After more than a decade of thrilling adventures, heartfelt family content, and millions of loyal viewers, one of YouTube’s most beloved creators has announced an unexpected break.

A figure known for his sincerity and energy, he built a massive online community that connected people across the world. In a short but emotional message, he left fans both surprised and reflective—not only because of the goodbye itself, but because of the reason behind it.

In a five-minute video, he shared how the past year and a half completely transformed his life. An explosion in popularity, millions of new subscribers, and the quiet erosion of his personal space.

It’s only in the fourth paragraph of his video that he finally revealed the truth: he is stepping away from YouTube indefinitely. The man behind the Outdoor Boys channel — Luke Nichols — has decided to pause after 11 years to spend more time with his family.

Nichols, a father of three, said: “I still love going on adventures, but now it’s time to focus on other things. I want to help others, and I want to give my family a chance to breathe.”

In the video, he opened up about the exhausting nature of his journey: countless road trips, long nights editing, filming while sick with pneumonia, and building a log cabin while injured — all to chase a dream and provide for his wife and kids.

But fame has its price. “The number of people trying to talk to me, take photos, or just stop me in public has become overwhelming,” he admitted. “My wife and I have real concerns about what this could do to our children if I keep going at this pace.”

He explained that over the past 18 months alone, nearly 12 million subscribers had joined the channel. While he’s grateful for the support, he acknowledged, “Even good things can be taken too far. I think I’ve reached that point.”

Although he’s stepping back, Nichols mentioned that a few extreme camping trips and travel adventures — filmed over the past six months — will still be released. They’re already in the editing phase.

He ended the video with a heartfelt message to his audience: “Thank you for every minute, every comment, every memory. It’s been unforgettable.”