Love and kindness are the very basis of society. If we lose these feelings, society will face tremendous difficulties; the survival of humanity will be endangered. - Dalai Lama
I get a kick out of being an outsider constantly. It allows me to be creative. - Bill Hicks
The status quo sucks. - George Carlin
“If the fool would persist in his folly, he would become wise.” – William Blake
Season’s greetings! On Christmas Eve my Dad and I hiked from Indian Beach in Ecola State Park to the Hiker’s Camp on Tillamook Head. We checked out the abandoned World War 2 bunkers, and the viewpoints too. Pops split, leaving me to spend the night by myself. In this HD video I show you the trail, my gear, and my fire. I also cooked up some Goulash thanks to my new flameless cookwear system by Trekmates. Enjoy the video. After a two hour nap, I decided to back to Seaside in the dark night. It was crazy. I used a glow stick, and my Coast HP14 flashlight to luminate the path. A recent storm kicked tons of massive trees down. I had to climb over many, with my 40 pound pack on. I booked it from the cabins, and got back to Seaside in just over 2 hours, covering 4 gnarly miles of ground. It was an intense op. I lost the trail briefly once, slightly rolled an ankle, and nearly slipped down a steep bank. It was one of the most rewarding, and challenging adventures of my life. Next, I plan to raft the Nehalem river this weekend. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros. I’d appreciate your comments, and likes. %^).
Hey friends. I had to show you my Swiss Army multitool. This is a super rare traveler’s set. I couldn’t even find a picture of it on the internet. I bought this 10 years ago while traveling through Europe. I saved around 50% by purchasing it in Switzerland, compared to the states. The set cost me 127 Francs. Which today converts to $138.99 US. It’s one of the nicest knives Victorinox makes, and came with a compass, Maglite Solitare keychain flashlight, and leather carrying case. The best part is, I got the side of the knife engraved with my name for free. It’s mint, but I’m going to start using it as part of my EDC, or every day carry.
Unfortunately, I left the batteries in the flashlight, and now I can’t get the end cap off to fix it. So I’m sending it to Maglite for a free repair or replacement. I just have to pay for shipping. That’s the second flashlight I’ve found this week that had the batteries leak. Not cool. Lesson learned. Take the batteries out, or keep them fresh. You can find just the knife for sale online for about $75. It got a 5 star rating on Amazon. It’s no wonder, because they’ve been in business since 1884.
Sometimes products suck. When things aren’t as good as I expect, or fail, I call the company up, and hold them accountable. When I comment and complain, I get free product coupons to replace the goods with another version. Today I called three businesses, and spoke up.
First I dialed a canned fruit company. They misrepresented their product. On the label there’s tons of cherries. However, when we pulled the lid and scarfed, we uncovered just half of one cherry. Ripoff. I was told they try to squeeze 9 cherries into each can. I gave them my shipping address, and I’m expecting a voucher for a free can of mixed fruit, in light syrup.
I was also disappointed with a Tom’s of Maine deodorant. It was a stick scented like Maine Woodspice. I told customer service I love their stuff, but this batch felt slimy, and didn’t seem to offer any odor protection. The unscented type worked better. Not that it works for the 24 hours it claims. Tom’s actually told me I was spot on, because they have one less ingredient in that type compaired to their other scents. Strange. I’m getting a stick of Lemon Grass sent to my house this week. It’s a great product.
Lastly, I dialed Nature’s Gate. They make a fluoride free toothpaste. I don’t use paste with fluoride. Look into fluoride exposure. I will not be forcibly medicated. Anyways, I recently purchased a tube of anise flavored natural toothpaste. Little did I know anise, (pronounced anus?), tastes like it sounds to me. It’s the worst flavor ever. Anise tastes like licorice, fennel, or dirty boots. I can’t stand it. I guess I should have known what anise tastes like, but if I knew it was like black licorice I wouldn’t have bought it, I would have burned it. At the end if the day, I still look forward to trying another variety of Nature’s Gate toothpaste.
The moral of the story is comment and complain about products you don’t like. You’ll get a replacement for free. Also, educate yourself before buying. I’m not trying to be negative about these quality products, but I wasn’t satisfied. My feedback makes their product and practices better, so why not share? It’s a win win.
If you’re looking for the perfect gift this Christmas for the prepper on your list, take a look at our Amazon Wish List. It’s also a Survival Bros Donation page. Your gifts to us help keep this blog going, and make us more prepared. All content on this site is provided for free. Please help. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Click here for emergency preparedness gift ideas, from superfoods, to signal mirrors.
Happy holidays from your friends at Survival Bros. This community is really taking off. The members of our Facebook Group has doubled this month. Like us, and we’ll like you back. http://www.facebook.com/SurvivalBros
Yes, I just blogged about a movie, and here’s another quick Survival Bros review. I make movies, so it’s only natural I critically look at them. I poked the Xbox, loaded Netflix, and watched the new 2012 documentary called Craigslist Joe.
This is another heartwarming survival tale. We follow Joseph Garner on a free-spirited journey across North America. Joe has no idea if he can count on the hospitality of others to endure homelessness, with no money, or contacts. He pops his thin comfort bubble, and sees if there really is a sense of community in the USA.
Craigslist Joe is a great story. It doesn’t ever feel cheesy, or forced. Comedian Zach Galifianakis, no relation to Andy Milonakis (besides being fat), was the Executive Producer. That’s probably why it’s funny. The premise is pretty ridiculous too. Joe had no survival gear, or training to make it outdoors. He should have died. But somehow, Joe didn’t get shot, or freeze to death on a park bench. He roughed it one night on the streets in NYC, but was housed by strangers he met online the rest of the 31 days of the experiment.
In all, this flick was worth watching. We see the generosity of strangers on full display. Humanity has hope. People can care. You just have to make them. Help them along the way. Most people Joe encountered just wanted a friend. Let’s make some new friends. I will be using Craigslist a little more now, but it’s still nothing special if you live in a small town.
Official Movie Trailer for Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox (Available to watch instantly on Netflix)
Chances are, you’ve heard of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap. It’s 18-in-1! It can lather you from head to toes with a few tingly drops of peppermint, or other natural varieties. I could go on all day about why I like this product, and company, but here’s a few things I appreciate. Plus, Dr. Bronner’s is currently raising money to fight Malaria in Eastern Ghana. More on that, and the link below.
I like Dr. Bronner’s because they create Fair Trade Organic products. Their bottles are also made of recycled plastic. And you can clean just about anything with the soap. From clothes, to your stinky dog. The soap can revitalize it. Also, Dr. Bronner’s uses a “combination of organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils.” Epic. I feel so good after scubbing down with this stuff. It’s unlike any product you’ve tried. My favorite is the Tea Tree liquid soap. I also use Dr. Bronner’s Lemon Lime lip balm. I got a tube from the Astoria Co-Op for $3.
While the soap products are fascinating, Dr. Bronner and his family are even more intruiging. In his movie Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox, you see his rise from a desperate life, to a fulfilled one. His family carries his ideas, and legacy, and spreads it to a new generation of aware individuals. Common people love his story, and can relate to the company’s humble beginnings. Really, it’s what’s on the label that has so many people talking. It’s plastered with vast amounts of info, such as Bible verses, and important quotes. Buy a bottle for the read alone.
No I didn’t get compensated to write this. Refreshingly, Dr. Bronner’s doesn’t even advertise. I just think they are an excellent example of what a great American company can be. They call it Constructive Capitalism. It’s where you share profits with the employees that made them for you. Crazy idea huh? All is One.
Dr. Bronner’s is raising $25,000 to provide life-saving mosquito nets for thousands of families to prevent the spread of malaria, a common disease in Ghana. Help, and receive a free gift.
This weekend my buddy Mac and I biked from Astoria to Fort Stevens State Park located along the Oregon Coast. It was dumping rain. Nearly two hours later, we checked into hiker biker camp, and begun another wild Survival Bros adventure.
Luckily, Mac’s wife Shauna was kind enough to drop our gear off at camp. Riding in with a 50 pound backpacking bag would have been brutal, and unsafe since we had to negotiate the narrow shoulder of the Astoria bridge. Semis were seeing how close they could get to clipping us. Setting up the massive 8 person tent was easy. The only break we got in the weather occurred when we made camp. After our gear was setup, lantern hanged, and sleeping bag unrolled, we tightened up our boots and peddled deeper into the state park.
Along the path we stopped to identify many mushrooms. The park was exploding with life. Fungi hunting season is far from over. There were huge patches of fresh Amanitas everywhere. One had a bite taken out of it, as we could see teeth marks. Must have been a deer, or a crazy person.
Over the last few weeks, my pals and I have scoured a good chunk of Fort Stevens. It’s incredible how many types of terrain there are. From Coffenbury Lake, to the dunes near the Pacific Ocean. I finally found King Boletes just south of the jetty, west of the road. I hunted down the biggest King growing under a tree branch, in pine needles. I got video of me cutting it, but the power is out in Astoria now, so I can’t edit the HD footage. Here’s a photo of the big boletes we found. The choice mushroom nuggets are going in an omelette immediately, and spaghetti tonight for dinner.
Due to my phone about to die, and the power being out, I’m uploading this blog now. I will complete the story, and add more pictures and video very soon. Stay safe out there. We are getting blasted with 98 MPH winds right now. Peace.
– Cameron McKirdy
This is a picture of Seaside, OR taken today!
Update: Back to the story. Mac and I spent one night in hiker biker camp. It’s $6 per evening. Fort Stevens actually moved the spot, because where they usually stash the gypsies floods this time of year. When we got into our tent we were soaked. I quickly changed my clothes, then we started making dinner. I busted out a Mountain House lasagna, and boiled the water for it in my Jetboil Zip. After sitting for a good ten minutes in the bag, it was ready to dish out. Mac prepared 8 beef hotdogs on his Coleman stove. The warm grub was much needed. We biked around 15 miles that day.
After mushroom hunting on day one, it poured back at the tent. Luckily the spot we pitched our tent didn’t flood. We didn’t realize how bad of a storm it was until we were in it. Thank God we had shelter. The stoves kept the tent warm for awhile, until we passed out. I was also glad I brought my small windup lantern. It was bright for maybe 25 minutes in between cranks. After that, it cast just enough light to not stumble over our gear and dirty dishes.
On day two in Fort Stevens we ate another Mountain House freeze dried meal for breakfast. I love their blueberry granola with milk. I added freeze dried apples too. We had two more hotdogs each, then set out on our bikes again. This time we went out toward the South Jetty. That’s where we found the King Boletes. I was so amped to find those monster mushrooms. We saw other mushroom pickers out there, and duck hunters too.
We smashed through the brush for a few hours, but the storm kept getting crazier. Mac and I were totally drenched. But the trip was well worth the suffering. We put food on the table, and learned a lot along the way. Foraging is so fun! Supermarkets are for suckers. Our ride swooped us, and we made a clean getaway, and broke camp. You know Survival Bros will be out there again soon. Cheers.
Cameron McKirdy Mushroom Hunting at Fort Stevens State Park
Video of our mushroom foray on the North Oregon Coast
We’ve compiled an extreme reading list that is sure to make you more self-sufficient. These are our favorite books. Please comment if you have other suggestions. Turn the page.
The Ultimate Suburban Survivalist Guide – The Smartest Money Moves to Prepare For Any Crisis by Sean Brodrick
How To Survive The End Of The World As We Know It – Tactics, Techniques, And Technologies For Uncertain Times by James Wesley Rawles
Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse by James Wesley Rawles
Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook – Everything You Need to Know to Keep Your Family Safe in a Crisis by Peggy Layton
Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners by Suzanne Ashworth and Kent Whealy
A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine by Eric A. Weiss
The Revolution – A Manifesto by Ron Paul
How to Stay Alive in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter and Self-Preservation Anywhere by Bradford Angier
Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora
Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times by Steve Solomon
When Technology Fails (Revised & Expanded): A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability, and Surviving the Long Emergency by Matthew Stein
Crash Proof 2.0: How to Profit From the Economic Collapse
The following was submitted by Kelvin. This is what he never leaves home without, and why.
Love your site. I check it often, wanted to show you my EDC, or Every Day Carry.
Droid 3, rooted and running custom rom, allows me better 1080p video, better HDR photos, and instant flashlight access using my power button. The BodyGlove case is a must in my life, the tight fit keeps it from eating all the space in my pocket, but the synthetic leather feel matches perfect with my black leather car. Pro tip: Keep $20 between the phone and the case. This is an excellent cash stash in a pinch.
Off Brand Knife, it has been my EDC for over 2 years now, and I still can’t kill it. Spring assisted so it flicks open FAST! The emergency glass smasher and the seatbelt cutter keep me safe in an emergency, as well as a tactical defense device. For only $10 I plan on buying another one as soon I can I find one.
Nebo CSI LUMA, using a single AA battery it can outlast itself before the battery dies. Seriously, it’s as reliable as gravity and just as cheap to use. I picked this up because its roll resistant, sturdy as all hell, has a glow in the dark bottom click button, and I liked the font teeth on the lens. Perfect for opening beer bottles, lighting your way, or smashing someone’s face with it.
Bic Lighter, I prefer the brown ones as they are less common, and there for harder to get stolen. IE, Bic’ed by someone who has the same color as you. You have to remove the child proof lock on it or else it doesn’t belong in your pocket. Fire, bottle opener, floatation device for a fishing lure… the list goes on. Carry a bic people. Anything less is useless.
Chapstick, beeswax is better than paraffin and usually lasts longer on your lips. In a pinch you can burn it, or use it to dress a small abrasion, or scrape. Nothing involving blood though as it’s not a clotting agent.
Wallet, I didn’t break it down to much, because that’s almost a thing in itself as far as how much cash and coin to carry, so I’ll keep it to a simple break down. It’s a Fossil leather wrapped canvas bi-fold that has seen much abuse and only gets better with time.
Rubber Band, I get money, and I like to keep it banded together. Could be used for any number of other uses.
Bobby pin, Used again to separate money for whatever reason, used to stir the tobacco in my pipe, and in a pinch the spring steel can be used to jimmy open a lock.
Multi-function Credit Card Survival Tool, is a plate of high grade stainless steel in a case that should only be used in EMERGENCYS. It has a knife edge, a can opener, a small saw, a flathead/Philips screw driver, a nail file, a ruler going to 3”, a bottle opener, has a hole for it to be used as a signaling mirror, a staggering sized multi wrench, has a V grooved rope cutter, plus a North delineation on it to be used in conjunction with its straight edge to aide in map reading, I’m sure I could list more, but I won’t. Spending less than $3 on this was worth it!
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 