Chael Sonnen and Survival Bros founder Cameron McKirdy
This is motivation, and a tribute. Chael Sonnen has worked extremely hard to get to the top of the UFC. He believes in himself. And he makes people better. Be a fighter. Be bold. Be yourself. Just be. I met The Champ at some amateur fights in Washington we were promoting. He is hilarious. If we meet again, I’m challenging him to a thumb wrestling match.
Sonnen’s hardcore training session. Must watch!
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
I finally juiced again. This is organic carrots, red apple, cucumber, celery, and broccoli! I’m sipping it right now. The juice is sweet. Not bad at all. And loaded with electric energy. My body is grateful. This one cost maybe $6 to make. Not bad considering how much it made. I will have plenty for later. Happy juicing.
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
I was on a mission today. It was too sunny not to train hard. I got a good sweat going.
It’s Spring Break! My hometown Seaside Oregon was full of life. The bumper cars, and mini golf course were finally open. The smell of freshly dipped corn dogs in the air. But I biked by, and checked out the action on the beach. I didn’t stay long. I was going for speed and distance today.
I did stop for a raw Synergy kombucha, and found a new green one with chunky chia seeds. It was dank. Slightly sweet. It’s full of healthy bacteria and blue-green algae. It’s an energizer. The convenience store also offered free reverse osmosis filtered water. I filled 2 big bottles, and packed them up to the gravel logging roads.
It was a great day, bursting with sun. I rocked out, and flew down the mountain. I had it to myself. I used the Nike+ GPS iPhone app to track my route and progress. I check Google maps a few times to make sure I didn’t take a dead end. A few of the hills were monstrous, and needed to be walked up, but I like mixing up riding with hiking.
With a few water breaks, and stops for a picture, I went 10.7 miles in 1 hour 50 minutes. I figured the loop would take 3 hours. It was a solid training session. I only laid the bike down once trying to muscle over a down tree. I slammed some protein when I rolled out of the woods and got home, just before darkness fell. I wish you were there, but you may have slowed me up. ;^].
By Cameron McKirdy
If I need an extra boost of energy, and power before an extreme outdoor adventure, I may take these healthy supplements. Bee pollen, royal jelly, and propolis are a superfood. I’ve heard of yogis living off only bee pollen, spring water, and sunlight. I can’t get enough of them all. Maca root is a serious herb, improving stamina and endurance. You gotta try it. Finally, vitamin B12 is also known to increase energy. It’s great for your nervous system too. Do your homework on these dietary supplements. I got them from my local health food store. They help me go beast mode on long hikes, and bike rides. Maybe these can help you too.
This was by far the most popular quote on the Survival Bros Facebook page. Be mindful. Like us on Facebook for more. Our first contest is coming soon. Stay tuned.
By Cameron McKirdy
Last week I traded an antique wooden chest for a bunch of used Swiss Army knives. I kept some, and swapped out others for a new Buck folder.
They call this classic the Buck Stockman. I liked it because it has three fatty blades. It’s nothing special, but it will do work. The knife dealer in my town said it was made in China, so it’s not the best quality, compaired to Buck knives made in America. But I will use this folder. The blades on the mini Victorinox tools don’t have much of a surface to work with. They are perfect for the small emergency caches I’ve been burying. All in all, I made a good trade up. The knife dealer pays out half of the retail value of the item. Makes sense. It’s fair to me.
I swooped these old knives from an estate sale today. I paid a little too much. $10. I offered $5, but got rejected. I forked it over because it was for a good cause. I should still be able to make a few bucks on these, or trade up later. I’d like another multitool for them. I’m really digging these older knifes with wood handles, so I may keep the large one. The little folding knife was designed to work with a pocket watch. You can see where it would attached to a chain.
I’m hooked on collecting knives. I can’t wait for next weekend so I can hit up more garage sales. The time to buy is when people have to sell. Buying used is way more fun that paying full retail for something. I like that these objects have a history, and I get to add to it. Peace and love.
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
You’re off the grid, but you need power. That’s when you wish you invested in a solar panel charger, like the Solarmonkey from Powertraveller that I tested in the HD video above.
If I’m alone in the woods, it’s nice to know my cell phone has power just in case. That’s why the Solarmonkey Adventurer comes with. If I fall off a cliff, having my iPhone handy sure beats a whistle. Powertraveller has created a huge variety of solar chargers, excellent for any job. From small ones that can give your phone a boost, to large solar panels that can keep your laptop running. I like the Solarmonkey Adventurer because it’s a great size for backpacking, and mountain biking.
The powerful internal lithium polymer battery is 2500mAh, and will charge fully in 12 hours or less. Plus, you can charge the battery, and a device at the same time, saving time. And it can plug into a wall, or DC outlet. I was shocked at how fast it charges my phone. The system is lightweight too, tipping the scales at only 9.3 ounces. The dimensions are 6.6 x 3.7 x 0.8 inches.
It comes with many tips to be compatible for your device, and a heavy-duty “Monkeytail” cable made just for Apple products. The neoprene case it comes in is durable also. It will keep the solar panels safe, and secure. A carabiner is included. I use that often so it can just hang off my bag. As I mentioned in the video review, the panels are shock and water-resistant. It outlasted me pouring water on it while charging, and surprisingly worked after I froze it. The Solarmonkey Adventurer from Powertraveller is badass. I can easily recommend it to my friends. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros. Come back soon.
It’s my pleasure to bring to you, the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist. This is a brilliant cooking solution for ultralight backpacking. It gets high marks with Survival Bros, and my puggle featured in the HD video review above.
I think you’ll like this cookware system because it has all the bases covered. It comes loaded with two telescoping foons, two 20 ounce insulated bowls with lids, two 20 ounce mugs, and a large hard anodized aluminum pot including a lid with a built in strainer. This is perfect for cooking pasta, and even works as a spout for pouring liquids like hot tea. The orange and blue foons match their bowls, but I like them because they are deep, so I can take big bites. They are dishwasher safe too, like the rest of the Pinnacle Dualist. Also, the entire package is BPA-free, so you aren’t absorbing harmful chemicals.
When I first got the Dualist a few months back, I was stoked that the bowls were insulated. The last thing I want is my precious food to go cold right after I prepare it. Plus, the bowls have “Sip-it” lids. GSI Outdoors must have been thinking about messy eaters like me. With the lids locked down, I’m less likely to spill scorching soup on my chest. Another sly feature is the rubberized pot handle. It folds, and either locks into place as a long handle, or on top of the bowls, keeping everything secure in the pot.
The stuff sack is also a wash basin. I couldn’t believe it either. It’s one more container that could come in handy for collecting water out of the creek, or washing your hands before supper. The cookware system looks as good as it functions. It’s orange and black. I like having a high-visibility handle for cooking in low light. And when you’re done, the Pinnacle Dualist is an easy clean. It uses non-stick Teflon with Radiance technology. So there’s no scrubbing. Heat spots aren’t an issue either, allowing for quicker, and more even cooking.
The Pinnacle Dualist retails for $64.95. If you are looking for an ultralight cooking solution ideal for two people, this could be for you. I like the price, but truly appreciate the thought that went into this American design. It’s all only 21.6 ounces, and the pot holds 1.8 liters. The dimensions are 5.90″ x 6.40″ x 5.90″. The Dualist offers bang for your buck. This product gets the Survival Bros seal of approval. Please comment, like, and share. Thanks.
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
For more visit http://www.gsioutdoors.com
By Cameron McKirdy
I’m so sore. I hiked from Seaside to the Hiker’s Cabins on Tillamook Head. It’s just under four miles, but it took nearly two hours. Then the next morning I hiked back, and walked a few more for good measure.
My 55L backpack weighed at least 40 pounds. And I almost wore 5lb ankle weights too. My Dad tagged along. He had hiking poles, which I tried. They took some of the strain off my legs, and gave me a good arm workout. The trail was nasty. So muddy. Dad said it was the worst time of the year to climb there, which made it the best for me. I wanted a challenge.
We had to climb over a few downed trees, but besides mud, the trail was well kept. It was never ending though. My Dad kept asking if we were there yet, like me on our road trips growing up. He said, “if I was on a treadmill, we would be there already.” Yeah. Working out in a gym is nothing like real life.
There were a couple lookouts over the Pacific Ocean, but it was foggy, and rainy. The canopy from the trees sheltered us some, but I was still soaked. I didn’t take any pictures going there, I knew it was going to be sunny the following day. Once we got to the log cabins, I was on my own. I changed clothes, and got my bed ready.
I used a new sleeping system. I just bought a gortex camo bivy, so that was my outer layer. I also brought my Coleman mummy style sleeping bag rated down to 25 degrees. Then I had a mummy shaped inflatable insulated sleeping pad. It was 2.5 inches thick! Comfortable, but next time I want to use one that’s lower profile, so my face has more clearance. It was a tight fit. I’m a big dude, so sleeping in a bivy bag was a little claustrophobic at first.
I passed out super early. 6PM. I was tired, and just trying to stay warm in my bag. I woke up once, just to say hi to the mice in the bunk above me. They checked out my stuff, left their mark, and bounced. I was stoked in the morning when I popped my head out and saw daylight. I couldn’t wait to hike back to Seaside. The sun was shining, and I could see the end of the ocean.
On the trek back I snapped the pictures you see below. It’s a magical place, eager to be explored. I buried an emergency cache up there, full of food, water purification tablets, matches and more. Maybe someday I will have to flee the city, and retrieve it. On hikes like this you are forced to make decisions. Take the long route around the mud pit, or charge it. I went right through the mess usually. Foolishly I tried to take a shortcut down a slick, rocky hill once. I slipped, and tried to plant my heels in the bank, but couldn’t stop. I slid on my butt, until I snatched a root. No blood. I didn’t take a picture of the slide either, I kept charging.
Four miles later, I made it from the cabins to The Cove in Seaside, OR. I walked through the city, and got some strange looks with my backpack on. That and my backside was covered in mud. I made it home, showered, and passed out. I loved every second of the adventure. It was brutal, but I enjoy training hard. Hike Tillamook Head if you can, it’s part of the majestic Oregon Coast Trail. Now where’s the ice?
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 