLeavesHealth Thank you so, so much! Really glad you enjoyed it, and thank you - that is very flattering :) Our Yosemite episode is coming out this Thursday if you'd like to see more. Thanks again! -Andrew
This is the second video I’ve watched of you guys and I’m blown away. Both of them have been of West Virginia and you have shown her beautifully!! Thank you! After watching the Dolly Sods video- I now want to be hiking there soon. Keep up the good work.
That was a really good time spent with you guys. Enjoyed the visual nature of the video, the narrative and the wilderness chosen there. And yeah it does look similar to the Scottish Highlands or many parts of Wales. Excellent stuff including the baked chow.....
i decided to start here and work my way through....coming home from the stress and grind of work, these video relax me and get my mind whirling about starting my treks. thanks guys, looking forward to these videos...awesome job
That's so great to hear. Finding an escape from the stress of work and everyday life was definitely a big part of the reason we wanted to start making these videos. Thanks so much for watching, and I hope you enjoy the rest :)
I started following you guys 2 years ago and this is my first time digging deep into your.... Archives... I know you all probably live relatively close to WV/MNF/NRG, but I think it's pretty interesting how eastern and southern West Virginia always seem to keep people coming back... I live in Columbia, MD, only 10 minutes away from a great state park (patapsco valley), an hour away from the AT and ~2 hours away from Shenandoah, where me and my family went at least once a year when I was growing up... But whenever I have an extended weekend and an option between those 3 areas and the 3-5 hour drive to either MNF or NRG, I always choose the latter 2... There's so many beautiful areas to explore, its incredibly easy to find solitude and there's just this unshakeable feeling of being home even though you may have never been in that specific area on that specific trail before... Its strange, because I hope more people find out about the hidden gem that is West Virginia, but at the same time I kind of want to keep it all to myself...
Hey there - thanks so much for your comment! It is kind of interesting how often we've gone back to West Virginia. I think maybe there's something accessible about the national forest land out there, since you don't have to pay any fees, or order any permits, or make any reservations. But maybe it's also the character of the wilderness where it's so closely tied with the people and Appalachian communities who have lived there. It feels less like some spectacle that people go to for vacation, and more like a part of life that a lot of people are tied to. But also, it's just really beautiful! If more people find out about WV, I hope they can enjoy it in a way that respects it and protects the land. Cheers! -Andrew
Wearing rubber footwear and long pants would have greatly reduced the difficulty of the hike and saved you guys from some seemingly unnecessary injuries... But that's a minor detail. Great attitude and very inspirational guys! I want to do this now (but with proper use of modern equipment).
Yeah! This was our very first trip that we filmed, we were still very inexperienced. As time as gone on, we have definitely made upgrades to equipment.
Did Andrew come up with the Adventure Archives? If so, wow. I dont know, but Andrew from the beginning Andrew has been my favorite member. I like all of them, without all 4 of them, the show wouldn't be complete, but Andrew has always bern my favorite 😁
Awesome job Robby and Andrew! Really inspiring words. I really enjoy watching your adventures, It always feels so relaxing and close to nature. Keep it up!
This surpassed my expectations in every way and I had high expectations. Fantastically produced, a truly admirable piece of work. I look forward to trying some of that Chinese food whilst out on a trek, it looked delicious as well as light weight.
I really enjoyed your videos and this is my first time ever commenting after watching countless YT videos. You guys crack me up with your ability to identify flora and fauna, interesting alternative camp foods and your respect for the land and nature. Hope you have more adventures to come!
+Lloyd Dehn Wow, we are flattered! Thank you so, so much for watching and commenting, and we're really glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully we'll get to film some more adventures soon! Thanks again :) -Andrew
Seriously, great job on the video! All the hard work you put into shines through. Got me amped to get out there and explore. I hope you keep it up, I'll be watching!
Fantastic! I have been eagerly awaiting this series since you first teased it! Loving it, guys! I too am from the mid-west (Indiana) but now live in SC. If you guys ever make it down this far, there are some gorgeous places to hike. The Foothills region near the SC/NC border in particular. They call it the Canebrake region and it has many indigenous plant and animal life you'll never see elsewhere. Anywho, loved the cinematography, the music was great too! You're commentary was inspired and very true to the wilderness, though I would recommend that you let a little more of yourselves show- as viewers we didn't get to know you all that well throughout the show, but you made up for it with some amazing shots, good insight and social commentary. Thanks so much for producing this, I can't wait to watch more!
Thanks for your kind words and support! We hope to eventually be able to venture out to many other places, and SC is definitely on our radar! We have other episodes we're working on right now, and we are becoming better at filming, we have more on-screen time and speak to the camera directly more often.
OK, thoughts afterwards. Really great production sound and music. I imagine you'll let more of yourselves shine through soon. The philosophy was great. I'll add my own, in the bush I feel like an urban border collie that has met his first flock of sheep. All sorts of pattern recognition things trying to happen, I have no idea what they mean yet, but I know they must have been important to humans once. And yet I spend my life metaphorically barking at the mail man.
Thank you for your thoughts! I think we definitely get less awkward on camera in the later episodes, haha. I think I know exactly what you mean about how you feel. things just seem to make sense in the bush, and everything just clicks together.
I feel like it has more focus on being a youtube video than on actual bushcraft/trekking/wildlife. The sound effects, background music, narration etc. makes me feel like I'm watching a TV show that is made to entertain rather than to be educational and useful, which is what I look for when searching youtube for videos in this genre. I would prefer just videos of whatever beautiful things you stumble upon and then an explanatory clip here and there if there's something you do, which could be useful for me when in the wild. Anyway, I hope you are enjoying yourselves, and I'm sure a lot of people love it just like it is. I hope you get a lot of support on your project here.
Thanks for your kind words -- For the longer videos, we do indeed focus more on entertainment. The main idea was to make a video that felt like you were camping. But we will also be uploading shorter, more instructional and educational videos in between each episode. They should be coming within the week
Just found this channel a few days ago. I'm going through and watching all of your movies. I really enjoy them. I'm pretty close to the Dolly Sods so it's nice to see it close-up before I get to it. Keep being awesome, guys!
I'm only 8 mins into the video but I have to ask what is the plank of wood for on the bottom of you pack? I have to share this video on my FB with a quote like that. Being hungry, makes the food delirious and satisfying, As much as we love the sun rain brings life to the world. Only a fool needs a clock to tell him when he's hungry. I've reached the end now. Amazing video, This is a video I will be watching again and again to help remind me of why I love nature and what raw nature truly is. Great Job
Hi! That is an old home-made camera slider we used for our first few videos. We have since upgraded! And yes, when you're in nature, its amazing how quickly you forget ones "dependency" on time and things like that. Your body tells you when you're hungry, the sky tells you when you sleep or wake up. ~Bryan
Excellent videos! Artfully done, and you seem to capture some Zen-like 'in the moment' ambiance that allows us to share the experience with you, as it were
This gets me fired up for my backpacking trip on 4th of July weekend! Also, I don't know if you did this: dig a cat hole 8x8x8 inches when you go #2. Put your toilet paper in there with it, cover the hole back over with the original earth. Make sure your hole is at least +/-70 paces from the nearest water source and you should be good. Some people believe in packing out their used toilet paper. Sorry mother nature, I'll pack out everything else, but the TP is getting buried good n' deep. All my other trash (food waste etc) gets sealed in a special airtight stuff sack and packed out. Using the stuffsack is also convenient for hanging in a tree at night.
Thanks for watching, glad to hear! Yup, we always dig a cathole and make sure it's far from water. I felt the same way about packing out TP, which is why I switched to natural stuff. I've read that's the best LNT practice... though I am going to try to avoid moss from now on since it's pretty slow growing and such.
11:10 Why not using toilet paper and burying it afterwards (along with whatever else)? I would be suprised if it takes longer to break down tissue than recently living moss.
I've just seen toilet paper that was dug up in various parks and didn't like that. Also, everywhere I've read about LNT ethics says it's better to use natural materials if possible. Moss is prob not the best material to use in hindsight, though.
AdventureArchives "Who his foul tail with paper wipes, Shall at his ballocks leave some chips." Actually, throughout history people have used almost everything but toilet paper (the use of it first recorded in China), but I wonder if peoples living off the land are overly concerned with such things. In any case in my opinion water and some natural soap for washing is by far the best, and most common, way to clean a messy fanny.
Horio Rodriguez Very interesting. I knew paper was invented in China, but didn't realize toilet paper was first recorded being used there too, haha. It's hard to say. I've read different things here and there. Some say that hunter-gathering people didn't have much regard for conservation, because there was simply no need for that - the land provided enough abundance that conserving resources wasn't even a thought. Then again, there are many hunter gathering tribes that historically have had cultural values that promote conservation and things like that. I've heard some cultures consider wiping with paper dirty compared to washing with water as you suggested. That seems to make sense to me. I'm still not brave enough to use my bare hand, though, haha --Andrew
Excellent video guys! I found you guys before reddit but you should definately share this amazing piece with r/hiking and r/outdoors, they would LOVE it
In case you missed it, Episode 2 is up: Adventure Archives Episode 2: Morgan Monroe State Forest And episode 3 will be up this saturday! cheers -andrew
Refreshing, insightful, and succinct. Wonderful! Next show us a video on how to quit your day job and live off the land. : D Actually, the greatest surprise I got from the video was the abundance of things to eat in a forest. You guys passed on baking the ant larvae nest, but I bet that would have served up high calories and very high-quality protein. I would have never have guessed it (not that I'm going to go out and do that anytime soon, ha ha, but it actually sounds tasty too).
Haha yes, I would love to learn how to live off the land without need for a day job. Some have done it, so it's not entirely hopeless I suppose. And definitely - there are so many things like plants and bugs that we pass up every day which are edible, and may even be growing in our lawns or at the local park. Thanks so much for watching! --Andrew