Produced By Cameron McKirdy
Survival Bros has a bug out bike tuned up and ready for camping this summer. I will produce another HD video on this vintage bicycle when all the bags are on, and the project is complete. Here’s a previous post on finding the Univega at a garage sale last summer.
Before the repairs
After being tuned up, restored to like new condition, and cleaned properly
Thanks for visiting our emergency preparedness blog. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE (top left of screen). Thanks!
Cameron McKirdy from Survival Bros shows you how to gather freebies at a motel. Embrace hoarding, and be the real prepper you can be. Not that I’d do it, but I bet you could walk into any hotel and politely ask for another shampoo, soap, and coffee and you’d get hooked up without being questioned about what room you are staying in. Just saying. I’ve already put my freebies in Ziploc bags for storage. Happy prepping. Please SUBSCRIBE to Survival Bros on YouTube! Thank you.
Produced by Cameron McKirdy with Tactical Gypsy for Survival Bros
Learn how to tie popular knots using paracord following easy step-by-step instructions from a Marine. These are easy and helpful knots you can create quickly for emergency or whatever. We challenge you to learn them all.
Here’s more knots to play with. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros. Follow this blog using your email up above on the left side of the screen. Peace.
Produced By Cameron McKirdy
This weekend Survival Bros went for a drive up I-5, and then took Spirit Lake Highway to visit majestic Mount St. Helens. Most of the hiking trails were off limits to us because we had a puppy to acclimate to the outdoors for the first time. Therefore, we found ourselves at Seaquest State Park, which while splendid, doesn’t have well-maintained paths like the nearby Hummocks Trail closer to the volcano. So, after breaking a sweat there we continued to climb in elevation, and drove to two breathtaking viewpoints called Elk Rock, and Castle Lake. I shot the HD video above, and snapped a few pictures. Our final stop was Clearwater Lake. It formed after the eruption in 1980. There’s a relatively flat trail circling the body of water, but again no dogs are allowed. I was willing to risk a minimum $50 fine, but we’ll just have to trek it another time. Besides, the sun was setting, and my belly was growling. At Castle Rock we cruised into C and L Burger Bar for a feast. I’m talking peanut butter real ice cream milk shakes, fatty elk cheeseburgers, and scalding crinkle cut french fries. Epic. It was a complete day, and I look forward to returning to Mount St. Helens when it’s warmer, and all the backpacking trails are open to explore.
By Cameron McKirdy
Former Marine Tactical Gypsy has an exclusive Survival Bros blog and new elk jerky recipe for you. He hunts in Oregon with seven other buddies, and no matter how much they kill, they split the meat evenly so nobody is left out. This season his hunting party terminated five bulls, producing around 225 pounds of meat each. He has used the animal for sausage, country fried steaks, and thick jerky strips. His favorite cut is the back strap, which runs on each side of the spine. It’s the most tender part, and is amazing in a stew of vegetables and spices. Simmer that on a low boil for awhile, and you have a man meal sure to satisfy. Tactical Gypsy also told me he likes to pan sear the meat first, to lock in the juice.
To produce scrumptious elk jerky he cut slabs 1/4th of an inch thick, because they shrink. His recipe calls for six or seven pounds of flesh, so he ends up with big nuggets to feast on. Each hunk is approximately 4″ x 1″ wide. The marinade calls for 4 1/2 cups of soy sauce, with plenty of Worcestershire depending on personal preference. Mix in 1 pound of brown sugar, then a 8 oz. bottle of hickory liquid smoke flavoring. Soak the elk in a bowl, or deep pan, and refrigerate for 12 hours.. After that, use a colander to run off the marinade. Next, lay out the strips on the dehydrator trays evenly, with bigger pieces going on the bottom. Sprinkle on coarse black pepper, turn the machine on high, and let her rip. Check back every few hours, and rotate the racks as needed. In 12 additional hours you’ll have a stash of jerky to devour, and give out to your friends. Tactical Gypsy, if you are reading this, please save me a nug or two. Survival Bros will have more blogs soon. Check back often. Likes, shares, and comments are appreciated.
By Cameron McKirdy
In this HD video I drop my new LG G2 and Ballistic SG phone cover on gravel, then concrete from 6 ft high! I just got this smartphone, so I was terrified it would break. However, I know there’s fellow geeks out there that want to see Survival Bros stress test all kinds of gear, so I went for it. The Ballistic case worked well, but after taking off the cover I did notice a tiny dent on the rim of my LG G2. It’s purely cosmetic, and I can live with it, because my screen did not crack. Of course I would have preferred no damage, which I expected since it’s rated to six feet according to the manufacturer. The minuscule chip isn’t worth taking a picture of, and I’m pleased with my purchase overall. Therefore, I give it 4 out of 5 Stars. It’s still probably the best case out there for this recently released Android device, so until better cases are produced it’s staying on me as one of my everyday carry items. Have you had any experience with Ballistic Cases? Let us know. Thanks.
On a side note: I dropped this phone with the case on a few weeks back from about four feet up, and after all of my contacts had been erased! It was the strangest thing. My emails, and phone numbers never returned, and I didn’t delete them. Please comment on this blog post if something similar has happened to you.
For all the tech specs here’s the Ballistic website. Visit Survival Bros again soon.
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
This is our 200th blog post! I’d like to thank everyone who has supported Survival Bros. I’ve had many guest authors, steady cameramen, and people behind the scenes feeding me ideas. Special thanks to local businesses that have allowed me to review their products. 2014 is going to be epic. Visit often, and please follow us by entering your email, plus subscribe on Youtube. Now here’s a video that I shot yesterday showing classy, ornate William Henry knives in high definition.
Survival Bros shops for a new luxury EDC knife at Diamond Showcase, a jeweler in Longview, WA
Their William Henry collection with knives, money clips, and fine pens
Artisan WH blades made in Oregon
By Katnip
How the Grinch stole MY Christmas. Two days after Christmas my beautiful, 2013 Chevrolet Camaro was a victim of crime. I thought I lived in one of the safer apartment complexes here in town. My bedroom is directly over the top of my carport on the second floor. I have a direct view of my car from the window. While I was sleeping, these thieves somehow managed to unlock my car without the alarm going off. (Apparently they make remotes to do so these days…thanks hackers of the world.) Why they chose MY car I will never know. One would naturally assume that a brand new car like mine would have a perfect lock and touchy alarm on it like Fort Knox. Well, my precious vehicle wasn’t well protected.
I’ve had my previous car broke in to before, and seen my things rummaged through. I’ve felt what it’s like to have your documents strung all over your car, and find your gear M.I.A. It’s awful. I should have taken the extra precaution like I have every other night and removed my valuables from the vehicle before locking her up for the night. I didn’t. I did have EVERYTHING out of sight. If you were to walk past my car, you couldn’t tell it’s a daily driver. I know better than to leave valuables out for prying eyes. I thought my stuff would be safe for one more night. Here’s a list of things I am kicking myself for, prepare to cringe:
– Canon Rebel EOS DSLR Camera with Lens, accessories, LowePro Camera Bag, and Cameron’s beloved camera tripod.
– iPhone 4S with car charger
– TomTom GPS with car charger
– Tool Box (Wrenches, Screw Drivers, Ratchets, etc)
– Jumper Cables
-My prized Bug Out Bag (As mentioned and pictured in this previous post) Now I will create a new Everyday Carry bag with emergency supplies, and bring it inside no matter what.
In addition, who knows if they could steal my identity, as I had some sensitive documents in the glove compartment that they rummaged through too.
I’ve since taken proper measures to protect myself since, and hopefully regain my property again. I would like to share these tips with you so this same thing doesn’t happen to you.
– Keep ALL valuables in your home. Don’t take the chance like I did and assume that things are safe in the trunk and out the vision of creepers.
– Download the “Find Your iPhone” application and TURN ON YOUR LOCATION! (I had previously turned the location off the day prior because I felt it was nuking my battery. Dumbest thing I’ve ever done, because I had this app on my smart phone, and because I turned the location off, it wouldn’t lead me or the local police to where my possessions were.)
– If you find yourself in this predicament of having your things stolen from you, contact your local police department, file a police report. Note: They wouldn’t come out, and recommended I fill one out online.
– Write a list of the items that were stolen from you, with serial numbers if available, and take this list in to the second hand shops, cellular stores, and local pawn shops.
– Contact your phone provider and register your phone as “Lost or Stolen.” If someone is dumb enough to try to activate the phone, the provider should confiscate the cell immediately and turn it over to either the police department or contact you to let you know your device had turned up.
– Scour all outlets of items for sale, such as eBay, Craigslist, Facebook sale pages, etc. Eventually, your stuff may turn up on one of those.
– Keep receipts of ALL expensive purchases that you have in your possession, my home owners insurance wouldn’t cover the items stolen from my car at my apartment, as I didn’t have proper sales receipts for these items….(They were gifts.) Things can’t be replaced if insurance can’t prove you never had them to begin with.
I can recommend from personal experience that having your stuff stolen is not a pleasant thing to have happen. It detracts from valuable time I could have spent using my nice things to make my life easier. If you’re a car thief, I would like to leave you with this final note: You should be ashamed of yourself. Work hard for your money so you can purchase quality belongings for yourself. Why steal from others that have actually earned their way in life? Karma is a bitch. Happy Travels!
Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.
Oak Whiskey Barrels to be upcycled
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 