Backpacking Folder Backup to Fixed Blade

Erik W: The difference is that there is less oxygen at altitude and therefore muscle and cardio-vascular performance is less than at sea level. I live at sea level. Therefore, weight and other performance affecting attributes are exacerbated "at altitude."

e_utopia: I have a Talon in talonite and absolutley oove the knife. You would not have to bend my arm much at all to talk me in to bringing it. The idea, however, was to try to eliminate, to the extent possible while maintaining a comforatable "geared-up" status redundancy and unnecessary duplication. Normally, my motto is "Better to have it and not ned it than to need it and not have it!" But, 80 or 90 miles into this trip I do not know if i will be singing the same tune. Remember, we're talking 6000-7000 fet msl and my old, worn and battle scarred body.
 
Nimrod,
That's what I was getting at. But for caring for my newborn I'd be outside over 7000 feet as I type. Have a great time.
 
How quickly we forget. I remember my cousin getting altitude sickness just hanging out at my dad's cabin at Lake Arrowhead--and thats down around 5,000 feet. Now my wife is amazed that she doesn't get winded playing raquetball when she goes down to Boulder which is a little over a mile above sea level. When you are acclimatized to over 7,000 feet, a fourteener isn't such a big deal. If you're a low-lander you can get desperately hypoxic riding in a car to Pikes Peak. By all means, watch the weight, watch the pace, and watch that you drink enough water.
 
Roger that Jeff on the staying hydrated and watching the pace. I am generally consciencious about enough water and enough salt. The pace should be reasonable and I'm looking to keep my pack to 50#; I weight 200.

Living at sea level has it's advantages, but I could just kick this one buddy of mine who we go elk hunting with (5,000-6,000 msl) because he stops to give us flatlanders a rest on the way up in the morning and this s.o.b. grabs a quick cigarette while we wheeze and gasp.

I'll get him on the boat on a hot, hazy day with a 3-5' chop and drift, beam to the sea while we shark fish. I'll keep him right near the chum bucket. I'll show him!
 
That's why I was thinking of replacing the folder with the Talon. Keep the amount of gear low, and the reliability high, since fixed-blades are more reliable than folders.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
You don't have to sell me on the Talon, except that my son will be acrrying my Buck Pathfinder (lightweight, great for food prep, etc.) so I'm thinking Wave and fixed blade.

A couple ounces doesn't matter, but a couple here and a few there add up. Even though I love the Victorinox Hunter, and carry it often, it may be overshadowed by the Wave. The Talon is a beautiful knife, but it's intended uses parallel what we'll be using the 105 Pathfinder for.
 
I have guided a lot of trips in the Colorado Mountains. 9,000 feet plus the ups and downs to get to our spots. We generally break up the tool chore among the guys in the party. One long (6-8")chopper, folding saw, hunting fixed blade. And a personal knife of choice. Split out among 3 individuals, the weight is negligible in relation to everything else we carry.

We have on more than one occasion, needed them all. And were glad we had them.
 
I would recommend a SAK (like the Rucksack) and a light-weight folder (like the Endura or the Military) if you plan to do low-impact hiking/camping. I try to keep collateral damage down to a minimum.
If things do turn sour the SAK and the Spyderco will handle about 90% of any "survival bladework" that you may need to perform. I don't think you will need any more blade than those knives provide, and they're very light weight.
I think that weight is one of the most important factors when selecting gear.
If I learned anything in the Army, It's this: The lighter your non-perishable and essential gear is, the more perishable and non-essential gear you can carry. One less knife could mean more fuel for your stove, and a lighter weight knife could mean another pack of food or more medical supplies without adding more weight.
Besides, a cell-phone or 2-way radio and batteries could be more important to survival than another knife.

Just something to consider.
Good luck,
Allen.

[This message has been edited by allenC (edited 05-21-2001).]
 
I agree with AllenC. There is nothing to chop when you're at altitude. Above 11,000 ft. there are no trees. Besides, chopping trees is not allowed in the Sierra. If you need to make a fire from fallen branches it's easier to break them than to chop them. I am a knife lover and a backpacker. I play with my knives at home and I use them in the yard. I don't take any big ones backpacking. I just can't find any use for them. A SAK will do almost everything. I also cary a spyderco in case I need to cut something really fast with one hand.
 
I really miss carrying my CR Project now that I'm out of uniform, but I just don't need it as in my experience nearly everything can be found on the ground. I've bought a CR Shadow IV as a fixed blade; its minute but a little toughy. Even this is probably going over the top. What I would say is two knives is a minimum as it is all too easy to lose one. A penknife and a Wave, or a tough folder and SAK Huntsman.

You really need to go way off the civilised path to need more, and then its team gear time: Machete or Axe.

Weight does matter as it equates directly to energy used. Your own personal fitness and strength also have a huge part to play. I find endurance kicks in on the second week, so if you are going to enjoy yourself the whole time then don't overload yourself at the start. If its wholey recreational wilderness travel then the priority might be a better pair of binoculars or that larger camera lense. But you can't have both luxury and "just in case apocalypse" kit. However, don't skimp on the necessities or your route planning/time appreciation and basic safety measures.

Heavy or light, you will find what works for you as mistakes hurt, but hopefully not too much.

One observation of mine is that not enough people carry a half decent piece of rope. I'm sure guilty of that one.
 
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