Saturday, February 1, 2014

The Barefoot Sensei

Hey there! Wassup? Thanks for clicking by today. I appreciate the company. Pour yourself a perky mug of coffee and grab a virtual treat to munch on while I tell you about a dodgy sort of loner.  

Mick Dodge has spent the past 25 years away from civilization, living off the land in a rainforest. The former marine gave up his 9-to-5 job as a heavy equipment mechanic at Fort Lewis to take up this alternative lifestyle. “That’s my real life passion,” he says.

Dodge is actually a native of the Hoh Rainforest, located on the Olympic Peninsula in western Washington State. His great-grandparents settled in the region; Dodge grew up there and in several other places around the world. Eventually, thanks to his father’s influence, he became an extreme fitness freak.

But the 62-year-old doesn’t miss the gym in the outdoors. He has created a unique concept called the Earth Gym – a sort of YMCA in the forest with natural equipment. 

Dodge uses cargo nets, straps, stones and ropes to create a fitness regimen of his own. Students come to learn from him as well, and he teaches them exercises developed on a connection with nature. 

His extreme techniques include running barefoot upstream in the Sol Duc River.

All he needs now is 'a few good students'. Me? All I need is a good mug of coffee.

See ya, eh!

Bob

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