My Online Store Is Finally Up and Running!

Videos

I’m super excited to announce that my online store is finally live! It’s called Kamchatka Gear, named after a wild and remote region of far eastern Russia that I’ve long been fascinated with. In the video below, I explain a bit more about the site and my plans for it moving forward. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

And here are the Instagram and YouTube channel links: Instagram and YouTube.

The End of My SUV Camping Adventure

Videos

All good things must come to an end, and in this video I finish up my monthlong SUV camping road trip. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

GPS Coordinates
* Ross Falls trailhead: 42.2166, -114.2876
* Ross Falls: 42.2148, -114.2898
* FS Flats: 42.1540, -114.2586
* Phantom Falls trailhead: 42.1085, -114.1265
* Phantom Falls: 42.0913, -114.1313
* Window Arch: 42.0760, -113.7173
* Campsite: 41.951767, -113.328352

Flying Cameras, Sandboarding & More in Southern Idaho!

Videos

In this video I check out some of the best and most beautiful areas that southern Idaho has to offer. I was really impressed with this part of the state and found several areas that I’d like to go back to in the future. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

GPS COORDINATES
* Oolite Interpretive Trail: 42.840935, -116.117302
* Box Canyon State Park: 42.709855, -114.791879
* Balanced Rock: 42.547313, -114.958352
* Campsite: 42.300782, -114.350618

(Mis)Adventures in Oregon and Idaho

Videos

In today’s video I explore some stunning natural landscapes in far eastern Oregon, check out an amazing waterfall in Idaho, find some incredible campsites that ultimately don’t work out, and have a couple of uncomfortably close animal encounters. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

GPS COORDINATES
* Charbonneau Grave: 42.951990, -117.339263
* Leslie Gulch: 43.298921, -117.269965
* Owyhee Reservoir: 43.321973, -117.328647
* Succor Creek: 43.472184, -117.123493
* Jump Creek Falls: 43.476924, -116.925027
* Celebration Park: 43.299834, -116.522404
* Buggy canyon rim campsites: 43.2355, -116.3676
* Campsite: 43.241047, -116.353948

One of America’s Greatest Drives!

Videos

Mountain drives! Wild horses! A hunt for Native American rock art! Volcanic craters! This video has it all! I continue to explore SE Oregon and have a great time doing it, even though unexpected private lands foil my plans on a few occasions. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

GPS COORDINATES
* Krumbo Reservoir rock art boulder: 42.9564, -118.8369
* Lava Pit Crater: 43.0758, -118.7569
* East Twin Crater: 43.0974, -118.8060
* Malheur Maar: 43.1040, -118.8165
* Campsite: Approximately 42.8420, -117.6926

How I Use a Tablet on My Vandwelling and Car Camping Adventures

Videos

I’ve been traveling in very remote areas for the past week and a half and haven’t had the time or internet bandwidth to edit and upload a travel vlog, so I threw together this little video showing how I use my cheapo tablet when I’m on the road. Expect a full-length video sometime in the next week. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO
* Fire 7 tablet from Amazon – This tablet retails for $50 but can be had for around $35 on Prime Day and Black Friday, among other days.
* eTopxizu Keyboard Case For Fire 7 – Note that I think the tablet I have is the previous generation than the one I linked to above, and I’m not positive that the case will fit the newest generation. It may fit, or there may be a newer model available.
* SanDisk 64GB micro SD card

(All of these are Amazon affiliate links)

Bill’s Setup for Sleeping/Camping in a Jeep Patriot

Articles

SUV RVing reader/viewer Bill sent me some photos and details about his great SUV camping/sleeping setup. He’s got a 2016 Jeep Patriot Latitude. He bought it this year as certified pre-owned rental. From Bill:

“When I originally starting looking at cars I was thinking of getting something large like a Ford Expedition, I had one before and like it. Ultimately, I chose the Jeep Patriot for pricing and gas mileage considerations. I haven’t  done much or spent any money beyond buying screen and some dollar store items.”

And here are the pics of Bill’s setup. All text in quotes is directly from Bill:

Bill's camping gear stored in the back of his Patriot before the sleeping platform is set up.
Bill’s camping gear stored in the back of his Patriot before the sleeping setup is set up.
Another look at Bill's gear. The green bin is the pantry and holds kitchen supplies.
Another look at Bill’s gear. The green bin is the pantry and holds kitchen supplies. Regarding dealing with his stuff when it’s time for bed: “I usually leave the stuff outside of the jeep next to it or on the roof. I can put everything in the jeep and still sleep in there but it is a little cramped and messy. I’ve done it a couple of times, once when it was raining and I slept at a rest stop one night on the way to the beach.”
The bed and platform.
The bed and platform. “I had a piece of pressboard in the garage so I have been using that [as a sleeping platform]. I push the passenger seat all the way forward and put the pressboard on the armrest. There is a bit of a slope but not too bad. I generally sleep slightly elevated at home for snoring issues. You can’t see it, but there is a self inflating backing mattress under the sleeping bag. I have a warmer (winter) bag as well. The lows were in the 70s on my last trip.”
A side look at the sleeping platform.
A side look at the sleeping platform.
"I bought screen for less than $10 at Walmart and cut them to fit my four windows. I sealed the edges with black duct tape. I am currently using painters tape to put them on the windows but will probably get some magnates eventually."
“I bought screen for less than $10 at Walmart and cut them to fit my four windows. I sealed the edges with black duct tape. I am currently using painters tape to put them on the windows but will probably get some magnets eventually. I haven’t had any problems with the tape sticking to the jeep but I didn’t try to put them on when it was raining. I imagine it wouldn’t stick them. I don’t like the tape because of the bright blue color. I would prefer not to attract to much attention.”
“Behind the passenger seat I stow a Coleman stove (my parents bought it around the time I was born), fuel, charcoal (I buy aluminum pans from the dollar store for a makeshift barbeque), and a propane canister (I have a backpacking type burner in the green tub).”
"My kitchen setup and my dollar store makeshift barbeque. I am on the lookout for a cheep non messy portable barbeque."
“My dollar store makeshift barbeque. I am on the lookout for a cheap non messy portable barbeque.”
Bill's stove
Bill’s stove
Home sweet home
Home sweet home

And Bill added one more thing:

“I have found the bottom part of the back seat removes easily. I may do this for longer trips. I allows for a lot more storage. I believe I could put my ice chest or green tub in the space.”

Thanks for sharing your setup with everyone, Bill!

Cooking, Showering, Geysers & More!

Videos

In this video I spend some time doing chores around camp, find a geyser in the middle of a southeastern Oregon field, stop by a beautiful saltwater lake, and begin driving up one of the premier mountain roads in the country. (Click here if you can’t see the video below.)

RELEVANT LINKS (Amazon affiliate links)
* The stove I use
* The shower I use
* The shower tent I use
* The camera I use

GPS COORDINATES
* Old Perpetual Geyser: 42.222196, -120.369154
* Lake Abert wildlife viewing area: 42.5469, -120.2144
* Sign at the start of the Steens Mountain loop: 42.8094, -118.8680
* Campsite: 42.752409, -118.642437