Back backpacking with the BK2 (Photo Heavy)

[TheMadIndian]

I had been getting used to the 7 as my camp knife and had been thinking maybe people were right the BK2 is just too heavy and especially in my configuration with the 14 or 11 riding piggyback along with a leatherman sidekick and firesteel, what I realized is I don't mind the weight and love this setup.

I've been so busy with work I haven't had much time to myself so when I got home late friday night my youngest said he wanted to do a hike/hammock overnighter so I cleared sat and sun and managed to get us out on the AT by 4pm with a destination of Wildcat Shelter just over 2 mi from my house, we knew we'd be close with daylight but off we went.

Here we are leaving the house

The AT

On the way there are two challenging rock scrambles (when you don't have 30lbs on your back). The first one we got up an over with a few challenges

My son says hey our first nice view!!

Up we go

My son realizes he's got to climb it with the pack

On top it's an awesome view and off in the distance you can see "Cat Rocks" we ended up stuck on it and had to back down in the dark... It's all part of the adventure!!

I'm not a fan of headlamp hiking but sometimes you just got to do what you need to, I had forgotten my camera and my phone was dying so not many more pics of camp set up besides it was dark anyway
Found the shelter

Got Camp set up

Made sticks with the BK2 to cook our sausages but discovered a grate on the fire ring and I forgot my pot so I tried boil in the bag rice in the canteen cup, it didn't go so well

Settled in after a busy day (love this combo)

Remembered I brought a battery pack with me!! Camp the next morning

Sun coming up over the ridgeline

Lounging waiting for the boy to wake up

The BK2 after making more skewers

This weekends combo

Can you tell this is my favorite?

Slicing the sun!!

Breakfast from the hammock

Great time with my kid notice he's wearing his Bk14

Cat Rocks in the daylight

Outcropping near my house

He's a clown

The BK2 has reminded me once again just how much I love it

Thanks for checking out our father/son time and Thanks to Ethan for these fabulous knives, my son is really enjoying and putting to good use the BK14 he got at the fall gathering

 

[Aikiguy]

Great father-son trip report MI. You're certainly lucky to be so close to such a prime hiking location. Loved the sunrise pics. Thank you very much for sharing.

 

[The Warrior]

Looks like a blast man. That's a well loved BK2. Good to see...

 

[mchipman]

Awesome outing, good on you for passing the passion on to your son. :thumbup:

 

[TheMadIndian]

Great father-son trip report MI. You're certainly lucky to be so close to such a prime hiking location. Loved the sunrise pics. Thank you very much for sharing.

Glad you enjoyed it! I wish I got more time on the trail but with his interest growing I think we'll get out for a lot more one nighters

Looks like a blast man. That's a well loved BK2. Good to see...

Thanks man, that knife is such a workhorse its hard not to put it through its paces

Awesome outing, good on you for passing the passion on to your son. :thumbup:

Thanks, it was probably our best one yet. We had such a great time together & when we got back he went bounding into the house all excited and the wife came out and said whatever you did do it more often LOL

 

[JV3]

nice! looks like good times.

 

[HazeGray]

Awesome pics and it looks like an awesome time!

 

[TheMadIndian]

nice! looks like good times.

thanks man, hey btw I was going to shoot you a message. Hudson valley hikers are doing a Harriman hike and hang this weekend any interest?

Awesome pics and it looks like an awesome time!

thanks it was great

 

[Tdhurl1103]

That's too cool. Glad you shared this!!!

I live just off the AT (1/4 mile away) at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley. I've been planning a summer hike along the AT with my oldest from a starting point in southern Va, then walking home.
It's still in the planning and prep phase.

 

[BeeKayNutCase]

Adventure Time! Yeah! Thanks for sharing that MI. Glad you and your young fella had a great time. THAT is the way kids should be spending their free days. You're a cool dad mate. Awesome work, love your threads..

 

[MrsCarpenter]

Really nice. Thanks for taking us along.

Mrs. C.

 

[echoscout]

Looks like you and your son had a great hike and camp!

 

[TheMadIndian]

That's too cool. Glad you shared this!!!

I live just off the AT (1/4 mile away) at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley. I've been planning a summer hike along the AT with my oldest from a starting point in southern Va, then walking home.
It's still in the planning and prep phase.

Good luck, hope to see some pics. If I can get him to be mostly self sufficient in camp we're talking/thinking of doing the NY section, have the wife drop us off at the CT line and then we hike back to the house, I'm only 10 miles to NJ and its mostly rock scrambles and I do it once or twice a year anyway I don't need to do it with my pack to say I did the NY section

Adventure Time! Yeah! Thanks for sharing that MI. Glad you and your young fella had a great time. THAT is the way kids should be spending their free days. You're a cool dad mate. Awesome work, love your threads..

Thanks now I wish I had taken better pics LOL

Really nice. Thanks for taking us along.

Mrs. C.

Looks like you and your son had a great hike and camp!

Thank you both

 

[Jerry D.]

Thank for the shots! It looks like you guys had a great time out there.

 

[NCSlice]

Good stuff man, thanks for sharing!

 

[granitestateofmind]

Great thread, MI. Nice to see your son with his 14 around his neck. I had hopes early on that I would get my girls out backpacking, but reality has taken different ideas. They like camping out - just not backpacking. Nice to see the Trainwrecker getting some (more) love. Thanks for taking us with.

 

[bush-haus]

Better times can't be had with a child!! He will remember aspects of those trips that may be of no consequence to you but will mean the world to him. Simple things like the birds chirping and squirrels chasing each other may intrench themselves into fond memories deep into adulthood. My favorite bird is the crow because the sound brings me back to camping with my Dad. Brings me back every time I hear one!

Kudos to you, Sir!

Ron
Beckerhead #32

 

[TheMadIndian]

Great thread, MI. Nice to see your son with his 14 around his neck. I had hopes early on that I would get my girls out backpacking, but reality has taken different ideas. They like camping out - just not backpacking. Nice to see the Trainwrecker getting some (more) love. Thanks for taking us with.

Yea but your one girl sure likes to whittle, thats got to count for something!

Ya know if you want to get some backpacking in maybe we can get a few of us together and meet in the middle so to speak and do Mount Greylock for a couple days http://www.backpacker.com/trips/massachusetts/massachusetts-mt-greylock-2/

 

[TheMadIndian]

Thank for the shots! It looks like you guys had a great time out there.

Good stuff man, thanks for sharing!

Thanks and you're welcome

Better times can't be had with a child!! He will remember aspects of those trips that may be of no consequence to you but will mean the world to him. Simple things like the birds chirping and squirrels chasing each other may intrench themselves into fond memories deep into adulthood. My favorite bird is the crow because the sound brings me back to camping with my Dad. Brings me back every time I hear one!

Kudos to you, Sir!

Ron
Beckerhead #32

Funny you should say that, when we were leaving he wanted to put our names in the log book and then he found a quote book where people leave quotes or poems. The person before us put in the wrong date
I can't quite surmise how deeply his quote/poem has set with me, I think its something I'll remember forever. It left me speechless

In case you can't read my handwriting it says "Experience this together, now and forever"

 

[spazcsmc]

Looks like a great time. Beautiful scenery. My legs are hurting looking at all those rocks. Lol