Posts Tagged ‘mckenzie’

McKenzie River Rafting and Mountain Biking Trip in Oregon

Posted: July 2, 2013 in Emergencies, Everyday Carry (EDC), HD Videos, Parks
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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.

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RAFTING THE MCKENZIE RIVER IN OREGON!

Posted: October 2, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Cameron McKirdy and his Dad battle rapids in their cataraft. This adventure was well planned. Pops did his homework, and scouted the river as best he could. He asked locals a million questions, read books, and consulted his rafting club before getting her wet. The water was high, so it wasn’t a terribly challenging ride, but it was a lot of fun. The Rouge river is next! Take a float down the river with them. %^).

Belnap Hot Springs and Toketee Golf Course Review

Posted: August 10, 2012 in Parks
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My summer road trip is almost over. I’ve hiked, camped, biked, swam, and golfed. This post is a quick review of Belnap Springs, and the nearby Toketee golf course.

After biking yesterday I was super tired, but made it out to Toketee. It’s right by our cabin off the McKenzie highway in Blue River, OR. I wasn’t expecting much, but this area always surprises. Toketee is a great golf course. I played the front 9 with a buddy. No hole in one, but I played well. It’s a long course. The green fee was just $18 bucks. I carried my clubs, instead of paying $3 more for a pull cart. Those are for the weak. There’s lots of sand and water to avoid. You won’t regret playing here.

Another thing I did to relax, in between all the strenuous activity was to check out Belnap Hot Springs. I rolled up and the pool was over flowing with French girls! Winning. The pool is 105 degrees, and there’s two. One is reserved for guests. It’s $7 to soak in the mineral pool for an hour or less.

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For dinner I ate at the Belnap Grill by the river. I ordered a South West chicken wrap. It was good. This is an excellent place to camp. There’s tent sites, and cabins also. There are several gardens at Belnap, and a special “Secret Garden” to find. Some little kids were stoked to lead me to the entrance. I will be back. Now I’m at the cabin, chilling, and icing my body. I need more ice packs.

Just when I think our journey is over, Dad starts planning a raft trip. We may float the Santiam river tomorrow on the way home. This should be interesting. More madness soon. Thanks for reading.

Cameron McKirdy

Survival Bros Reviews The Vibram 5 Finger Running Shoes

Posted: July 17, 2012 in Product Reviews, Uncategorized
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Spyridon LS

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.

Barefoot like trail running shoes

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.

– Cam

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