Another workout moving weights from point A to point B. I did a little bit of warmup and other movements too that I didn't bother to film. This was the meat of my session though. None of it was especially heavy, but everything I did worked multiple muscle groups and general conditioning. The outdoor carries are 2x speed just to limit the length of the video and hopefully keep it from being too tedious.
It isn't noticeable on camera, but on the second set of carries there were a few light snowflakes drifting down. Now - a few hours later - it's snowing hard. Springtime in Republic!
This is part one of two videos showing some of my inexpensive improvised, repurposed, modified, and/or DIY gym equipment. Note that I have actually purchased several items, but may be using them in unusual ways or as part of some other system. Most things that I build or cobble together from assorted components make use of items I already have laying around from other projects or used/damaged items given to me by friends, family, or customers.
Pardon the mess in my barn. Rest assured the section I don't show looks much worse. Also, note that I need to "install new flooring" (break open a new straw bale) in my gym.
If you or anyone you know is looking for a project Grand Wagoneer, feel free to leave a comment. I have to admit I'm never going to get around to it, and I could sure use more gym space. I'm open to offers.
Stay tuned for part two, outdoors with smaller, portable items.
I'm just getting started on some much-needed improvements to the old Cherokee. As stated in the video, it will not happen quickly, due to weather, time constraints, etc. At some point I will update with a progress report (once I have something worth showing). When I finish up these items I will probably even replace my redneck "seat cover"!
I was even sleepier than I realized! Until I reviewed my videos the following day I had no idea that I had I filmed two segments in portrait instead of landscape. Sorry about that.
This was a very quick overnight campout just to practice a few skills and remain accustomed to sleeping in an improvised shelter. I had planned to test out a few other items and skills, but was just too tired and short on time. Hopefully I'll be able to get away more often in the near future. While it wasn't an especially comfy night (especially with the gear failure), it certainly could have been much worse, and I gained some worthwhile insights. Outings like this are great preparation to endure the elements in any actual emergency situations.
NOTE: Be safe! I encourage people to get out and practice skills and test equipment, but start out in a relatively controlled environment and decent weather. Build skills and resistance to discomfort before doing anything extreme. It's always better to test one's limits when safety is not too far away or help is reachable by phone and/or radio.
It's not my usual channel content, but it needs to be said. Get ready while you still can, because things are getting worse all the time.
You will probably need to turn up the volume due to my typical audio problems. Also, sorry about my fidgeting and discomfort speaking to the camera. I may never get used to it and become more polished in my presentation, but I'm not going to let that stop me from speaking my mind.
Below are some of the prepper channels I mentioned, in no particular order. There are many others out there. These are just some I have found informative. Note that while all the links are to Odysee (a platform without YT's obnoxious censorship), they all have YT channels too, so you can find them there if that's your preference. Also, some could be considered offensive at times, so be forewarned.
https://odysee.com/@Thepreparedhomestead:0
https://odysee.com/@canadianprepper:8
https://odysee.com/@TheAngryPrepper:3
https://odysee.com/@MDCreekmore:a
https://odysee.com/@RealitySurvival:a
This was my first time ever attempting this type of shelter. Minimal bedding, no heat source, and temperatures in the mid-teens - how fun is that?! I could have used my candle lantern for a little warmth, or gathered some wood and built a fire, but this was a good test of a snow shelter, my bedding, and my ability to endure cold.
As I was breaking camp at about 6:00 I saw the thermometer reading 14 degrees. By that point I had snacked, had a couple cups of coffee, and moved around a fair amount though, so I was feeling much warmer.
While I'm sure I could have done a better job constructing the shelter, I'm pleased with my first effort. It would definitely not be my first choice for an overnight shelter, but in a survival scenario in deep snow and in an area with limited trees it could be a life-saver.
Here is some footage that I used in my welding blanket video, but only the fire-building part, and at actual speed. No talking, just fire on snow.
This is a graphic example of how little prep work is needed when starting a fire on the welding blanket. I used some commercial tinder and a little birch bark to light it off, but the stuff on my left was just a collection of small dead branches and bark scavenged from under nearby trees and dumped in a random pile on the snow. Everything except my tinder was a little damp, but not enough to make it too challenging. At the point where I stopped, I could have easily continued building the fire up with larger pieces until it produced a substantial amount of heat.
When I finished I simply folded up the welding blanket and put it back in my pack for the next time. From now on it will always be part of my standard gear.
These four "reps" made up a large part of my workout today. This was the first time this year I've done this, and yesterday I did a tough deadlift session, and it showed. It's a good thing that it is a fairly light vehicle, even with all the stuff I load in it!
Note that all footage is at double speed in order to keep the video shorter; I did not actually move quickly at all. Not shown is the fifth rep that I attempted and failed, as I was too gassed to get the Jeep rolling on the slight incline at the start of our driveway. Also, my feet were too raw at that point to really get any push into the ground.
A few take-aways from this session:
* I REALLY need someone to steer when I do this.
* Our driveway is even more uneven and rougher than last year.
* Even a tiny slope greatly increases the difficulty in getting started.
* I made a huge tactical error on the fourth rep when I let the Jeep stop with the driver's side rear tire against the edge of a hole. With a little momentum it was easy to roll it over the bump, but I just couldn't do it from a dead stop.
It was time to test my muscle endurance and mental toughness again. I had done the challenge before, doing the published two reps every minute on the minute (EMOM), but I wanted to ramp up the difficulty this time. With my strength level still not all the way back where I would like it to be, adding weight on the bar didn't seem to be a good option. How about THREE reps EMOM for thirty minutes straight instead?
I realize that the footage gets rather repetitious (for some reason) and tedious, so feel free to fast forward or skip ahead. Just be sure to stick around for the dramatic conclusion!
Note that I don't recommend this challenge for most people. It's something you generally need to work up to gradually. However, if you already do other high-rep sessions, or if you are strong enough that 315 is an easy warmup weight for you, this may be a good one to try out. If grip is a concern, consider using straps in order to focus on pulling without any worries of dropping it.
The rest of this month I'll be focusing on moving with weights (loaded carry variations, sled pushing and pulling, weighted ladder climbs, etc.). In April I'll return to some occasional high-rep lifting and see how my conditioning is at that point.