Put up or shut up & Going Gear

markhait

markhait

Joined
Jan 14, 2007
Messages
297
Hi group!!
Just want to start out and say how much I like this forum! Its the only one that I REALLY look forward to reading throughout the day.

Anyway....Put up or shut up....that thread got me thinking....I don't have much money, but I do tend to have more money than time. I think I use that for a excuse to be lazy most of the time. I tend to buy my experience, if you know what I mean. For MANY years now....going back to 1989 and life before the internet, I've wanted to sleep in a snow cave. I've bought books on the subject and know in THEORY how to do it, but have never tried. The put up or shut up thread hit me hard...I'm going to do it this winter. In fact, I've already prepped my wife...now she really thinks I'm crazy!

I live in Michigan and we haven't had much snow in many years now. If this winter is the same as others in the past, I will make a pile of snow with my snow blower and then dig my cave. I will do it this year!!! THIS IS THE YEAR!! So I challenge you as you read this, to consider what you might have put off and then make up your mind to do it this year.
Really, the only thing I didn't have was a bivy bag for my sleeping bag, but I did just ordered one with my Christmas money. I know I know...there I go again buying STUFF, but a bivy bag is kind of necessary for a snow cave and so I excused myself this one. So get out and do it! I will post a video of me sleeping in my cave just to prove I did do it.

Anyway....on to Going Gear....it really wasn't much I swear :jerkit:, but I had to have the Badger Firesteel :D I ordered it on Sunday December the 27th and received it today! Less than 1 week!!! Can't find service like that at many web stores! I bought the striker with the firesteel and let me tell you, I works GREAT! I have NO IDEA, how some people can't figure out how these things work, but let me say they are easy!
One heck of a product at a GREAT price and one heck of some GREAT service!! Highly recommend this web store!!

So just a recap.....:jerkit: stop buying stuff, unless its from Going Gear :D
and get out on try your skills. Post us some videos or pictures too.
Thanks all.....Man I LOVE this place :jerkit:
 
Hi Mark,

Just to let you know I just 'copy and pasted' your OP to a Word document, so even if you erase or alter it, it will come back to haunt you. :D

So get out and enjoy - looking forward to your report.

Doc
 
Mark, Good luck buddy! I hope you do get out and do it this winter, cause Doc will not let you live it down Trust me....
 
sounds awesome man! make sure to take plenty of pics! you can tell yer wife the shelter has no windows! :D
 
According to USPS tracking my Going Gear order has cleared customs so that means it will probably be delivered on Tuesday. I have a fire steel, about 600' of Paracord and a couple of other things on the way. I'm looking forward to seeing that package.

With plenty of web pages to read I am planning on teaching myself how to tie some knots. I was never a boy scout or anything similar and I have never really learnt how to tie knots - I figure it is about time I learnt. Once I have my black, green, orange, red & tan paracord I should be ready to teach myself some good knots.
 
i want to say something ; any gear (knives , cars , tools , survival gear etc , anything) is only as good as you are . and the more you practice , the better you`ll get. just my 2 cents , but i figure this pretty much sums up all gear
 
get out there and do it, my wife thought I was crazy last week for doing an overinighter, but I loved it!!!!!!
 
markhait said:
Hi group!!
Just want to start out and say how much I like this forum! Its the only one that I REALLY look forward to reading throughout the day.

Anyway....Put up or shut up....that thread got me thinking....I don't have much money, but I do tend to have more money than time. I think I use that for a excuse to be lazy most of the time. I tend to buy my experience, if you know what I mean. For MANY years now....going back to 1989 and life before the internet, I've wanted to sleep in a snow cave. I've bought books on the subject and know in THEORY how to do it, but have never tried. The put up or shut up thread hit me hard...I'm going to do it this winter. In fact, I've already prepped my wife...now she really thinks I'm crazy!

I live in Michigan and we haven't had much snow in many years now. If this winter is the same as others in the past, I will make a pile of snow with my snow blower and then dig my cave. I will do it this year!!! THIS IS THE YEAR!! So I challenge you as you read this, to consider what you might have put off and then make up your mind to do it this year.
Really, the only thing I didn't have was a bivy bag for my sleeping bag, but I did just ordered one with my Christmas money. I know I know...there I go again buying STUFF, but a bivy bag is kind of necessary for a snow cave and so I excused myself this one. So get out and do it! I will post a video of me sleeping in my cave just to prove I did do it.

Anyway....on to Going Gear....it really wasn't much I swear :jerkit:, but I had to have the Badger Firesteel :D I ordered it on Sunday December the 27th and received it today! Less than 1 week!!! Can't find service like that at many web stores! I bought the striker with the firesteel and let me tell you, I works GREAT! I have NO IDEA, how some people can't figure out how these things work, but let me say they are easy!
One heck of a product at a GREAT price and one heck of some GREAT service!! Highly recommend this web store!!

So just a recap.....:jerkit: stop buying stuff, unless its from Going Gear :D
and get out on try your skills. Post us some videos or pictures too.
Thanks all.....Man I LOVE this place :jerkit:
Click to expand...
HOLY crap !
Did they toss in some paper towels with your order ?
:D:D:D:jerkit:
 
ETA?.....Well, right now we have a whopping 1" on the ground!
Maybe if I snow blow the entire yard into a pile I might have enough :)
I watched the weather report this morning and tonight we are supposed to get 1-2". I checked online too and my bivy is on its way. Should have it by mid to end of week next week. I'm guessing that I wont be able to build a shelter until end of January.

I'm real excited about the bivy too. As I said earlier, my buddy and I used to backpack in the winter here in Michigan. Our parents thought we were crazy, but I liked knowing that I had a certain control over the elements. That the elements did not necessarily control what and when I would do stuff.
Knowledge is great if you use it for the good!

Anyway....I was reasearching bivys online and found a great bivy by OR products. There was a review by some guy that lives on Kodiac Island in Alaska.
He pretty much had nothing but praise for it, but the price tag was heafty too $300! Can't really afford that right now so I started to look for a cheaper alternative. I found the USGI bivys online for around $100 new/never issued.
It took a lot of searching, but I finally found a small review by some guy that used it in the snow and said that for the money it worked good. Not great or anything, but good enough. I found a never issued USGI bivy on E-Bay for $66 shipped. For $66, I'll take a gamble.

My only issue with a snow cave is that its going to have to be fairly large as a have a bit of clausterphobia. I can fight it, but its there. I think that as long as I have around a foot of space above my face I should be fine.

Did any of you notice there were no :jerkit: in this post? You got to understand, I work Tool & Die and that is a favorite expression for us. Especially when the "engineers" come in and try to tell us what to do.

Right now we are building tooling for the Chevy Volt and believe me there is a lot of :jerkit: going on! :D

I'll keep you updated and if I don't PLEASE bug me! I WANT to do this!!! And this IS the year....remember..Put up or Shut up!
 
Here in Nebraska we have about 24~25" on the ground. Come on down you can use my yard. My kids will help you dig it. Now you got me thinking about doing it.
 
I saw a massive amount of snow the other night. It was at least three flakes. I'll include it in your next order so you can get started faster.
 
Well...actually I call them all snow caves, but I plan on just making a huge pile of snow and then dig it out. I don't think thats actually a snow cave, but it is a hole surrounded by snow :-) Really eager to get going at it, but with the lack of snow right now, I guess I'll just have to be patient. Last year we had over 12" by now.
 
Lookie what I got here!!!!
DSC_0100.jpg

Let it snow let it snow let it snow!!!! PLEASE!!!!

Bivy came in today....what a nice surprise since I had to work 11 hours today!

Now all I need is some snow to make it complete!!!

Just for everyones information...the bivy is a USGI bivy that was new/never issued. I got it on E-Bay for $66 including shipping. It is made of Gore-Tex and it is long enough for me. I'm 6'2" 240 lbs. There was plenty of leg room. Wish it had maybe a hoop to keep it open over my head, but thats a small thing that I'm sure I can rig up.
 
G'day mark

There is no better way to learn than by doing :thumbup:

Looking forward to reading & seeing your experiences :D



Kind regards
Mick
 
Sorry...no updates yet. Its going to be 35-40 for the next week!
What little snow we have is going to melt. I was hoping for a couple feet by now,
but this crazy state with its crazy weather is so unpredictable!

I will though!! I am determined to make a snow cave and sleep in it this winter!
 
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