Hi Chris, Your channel has been an inspiration for me, and I have followed your story for years. Because I have felt like I was with you all those years, I have also seen your channel mature. For a while now, your videos have changed and I miss the old Chris. I hope the Spring brings new inspiration to you, so this just doesn't become an 8 to 5 job for you a few days a week. Keep your eyes on the horizon and I look forward to following your story.
Yeah these past 18 months (since the Jeep went kaput in Fall 2021) have been pretty topsy turvy and full of surprises and heartaches and joy and a ~lot~ of stress. Shannon and I both hope things even out coming up. I am definitely feeling artistically inspired, and having a home base does mean that things will naturally change and shift.
@@venture4wd I believe that having that home base will help both of you on your journeys going forward. Just a place to come back to and call your Home Base. A finite beginning and a finite ending for all of your future adventures.
Chris, you are true to your word. We went to this area recently and it IS beautiful! We stayed at the same campsite near the end of the trail and it was perfect. For once it wasn’t windy when trying to cook a meal!
Chris - From an efficiency standpoint, it looks as if you have your act together within (the inside of) your JKU. I'm amazed that you can sit and cook while in your backseat. Nice work!
I remember when you first packed Orangy up, put all of your stuff into a storage locker and just drove away... A complete life reboot/Paradigm shift. It looks like it has been a successful journey!
Really enjoyed this one Chris. Its good you started interacting with your viewers in the comments. Appreciate it. Keep up the good work, Chris. You are really living the life people like me are wishing to live. Just curious, any thought around publishing an unedited episode. Just the bare bone reality of being an overlander?
I recently moved from BC Canada to Utah USA (career path reasons), and I have not stopped exploring yet! I wasn't sure I'd like it, but it is STUNNING HERE! I have had some great overland adventures so far. The last being 500 miles (all off road) from Utah, through Nevada to California lol. The Pony Express! We were all driving Toyota 4Runners, so we all made it lol, just fine. We had one tire casualty, but that was because of driver error. I have followed you since your posted a video in Nova Scotia (3-ish years ago now) while I was schooling there, but this is my first time stopping by in awhile. Glad to see you are still doing what you love!
One thing about 'out and back' trails. With spectacular scenery such as we have here it can look completely different when you have the alternative perspective of a return trip. Almost like two trails in one. Pretty awesome IMO.
It’s funny how it’s so different from there to where I live. Western Canada, I was in the bush 9 miles in and broke my axle! In 4’ of snow -10! Here, you are in the sunny weather of Arizona!
Chris those were Coues deer. We call them the gray ghost. Most people pronounce them just like it is spelled but the correct pronunciation is "couse". Such a great find on your ventures.
You’re like a one man, professional film crew! This video was more like the ol’ days Chris Shontz. Something is a little different, though; perhaps it’s because you are older; I don’t know exactly. All-the-same, it’s about the solo Jeep adventurer-the free spirit-that many guys, I am sure, like and wish they could be and do what you are doing. I often thought that you and your Jeep are like a cowboy on his horse riding the range with just the bare essentials. You have it a lot more comfortable than that, though! But still, it’s the freedom of being able to go almost anywhere-almost like being on a horse roaming around as a capable, solo free spirit right in the heart of nature.
I recognize the area you are showing. I’ve been there many times in a UTV when I was a wildland firefighter. The firefighters you spoke with are friends of mine and a week ago told me they would be there burning. It is a beautiful area and fortunately doesn’t get heavy traffic except during hunting season. You should check out the northern side of the mountain range if you haven’t already. I enjoyed your video.
@@venture4wd enjoy your time in the Sonoran desert. It’s a great time of year to be here before it gets too hot. If you get time check out the BLM Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area and Roper Lake State Park.
I'm really curious what about what you'll do when the temps start to heat up out here. For now, I'm enjoying your perspective on the trails and places I know. Hope you're enjoying yourself out here and it's good to see you back in the Jeep and out on your own.
Have you seen the new hatchet overland camper top for wranglers? Similar to the Ursa Minor but it slides forward making entrance and exit from the bed easier
HI CHRIS 👋 GORGEOUS BACK COUNTRY ! WERE THEY MULE DEER 🦌 OR WHITETAILS ! LOOKS LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT CAMP & USE THE CAMPSITES CARE ABOUT THE AREA ? LOOKED LIKE NO TRASH , CLEAN ! PRETTY NICE 👌 NEVER NO MIGHT OF MISSED A SIGHT ON THE WAY IN BUT GOT TO SEE IT ON THE WAY OUT / BACK ? BE SAFE ! HAVE FUN ! ENJOYED 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 GOD BLESS YOU BOTH ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES 🙏 THANK YOU 🙏 😀
Why thank you! Not sure what the deer-like creatures were but it was cool to see them. It was pretty clean, good thing it’s somewhat remote. Thanks again!
As an Arizona native be careful as the rattlers are starting to awaken and are hungry. AZ has 13 different species of rattlesnakes which is the most in the US so enjoy but be careful where you step.
Warmth at night. Getting in under your rig when you camp. If you pile gear/firewood up on the ground. I have had to deal with a person who was bitten on a motorcycle trip in Central California. 60 miles away from the nearest town. He got bit on his finger. No cell phone coverage, he had to ride his MC back to Hollister, CA. Then the local clinic in Hollister had expired anti venom. He had to be taken to Stanford Med Center in Palo Alto. Almost ended up losing his hand.
@@venture4wd It's too bad you can't keep the TX ones. Having lived in both states, I know how much cheaper it can be to register a vehicle in TX vs AZ. But that's mostly if you buy a new vehicle as AZ bases their fees on the value. TX is a flat rate. Although, I think the AZ plates look better! 😉
I like how you have to note winnebegos won't make it. Those fucking things are everywhere here in AZ now. You're lucky you didn't run into packs of SxS there.
@@micd9256 truth. Did Chiva Falls two weeks ago and had to park at the top before dropping to the falls because there were like 13 4Runners down there.
The new Bronco might be too large. This was very nice however it does seem to me that these videos are much, much shorter. I took a look at older videos and they are all much longer. I appreciate that this isn't necessarily an easy lifestyle but it seems that you've become more of a weekend explorer.
Time of year isn’t helping. Much of the land out west where he would go is covered in deep snow. Hopefully he’ll get back to his roots soon after some of the snow melts.
Prescribed burns are an important part of any wilderness management plan in the western US. A century of management founded on a policy of putting out every fire has left our forests and wilderness areas overgrown with fuel. Prescribed burns consume that fuel at minimal risk of escalating into wildfires.