You being there brings back so many memories of my visits there. I love that landscape. There's no place on earth like it. Glad to be along for the adventure.
The regular returns to known areas - what Bill Neill calls getting friendly with a location - continue to reap rewards. Inspiration, too. It’s always a pleasure to accompany you in the wilds.
Ben: I really appreciate that you tell the viewer the date and time at the start of your video, also that you share a word or two about your mental state. Knowing when you are there and what your mood is, is important since it sets the stage. Traveling solo is not easy especially driving long distances. Thanks for the video.
Hey Ben, good to see you back. No matter what, your work always makes my day better... I did get a feeling of a different editing style (or camera or even color space) here. Maybe it's just RU-vid. Thanks so much.
The spider in the sandstone image is cool.. and love that composition. thanks again for sharing another wonderful video of your experience in the wild.
I like the composition of the juniper photo like it is alot, with the tree in the center,the diagonal structures in the sandstone below and the opposing lines in the background.
Lovely video as always! I always enjoy watching your videos as they bring calmness and inspiration. It almost feels like I am there, walking around and taking photos with you in the same location. Thanks for sharing your journey. Looking forward to your next video.
Excellent first video, from a beautiful location!! It was good to see, that the waterlevel was finally low enough to visit this other canyon. Looking forward to the other subjects, you where able to find this year!!
"As I watched the intro to what is normally another highlight, Ben Exploring and another series, I realized how deep the photographic apathy had reached. As he walked into the traill I switched off" Said no-one ever! Ben's back Woo-Hoo!
That photo of the sandstone wall is really wonderful. That mountain lion track would have convinced me to return further than just out of the canyon again 😂
Love the images. Reminds me of some great walls at the Valley of Fire. I wonder how many miles you'd save not retracing your steps to record the experience. I can only imagine how good it feels to get back to camp and take that backpack off.
Looked up your Tuscan stew out of curiosity. Oh man... $14.50 for that. I think I'd just bring a can of bean soup or chili or something. But, it's apparently based on Ribollita, which sounds like a delicious recipe I want to try now!
They certainly aren't cheap, but the price is in line with most other backpacking food these days. I talk a bit about those meals in episode 2. Needless to say, I'm a fan because of the nutritional value without all the bad stuff, along with their compact size.
Thanks Ben, I always look forward to your videos. Question from a non-Off Roader: What were you doing with the tire pressure at the beginning of the video? Adjusting for the terrain?
Hi David! The specific tires I use are best kept around 40psi on the highway, but as soon as you go offroad with them, it makes for a harsh ride. There are a few rocky ledges I knew I would have to drive over, so lowering the tires to around 20psi makes the roads more pleasant to drive on while also reducing the chance of a sharp rock leading to a puncture. I carry a compressor with me to air them back up again before driving on the highway.
Just out of curiosity, did you consider the composition at 18:06 with the tree flanked by the large boulders on either side, with the small creek as a leading line?
Hi Michael! That's a scene I photographed last year, so I included it in this year's videos as a way of revisiting it to show if anything has changed. Check out the first episode of last year's spring trip for the story behind that scene.
It’s a 2014 with 155k on it. Still has a lot of life left in it, though I’ll probably be getting a Tacoma with a pop-up camper on the back in the next couple of years. The thought of a hot shower after a long day in the field is very appealing.
@@BenHorne I have a 2024 5th gen myself. Avoiding the new ones (and Tacomas) with the turbo motors and going with the tried and true 4.0 and 5 speed. I have a large RV for camping trips, but I suspect that wouldn't make it out where you go. Love the channel and photography and of course your 4Runner. Keep it up.
Love the detail in the close-up, well done. Definitely looking forward to the coming days (and wondering if that cow was from natural causes, or lion?)
I added a note about it in the video description. I use a Sony ZV-1 for my backpacking trips and have the image stabilization disabled because it creates a mechanical whirring sound that is picked up by the mic. After returning from my trip, I realized that despite having stabilization disabled in the menu, it was somehow running continuously with no way to shut it off. Otherwise I love the ZV1, so I’ll likely give this one away and replace it with the ZV1 II which has no optical stabilization and a wider lens. I love having super clean audio, so it bummed me out that the camera broke.
@@BenHorne Thanks for the explanation. I always watch your videos on my big-ass TV, where it deserves to be watched! So, I didn't see your notes. I should have checked before asking!
