Cameron McKirdy from Survival Bros recommends covering your cameras connected to the internet for privacy. Try putting stickers over the lenses on your cell phone, and laptop. Take a stand on surveillance. Boycott Big Brother. Please like, comment, and share.
Produced By Cam McKirdy
In this HD video clip I relieve pressure on my foot. These big blisters were the result of an 18 mile hike on The Ramona Falls Loop and The Pacific Crest Trail. I should have busted out the Moleskin as soon as it started hurting, but I didn’t think they would develop so quickly, and puff up like this. If your blisters are huge, there’s nothing wrong with poking into them with a sterile knife or needle. You can sterilize your tools by cleaning them with alcohol, a lighter, or boiling them in hot water. It’s also a good idea to soak the wound in Epsom salts for up to 30 minutes. Plus, apply an antibacterial cream like Neosporin before covering with a bandage. Clean the area twice daily if possible too. Prevention is key. Wear thick socks, and break in your hiking boots long before you hit the trail.
Disclaimer: Information provided on the Survival Bros blog is for entertainment purposes. Do what’s right for you.
By Cameron Consumption McKirdy
My dad and I have been planning this one for awhile. We hiked half of the Ramona Loop and lots more on Mount Hood in Oregon. It was brutal. The hike was almost 18 grueling miles. We crossed the Sandy River several times, and were on the epic Pacific Crest Trail.
First I will list the gear in my day pack. I rocked a black Kelty day bag with a new U.S.M.C approved 3 liter Camelbak hydration system. I recently got that at a Navy Exchange. Here was my checklist: compass with whistle, emergency poncho, Mylar blanket, Bear Grylls Gerber Ultimate Survival kit, Moleskin plus padding, Coleman biodegradable eipes, caffeine pills, lighter, various fruit and nut bars, GoPro Hero 3 Black on my head, Panasonic TS4 digital camera, Vibrams, Coast LED flashlight with with white and red light, extra socks, Chapstick with SPF, cash, mace pen, Coast Rapid Response 3.0 knife, 12 hour glow stick, Tillamook County turkey jerky, natural bug spray, and hand warmers. My backpack was on the heavy side with all the extra stuff. It weighed maybe 25 pounds.
To begin we hiked from our spot at Lost Creek campground. It was an easy climb along the Sandy river. We crossed it on a temporary wood bridge to get to Ramona Falls. I’d never been there. It was spectacular, and massive. I filmed the waterfall, and snapped pics.
Along the way I spotted several types of mushrooms popping up. Unfortunately, king boletes are a few months away from harvest. I did find out at the Ranger Station that they only give out 20 mushroom collecting permits per day, and commercial hunting is not permitted. Amanita Muscarias are in season. But of course those are hallucinogenic and poisonous. I found a few russulas too. In addition, I identified and tried huckleberries. They aren’t my fav, but were better than nothing when I ran out of aqua.
We met lots of people on the trail. Most were on day hikes like us. The route from Timberline Lodge to Ramona Falls was popular. I wish we did that, because our hike sucked. We were mobbing hardcore for 10 hours straight. We only had a few brief breaks, just long enough to catch our breath, check the map, and grab a snack.
I wore new waterproof Columbia boots. They held up, and had lots of cushioning. My tall Nike Dri-Fit training socks helped too. They were dry at the end of the day, and shielded my legs as we bushwhacked the unpopular, overgrown trail. We almost didn’t make it back before nightfall! It was getting dark quickly in the forest. So we had to book it all day. I was dumping buckets of sweat. I went through my entire 3L hydration pack, plus 1.5 coconut waters.
The pain of hiking that much basically nonstop was draining. My feet hurt, knees ached, and balls were sore. Women complain about childbirth, but try hiking with a big pair. I stretched along the way, but my hamstrings were tight. If you plan on doing a trek like this, bring pain killers just in case. I will be sore tomorrow, but didn’t cramp up or anything. I managed.
It will be a day or so before I get back to civilization, and can upload pictures and HD video. I got great shots of the canyon, mountain, and river. The highlight of the day was when pops and I used sticks and hiking poles to cross the rapid Sandy river. It had a path of loose rocks and wet logs. We made it across fine, but my dad realized he left his boots across the river. I got a good laugh in and filmed him tip toeing to safety. So he had to cross 3 times then. He changed into sandals, and me the Vibrams, so we didn’t get our boots wet. More soon. Thanks for visiting the Survival Bros blog.
Dad crossing the Sandy River for the 4th time. He won’t leave his boots behind in the future.
By Cameron McKirdy
What’s good friends? I had to give you a quick update on my new Specialized Road bike. It’s a work in progress. I just picked it up from Goodwill, and started modifying it. First, I had the back wheel straightened, brakes adjusted, and new black handlebar grips put on. Next I attached a front light, back rack with pannier bags, a seat pack, and a black Specialized brand bottle holder. Plus, I acquired a bicycle repair kit, complete with mini tire pump, a set of tools, and more. I have a cargo net that can lockdown even more survival gear on top of the rack. Now I’m ready for the zombie apocalypse!
Check out the HD video clip I shot, and let me know how you would modify this ride. I plan on adding a handle bar bag, bell, rear LED lights, toe clips on the pedals, a B.O.B. Yak one-wheeled cargo trailer, and a computer for mileage, etc. I’m not spray painting this one. I like the odd color combo. I want to be highly visible on the road, so I will add 3M reflectors and wear them too. This bike is ideal for taking on long trips, and camping. I love every second riding this emergency preparedness vehicle. It’s fast. Enjoy the pictures.
Update: I put new bags on my Allez. Now I can carry more gear. I will shoot another video when the packs are fully loaded, and I feel like this project is complete.
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
My dad and I just got back to the Oregon Coast, after a 4 day trip playing on the McKenzie River and the trail. First we geared up, and hit the rapids with the Oregon Whitewater Association. A group of 70 extreme outdoor enthusiasts floated 14 miles down the river. The water was brutally cold, at only 47 degrees. I fell off our cataraft for the first time after we smashed into a log along the bank. I didn’t have time to be fearful. I was just trying to catch my breath from the shock of the water, and keep my legs up as I floated down. Of course, I had a class 3 life jacket on. I swam to the back of the boat, but didn’t like being where I couldn’t see the rocks ahead of me. Plus, I didn’t want to get trapped under the massive military grade raft. So I separated from the craft, and tried to swim to shore, but the water was moving too fast, and nobody there could help me. I swam to the side of the raft, and was barely able to climb back on. I had to quickly jump off the river bottom to boost myself up. I was fatigued, and just wanted to sit down and assess my injuries. I hit my knee on a rock, and bloodied by shin up. I was only in the river for a few minutes, but it wouldn’t have been long before my body started shutting down, and hypothermia set in. It was intense.
I had my iPhone 4S in my pocket with a LifeProof case on when I went overboard. It worked. No water got in thankfully. In my other pocket I was carrying the new Coast DX335 rescue knife. It stayed clipped on, but luckily I didn’t have to use it. You’d be surprised how many people die on the river getting tangled in ropes. Below is a funny clip I took with the LifeProof case on my cell. It took great video, and you can hear my dad yelling at me to put it away. He thought it was going to get splashed, or fall in as we hit the drop in the rapids. Also below is an HD video review of the Coast Products knife. I will update this blog as I get media online. I used my GoPro Hero 3 Black camera to record my treacherous mountain bike ride down the McKenzie River Trail. That will be up soon. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros. Follow us on Twitter, Youtube, and join the community on Facebook. Peace.
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
In this HD video I test a brand new blade from Kershaw Knives out of Tualatin, Oregon. I hiked with it in my pocket near the crater of Mt. St. Helens, from the Johnston Ridge Observatory. This park is a National Monument, and a true American treasure. The Junkyard Dog 2.2 is also a gem. It’s a rigid manual opening knife, loaded with style. It’s bold, from the slick pocket clip, to the textured black G10 handle. Kershaw thought of everything. It comes with a protective zippered pouch too, which will keep the sand and dirt out of it, and save it from hard falls. My favorite part of the design is the way it opens. The flipper on the top is easy to grip with one finger, and flick open, and into a locked position. The liner lock is also the beefiest I’ve ever seen. It’s no joke. The blade isn’t closing unless you deliberately push the lock to the side.
Overall, the Junkyard Dog 2.2 is easy to handle, and use. I recommend it fully. I like it’s aggressive design. Plus, for a folder, it has a thick and wide blade. It must also be mentioned that the blade is made of composite steel. It’s quality engineering, boasting both D2 steel, and high-performance Sandvik 14C28N stainless on the spine. The Junkyard Dog 2.2 can take any beating you dish out. Survival Bros has even battoned it with wood to cut kindling for a fire. It has sliced through every material I’ve tried; duct tape, rope, fabric, tree branches, elk meat, and more. If you’re looking for a bigger EDC knife, this one is epic. The JYD 2 retails for $149.95. The version tested is Model 1725CB. More reviews soon. I’d appreciate your comments. Thanks!
This video is clips of my easy hike on the Boundary Trail from the Johnston Ridge Observatory. I hadn’t been to Mount St. Helens in years, so it felt great to get up there. The path was dusty, with long climbs on the way back. Total I hiked just under two miles, then I got hungry. I wanted to scout it out, and learn more about camping in the area. It’s beautiful. I filmed this with my new GoPro Hero 3, using a mount on my head. The footage came out sick, but there were some clouds covering the crater. Oh well. I also recorded a video review for a Kershaw knife, coming soon to Survival Bros. Thanks for visiting the blog. Below is a map of the hiking trails courtesy of http://www.mountsthelens.com
Survival Bros is all about peace and love, but we realize self defense is a part of overall preparedness. Tactical Gypsy went out to a local rock pit off Highway 53 to test a new MGM steel target. It’s a half size IPSC target. We went out there real quick to pop off a couple magazines of 9mm. SB didn’t do a lot of shooting, because ammo is super expensive, and hard to find right now.
Survival Bros also tested out our new GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition camera on our head. We’ll periodically post basic drills you can work on too. If there’s anything you guys would like to see us do, please comment. We have a range of assets to display. Thanks for watching.
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
When you are in the field, your gear has to work. That’s why I pack the best in my bag. I’ve been testing both the Dukjug, and H2O Lite bottles from GSI Outdoors, featured in the HD video review above. I hiked out to Cape Falcon in Oswald West State Park. This Oregon State Park is wondrous, with vast ocean views, and wide waterfalls. The trail was muddy though, but I live to get dirty. It’s 2.10 miles to Cape Falcon from the parking lot on Highway 101. So it took about 45 minutes to get to where I filmed the product review.
The Dukjug is my favorite bottle. It’s stainless steel, and holds 1 liter. The design is fun, and colorful. It’s covered in peace signs, and funky tye dye, so this container fits my hippie personality. GSI Outdoors makes other designs of this jug too, and even a plastic version, all of which are BPA-free. Their Dukjug is unique, because it stores duct tape under the rubber band on the outside. Of course every prepper should have extra tape on hand just in case. I’d use this bottle for hot liquids, and mixing up drinks, like instant coffee or tea. It has a wide lid, so you can store anything inside, even food. The Dukjug tips the scales at 10.1 oz, and retails for $19.95. That’s a value, because unless you drop it off a cliff, it will last a lifetime.
The H2O Lite is super handy to have around. It’s collapsible, and weighs next to nothing, only 0.9 oz. I can just roll it up, and shove it in my backpack. It takes up virtually no space. I like that you can write on it, and date it. Plus, it has a cool cap so it doesn’t leak. When you want a cold drink, just pop the top, and squirt it in your pie hole. Graduations are marked on the back too, which could help with cooking when you need to use a precise amount of water. GSI Outdoors makes smaller versions as well. I would want to bring one of those on my shorter day trips when I’m going ultralight. If you need quality camping gear, look no further than this American company. They have a huge product line you have to check out. More reviews soon. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros. Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog. Peace and love.
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 