Axe-based camping. What would you take?

C

Chignecto Woodsman

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I am thinking along similar lines to this thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...only-one-axe-(or-only-two-or-only-three-axes)

Minimal gear for camping 1-5 nights at a time mostly, focused on trail clearing, wood collection, and hopefully cabin construction. I'd be interested in what others take. Here's what I'm looking at so far.

- Large pack to carry 24-28" handled axes.
- Water pot.
- High-calorie food.
- Limbing axe.
- Felling axe.
- Bow saw.
- Tarp.
- Wool blanket and/or sleeping bag.
- First aid kit.
- Sharpening stone.
- Leather belt/strop.
- Chisel.
- Small hand drill.
- Bushcraft/woodcarving knife.
- Paracord, climbing rope, and/or snare wire.
- Fishing line and hooks.
- Hard hat and safety goggles.
- File.
- Fire lighting tools.

Obviously dedicated trail clearing would be easier with less items. I would also like to have a froe and augurs if building a cabin, but I have time to acquire or make that stuff. But so far this is not very heavy at all, much less than what I have carried in the past backpacking. A rifle would also be nice, and I'm trying to get my license for that next month.

Anything I'm missing or what you think is necessary? Let me know if you've done this in the past, but either way I'd like to know your ideal setup for this.
 
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Invention and ready availability of Bic lighters during the 1970s was what entirely dissuaded me from ever wishing to pretend I could be a frontiersman of antiquity. Then, from having lived in a n. Ontario First Nations Reserve for 7 months (13 years ago) realized that genuine Natives had been quick and total in embracing the convenience of metal pots, pans, spoons and knives, fishing line, firearms, woven cloth, matches, canned goods and mill-made flour already 400 years ago!
 
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Lighters are fine by me, as are matches. I think it's good to learn the firesteel and traditional methods, but a lot of the time quickest is best. No doubt many of these things were adopted by some so readily, the convenience and security of a surplus or durable items is hard to pass.

I also meant to add that this isn't really rough camp or frontier specific. You could just specify if your items are for a vehicle camp, bugout, or homestead situation.
 
If you're using fire steels to start fires, take drier lint. It catches and holds a spark like nothing else. Light weight too. I've had much better luck with lint than with cedar bark.
 
Sounds like my kind of camping trip! More the shelter cabin stuff than the trail clearing, but I spend a lot of time trying to do things the least modern way possible.

I would skip the bow saw, or maybe just take the blade if you can find a good one. Probably a 3.5# axe and a heavy carpenters hatchet would cover your needs. I would take a file and two sided stone, no strop needed. I recently was considering the need for augers. There is no substitute for them on large timber, but for lighter construction I remembered reading that they burned holes for pegs in things like shakes, and I've seen a friend of mine do that on cane and bamboo flutes. I need to experiment with the technique to see how far I can push it, but a few steel rods of various size would be fairly compact.

I admit, I don't normally use traditional fire making techniques unless there's a cash prize involved :).
 
bbforstr said:
If you're using fire steels to start fires, take drier lint. It catches and holds a spark like nothing else. Light weight too. I've had much better luck with lint than with cedar bark.
Click to expand...

Agreed, lights very easily and it's free.

As for duct tape, forgot to list it. It's really good for repairs or first aid though. And I actually am washing out a coffee can to use. I want one of those fancy Mors pots but I figure I can rig a lid for the can. Temperatures are cooling down so I'll probably get to stay out a few nights this week. I've been clearing trails but don't feel like staying out because of the mosquitoes.
 
BG_Farmer said:
Sounds like my kind of camping trip! More the shelter cabin stuff than the trail clearing, but I spend a lot of time trying to do things the least modern way possible.

I would skip the bow saw, or maybe just take the blade if you can find a good one. Probably a 3.5# axe and a heavy carpenters hatchet would cover your needs. I would take a file and two sided stone, no strop needed. I recently was considering the need for augers. There is no substitute for them on large timber, but for lighter construction I remembered reading that they burned holes for pegs in things like shakes, and I've seen a friend of mine do that on cane and bamboo flutes. I need to experiment with the technique to see how far I can push it, but a few steel rods of various size would be fairly compact.

I admit, I don't normally use traditional fire making techniques unless there's a cash prize involved :).
Click to expand...

Yes, for now I'm going without the bow saw. I was thinking if I can get a week or more off then maybe it would be good to take as well, especially if there's snow. For 1-3 day trips it just makes too much stuff, a single axe is probably best then. Last year I mostly just went out for the day and would take either a felling axe or the limbing, once I got the trees down then I'd spend a day limbing and searching out more trees. A carpenter's hatchet is the only thing left on my required axe list apart from a broad axe, would definitely like one. I've been using the Gransfors Scandinavian as I really like the size for limbing and it is decent at carpentry jobs.

I like the idea of burning holes for smaller construction. I've never tried that before.
 
If it's an end of civilization event, I'll find an alternative- but for 1-5 nights I'm sorry but I'm packing TP.

Also, one of those $1 trial sizes of Gold Bond powder
.
 
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Haha, yeah. I have that. A good trick is to pull out the cardboard roll and start from the inside, this way you can keep it in a ziplock bag.

Gold Bond is a good idea too.
 
I'm not as chipper as I once was and have more and more turned to canoe-in camping on Crown Land. This minimizes on the sites being used by impulsive weekend warrior Yahoos whose sole aim is to litter, party it up and crudely chop down every small tree within 50 feet. The blessing of canoe transport is being able to carry ordinary tools. Large Swede/bow saw, Pulaski and garden spade are what I've been packing along during the past decade. It's so nice to be able to sleep on flat smooth ground! A Pulaski is perfect for grubbing stones and chopping roots, plus they're the cat's meow for splitting saw-prepared wood.
 
Chignecto Woodsman said:
I am thinking along similar lines to this thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...only-one-axe-(or-only-two-or-only-three-axes)

Minimal gear for camping 1-5 nights at a time mostly, focused on trail clearing, wood collection, and hopefully cabin construction. I'd be interested in what others take. Here's what I'm looking at so far.

Anything I'm missing or what you think is necessary? Let me know if you've done this in the past, but either way I'd like to know your ideal setup for this.
Click to expand...


If you're going to be hiking with this gear then I would cut it down a bit. Bring a good sharp boys axe and leave the other axes at home. Consider a folding saw to replace the bow saw - no frame to get in the way. I own both 11" & 16" Silky folding saws but I find myself still going back to my 10" Tajima saw more often. The Tajima is less expensive and so are the replacement blades. But they cut super well. A 48" one-man crosscut is about the largest you can carry on a pack. Larger saws need to be carried in the hand.

There's a boys axe tucked under the saw in this photo.

Trailhead%202.jpg
 
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300Six said:
I'm not as chipper as I once was and have more and more turned to canoe-in camping on Crown Land. This minimizes on the sites being used by impulsive weekend warrior Yahoos whose sole aim is to litter, party it up and crudely chop down every small tree within 50 feet. The blessing of canoe transport is being able to carry ordinary tools. Large Swede/bow saw, Pulaski and garden spade are what I've been packing along during the past decade. It's so nice to be able to sleep on flat smooth ground! A Pulaski is perfect for grubbing stones and chopping roots, plus they're the cat's meow for splitting saw-prepared wood.
Click to expand...

You can camp like a king when canoeing. It's the way to go when possible. Don't have a pulaski yet, but are they the way to go for expanding a garden?

Square_peg, why do you suggest just the boy's axe? I find they are the best for trail clearing, limbing, and shelter building, but trying to fall anything over 8-10" just seems to take too long and with too much effort. My thinking is that I would go with the boy's axe for trail clearing and silviculture (can get lots of small wood for campfires), and take the boy's axe and full-size when I'm focused on bigger wood. But maybe I'll just have to go with a double-bit felling axe and limb with it.

The bow saw is a bit of an issue, even the buck saw takes up a lot of room. I can only see wanting to take it with a sled. It's only a few kilometres hike though, so not bad, but tough going in spots. I have a Bahco folding saw I always take with me, not a lot of good for what I'll be cutting though. May just go with the double-bit to keep it as light/tightly packed as possible, and the boy's axe when I only have lighter work.

How heavy are the crosscut saws? I've been wanting one but can't find them very cheap.

Anyone have recommendations for footwear? I sometimes forego steel-toe just because of weight, but I should really have protective equipment back there alone. Been considering the timbersports socks/leggings, but I imagine they are not very good for moving around a lot and may damage socks, footwear, and feet. Also been considering making some steel plate shin guards as they may be better than chain mail.

Thanks for the responses.
 
Chignecto Woodsman said:
Don't have a pulaski yet, but are they the way to go for expanding a garden?
Click to expand...
I use mine a fair bit at home. Don't own a splitter and have mostly used the Pulaski for that purpose. Course I don't heat with wood or I'd have been much more fussy. Ostrich ferns have been threatening to take over my property (1/3 acre) and the Pulaski claw is ruthlessly efficient at uprooting the entire plants. I suppose you could use one to break up soil sort of like a mattock or pick but on a larger scale that's when I visit with my neighbour who has a rototiller. Interestingly Princess Auto had Chinese-made Pulaskis on sale for $15 last week if all you wanted to do is try one out with no financial risk!
 
Chignecto Woodsman said:
Don't have a pulaski yet, but are they the way to go for expanding a garden?
Click to expand...

For me, not unless the garden I'm trying to expand is littered with rocks and tree stumps/roots. And even then I'd be thinking, "dynamite is your friend." :D

Garden expansion is a great use for the Magna Grecia Hoe or similar tool. It'll get more done quicker than a Pulaski there, and that lets you save the Pulaski for the woods work where it's needed. The MG Hoe is also good for grubbing up Cooch Grass roots, where a Pulaski will just chop them up in the soil and make them regrow better.
 
Ah, for some reason I was thinking of the pulaski as more of a hoe/pick cross. Don't know why, tools getting mixed up in the head. More of a wildfire fighting tool I guess.

I really like the idea of that hoe, so I learned something from the mistake anyway. Thanks.
 
Chignecto Woodsman said:
Square_peg, why do you suggest just the boy's axe? I find they are the best for trail clearing, limbing, and shelter building, but trying to fall anything over 8-10" just seems to take too long and with too much effort. My thinking is that I would go with the boy's axe for trail clearing and silviculture (can get lots of small wood for campfires), and take the boy's axe and full-size when I'm focused on bigger wood. But maybe I'll just have to go with a double-bit felling axe and limb with it.
Click to expand...

From your previous post, "Minimal gear for camping 1-5 nights at a time mostly, focused on trail clearing, wood collection, and hopefully cabin construction".

If you're looking to minimize your gear (and I think you should) then getting by with only one axe should be your goal. In a "1 axe" situation a boys axe is by far your best bet. This is well supported by the earlier thread you linked to. A boys axe is perfectly adequate for felling trees up to a about 16". If you've got the time it will fell anything. A boys axe with a saw makes a great pair. If dealing with smaller wood choose an appropriate folding saw (Silky or Tajima). If you're dealing with bigger stuff then get a 42"-48" one-man crosscut.

No way I'd carry both a boys axe and a full size. I wouldn't even carry a hatchet with a full size. If you think a boys axe isn't quite enough then get a 3 pound axe on a 30" haft. Not a 3-1/2 pound axe. You can fell a forest with a 3 pound 30" axe.
 
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I see what you're saying. To be more clear, what I'm looking at doing is gathering firewood for winter or building a log cabin while camping. Camping isn't really the focus, as normally I do take minimal gear like just a boy's axe and a knife, food, cover, sleeping bag, and fire lighting. What I want to do here is camp while working for 4-6 hours a day, getting as much wood as possible or working on a cabin. That's why I'm concerned with the felling axe, as it will do about twice the work which becomes a lot over an afternoon alone.

I guess I wasn't clear in the first post, but I wanted to open up the thread to see what others would take depending on their situation. My situation is based on gathering large amounts of wood.
 
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