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
Survival Bros has a list of Summer challenges for you. Try one, or go hard and complete them all. We believe these activities will improve your survival skills, and help you avoid complete domestication. Go wild, and get outside. Please add challenges and comment as you see fit. Let’s make this an active discussion. Good luck!
1. Camp for 5 days or more in a row. 2. Build a controlled camp fire. 3. Gather wild edible food and spring water. 4. Go #1 and #2 outdoors!! 5. Take a day hike with your backpack. 6. Make a new friend that’s into preparedness. 7. Swim in a lake, river, or ocean. Pools and hot tubs don’t count. 8. Cook a full meal for yourself and someone else. 9. Read an outdoor adventure book. 10. Study a map and bike a new, undiscovered trail.
More challenges from Survival Bros coming soon! Have fun prepping, and get all the sun you can this summer without toasting. Peace from the road. – Cameron
Disclaimer: Survival Bros Blog intended for entertainment. Be safe. You are responsible for yourself.
What does entertainer Bill Hicks have to do with surviving? Everything. Survival and comedy is about observation and adaptation. You have to think for yourself, and question authority. Bill embodied awareness, and made light of the darkness. In short, Hicks made the world a better place. Learn from him. We must survive AND thrive in the nightmare of 1984. Survival Bros will use Art and comedy to do both. Peace and love. – Cameron McKirdy
Patriotic Stand Up Comedian Bill Hicks
Life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves.
Watching television is like taking black spray paint to your third eye.
We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.
We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.
Listen, the next revolution is gonna be a revolution of ideas.– Bill Hicks
Kicking back and watching boats come in on the Mckenzie River
I bought those silly five-fingered shoes. Yup. I paid $120 for the new model. And I go out in public wearing my Vibram FiveFingers too. It’s OK, because I love the trash talk. The following is my take on these trail running shoes. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
I was stoked when I got these kicks. The salesman told me the Spyridon LS is designed specifically for trail running. Perfect! I climb mountains. So I put them to the test. First I went a short distance, just two miles on Tillamook Head from Seaside. They felt great. Snug like a natural extension of my feet. However, one downside to the Vibrams is that your toes can get wet quickly. Once I stopped running my toes were cold and going numb. I got out of them right away and put them through the wash. They were caked in clay and mud.
The second hike I took wearing Vibrams was around Cape Falcon, and Short Sands, in Oswald West State Park along the Oregon Coast. I jogged parts of my 7.35 mile hike, and made a few stops to checkout the surfers and ocean views. I finished in 3:05 hours. My feet started to ache around the six-mile mark, but I just wasn’t use to the shoes yet. That will take a long time, maybe years. You’ve got to hike this state park. There’s nothing like it. Bring your camera.
Oswald West State Park in Oregon
I’ve had my Vibrams for a few months now, and they’ve performed great. But here’s the ugly. I snagged my pinky toe on something and one small part of the sole ripped away from the upper. An easy fix soon with shoe glue, but annoying now. Also, the rubber is pretty thin, so walking on gravel sucks, and going far on pavement isn’t fun. Plus, they are low top and don’t have much support on the sides. My advice to Vibram owners is to go slower than normal. Another annoying thing about these shoes is even though they are the right size, my little toe has a tendency to pop out of its home. Then I have to readjust by hand. It’s best to pull them really tight to avoid toe slippage.
In addition, like it or not, these shoes will attract attention. Be prepared to answer a million questions about them. Strangers approach me all the time to ask questions. And be ready to be made fun of. Lots of people think that Vibrams are ugly. I think they are beautifully designed, so there! But you won’t see me wearing this around town much. They were absolutely created for the outdoors.
My new Spyridon LS Vibrams!
Having said all that, I strongly recommend you look into the barefoot running, and walking movement. It’s taking off, and for good reason. Shoes may be the worst invention ever! If you wear Vibrams or some other minimalist shoe you will strengthen your ankles and legs, in my opinion. They will take some time to get use to. You may want to buy a transition shoe first that has more of a sole. Try on all the different brands and styles, and figure out what’s right for you. Survival Bros says ditch the kicks and feel with your feet. Peace.
Prepping for a manmade or natural disaster will be different for everyone. My needs are different than yours, but there are things we should all have just in case. This blog covers specific items you should have on hand, and things you should be thinking about NOW.
First off, have a plan. Practice your escape route regularly, maybe once every 6 months. Carry your emergency pack to test it, and yourself. You may decide to bring more if it’s an easy trip. Maybe you want to load up a bike, and huff it on two wheels. If you have a vehicle, you may want to store an extra survival pack in the back. Whatever you do, coordinate a meeting place with your friends and family so there’s no guess work, and stick together.
If your house was on fire, could you grab your Bug-Out-Bag and survive outdoors for at least 72 hours? If that sounds challenging, or you don’t have an emergency bag full of supplies then keep reading. The key elements to a clutch bug-out-bag are: food, water, and shelter. My backpack includes a poncho, emergency blanket, and a reflective tube tent. Add a small tarp to your pack for even more security. Tarps can keep the rain and sun off you, or provide a barrier between you and the ground.
Additional Bug-Out-Bag items Survival Bros suggest include: a first aid kit, medicine, superfoods, vitamins, maps, flashlights, candles, protection like a knife or gun, matches, lighter, sunglasses, sunscreen, cash, silver bullion, radio, walkie talkies (2-way radios), extra clothes, signal mirror, GPS Navigation, solar powered charger, whistle, compass, backup batteries, candy, instant coffee, books, notepad, condoms, glow stick, personal locator device, bandana, water filter, USB with information, and toiletries.
Here’s the bottom line. Plan an escape route, practice traveling it, and bring your customized bug-out-bag with everything you think you’d need. Your bag will be evolving with you, so have fun and experiment. Is there an item you’d have to have in case of a disaster that we didn’t list? Please share. Also, knowing basic first aid and taking a CPR class should be a priority. Our advice; work on preps a little everyday! Best wishes.
If you live around the Pacific Northwest, or have visited, then you probably know about Tillamook Head. You can take the trail all the way from Seaside to the Indian Beach trailhead in Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach, Oregon. It’s a 6.3 mile journey, but very scenic. In addition, there’s four accommodating hiker’s cabins with bunks along the way. You can also pitch a tent there. There are restrooms, and firewood should be available for purchase. If you are planning on spending the night, bring layers, and plenty of gear. It gets cold fast. You don’t want to get caught in the woods with just an emergency blanket. Also, BEWARE of mice in the cabins! For real. They want your food.
The photo is of the Pacific Ocean sunset close to the historic Tillamook Head WWII Bunker!
Nothing beats a walk on the beach in the morning to get the blood flowing. I also enjoy biking, hiking, and yoga! There’s a million ways to deal with stress. What do you do to relax??? Produced by Cameron McKirdy
Do you know where The Mill Ponds are in Seaside Oregon? Many locals have no idea. Take advantage of the trails, and waterfront views. From Seaside on Highway 101 (aka South Roosevelt Drive), take Ave. S to Alder Mill Road. It’s near the Seaside recycling center.
Watch my bike ride video!
The Mill Ponds are a great walk for the whole family. Chill on a bench and bird watch. It’s one of my favorite spots in town. Please be respectful, and take your trash with you. This is a day use only park. Enjoy the panoramas and photos I took.
On the 4th of July, two buddies and I ditched tourist infested Seaside, and dipped the Cadillac to Saddle Mt. We had all our essential gear including: headlamps, flashlights, first aid, extra water, etc., plus double chocolate brownies for the climb. It’s only 2.5 miles from the parking lot to the top. However, it is a difficult trail. It’s steap, and rocky. It’s worth the trip though to see all the vibrant wildflowers, and the Pacific Ocean coastline. I snapped pictures; as seen in previous posts. All in all, Survival Bros had a blast, and got to test the gear. It’s an awesome experience. You gotta hike this mountain. Check back here daily for more adventures and survival information. Peace and love.
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 