another overnighter: h&b forge lady's tomahawk.

[JV3]

took a much needed solo overnighter last weekend...it rained heavily the day before so the stream was definitely flowing. it was nearly stagnant most of this year so perfect timing!

saw only a handful so left them alone to the critters – i have a feeling another tough winter is ahead.

forecast low was just above freezing and light wind so took the swack shack tarp and kifaru doobie to save a little weight over my usual winter setup.

left the hpg kit bag at home and also skipped putting my psk in my pockets like usual and decided to try a possibles pouch/baldric carry approach.

with just one knot it was super quick to adjust the rope length to account for how many layers i had on (i was constantly taking layers on and off while processing wood and stuff)...much faster than the kit bag. however, every time i bent over to pick something up the pouch kept shifting forward even after i moved it on my back. i think i'll stick to the kit bag despite the extra hassle of adjusting it...gear experimentation never ends

what's inside the pouch.

left over bulleit bourbon from the previous overnighter.

 

[JV3]

another new gear – h&b forge lady's tomahawk. i was looking for something smaller and lighter than the shawnee to do very light chopping and splitting (mainly for day hikes) and this at 13 oz seemed like the ticket (given how much i like the shawnee i figured it's just a scaled down version of it)...no dice, the handle was way too skinny for my taste...not that comfortable for me trying to grasp that skinny handle for any length of time.

i might try the cold steel frontier hawk next and shorten the handle. anyone know the weight of the head on it? i can only find the total weight at 22 oz. i'm not sure but i think someone said it's the same as the lady's – ¾ lb.

bearthedog turned me onto this and it's quickly becoming a favorite to pair with whatever meat i brought – knorr cheddar cheese and broccoli rice...toss in some habanero flakes and it's good eats!

dinner #2 – the benefits of going solo

view from the bed room.

bushcraft tv.

dessert before bed time.

gloomy morning.

i heard that this cup and cover is now available without the canteen...good move by them.

i'm not a coffee snob but just had to try it for the convenience factor – bring on dunkin donuts or off-the-shelf-cheap instant coffee anyday for me.

cutting tools for this trip.

 

[baldtaco-II]

If that's the only problem you can overcome that by adding a short tail.

I had a little baldric sling pouch knocked up for wood gathering. It was ideal for rummaging for wood 'cos it had the hatchet, saw, and a rag right where I needed it, but then gave hands free for carrying it back to the nest.

Same problem as you've got: Bend to pick up bits and it swings to the front. A simple tail about 6” or long coming from the bottom and terminating at the free end with a toggle / knot fixed that right up. Just poke the toggle under your belt round the back above an arse pocket and the problem goes away. Super simple and a no-brainer reflex like motion just to poke that under there when I knew I'd be leaning forward.

 

[TheMadIndian]

Very jealous, nice trip dude

 

[campcook14]

Nice trip! Can I ask what saw that is in your last pic?

 

[LukeTheSpook]

I love your threads, sir. You don't right. Was this a solo hike?

 

[JV3]

If that's the only problem you can overcome that by adding a short tail.

I had a little baldric sling pouch knocked up for wood gathering. It was ideal for rummaging for wood 'cos it had the hatchet, saw, and a rag right where I needed it, but then gave hands free for carrying it back to the nest.

Same problem as you've got: Bend to pick up bits and it swings to the front. A simple tail about 6” or long coming from the bottom and terminating at the free end with a toggle / knot fixed that right up. Just poke the toggle under your belt round the back above an arse pocket and the problem goes away. Super simple and a no-brainer reflex like motion just to poke that under there when I knew I'd be leaning forward.

thanks for the tip! i'll give it a try.

Very jealous, nice trip dude

thanks, man!

Nice trip! Can I ask what saw that is in your last pic?

thanks! that's a bob dustrude quick buck saw with a 21" long blade (the shortest of the 3 versions).​ it's 22.5" long folded and 15 oz.

...only 2 separate pieces so nothing to lose and can be easily put together with thick gloves on.

I love your threads, sir. You don't right. Was this a solo hike?

thanks, man! yes, this was a solo trip.

 

[LukeTheSpook]

That should read "you do it right".