The Enchanted Rockies Trail

[LifestyleOverland]

UPDATE: Here is a dedicated page with all the GPS data and trail info: www.EnchantedRockiesTrail.com

So this has been a long time coming but we have just finished Part I of our new series "The Enchanted Rockies Trail" on YouTube!

Some of you already knew we were cooking up something different after we began researching alternates to the Shadow of the Rockies Trail. Well, what we ended up with was around 800 miles of off-pavement travel through multiple districts of 9 National Forests, 2 National Parks, and even a Castle (yes, a legit castle). We completed our 2,000 mile round trip in 10 days and captured tons of video, photos, and GPS data to share with those who would like to follow our route in the future.

We will begin to roll out GPS segments as we fine tune the data (had to erase a few back-tracks).
Anyhow, just wanted to share this new video and trail system with the community... so without further ado:

The Enchanted Rockies Trail - PART I


Update:
The Enchanted Rockies Trail - PART II


Update:
The Enchanted Rockies Trail - PART III

 

[Justinmpd]

Great video

 

[DKRunner]

Well done.

 

[1engineer]

So this has been a long time coming but we have just finished Part I of our new series "The Enchanted Rockies Trail" on YouTube!

Some of you already knew we were cooking up something different after we began researching alternates to the Shadow of the Rockies Trail. Well, what we ended up with was around 800 miles of off-pavement travel through multiple districts of 9 National Forests, 2 National Parks, and even a Castle (yes, a legit castle). We completed our 2,000 mile round trip in 10 days and captured tons of video, photos, and GPS data to share with those who would like to follow our route in the future.

We will begin to roll out GPS segments as we fine tune the data (had to erase a few back-tracks).
Anyhow, just wanted to share this new video and trail system with the community... so without further ado, here is The Enchanted Rockies Trail - PART I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbQpMh3TS9M&t=4s

Excellent video! This is a perfect example of modern day overlanding in the US. Not some wannabe Patagonia to Nepal trip.

Good Job! If you want me to put this in the stickies for visibility until you finish I would be glad to do it!

 

[007Tacoma]

I now have a firm set of goals for 2018 with my family. We are from CO and married in Estes Park. I would love to take them from NM to Wyoming in this kind of Overland adventure.

You, sir, deserve this... :first:

Cheers!!!

 

[amalik]

I cant believe the quality on this video for just home made along the way

Sent from my LGMS428 using Tapatalk

 

[jwkilgore]

This is my dream vacation

 

[ty.goins]

Thank you for the inspiration great video


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[jrandom]

Nice, good work, thanks for sharing


You shot 4k didn't you? (and downsampled) I curiously ask because some of your shots have that high saturation hyper real no motion blur look to it.

 

[Sean K.]

Really enjoyed this.....anxiously awaiting part 2!

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Nicely done.


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[LifestyleOverland]

[MENTION=147268]Justinmpd[/MENTION] [MENTION=146683]DKRunner[/MENTION] [MENTION=126566]jwkilgore[/MENTION] [MENTION=136667]ty.goins[/MENTION] [MENTION=144462]Sean K.[/MENTION] [MENTION=49966]mikey's2010SR5[/MENTION]

Thank you all! You've got me motivated to get part II put together ASAP!

 

[LifestyleOverland]

Excellent video! This is a perfect example of modern day overlanding in the US. Not some wannabe Patagonia to Nepal trip.

Good Job! If you want me to put this in the stickies for visibility until you finish I would be glad to do it!

Wow, totally did not expect this offer! We would be honored if this was a sticky!
Thanks so much, [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION]!

 

[LifestyleOverland]

I now have a firm set of goals for 2018 with my family. We are from CO and married in Estes Park. I would love to take them from NM to Wyoming in this kind of Overland adventure.

You, sir, deserve this... :first:

Cheers!!!

Thank you, [MENTION=73851]007Tacoma[/MENTION] . The main purpose of Lifestyle Overland and this video series is to motivate folks to get out there. We are so excited that it connects with you and others!
We hope to have the full GPS data ironed out soon so you can start planning that 2018 trip with some fun options!

Thanks for for the comments, and the award!

 

[LifestyleOverland]

I cant believe the quality on this video for just home made along the way

Thanks! It was quite a hectic challenge to maintain good time and still stop for video while on this solo family mission. The wife even got a cold mid-trip so I wasn't the most popular fella when I asked her to drive! But she's a heck of a lady and powered through it.

You shot 4k didn't you? (and downsampled) I curiously ask because some of your shots have that high saturation hyper real no motion blur look to it.

Actually this was shot in 1080p on a Sony XA30. I debated the 4K option but the price point was too high and the XA30 had awesome reviews.
We did some post-processing in Premiere but honestly, the colors were so good we didn't have to change much. I had bought the camera the day before the trip so I was learning as we went and I have to say I'm very impressed so far.

 

[007Tacoma]

Thanks! It was quite a hectic challenge to maintain good time and still stop for video while on this solo family mission. The wife even got a cold mid-trip so I wasn't the most popular fella when I asked her to drive! But she's a heck of a lady and powered through it.



Actually this was shot in 1080p on a Sony XA30. I debated the 4K option but the price point was too high and the XA30 had awesome reviews.
We did some post-processing in Premiere but honestly, the colors were so good we didn't have to change much. I had bought the camera the day before the trip so I was learning as we went and I have to say I'm very impressed so far.

That is one crazy good camera. I got to use one helping with a wedding shoot for a friend.

...and your wife sounds crazy good too. She must be from Colorado like my wife.

 

[007Tacoma]

Thank you, [MENTION=73851]007Tacoma[/MENTION] . The main purpose of Lifestyle Overland and this video series is to motivate folks to get out there. We are so excited that it connects with you and others!
We hope to have the full GPS data ironed out soon so you can start planning that 2018 trip with some fun options!

Thanks for for the comments, and the award!

Well deserved.

Having shown off your video to my wife and a few friends, I have one TRD Tacoma friend already convinced to take this on with us. My wife wants to go no. I told her we need to do 1 or 200 things to our rig first. I plan on starting to build up my 4Runner beginning in March. I gotta get through the budget blast of building a new house this year.
:rockon:

 

[LifestyleOverland]

...and your wife sounds crazy good too. She must be from Colorado like my wife.

Haha! She's a Tennessee girl; so just as good!

 

[LifestyleOverland]

Well deserved.

Having shown off your video to my wife and a few friends, I have one TRD Tacoma friend already convinced to take this on with us. My wife wants to go no. I told her we need to do 1 or 200 things to our rig first. I plan on starting to build up my 4Runner beginning in March. I gotta get through the budget blast of building a new house this year.
:rockon:

That's so awesome! I'll get on those GPS files soon.

Just so you know, this route is very tame so don't feel like you have to be ready for anything super nasty. We wanted something that captured the high points of the region but wouldn't beat a family to death for 800 miles.

The biggest challenge is the weather, if weather goes against you then things change drastically. Bring plenty of recovery gear and some from of emergency comms and you should be golden. Even a stock height Runner with good tires could handle it so long as you take your time on the roughest parts.

If you do want some challenges, then there are tons of off-shoots and alternate paths we found for those looking for more technical trails along the way. Most of them are spurs that don't pass through but would be fun day excursions.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

Good stuff! I am super excited to see this route in it's entirety. I have been wanting to do something like this with my GF for a while. Originally, I wanted to do the TAT, but the odds of us both getting that amount of time off simultaneously are very low. I subscribed to your channel and am excited for part 2!