My $.02: I wouldn't change anything to be honest. When you get out, bring us along if you can while still keeping it fun for you. I think most of us watch for a little outdoor adventure inspiration when we're unable to be out there too. You do such a great job doing that via your cinematography, editing, and chemistry. It's rad seeing people enjoy the stuff you do as well. So if it's Tahoe, the Sierras, or Mexico, it doesn't really matter. We're just psyched because you are too and for a few minutes we can share a sliver of that.
I think this video was more along the lines of you guys moving onto the next chapter than quitting van life which is so great. Both of you are authentic and so is your relationship, so keep making videos around YOU. You are the secret sauce, not the van, not the camera, not anything else but YOU. So as long as you guys keep documenting and telling us stories, the views shall keep rolling. Having said that, I'd love to learn from you guys more on how to plan and execute shorter weekend trips. Day hikes and such too. Anyway, good to see you guys feel a bit more at peace with this new change and I wish you the best on the next chapter!
Thanks so much for the support 🙏🏼 I’ll admit, feeling like we are the secret sauce is tough for us 😅 but we’re trying to embrace it a little more, be ourselves, and continue doing the things we want to do. We just want to add a tiny bit more value from time to time and give ourselves a little more direction. Preciate ya Ronny!
When you put together an adventure video, consider spending about 2 minutes giving insights to cool towns/cafes/friendly businesses you encounter. Your 6 hour radius has a lot of great gems in it, and some quick shout outs can really help the rest of us find/support these places. Just a community oriented thought.
The vibes and music is always spot on with your videos, and I think your followers are here for the two of you and your personalities just as much as the outdoors. People might appreciate some content that shows how you go about research and planning for your adventures too. Of course, we have to balance helping people find ways to access and enjoy the backcountry without encouraging overcrowding in the vein of the instagram effect, but I think y'all can find that sweet spot and encourage people to responsible. Always good to catch up with you when you post something!
First, I totally resonated with your reasons for making the change: there's an amazing amount of solace to be had in stability with regular friends, having an home base...and knowing where to, uh, you know. Love, love, love the idea of videos that cover the nitty gritty of some of your travels! Tracking expenses, planning stops, and avoiding some of those, "oh you must be new to this" type of lessons most of us learn the hard way. Y'all are so natural on camera and tell a great story with each video - excited to see you start this new chapter!
Thank you for saying Hazel is not just a dog. She is family. We treat our pets like kids. Enjoy the next part of your journey together. Excited to watch if you want to keep sharing with all of us!
not to mention Hazel is a beautiful heeler, and I understand when they say she is special, the heeler breed is a special take on dogs. so focused and intense but also loyal and very loving to a small crowd usually.
Great analysis. We are semi-retired and just spent 40 days in our van. Thankful for home base. Decision fatigue is a real thing. Did a ton of planning, but some of the free spirit we wanted was tiring. We love our van and use it often, but full time was never our plan. Younare wise young people.
Reason #4 ... wow! Its so obvious now that you mention it! I did it the old school way: college, job, career, wife, house, kids, retire at 55. House paid off, empty nest! Now we travel in a van but love going home. Van life, for me, will never be better than home sweet home. But, as they say, variety is the spice of life!
First and foremost, we all appreciate the honesty. You both showed not only the best side of living in a van but also the down side. Nothing like being raw & real. I’ve been a long time and all I can say is that you both always put on such great quality to your videos. I am looking forward to your new adventures. I like that you mentioned the Sierras because there is a ton of outdoor things to do. My suggestion for future videos would be some hiking (day hike or backpacking) trip report. There are bunch of 14ers in the Sierras. Definitely some climbing videos and even camping too. With these in mind, a gear video would also be a good idea. Since yall back in Lake Tahoe, maybe a daily vlog would be cool. I’ve also been a huge fan of Victoria’s cooking so that’s a fun idea. I’m just super stoked for your future.
Love all of these ideas! And glad we can be honest with the community here - makes it much easier to keep making these videos with a little less pressure.
I agree with your point about not buying too much van. I have $110k into mine at this point and realize that a less-bougie rig would have honestly worked just as well.
Hey Guys, it is well understood. Your decision is important when you guys are looking to be close to love one or trying to have your own house. In any case, you guys had a bit of an adventure in your personal life that was definitely worth it. And by the way, you can always go back to van life if you find your self wanting to do it again. A++ for this video.
The trip reviews/guides sound extremely helpful! I can't tell you how many times the barrier to getting out for a weekend can be lack of time to plan, etc etc. With a video from our fav outdoor power couple reviewing a camping trip that also summarizes the logistics of it would be A+ in my book! Thank you guys!
I started watching your channel years ago when you were just filming the really exciting powder days in Tahoe. I’m glad you two support each other, I’m sure this was a scary decision to make. I watch your channel for the sierra content! Show us those awesome places in the sierras! Show us the difference in ski resorts up there. More ideas too: Reno in Reno, show us you building your house up that you’re going to nest in. Make sure you don’t have kids because it’ll be something to do for 18 years. Thank you three for the wonderful content. Come say hi if you’re in SF 😄
My husband and I started climbing this year and have slowly been moving outside, which can be pretty intimidating, especially if you don’t have a coach/mentor to learn from. We’d love to see more videos on transitioning from indoor to outdoor climbing, like setting top ropes. We’d also love to learn more about how you both train for your climbing and backpacking trips. Excited for the future of your channel!
The idea of tutorials and trip recaps would be so dope. As my boyfriend and I are getting started on traveling and bigger trips, we would love to hear the details and how to plan! I love where the channel is headed, so excited to see where it goes! ❤
When it comes to the outdoors, there's always something to learn! Glad you and your boyfriend and planning bigger adventures! It can be fun to push yourself and experience some type 2 fun🤣 Thanks for stickin around and watching our videos! -V
The videos you made before you moved into the van of the local Tahoe adventures were some of my favorites!! I'm stoked to see whatever you do moving forward, but that previous genre of adventure videos really felt like you were in your element & loving what you were making & doing!
Just found you guys today and have quickly fallen in love with your vibe/ general nature! Most of your videos are something I've wanted to get out and do but feel like I don't know where to start. Super glad to come along as a fly on the wall!
Sounds like you both have made the right decision. You've done van life, ticked that box. Excited to see the new content, been watching the channel since I started filmmaking in 2018 and your style has always been my reference point for my own channel. See you on the next video! :D
Hi! I love the idea of travel logs. I also just really enjoy watching you have fun (sometimes type 2) in the outdoors/around Tahoe. Watching you do a really fun adventure always inspires me to start planning one of my own, even if it's not necessarily the same hike/climb or even in the same state. The excitement is contagious. I also feel like there's a lot of decision-making that goes into picking a route to climb/ a hike and sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you expected. I'd love to hear more about why you chose to do a certain thing and if it met expectations (am I the only one that often runs into 1000x little dilemmas when trying something new?). Glad you are feeling a little more stable and excited about new things to come.
Glad you like to see us suffer with type 2 fun😅 lol jk we like the struggle sometimes! But YES! There is a lot of pre planning when it comes to outdoor adventures. If we miss a step in the pre planning process, that's when something goes wrong. Of course, there are some uncontrollables but we're looking forward to sharing our process and all the things we've learned over the years☺️ -V
So excited for this next adventure! So glad I DM’ed Victoria about my questions for my trip to Ansel Adams wilderness this summer, seems like you’re already starting to cater your content for people like me. I just started indoor climbing and I have my top rope belay cert, so the best video for me right now would to go from indoor, to outdoor. What that looks like, what gear and safety precautions I should have, what skills I should learn, etc. Thank you both for your wonderful videos that we all love.
Hey girl! So glad I was able to help answer some questions! Can't wait for you to see Thousand Island Lake! Seriously so beautiful:) Stoked to hear that you want to learn how to transition from indoor climbing to outdoor. We definitely plan on doing a video like that soon so be on the look out! Thanks for following along! -V
note to myself: it's so obvious that we need a community for some reason. being a nomad cool but even being a hippi or something has it's own community. we're belong to somewhere. it could be an idea or religious group or some book club. you guys express yourself so good about it. looking forward to see new videos. thanks.
I think it would be cool to see how to plan weekend camping trips. I just moved out to the PNW from Texas and it’s a bit overwhelming seeing all the different options out here. I’m excited to follow along y’all’s journey! Best of luck!
Never stop sharing!! I absolutely love your guy's videos. The way you film, the honesty, the music, all of your adventures. Thank you so much. I'm excited to see what videos you guys come out with along with seeing gear videos and whatnot. :)
Enjoy your videos and glad you recognize what's important. Living out of a van full time is not for everyone! We use our van for weekend or extended trips as a gear hauler with a place to sleep, the rest of the time we live in our home. Look forward to what y'all are going to do next! Adventure on!!
To anyone researching van life, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND looking into travel trailers. It mitigates many of pain points of van life and our truck+trailer rig was ~$72k. We have a place to shower every night if we want, our own bathroom to use, and air conditioning for the warmer days. We go off grid sometimes for about a week to get close to adventures, but a lot of times we’ll stay at rv parks for a month at a time. It’s pretty comforting knowing exactly where you’ll sleep at night. As for where the channel should go, just keep making the stuff you enjoy! Those are the best videos
Your first A6000 video was something that I watched when I was first looking for a camera. Looking back on it today, the quality video you were able to produce was incredible. I still like watching it - especially the tips at the end. You have a lot of talent to share, and combining tech knowledge with outdoorsy stuff is a great combination.
I lived on the road for the last two years and recently decided to plant my roots in Seattle at the beginning of 2023 for a lot of the same reasons you guys listed. I felt like I have lost a sense of community even though I have met some wonderful people on the road. And having to figure out where I was going to sleep, poop :D, and go next ended up taking more time and money than I was hoping to use. You guys make great adventure content whether its out of the van or back home. Best of luck to you both :D
Love that you guys are changing to make sure YOU guys are happy and still excited with what you do! I would LOVE to see some fishing? I haven't seen you guys fish? Maybe you aren't into it, but that would be so fun. Maybe a catch and cook/camp video. That would be so fun. Some good video tutorials like the old days would be awesome too. Or keep doing what you're doing! Camping and backpacking videos. You are amazing! And yes, making these videos IS making the world a better place :)
Thanks for your honesty. I just discovered your videos and really enjoy them. I'm glad you did the van life, but it's realistic to get to a point where you want a change.
I REALLY enjoyed your Mexico City video where you were people watching and trying some food. I know you guys don't consider yourselves city folk but your style of video applied to that setting really was great. Visiting a city through your eyes was a lot of fun. Not too much narration, just good vibes. More please.
first of all - best of luck to you guys. Secondly, as to the direction maybe you can do some videos about survival? What to have, what to do and how to do it?
Thanks for a great video. The points you make about Hazel and how much you love her really hit me. My dog is the main reason that I am not traveling now. I applaud that you care so much for her, and put her happiness and needs on your list. Good luck and God bless.
Love your cattle dog ( I have one too). My husband and I are retired so our girl is with us 24/7 but I can’t imagine living full time in an RV. Just discovered your channel while scrolling. Good luck as you’ve changed direction in your life.
You'll never go wrong following your hearts, so pivot this channel however it works for you. Trent and Allie went from #vanlife to building their own home in the mountains of Utah, and much of their audience followed. So if you want to remodel your house, plant a food forest and get some chickens to become more self-sufficient, I'd be totally down for that. I'm not into climbing, so I'll likely skip those videos, but I love your backpacking and camping adventures around Tahoe. The Sierras are AMAZING, and your videography and storytelling are truly an inspiration, so I'll always be checking in! Heck, we're practically neighbors. Maybe I'll see you at Trader Joe's sometime... :)
Fav part - Now we're just sittin on this rock lol. Change is always tough but it brings out the best moments. You two are awesome. Enjoy the next stage of life!
Your favorites: 1. Top 5 backpacking destination in CA 2. Top 10 trails to day hike in Tahoe 3. What to pack for 1-2 nights backpacking 4. Backpacking clothes/gear suggestions 5. I hope I run into you guys in Tahoe someday!!!! I’m a fannnnnn🤘🏾😎
Good advice based on experience. So many folks live life wondering "what if" and inertia prevents them from trying something new. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for you and and your active life style. Your adventures and photography are spectacular. Love to Hazel!
I love y’all’s content! Excited for y’all’s future! Reviewing gear, definitely “how to do this “videos are fun to watch, how to get started doing something.
I totally understand all your reasons. I enjoy part time vanlife for a long time now and never wanted to change a thing about it. Having a base is so important to me and the older I get the more I need the comfort of a consistent community but I also love my little adventure vehicle, always packed with climbing gear, bike and skis ready to head out for a few days. As a climber you are doing everything right in the video creating department. I'm digging your climbing vids (especially multipitchs) and your editing. There are so many professional climbing videos with very bad color grading 😅
Love seeing your adventure vlog/recaps as it brings inspiration to others. I like the idea of doing a follow up video on how that trip was done/made - from planning all the way to returning home
I occasionally sleep in my 4runner and love camping beachside San Diego! I've always owned a home and feel for peeps who cannot afford to buy one now. Love your channel. Keep having fun! Timmy C Arizona
Really like your decision. ofc I liked your van life content but to be honest my favorite chapter of videos was you two with pickup on the daytrips or short adventures. Mainly because that was something closest what I can do in my life. Looking forward for more :)
Oh man, the expensive rig thing is totally a thing. I sold my first van to live in a bus, and then sold that to live in an old truck camper for this exact reason😅 still stressful but at least not a financial burden.
Also - would love to see high alpine videos from you guys! Love the tutorials and “helpful” videos, but my favorite videos of yours have been those shot in a more cinematic style. Can’t wait to see what you guys do!
Gear reviews dont rev my engine that much since I pretty much have the gear I need and I dont feel the constant itch to upgrade (obviously others experiences are different). I mainly like your vids for the visuals and the vibes. The backpacking vids where youre finding new trails, camping spots, lakes, etc is the sweet spot for this channel, to me. The trip report type vids you were describing sound interesting, as im looking to explore more of the Eastern Sierra this summer as well.
Thank you for sharing your experience, it’s great to hear what are the hardships of this lifestyle, especially for someone contemplating this kind of travel. Many of these sound like the reasons for which I limit my camping trips to 2-3 days, after which I choose the convenience of a hotel room. I like the hipster style of the current videos with long montages with music, La La Land style. I believe Drew Simms said that he was asked to include more such moments in his videos and he also has some nice cooking as a side moment. I live in SoCal so whatever you film from Tahoe to Baja is relevant to my vacation plans. I enjoy seeing outdoor views more than gear reviews, you should aim for your videos to be motivational.
I didn’t understand the whole dog thing, until I had two. They are definitely not just a dog. They are loved as family, and our daily schedule is based on their feeding time. 😅
Thanks for the update. You guys are still a big inspiration for me to get outside and be more adventurous. Loved/love the backpacking, camping, overlanding type videos. Those have been my favorite, by far. The mountain biking videos have been pretty great, too.
I really dug one of your videos where the mic didn’t work or something and it ended up being all music over beautiful footage of a backpacking trip (I think). More of that would be cool, at least occasionally. Anyway, thanks for the inspiration, good keep ‘em coming
thanks for this video. successful (including you two) van life people recommend either keeping your sticks-and-bricks or putting home contents in storage instead of selling everything - in case long term van life doesn't work out for any of a lot of reasons. You were successful for a year, and that is no small achievement. some people can't deal with a weekend in a tent at the local state park, with water, toilets, and showers. as I plan my own adventure, I'm not predicting the future. but it sure is motivation for getting rid of accumulated stuff. maybe i'll stay put, or move to a tiny home in the mountains, or live in a van and love it. don't know yet.
Hey guys, I forgot about your channel for a while and I just stumbled on it again, and I am super glad I did. Love the content, I'll keep watching. Thanks!
Love you guys! I would love to see a video over how y'all got started doing this and how you are able to make it into successful content for RUclips, such as your process in planning, shooting, and editing videos.
Thanks for the update Cody and Victoria! So great to see you two stoked on the new direction and feel that weight lifted off your shoulders. As a member of the channel, I've appreciated your private trip reports, so I'm guessing others would love that type of content on the main channel too (I'm not a member to get exclusive content, but rather, just to support two people who I appreciate. So I wouldn't feel negative about losing an exclusive perk like that). Perhaps another video you could make is recommendations for backpacking areas that lend themselves to different types of trips: weekend beginner to week long advanced, etc. I did your exact Lake Ropi backpacking trip in Desolation after seeing your video, and it was an awesome experience. And if you made those videos, you could source the info and footage from your past trips, repurposing all the great footage you have already shot. Don't be shy to make all that footage do double and triple the work for you! Hopefully could lighten your shooting/editing load and free you up to shoot the stuff you want to most moving forward. In fact, whether it's gear recs, trip recs, or 'things to think about when ____' type of videos, I think you could crank out A LOT of helpful videos with the footage you've already shot --- saving your most creative/shooting/editing energy for the videos that light your fire the most. Hope that is helpful
SUPER HELPFUL and excited to here from someone who is actually invested in the channel. We think it’d be awesome to see other people enjoy the trips that we do. Amazing to hear you did ropi lake. It’s such a great spot and a beautiful hike :) at the end of the day we just want to help people get out there because it really is the best thing in the world to enjoy the outdoors, stay active, and appreciate the wild places this world has to offer.
I feel the whole van expense thing. My wife and I were about to sign the paperwork for an $80K RV to travel around for extended periods of time in, but days before we were like “nah”. We live in northern AZ and can be to amazing places in less than 6 hours, so we stuck with our reliable (fuel efficient) Toyota and just dropped some cash on a better roof racking system and a canvas tent and we are so glad we did so. Feels like we dodged a bullet
Dogs and cats or other pet companions are family so your decision is justified 😊 Me I always make plans around my animals and they are always my top priority 😉
Trip reviews and tips would be great! Like where and how to get permits and how much stuff is, maybe some stuff on leave no trace. Keep up the good work yall I would love to see you guys on some dope Sierra alpine climbs.
Just go adventure and take vids and pics. Camping vids are my fav. I’ll keep watching for sure. You guys have a great vibe so just do whatever you want👍🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
You guys are awesome and I can’t wait to see what what’s next. You should do videos of rock climbing. Rock climbing is on the rise everywhere and this will definitely bring an audience. Come out to different states and do videos of their local climbing areas. And if you ever come to NY we should hang out in the gunks. 😊
Hands down my favourite video from you guys was the Grand Tetons! The story telling, music, cinematography, photography everything about it was perfect (in my mind) and has stuck with me as my personal favourite, if I show someone your channel I direct them to that video specifically because it made me feel so warm and happy :)) full of excitement and curiosity at where my future could go too. Now I’m from Scotland so it’s not close to the Americas at all but that’s the dream ay :) Thanks for sharing your story and life with us, I cannot wait to see more alpine adventures!!! (Alpine and Snow are usually my favourite too)
You may well have already done this, but I would love for you to post a behind the scenes video as a follow-up to a normal adventure video. I just this past week tried to vlog/document a national park trip and it was just as hard as I expected. So much foresight had to go into getting shots, and I mostly just forgot. I'd love to see even like a BTS Go Pro video of you talking through shots and stuff like that. Maybe a boring idea, but I'd love to see that!
doing some research on orgs n such that make the outdoors more accessible to diverse groups and class groups would be really cool! a lot of people would really appreciate that i'm sure :)
Congrats guys! Love being on this journey with you both. Are you planning on creating another ‘over-landing’ setup with your new vehicle, similar to your truck for your adventures now? If so, videos on that would be awesome! Also comparison videos/similarities of going from life in a decked out van, to now in an SUV for travelling and adventuring? Of course all the adventure videos are great, gear videos are also super fun to watch. I miss some of the old photography / videography videos! Maybe incorporating some more of that back? What gear you use to make videos, how you setup shots, etc. Can’t wait to see what you come up with! 🧡
Thanks for all of the advice. We’re going to get some sort of “crummy” vehicle for adventures that we can beat up and not worry about it too much. Whether that’s a van or an SUV or what we’re not sure yet. But I’m sure we’ll make a video. :) maybe we can do one or two videos about our camera setup and how we make videos as well!
I bought a 1979 dodge camper van with a shower and pooper with a fridge and stove and furnace thing is fully loaded for $6500. Easy to fix if need to. I don’t live in it but I travel a lot, can’t believe the prices for these vans these days
Please share info on Leave No Trace and nature conservation to those looking to do more activities outside by watching yall. It's essential for protecting our wild spaces. Good luck on this next part of your adventure!
Whatever videos you make I'll watch. I'm into landscape photography and videography so I really enjoy the B-roll and amazing shots you two get. I'd also love gear and trip reviews like you said.
Love the way you guys document and share your lives. Im all for good quality videos, but im here cause i've loved keeping up with and watching your adventures. My favorites have been your backpacking videos, like in the Tetons or Kings Canyon. So i'd love to see more of those! Either way, i'll love all your future videos. Thanks for keeping it real 🤙🏼
Welcome back home to the year round playground, plenty to vlog about living at Tahoe. Full time van life gets tough i bet, nice to have a home base for sure. A backpack trip into desolation would be awesome, also a rim trail trip i think people would enjoy seeing. ✌️😀
Glad that y’all are stoked for the future! It would be neat to do more “couple focused videos as alot of the gear videos out there are for solo backpacking. Also any info on hazels gear/ ways to expose dogs to more aggressive outdoor adventures? Love the videos!!
I've been subbed for a while and I love your videos! I am moving to Petaluma at the end of June and I am super stoked for the adventures that await! I personally would love to see videos exploring the areas around you. Bonus for hidden gems that are not super well known. For example, when I lived in the PNW, we drove to a waterfall called panther creek falls which was really only a locally known spot and it was spectacular!
Dogs are family, not an object. Love all animals and people who respect them . But I'm fixing my van up now getting ready to travel. To each their own and hope your happy with your choices.
How about some super beginner tutorials on how to hike. I often hit the mountain with city people and even just learning to get the right footing is vital to having an enjoyable experience on a hiking trail. Obviously alot it down to practice, but some tips and tricks are always helpful. Good luck and happy trails to you both🤙🏼
I can see your point #3. I wonder how people with $300,00 vans travel. It will make me nervous to feel that someone may break in while you are sleeping.
![DDG & G Herbo - Nosey [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I9Ra0Zc2NlQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for watching! Let us know what videos you want to see 🙏🏼👇🏼 Also we always forget to ask… but maybe click that subscribe button? 😬
Climbing all the way! Keep it up.
what font do you use for the sections? (the white text)
My $.02: I wouldn't change anything to be honest. When you get out, bring us along if you can while still keeping it fun for you. I think most of us watch for a little outdoor adventure inspiration when we're unable to be out there too. You do such a great job doing that via your cinematography, editing, and chemistry. It's rad seeing people enjoy the stuff you do as well. So if it's Tahoe, the Sierras, or Mexico, it doesn't really matter. We're just psyched because you are too and for a few minutes we can share a sliver of that.
I think this video was more along the lines of you guys moving onto the next chapter than quitting van life which is so great. Both of you are authentic and so is your relationship, so keep making videos around YOU. You are the secret sauce, not the van, not the camera, not anything else but YOU. So as long as you guys keep documenting and telling us stories, the views shall keep rolling. Having said that, I'd love to learn from you guys more on how to plan and execute shorter weekend trips. Day hikes and such too. Anyway, good to see you guys feel a bit more at peace with this new change and I wish you the best on the next chapter!
Thanks so much for the support 🙏🏼 I’ll admit, feeling like we are the secret sauce is tough for us 😅 but we’re trying to embrace it a little more, be ourselves, and continue doing the things we want to do. We just want to add a tiny bit more value from time to time and give ourselves a little more direction. Preciate ya Ronny!
When you put together an adventure video, consider spending about 2 minutes giving insights to cool towns/cafes/friendly businesses you encounter. Your 6 hour radius has a lot of great gems in it, and some quick shout outs can really help the rest of us find/support these places. Just a community oriented thought.
The vibes and music is always spot on with your videos, and I think your followers are here for the two of you and your personalities just as much as the outdoors. People might appreciate some content that shows how you go about research and planning for your adventures too. Of course, we have to balance helping people find ways to access and enjoy the backcountry without encouraging overcrowding in the vein of the instagram effect, but I think y'all can find that sweet spot and encourage people to responsible. Always good to catch up with you when you post something!
Let us know what you choose to do and if we can help!
First, I totally resonated with your reasons for making the change: there's an amazing amount of solace to be had in stability with regular friends, having an home base...and knowing where to, uh, you know.
Love, love, love the idea of videos that cover the nitty gritty of some of your travels! Tracking expenses, planning stops, and avoiding some of those, "oh you must be new to this" type of lessons most of us learn the hard way. Y'all are so natural on camera and tell a great story with each video - excited to see you start this new chapter!
Thanks for the feedback! We’re very much looking forward to stability in “regular” life and chaos on our adventures 😅
Thank you for saying Hazel is not just a dog. She is family. We treat our pets like kids. Enjoy the next part of your journey together. Excited to watch if you want to keep sharing with all of us!
not to mention Hazel is a beautiful heeler, and I understand when they say she is special, the heeler breed is a special take on dogs. so focused and intense but also loyal and very loving to a small crowd usually.
Great analysis. We are semi-retired and just spent 40 days in our van. Thankful for home base. Decision fatigue is a real thing. Did a ton of planning, but some of the free spirit we wanted was tiring. We love our van and use it often, but full time was never our plan. Younare wise young people.
We’re currently working on a part time setup and couldn’t be more excited to have the best of both
Reason #4 ... wow! Its so obvious now that you mention it! I did it the old school way: college, job, career, wife, house, kids, retire at 55. House paid off, empty nest! Now we travel in a van but love going home. Van life, for me, will never be better than home sweet home. But, as they say, variety is the spice of life!
I love traveling but I always love coming home…I will never give up my home base. Great video thanks for sharing
First and foremost, we all appreciate the honesty. You both showed not only the best side of living in a van but also the down side. Nothing like being raw & real. I’ve been a long time and all I can say is that you both always put on such great quality to your videos. I am looking forward to your new adventures. I like that you mentioned the Sierras because there is a ton of outdoor things to do. My suggestion for future videos would be some hiking (day hike or backpacking) trip report. There are bunch of 14ers in the Sierras. Definitely some climbing videos and even camping too. With these in mind, a gear video would also be a good idea. Since yall back in Lake Tahoe, maybe a daily vlog would be cool. I’ve also been a huge fan of Victoria’s cooking so that’s a fun idea. I’m just super stoked for your future.
Love all of these ideas! And glad we can be honest with the community here - makes it much easier to keep making these videos with a little less pressure.
I agree with your point about not buying too much van. I have $110k into mine at this point and realize that a less-bougie rig would have honestly worked just as well.
Hey Guys, it is well understood. Your decision is important when you guys are looking to be close to love one or trying to have your own house. In any case, you guys had a bit of an adventure in your personal life that was definitely worth it. And by the way, you can always go back to van life if you find your self wanting to do it again. A++ for this video.
The trip reviews/guides sound extremely helpful! I can't tell you how many times the barrier to getting out for a weekend can be lack of time to plan, etc etc. With a video from our fav outdoor power couple reviewing a camping trip that also summarizes the logistics of it would be A+ in my book! Thank you guys!
Looking forward to the new direction this is going. Travel, gear, costs, planning. Keep up the great work guys!
I started watching your channel years ago when you were just filming the really exciting powder days in Tahoe. I’m glad you two support each other, I’m sure this was a scary decision to make. I watch your channel for the sierra content!
Show us those awesome places in the sierras! Show us the difference in ski resorts up there. More ideas too: Reno in Reno, show us you building your house up that you’re going to nest in. Make sure you don’t have kids because it’ll be something to do for 18 years. Thank you three for the wonderful content. Come say hi if you’re in SF 😄
My husband and I started climbing this year and have slowly been moving outside, which can be pretty intimidating, especially if you don’t have a coach/mentor to learn from. We’d love to see more videos on transitioning from indoor to outdoor climbing, like setting top ropes. We’d also love to learn more about how you both train for your climbing and backpacking trips. Excited for the future of your channel!
Yes! Really want to do a top rope video sometime soon 🙌🏼
The idea of tutorials and trip recaps would be so dope. As my boyfriend and I are getting started on traveling and bigger trips, we would love to hear the details and how to plan! I love where the channel is headed, so excited to see where it goes! ❤
When it comes to the outdoors, there's always something to learn! Glad you and your boyfriend and planning bigger adventures! It can be fun to push yourself and experience some type 2 fun🤣 Thanks for stickin around and watching our videos!
-V
The videos you made before you moved into the van of the local Tahoe adventures were some of my favorites!! I'm stoked to see whatever you do moving forward, but that previous genre of adventure videos really felt like you were in your element & loving what you were making & doing!
I think that IS our element and we got sucked into van life with rose colored glasses. Stoked to get back to our roots here soon
I really appreciate your honesty! I think you should do what ever makes you happy! Thank you for sharing 😊❤
Just found you guys today and have quickly fallen in love with your vibe/ general nature! Most of your videos are something I've wanted to get out and do but feel like I don't know where to start. Super glad to come along as a fly on the wall!
Hey something like 4 years ago we didn’t know where to start either. You can get there! Thanks for hanging out 🤘🏼
i love that idea for the channel! getting into the details on how to make a trip happen. i for sure would love that!
Good planning is the key to a successful adventure! Looking forward to sharing a bit of our process💪
-V
Sounds like you both have made the right decision. You've done van life, ticked that box. Excited to see the new content, been watching the channel since I started filmmaking in 2018 and your style has always been my reference point for my own channel. See you on the next video! :D
Hi! I love the idea of travel logs. I also just really enjoy watching you have fun (sometimes type 2) in the outdoors/around Tahoe. Watching you do a really fun adventure always inspires me to start planning one of my own, even if it's not necessarily the same hike/climb or even in the same state. The excitement is contagious. I also feel like there's a lot of decision-making that goes into picking a route to climb/ a hike and sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you expected. I'd love to hear more about why you chose to do a certain thing and if it met expectations (am I the only one that often runs into 1000x little dilemmas when trying something new?). Glad you are feeling a little more stable and excited about new things to come.
Glad you like to see us suffer with type 2 fun😅 lol jk we like the struggle sometimes!
But YES! There is a lot of pre planning when it comes to outdoor adventures. If we miss a step in the pre planning process, that's when something goes wrong. Of course, there are some uncontrollables but we're looking forward to sharing our process and all the things we've learned over the years☺️
-V
So excited for this next adventure! So glad I DM’ed Victoria about my questions for my trip to Ansel Adams wilderness this summer, seems like you’re already starting to cater your content for people like me. I just started indoor climbing and I have my top rope belay cert, so the best video for me right now would to go from indoor, to outdoor. What that looks like, what gear and safety precautions I should have, what skills I should learn, etc.
Thank you both for your wonderful videos that we all love.
Hey girl! So glad I was able to help answer some questions! Can't wait for you to see Thousand Island Lake! Seriously so beautiful:)
Stoked to hear that you want to learn how to transition from indoor climbing to outdoor. We definitely plan on doing a video like that soon so be on the look out! Thanks for following along!
-V
I’d love a video on how to get started with backpacking/ any recommended training for a total newbie! Can’t wait to see more of your adventures.
note to myself: it's so obvious that we need a community for some reason. being a nomad cool but even being a hippi or something has it's own community. we're belong to somewhere. it could be an idea or religious group or some book club. you guys express yourself so good about it. looking forward to see new videos. thanks.
Definitely. No matter what it is - being alone out there isn’t it.
I think it would be cool to see how to plan weekend camping trips. I just moved out to the PNW from Texas and it’s a bit overwhelming seeing all the different options out here. I’m excited to follow along y’all’s journey! Best of luck!
Never stop sharing!!
I absolutely love your guy's videos. The way you film, the honesty, the music, all of your adventures. Thank you so much. I'm excited to see what videos you guys come out with along with seeing gear videos and whatnot. :)
Thanks as always Alissa. We won’t stop anytime soon 😋
Enjoy your videos and glad you recognize what's important. Living out of a van full time is not for everyone! We use our van for weekend or extended trips as a gear hauler with a place to sleep, the rest of the time we live in our home.
Look forward to what y'all are going to do next! Adventure on!!
To anyone researching van life, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND looking into travel trailers. It mitigates many of pain points of van life and our truck+trailer rig was ~$72k. We have a place to shower every night if we want, our own bathroom to use, and air conditioning for the warmer days. We go off grid sometimes for about a week to get close to adventures, but a lot of times we’ll stay at rv parks for a month at a time. It’s pretty comforting knowing exactly where you’ll sleep at night.
As for where the channel should go, just keep making the stuff you enjoy! Those are the best videos
Your first A6000 video was something that I watched when I was first looking for a camera. Looking back on it today, the quality video you were able to produce was incredible. I still like watching it - especially the tips at the end. You have a lot of talent to share, and combining tech knowledge with outdoorsy stuff is a great combination.
I lived on the road for the last two years and recently decided to plant my roots in Seattle at the beginning of 2023 for a lot of the same reasons you guys listed. I felt like I have lost a sense of community even though I have met some wonderful people on the road. And having to figure out where I was going to sleep, poop :D, and go next ended up taking more time and money than I was hoping to use. You guys make great adventure content whether its out of the van or back home. Best of luck to you both :D
Love that you guys are changing to make sure YOU guys are happy and still excited with what you do! I would LOVE to see some fishing? I haven't seen you guys fish? Maybe you aren't into it, but that would be so fun. Maybe a catch and cook/camp video. That would be so fun. Some good video tutorials like the old days would be awesome too. Or keep doing what you're doing! Camping and backpacking videos. You are amazing! And yes, making these videos IS making the world a better place :)
Thanks for your honesty. I just discovered your videos and really enjoy them. I'm glad you did the van life, but it's realistic to get to a point where you want a change.
Thanks so much for watching Colin 🙏🏼🙏🏼
I REALLY enjoyed your Mexico City video where you were people watching and trying some food. I know you guys don't consider yourselves city folk but your style of video applied to that setting really was great. Visiting a city through your eyes was a lot of fun. Not too much narration, just good vibes. More please.
first of all - best of luck to you guys. Secondly, as to the direction maybe you can do some videos about survival? What to have, what to do and how to do it?
Thanks for a great video. The points you make about Hazel and how much you love her really hit me. My dog is the main reason that I am not traveling now. I applaud that you care so much for her, and put her happiness and needs on your list. Good luck and God bless.
Love your cattle dog ( I have one too). My husband and I are retired so our girl is with us 24/7 but I can’t imagine living full time in an RV. Just discovered your channel while scrolling. Good luck as you’ve changed direction in your life.
Thanks so much! Hope you stick around 🙏🏼
@@codyandvictoria yes, I subscribed 👍
You'll never go wrong following your hearts, so pivot this channel however it works for you. Trent and Allie went from #vanlife to building their own home in the mountains of Utah, and much of their audience followed. So if you want to remodel your house, plant a food forest and get some chickens to become more self-sufficient, I'd be totally down for that. I'm not into climbing, so I'll likely skip those videos, but I love your backpacking and camping adventures around Tahoe. The Sierras are AMAZING, and your videography and storytelling are truly an inspiration, so I'll always be checking in! Heck, we're practically neighbors. Maybe I'll see you at Trader Joe's sometime... :)
Fav part - Now we're just sittin on this rock lol. Change is always tough but it brings out the best moments. You two are awesome. Enjoy the next stage of life!
Haha living out our purpose
Happy for you guys. I could already tell from the start of the video you guys were already more relaxed. Excited for everything new coming
Atleast you tried. Most things in life are that way. Experience Is The Best Teacher when it does
Your favorites:
1. Top 5 backpacking destination in CA
2. Top 10 trails to day hike in Tahoe
3. What to pack for 1-2 nights backpacking
4. Backpacking clothes/gear suggestions
5. I hope I run into you guys in Tahoe someday!!!! I’m a fannnnnn🤘🏾😎
Good advice based on experience. So many folks live life wondering "what if" and inertia prevents them from trying something new. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for you and and your active life style. Your adventures and photography are spectacular. Love to Hazel!
I love y’all’s content! Excited for y’all’s future! Reviewing gear, definitely “how to do this “videos are fun to watch, how to get started doing something.
I totally understand all your reasons. I enjoy part time vanlife for a long time now and never wanted to change a thing about it. Having a base is so important to me and the older I get the more I need the comfort of a consistent community but I also love my little adventure vehicle, always packed with climbing gear, bike and skis ready to head out for a few days.
As a climber you are doing everything right in the video creating department. I'm digging your climbing vids (especially multipitchs) and your editing. There are so many professional climbing videos with very bad color grading 😅
Much appreciated Tim. I agree, some professionals videos could use a little more polish haha. Stoked to get on some alpine routes this summer
Congratulations! Best of luck on your new beginnings. Happy for you all! Thank you for sharing great content.
Thank you for your honesty 🙋♀️🙋♀️
Love seeing your adventure vlog/recaps as it brings inspiration to others. I like the idea of doing a follow up video on how that trip was done/made - from planning all the way to returning home
I occasionally sleep in my 4runner and love camping beachside San Diego! I've always owned a home and feel for peeps who cannot afford to buy one now. Love your channel. Keep having fun! Timmy C Arizona
Really like your decision. ofc I liked your van life content but to be honest my favorite chapter of videos was you two with pickup on the daytrips or short adventures. Mainly because that was something closest what I can do in my life. Looking forward for more :)
Oh man, the expensive rig thing is totally a thing. I sold my first van to live in a bus, and then sold that to live in an old truck camper for this exact reason😅 still stressful but at least not a financial burden.
Financial burdens ruin ALL of the fun. Can’t wait to have a beat up adventure vehicle again.
Also - would love to see high alpine videos from you guys! Love the tutorials and “helpful” videos, but my favorite videos of yours have been those shot in a more cinematic style. Can’t wait to see what you guys do!
Gear reviews dont rev my engine that much since I pretty much have the gear I need and I dont feel the constant itch to upgrade (obviously others experiences are different). I mainly like your vids for the visuals and the vibes. The backpacking vids where youre finding new trails, camping spots, lakes, etc is the sweet spot for this channel, to me. The trip report type vids you were describing sound interesting, as im looking to explore more of the Eastern Sierra this summer as well.
Heck yeah! Sounds like we’re on the same page. Gotta do some gear stuff for the newer people - but definitely more trail content on the horizon!
Thank you for sharing your experience, it’s great to hear what are the hardships of this lifestyle, especially for someone contemplating this kind of travel. Many of these sound like the reasons for which I limit my camping trips to 2-3 days, after which I choose the convenience of a hotel room.
I like the hipster style of the current videos with long montages with music, La La Land style. I believe Drew Simms said that he was asked to include more such moments in his videos and he also has some nice cooking as a side moment.
I live in SoCal so whatever you film from Tahoe to Baja is relevant to my vacation plans. I enjoy seeing outdoor views more than gear reviews, you should aim for your videos to be motivational.
I didn’t understand the whole dog thing, until I had two. They are definitely not just a dog. They are loved as family, and our daily schedule is based on their feeding time. 😅
Haha we definitely plan around the dog for sure
Tutorials on travel planning sounds sickkk. As someone who has goals to travel more that would be extremely helpful!
Thanks for the update. You guys are still a big inspiration for me to get outside and be more adventurous. Loved/love the backpacking, camping, overlanding type videos. Those have been my favorite, by far. The mountain biking videos have been pretty great, too.
Ah yes biking would be great too. We miss our bikes and riding the local trails.
I really dug one of your videos where the mic didn’t work or something and it ended up being all music over beautiful footage of a backpacking trip (I think). More of that would be cool, at least occasionally. Anyway, thanks for the inspiration, good keep ‘em coming
thanks for this video. successful (including you two) van life people recommend either keeping your sticks-and-bricks or putting home contents in storage instead of selling everything - in case long term van life doesn't work out for any of a lot of reasons. You were successful for a year, and that is no small achievement. some people can't deal with a weekend in a tent at the local state park, with water, toilets, and showers.
as I plan my own adventure, I'm not predicting the future. but it sure is motivation for getting rid of accumulated stuff. maybe i'll stay put, or move to a tiny home in the mountains, or live in a van and love it. don't know yet.
Please spotlight all of the various mountain bike trails in the area. Wishing you the best next chapter!!
Love the trip report idea! Especially the focus on how we can replicate trips with the focus on logistics.
Hey guys, I forgot about your channel for a while and I just stumbled on it again, and I am super glad I did. Love the content, I'll keep watching. Thanks!
Ah so glad you’re back! Hope you stick around 🤙🏼
Happy to see the shift back to Tahoe. I found you pre van life videos more relatable. I look forward to seeing more adventures in the Sierra’s!
Yeah we really miss the old stuff too. It’s coming back ASAP
Love you guys! I would love to see a video over how y'all got started doing this and how you are able to make it into successful content for RUclips, such as your process in planning, shooting, and editing videos.
This is as real as it gets. Thank you for sharing your story.
Would love to see something along the lines of detailed travel guides with spots, routes, gear tips, etc…🤙
Thanks for the update Cody and Victoria! So great to see you two stoked on the new direction and feel that weight lifted off your shoulders. As a member of the channel, I've appreciated your private trip reports, so I'm guessing others would love that type of content on the main channel too (I'm not a member to get exclusive content, but rather, just to support two people who I appreciate. So I wouldn't feel negative about losing an exclusive perk like that). Perhaps another video you could make is recommendations for backpacking areas that lend themselves to different types of trips: weekend beginner to week long advanced, etc. I did your exact Lake Ropi backpacking trip in Desolation after seeing your video, and it was an awesome experience. And if you made those videos, you could source the info and footage from your past trips, repurposing all the great footage you have already shot. Don't be shy to make all that footage do double and triple the work for you! Hopefully could lighten your shooting/editing load and free you up to shoot the stuff you want to most moving forward. In fact, whether it's gear recs, trip recs, or 'things to think about when ____' type of videos, I think you could crank out A LOT of helpful videos with the footage you've already shot --- saving your most creative/shooting/editing energy for the videos that light your fire the most. Hope that is helpful
SUPER HELPFUL and excited to here from someone who is actually invested in the channel. We think it’d be awesome to see other people enjoy the trips that we do. Amazing to hear you did ropi lake. It’s such a great spot and a beautiful hike :) at the end of the day we just want to help people get out there because it really is the best thing in the world to enjoy the outdoors, stay active, and appreciate the wild places this world has to offer.
I feel the whole van expense thing.
My wife and I were about to sign the paperwork for an $80K RV to travel around for extended periods of time in, but days before we were like “nah”.
We live in northern AZ and can be to amazing places in less than 6 hours, so we stuck with our reliable (fuel efficient) Toyota and just dropped some cash on a better roof racking system and a canvas tent and we are so glad we did so. Feels like we dodged a bullet
Hey you get it! That’s probably the best way to go
Dogs and cats or other pet companions are family so your decision is justified 😊 Me I always make plans around my animals and they are always my top priority 😉
Trip reviews and tips would be great! Like where and how to get permits and how much stuff is, maybe some stuff on leave no trace. Keep up the good work yall I would love to see you guys on some dope Sierra alpine climbs.
Definitely some outdoor climbing tutorials/gear recommendations for people getting into climbing outside.
Just go adventure and take vids and pics. Camping vids are my fav. I’ll keep watching for sure. You guys have a great vibe so just do whatever you want👍🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
I would like to see a video of you gold panning & exploring the small towns along Rt. 49
so happy to see you guys following your heart and intuition! i could stare at this setting forever btw! take me here haha hope to see more of guys xo
You guys are awesome and I can’t wait to see what what’s next. You should do videos of rock climbing. Rock climbing is on the rise everywhere and this will definitely bring an audience. Come out to different states and do videos of their local climbing areas. And if you ever come to NY we should hang out in the gunks. 😊
Backpacking and climbing videos!! Excited for this new change for y’all 🏔️
Everyone loves backpacking it seems 😍 We definitely want to do more of it this year
Hands down my favourite video from you guys was the Grand Tetons!
The story telling, music, cinematography, photography everything about it was perfect (in my mind) and has stuck with me as my personal favourite, if I show someone your channel I direct them to that video specifically because it made me feel so warm and happy :)) full of excitement and curiosity at where my future could go too. Now I’m from Scotland so it’s not close to the Americas at all but that’s the dream ay :)
Thanks for sharing your story and life with us, I cannot wait to see more alpine adventures!!! (Alpine and Snow are usually my favourite too)
Thanks so much for the feedback. We LOVE that video too and want to get back to more of that style :)
You may well have already done this, but I would love for you to post a behind the scenes video as a follow-up to a normal adventure video. I just this past week tried to vlog/document a national park trip and it was just as hard as I expected. So much foresight had to go into getting shots, and I mostly just forgot. I'd love to see even like a BTS Go Pro video of you talking through shots and stuff like that. Maybe a boring idea, but I'd love to see that!
Definitely some sort of BTS video in our future. I don’t know when, but we’ll try to make that happen
doing some research on orgs n such that make the outdoors more accessible to diverse groups and class groups would be really cool! a lot of people would really appreciate that i'm sure :)
Stoked to see which direction you guys will go. I could see you somewhere in between a truck and van. Maybe a truck camper for some extended trips?
Would be awesome!
Congrats guys! Love being on this journey with you both.
Are you planning on creating another ‘over-landing’ setup with your new vehicle, similar to your truck for your adventures now? If so, videos on that would be awesome! Also comparison videos/similarities of going from life in a decked out van, to now in an SUV for travelling and adventuring? Of course all the adventure videos are great, gear videos are also super fun to watch. I miss some of the old photography / videography videos! Maybe incorporating some more of that back? What gear you use to make videos, how you setup shots, etc.
Can’t wait to see what you come up with! 🧡
Thanks for all of the advice. We’re going to get some sort of “crummy” vehicle for adventures that we can beat up and not worry about it too much. Whether that’s a van or an SUV or what we’re not sure yet. But I’m sure we’ll make a video. :) maybe we can do one or two videos about our camera setup and how we make videos as well!
I bought a 1979 dodge camper van with a shower and pooper with a fridge and stove and furnace thing is fully loaded for $6500. Easy to fix if need to. I don’t live in it but I travel a lot, can’t believe the prices for these vans these days
Man, the knowing where to poop thing is defiantly my number 1. Haha
Yes! Adventure edits are a great idea!
Please share info on Leave No Trace and nature conservation to those looking to do more activities outside by watching yall. It's essential for protecting our wild spaces. Good luck on this next part of your adventure!
100%. An important point
Praying for you all !
Whatever videos you make I'll watch. I'm into landscape photography and videography so I really enjoy the B-roll and amazing shots you two get. I'd also love gear and trip reviews like you said.
Sweet!!
Love the way you guys document and share your lives. Im all for good quality videos, but im here cause i've loved keeping up with and watching your adventures. My favorites have been your backpacking videos, like in the Tetons or Kings Canyon. So i'd love to see more of those! Either way, i'll love all your future videos. Thanks for keeping it real 🤙🏼
Thank YOU for keeping it real. We definitely want to get back to those wilderness adventures so I think you’ll be stoked to see where we’re headed.
Welcome back home to the year round playground, plenty to vlog about living at Tahoe. Full time van life gets tough i bet, nice to have a home base for sure. A backpack trip into desolation would be awesome, also a rim trail trip i think people would enjoy seeing. ✌️😀
Been following since the earliest days of a6300 tutorials! All the best with the next chapter °¬)
I guess showing us more of Tahoe would be awesome. That area of the country is one part we have not travelled to.
Glad that y’all are stoked for the future! It would be neat to do more “couple focused videos as alot of the gear videos out there are for solo backpacking. Also any info on hazels gear/ ways to expose dogs to more aggressive outdoor adventures? Love the videos!!
I've been subbed for a while and I love your videos! I am moving to Petaluma at the end of June and I am super stoked for the adventures that await! I personally would love to see videos exploring the areas around you. Bonus for hidden gems that are not super well known. For example, when I lived in the PNW, we drove to a waterfall called panther creek falls which was really only a locally known spot and it was spectacular!
All for trip and gear reviews. A lot goes into planning adventures, feel as though it's valuable to share this!
Totally understand. I use my van for yearly adventures 2-3 months a year. BALLANCE
Dogs are family, not an object. Love all animals and people who respect them . But I'm fixing my van up now getting ready to travel. To each their own and hope your happy with your choices.
How about some super beginner tutorials on how to hike. I often hit the mountain with city people and even just learning to get the right footing is vital to having an enjoyable experience on a hiking trail. Obviously alot it down to practice, but some tips and tricks are always helpful. Good luck and happy trails to you both🤙🏼
Thanks for the recommendation! We definitely need some beginner stuff on the channel
I can see your point #3. I wonder how people with $300,00 vans travel. It will make me nervous to feel that someone may break in while you are sleeping.